16 Why Is He Staring At Me?!

"Go on…", urges the teacher, gesturing to Goldie to go take the empty seat.

Swallowing, Goldie brings her breathing under control, in order not to let herself panic further and have a repeat of the sudden embarrassing occurrence of this morning.

Taking a step forward, she starts to walk through the aisle headed for the empty seat with her heart in her throat, contemplating in what universe Ryan would actually let her sit beside him.

If he could before, not anymore. No. Definitely not after he saw her screech like a bird, right in his face.

But since the teacher was sending her there, and that was the only empty seat in the class, she basically had no choice but to go make an attempt.

Thus, the entire class watches with anticipation as Goldie comes majestically through the aisle, making her way towards the empty seat beside Ryan 'Amazing' Muller, only to be disgraced.

Already, a couple of phones had been pulled out by certain classmates, ready to record the moment! Phones belonging to lackeys of Ryan's biggest worshipper and one-sided lover, Elaine Rivers.

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"Hah! This will be good!", scoffs Elaine Rivers, the leader of all the jealous girls in the class, signalling her two best friends/lackeys.

Instantly, they pull out their phones, prepared to record the coming destruction upon Goldie's life.

Being a high-class, elegant heiress of a super wealthy family, Elaine thought herself the most eligible bacheloress suited to Ryan. 

She had once been rejected by Ryan when she had confessed to him, but even after being rejected, Elaine retained the erroneous belief that she was the only one worthy of Ryan and that she would one day win his heart. 

And so, she naturally hated on Goldie because as of today, Goldie had become her biggest threat. She had managed to be the one girl Ryan had paid attention to for a whole minute!

He had even held her in his arms!

There was no way Elaine could stomach this.

But then, the foolish girl Ryan had held, had managed to embarrass herself! Hah!

'There is no way Ryan would let her sit by him after that…', she scoffs, chuckling evilly within herself.

She couldn't wait to see Ryan send Goldie off in a cruel way, and capture it all on camera! 

And once Ryan did that, she would 'kindly' offer up her seat to Goldie as a sweet, caring, lovely, compassionate girl, and take the seat next to Ryan for herself!

Surely, Ryan would prefer her, a rich heiress, and his former classmate from last year, to Goldie, the weirdo from this morning.

So Elaine watches with anticipation, along with her followers and the rest of the class, as Goldie goes to take a seat in Ryan's reserved seat.

'She's doomed for sure!…', she reasons to herself, smirking deviously from her selfish thoughts.

___

Goldie arrives at the seat beside Ryan, watching carefully along with the entire class for his objection.

Ryan watches Goldie arrive at the seat. He doesn't say anything. This stuns Goldie. 

'He's not stopping me?', she wonders, genuinely surprised.

Next, she removes her backpack and places it on the desk, turning to place herself between the single desk and the chair.

'Still… nothing?'

Nothing. Ryan barely flinches. He just watches her.

'Why is he just staring at me?", questions Goldie, growing more and more uncomfortable by the second.

The entire place goes instantly silent whole class watches intently with wonder as Goldie places her backpack on the desk, taking the empty seat.

'When would Ryan send her away?'

Goldie was bravely claiming the seat which Ryan had reserved all morning for herself, yet, there he was, just watching her without any objections whatsoever.

Did he want her to take the seat?

No, that couldn't be. He had gone through a lot of trouble to keep it empty, especially with all the girls thronging him for it.

Perhaps he was waiting for her to sit first?...

Goldie takes a sit. But still, Ryan does nothing but look at her. His staring was making her uncomfortable.

For some unknown reason, Ryan found that he was not vigorously opposed to having the bird girl take the reserved seat.

It wasn't the worst thing ever. Besides, she seemed rather interesting. He was curious about her. 

…

The whole class is stunned stiff. Ryan had let Goldie sit in his reserved seat!

The seat which he had let no one else sit in, not even his fellow jocks!

Did that mean he had actually been reserving the seat for her???!

The silent class swiftly roars with a noisy bustle as everyone reacts with shock.

Ryan had reserved a seat for the school damsel! 

He was even staring at her!

"Does that mean he likes her?", asks a fellow jock in a hushed whisper.

"No way! Ryan never likes girls!", responds another jock. All the jocks/ student-athletes knew Ryan well. He never paid attention to girls.

"Ugh!", exclaims Elaine out loud, burning in the flames of frustration.

She knew, more than anyone that Ryan must like Goldie. He paid her attention and even reserved her the best seat in class!

She bites down bitterly, grinding her pencil between her clenched teeth as she bites back her tears of envy.

Goldie was stealing Ryan away!

'I won't let her… Never!'

...

"Class… settle down!", announces the homeroom teacher, calling the noisy class back to order.

They had several activities to get to, starting with the first class of the day, Math!

The announcement brings the ruckus under control as everyone fetches their Math books for the class, and Ryan finally takes his gaze away from Goldie.

'She still didn't say thank you…', he murmurs within himself.

He had saved her earlier in the morning and saved her a seat too, and she didn't even seem to notice! Neither did she even want to take a second look at him!

Of course, he couldn't help but feel rather ignored. The beauty paid him no attention.

But would he settle for that?

Of course not!

'No one ignores Ryan Muller!'

___

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After a good series of classes, Goldie turns to the side to spot Ryan, still looking at her from the side.

Instantly, she turns away, panicked. The whole day, Ryan had been staring at her in between classes!

'What is going on? Why is he staring at me?!!'

Goldie questions, freaking out.

'It's probably because of what happened this morning! He must think I'm a weirdo!'

Indeed, Ryan was curious about what happened this morning… about how such a beautiful girl had managed to sound exactly like a hawk. It was incredible. Quite fascinating.

But it was not the reason why he had found himself staring at her all morning.

Actually, he did not know the exact reason why he found himself drawn to her. He just felt she was different. She was definitely an interesting character, shrinking away every time she saw him gazing at her.

'So nervous…', he observes as he watches her turn away.

'She wouldn't even look me in the eyes, even once. Hmmm…'

He didn't like that. She seemed scared. 

'Is she scared of me?...'

It didn't seem very likely, but it felt like she didn't want to be this close to him. Very unlike other girls. On the contrary, it made him want to be all the closer!

He wondered what she would do if he came closer…

'Gosh!... What the-?!

Stop looking at me!', Goldie panics, burying her head beneath her arms in embarrassment.

He takes another look at her…

She was acting so funny again, it made him laugh.

'What is she doing?… Haha!'

'So beautiful! How on earth did I not notice her before?', he wonders.

Just then, the bell rings signifying the end of class!

'Finally! I can escape!', reasons Goldie, elated.

She could finally escape Ryan's burning gaze! 

Instantly, she gathers up all her stuff into her arms, and speeds off, hurrying out of the class, even before the History teacher.

And indeed, everyone in the class, including Ryan is left stunned by her sudden swift disappearance.

But little did she know, something even more disastrous was quickly coming her way.

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