"You're on the school council already? I thought voting hadn't started yet?"
"It's a meeting with the Headmaster for all prospective candidates. Campaigning starts next week." Another thing to add to my unending list of tasks to start on. 
Tay sighed and a frown marred her features. I nudged her slightly. "Listen, it isn't rocket science. You just need to get him to see you as more than a friend, more than a fling."
"How?"
"Spend more time with him, and around him." My eyes caught on a poster outside my classroom as I slowed to a stop. "The drama club are going to be holding auditions for the annual school play in a few months. You could help out with that as he's preparing for it now."
Tay nodded, hugging me quickly. "Thanks, Fallon. I'll see you later!"
I entered my Maths class and was about to take my seat at the front when my teacher, Mr Saldo, beckoned me to his desk. 
"You alright, Sir?" I asked, cocking my head.
"I will be if my best student isn't writing away in a notebook all lesson, instead of paying attention." He said, giving me a pointed look. My hand flew to my chest. 
"Ouch, you didn't need to call me out like that. And it was only once."
"More than ten times, Fallon."
"That was in Year 12," I told him, smugly. "I'm a new person now. And you've been counting?"
"Yeah, unlike you." His dark eyes crinkled as he snickered at his joke. 
"That was poor, Sir. Anyway, I only daydream or write when I've finished the work."
"There's always more work to be done, Fallon." My teacher lowered his voice and leaned forward in his seat.  "Especially with the field you want to go in."
No-one else but him (and Luca, unfortunately) knew about my goals around engineering. I'd mentioned it to him offhandedly, expecting him to shut it down. But he'd taken one good look at me and said it just made sense. From then, Mr Saldo had been helping me research and plan to pursue an engineering career. 
He went above and beyond the duties of a teacher, something I'd never forget. 
"That's what I wanted to speak to you about quickly, before class starts." He continued. "Have you heard of the ECAT?"
I nodded. "The admissions test you need to take to apply for engineering at university?"
"Yes. Fallon, your grades are perfect, and you have plenty of extracurriculars. The last thing you need to ace is this. And you don't have long to prepare."
My eyebrows furrowed. "I don't?"
He shook his head, his expression encouraging but not very. "The latest you can take it is January, as engineering is one of the few degrees that have a later application deadline. However, we're already in mid September."
"Right." I nodded, letting out a deep breath. The classroom door opened and people spilled in, cutting our conversation short. 
Mr Saldo handed me a post-it note with a few words scribbled on it. "That's the contact of a good friend of mine. He offers classes to help prepare for the ECAT. Give him a call and arrange something." 
The smile that spread across my face was the most genuine one in a while. "What would I do without you, Sir?"
He ducked his head with a pleased, shy smile. "Off to your seat."
I practically skipped back and sat, immediately taking out my journal despite my teacher's warnings. I stuck the post-it note on the page for my tasks, then flipped to the front, my pen poised in my hand.
JOURNAL ENTRY #467
The beginning of the week never meant much. To me, it was the beginning of my routine, something already pre-set for me. School, photoshoots, Luca, socialising, school council. 
In other words, fake smiles, fake laughs, fake happiness, fake contentment and real tiredness. 
But this week, I have two new things to focus on. ECAT, something that will take me one step closer to my goal. To my dream, of being something I chose for myself. 
And a stranger, someone who shouldn't inhabit my thoughts. Someone I've only met twice, yet he has such a profound effect on me that I can't explain.
Oddly enough, I don't want to explain the effect. I don't want to understand it. I like the mystery of it, as there's nothing mysterious about my life. Everything seems to be planned, set and thought of in advance. 
Except him.