“Umm, Kashan!” David called out. It was right after school; the bell denoting the end of the last period had rung only a couple of minutes ago, and it had definitely been hard to spot Kashan in the midst of the other students mingling outside in the grounds.

Lily frowned. “What could David want with you?” she asked, sounding faintly alarmed. She knew he was the lady-charmer alright; but she also knew that she had to keep Kashan away from him, seeing how he was always hanging out with Tanzeel. In her opinion, the more Kashan saw Tanzeel, the worse things could, and would, get.

“Come on, let’s see,” Kashan said, jumping at the opportunity to get a good look at … no, not David – Tanzeel.

Before Lily could stop her, she had walked over to him. In the background, Lily hesitated, not sure if she really wanted to see what all this was about. “Yeah?” Kashan asked, trying to keep her eyes on David, and not let them stray on to the person next to him.

David smiled affably at her. “I was wondering if we could possibly meet somewhere after school?” he asked hopefully. “If you know what I mean,” he added, winking at her.

For a moment, Kashan felt her mind go blank; absolutely blank. Here she was, trying to get a certain someone’s attention – a certain someone who was now engaged in conversation with another boy, as if she did not exist at all – only to end up being asked out by his best friend.

“No, I don’t know what you mean,” she said, finally able to string two words together. “Explain.”

For the most fleeting of seconds, Tanzeel looked up, obviously astounded at this response. David passed him a look of absolute incredulity – it was apparent that David had never been talked to this way by a girl before – before turning to Kashan. “Explain?” he repeated. Kashan only nodded in reply.

“Well, I mean to say … will you go out with me?”

For a second, Kashan was tempted to say yes, only to teach him how he should stop acting as if everything would always go the way he wanted to, and every girl had eyes for nobody other than him. Than she quickly decided against it. “I’m sorry, but no,” she said casually. “Get yourself some other snogging buddy.” Because I’m in love with your best friend. Oh, and did I mention I think you’re a jerk? she thought inwardly.

David blinked. “Excuse me?”

“I said I’m sorry, but no. You can get yourself some other snogging buddy.” Kashan repeated, saying each word more slowly and more clearly than previously.

Finally, at long last, Tanzeel really did look up. For a moment, Kashan thought he was going to speak; maybe even ask her what she found lacking in his best friend. But he didn’t. He looked at her … and then he looked away.