Chapter 2: Small Talk?

Monica POV

    The three of us walk into Math, noticing the five new desks in the front of the room-- and I realize we sit exactly behind three of those desks, so that means we’ll be sitting behind the new guys.
    My heart’s still racing from the guy that winked at me, and I see the boys talking to the Math teacher, a short old man who wears glasses. He’s giving them some textbooks and notebooks, and soon enough they’re sitting down in front of us.
    The one in the middle looks back at us, smiling. “Hi, I’m Liam.”
    “Louis, the one who likes girls who like carrots,” The one to Liam’s left grins mischievously, while we all laugh.
    “Harry,” The one to Louis’ left flips his massive curly hair a bit, giving Divya a flirty little smile-- Kealy nudges her.
    “Zayn,” The one on Liam’s right-- the one who winked at me-- says, a little quietly, but smiles too.
    “Niall-- I’m Irish,” The boy one the far right says, speaking in an Irish accent-- I know instantly that Christina would like him.
    Divya smiles at them. “I’m Divya, and oh my God, I প্রণয় your accents!” Then, she sat up straight and started speaking in a British accent. “In fact, do আপনি like mine, boys?”
    The boys burst out laughing, and Harry smirks. “I bet it’s not as good as Zayn’s American accent, eh, Zayn?”
    Zayn clears his throat and speaks in an American accent. “Ohmygosh this is great.”
    The three of us girls start giggling, and Kealy’s grinning at them. “I always knew I’d like British boys-- I’m like, the ultimate অনুরাগী of everything Britain!”
    Liam gives her a smile. “Perfect. England’s our প্রথমপাতা no matter what-- well, except for Nialler over here.”
    “And do আপনি like America?” Kealy asks.
    The boys glance at each other, then Harry runs a hand over his curls. “Yeah, I think we do. Right, boys?”
    “But nothing can শীর্ষ food,” Niall says, and Zayn gives a small smile.
    “Nialler here loves food,” Louis points out. “If আপনি eat his last chip, he’ll be very sad.”
    “I once ate his last chip,” Zayn says.
    “What happened?” I ask.
    “I threatened to shave off his hair,” Niall says proudly, grinning.
    “Zayn wouldn’t want that to happen,” Liam chuckles.
    “Yep, so I’m not planning to eat his last chip anytime soon. IF Niall gives আপনি his last chip, that means you’re special.”
    “Awww, that’s so sweet... In a weird way,” Divya says, laughing.
    “So are all of আপনি staying here the whole year? অথবা just the first semester?” Kealy asks-- I glance at Divya and know that we’re both hoping they’re staying the whole year.
    Harry flips his hair a bit. “Our mana--”
    Louis clears his throat a bit, looking sideways at Harry-- Harry shuts up immediately, and there’s an awkward silence after that.
    “Our mums aren’t sure yet,” Harry finishes, though I know the three of us can tell that he wasn’t telling the exact truth.
    “Oh, well, I think we’re all hoping that আপনি stay the whole year,” Kealy says, sounding upbeat-- I can tell she’s trying to make this less awkward.
    Liam glanced at all the boys. “I think we’re hoping that, too.”

************

Kealy POV

    Math was absolutely boring-- it was my least পছন্দ subject, and still is.
    The only good thing about that class was talking with Liam, Harry, Zayn, Louis, and Niall-- God, they were so cute and nice!
    The ঘণ্টা rang, and we all got out of our seats-- the three of us girls compared our schedules with the boys.
    “Me and Div here have Chemistry next,” I say.
    “That’s great! Me and Haz here have the class with you,” Liam says, smiling.
    Divya flashes Harry a smile. “So, we four ready to go?”
    “Absolutely,” Harry smiles back at her-- as we exit the class, I can hear Monica and the three other boys still comparing the schedules-- taking out my phone, I start group texting with my friends.

    Kealy: Me and Div have Chem পরবর্তি with Liam & Harry-- what about you, Monica?

    Monica: I’ve got Physics with Zayn-- yay! God, these boys are so nice-- British guys are so much better than a hundred Adam’s.

Divya: Please, a hundred Adam’s doesn’t even compare with these guys! Wonder how Christina and Vicki will like them.

Monica: Speaking of, Kealy, they’re getting our texts, right?

Liam nudges me a little bit. “Wouldn’t want to get caught with your phone, right?” He points to the door, and I’m surprised that we already walked all the way to Chemistry class.
“Oh, right. I got distracted,” I say, putting my phone in my boot-- Liam raises his eyebrow, smiling, while I shrug. “It’s a habit.”
He opens the door for me, and I grin at him-- Divya and Harry are already in the room, sitting পরবর্তি to each other in the same lab table.
“Guess this means we’ll have to sit together, too,” Liam says, putting an arm around me, walking towards the টেবিল behind Divya and Harry. “Not that I mind, আপনি know.”
I try not to blush too hard as we take our seats, the teacher passing out our notes for the দিন and the lab assignment-- I groan with the other students.
“Now, come on-- আপনি get to work with your lab partner for this, so it shouldn’t be too hard, guys,” The teacher states, her heels clicking as she goes to the white board and writes down some notes.
“The person sitting পরবর্তি to আপনি right now will be your permanent আসন for the first semester, unless I have to সরানো you,” Ms. Kinnian, the teacher, turns back to face us, rearranging the papers on her desk. “Now, why don’t we welcome two of the five new students from England, Liam and Harry.”
The boys wave, and I can feel the jealous girls’ stares, and know I’ll have to contend with them from Liam.
But after waving, he smiles back at me, and that gives me hope that maybe we’ll have a chance at dating.
My phone buzzes again, and as soon as Ms. Kinnian turns her back to us, I crouch down, pretending to tie the laces on my boots-- instead, I take out my phone, পাঠ করা the newest text message.
    After পাঠ করা it, I receive another text from the same person-- and again, and again-- and I know that he won’t stop texting me.
    Shutting my phone off and putting it back in my boot, I sit up again, finding Divya glancing staring at me.
    Who is it? She mouths.
    The stalker, I mouth back, shaking my head, feeling even worse-- what if he got in my way of trying to be with Liam?