The Crush

It all started back when I was in year eight at school. We had a new boy in our class, Tom Maffey. Even though he’d been at our school for a couple of days, I already thought he was cute.
Now it was fourteen years later. Currently, I work in an office, typing, filing and typing some more. Tom was my boss now, always coming into the room where I work, and giving me files either to type up or to file away. Even now, fourteen years later, he was still cute. Floppy, blonde hair, and a dimple in his cheek whenever he smiled. So of course, he looked even cuter when he smiled.

I came home from school after a gruelling day. Mum had already cooked dinner, beef stew, my favourite.
“Good day?” Mum asked, as I walked through the back door.
I nodded. “It was better than good, Mum. There’s a new boy in my class, called Tom Maffey. He’s so cute…” I trailed off, as I thought about him.
“Oh, yeah? It’s Valentine’s soon. Perhaps you could buy him a card.”
I smiled at her, and went upstairs to dump my school bag in my bedroom.

A knock came at my door. Tom stuck his head round the corner.
“Chantal? Can you write up a report for The Daily Buzz? They want an article on the traffic situation down at Marley Street, by Monday.”
“Sure thing,” I replied, feeling all hot and embarrassed.
It was Valentine’s coming up, perhaps I could make a card for him, and slip it in his pigeonhole.

I thought Mum’s advice was actually very good, for once. I made a Valentine’s card for Tom Maffey. I’d thought he’d like it. But when I went into school on Valentine’s day, the card already in my hand to give to Tom when I went into the classroom, I got the shock of my life. Tom was the only one in the classroom, along with Charlotte Perg, a girl I didn’t particularly get on with. They were sitting in the back row, Tom’s tongue practically down Charlotte’s throat. Feeling the tears well up, I ripped the card up, and threw it in the bin.

Remembering that scene I saw still brought tears to my eyes, even now. I shook them away, knowing I had an article to type up. The boring old traffic situation down at Marley Street. But I had another mission after I’d finished that one. One that was more exciting. A Valentine’s card for Tom Maffey.
Another knock. Tom poked his head around the corner again.
“Oh, yes, Chantal, I nearly forgot. I won’t be here this afternoon. I’m taking my girlfriend out for a Valentine’s dinner.”