“ Friendship is the bedrock of every relationship. ”
***
— Joel. —
Friday approached before I could blink my eyes and found myself wondering if all of this is like a calm before the storm as things have just been too good. 
Despite the unsureness I felt about the presentation, I knew I had to do it so as not to disappoint Cecile, who I still found myself wondering how she'd become a priority in my life. 
It's been barely two months since I've known her, I can't start growing feelings for her already. Can I?
“ Hey, Handsome. ” A gentle tap on my shoulders brought me out of my thoughts and I didn't have to turn around to know who it was. 
“ Hey. ” I looked at her, who was looking super athletic in her sportswear. I found myself if she did work outs seeing how physically fit she looked, there's no doubt she could take a less athletic guy down in seconds. 
“ Hello. ” Her voice brought me out of my trance-like state. “ Are you okay? ” The concern in her voice was really heartwarming. 
“ I am. I just got distracted, sorry. ” I almost bit my tongue as the final word dropped out of my mouth. Sorry? When exactly did I start saying that? I honestly don't know. It didn't take me long to find out when. It was then I understood the meaning of the saying. “ The company you keep determines who you are. ”
“ Hey, you are lost again. ” I snapped out of my dazed state at her words. 
“ Sorry. ” This time, I was intentional about it and funny enough, it wasn't as hard as I'd once thought it would.
“ Okay, but you'll still have to tell me what's going on in your mind, deal? ” Her gaze was locked on me as she awaited my response. 
I found myself lost in those words which reminded me so much of jemmy and I knew at that moment that I couldn't refuse her. “ Deal. ”
“ Great. Let's head in. ” She smiled, hooking her hands in mine and dragging me forward into the partly filled class. 
Our entrance attracted the attention of our other classmates, who stared at us with questions in their gaze. Others like Stacy had a grin plastered on her face. It made me wonder if she didn't care that I was moving too fast from her best friend. Then her words from the other day rang in my head. “ She’d want us to move on, you know. ”
Cecile and I took a seat at the same table, so far she had found a way to make herself comfortable at my table. 
I'd never shared a table with anyone before, so this was a new experience and so far, I'm enjoying it as her company was too difficult to not love. 
“ How I wish, Mr Lucas wouldn't show up today. ” I fought the urge to chuckle at her words. It's no news that Cecile hated math and struggled so hard with it. “ Just admit that you didn't attempt your assignments. ”
“ How did you — ” Her head was raised almost immediately and she stared wide eyed at me. I must admit, in that moment she could be likened to a thief who was caught in the act. 
“ Your complaint said it all. ”
“ Don't look at me that way, okay? It’s not my fault that I find math difficult, okay? ” I raised my eyebrow at how defensive she sounded. 
“ I know, but it's your duty as a student to push beyond your limits. ” She went silent for several minutes, and I thought she'd given up until I heard her silent request. “ How about you tutor me in math? ”
“ Me? ” Her request had caught me off guard and I suddenly didn't know how to react to it. 
“ Yeah. ”
“ I will think about it. ”
“ Please do, Joe. ” The pleading look in her eyes made my heart melt and I'd almost given in to her until I thought about the cons. 
“ I will. ” I found myself in deep thoughts as I wondered If I really wanted to take the risk. 
Is it worth it? I wondered, I stared back at her pleading eyes and I knew without any ounce of doubt that it was. 
…
The most awaited moment arrived when Mr Faye asked us to begin our presentations.  
As a front seater, I knew instantly that I would have to make my presentation, earlier than most people. 
And I was right.  
“ Cecile Grayson. You can step out now for your presentation. ” My heart skipped a beat at his words. 
“ Okay, Sir. ”
Contrary to what I was expecting, Cecile wasn't nervous. Rather she stood up confidently and stepped out in front of the class. 
“ Hello, guys. I'm Cecile. ” She had a bright smile on her face which was very contagious and the atmosphere lightened at it. “ I would be presenting my painting of the Eiffel tower. ” She observed our expressions before revealing her painting.
  “ Wow. ” It was only then did I realize that I wasn't the only one that was totally blown away at the sight of her astounding painting. I'd guessed Cecile was talented, but I could never guess the extent of it given how humble she was. 
“ You are really talented, Miss Grayson. ” Mr Faye said and I couldn't help agreeing more. 
“ Thank you, sir. ” She bowed respectfully. 
“ My pleasure. Please proceed. ” 
“ Okay, Sir. ” She smiled again, before she continued. “ Paris is well known to be a city of love and romance. I believe everything about it revolves around that. ”
“ Unlike what I would have been expecting, I didn't spend hours researching the tower, all I needed was to paint a picture of it. ”
“ How, you might ask. ” She stared at my direction and our eyes locked. She gave me a faint smile which caused ripples in my chest. 
“ While painting I pondered a lot on the concept of love and romance and spent more time on love. Love is definitely not a new word to any of us and I believe we’ve all experienced it in one way or the other. ” 
“ I believe we all know that the feeling of being in love and knowing that you are loved is the best one ever. It makes you feel as if you are on top of the world and makes you feel like the luckiest person on planet earth. ” I smiled as her words resonated with me, it reminded me of how happy I was when jemmy had told me she also had feelings for me after I'd finally confessed my love for her. 
“ But, just as this feeling brings joy to a person. It can also bring great sadness and sorrow too. While some get to enjoy the beautiful and sweet side of love, others aren’t so lucky as all they experience is the painful side of it. ” 
“ Love is beautiful, regardless of how much pain it may bring if unrequited or lost. And this is what my painting symbolizes; The beauty of love, in spite of the pain and tears that might come with it. Thank you. ” The class roared in applause as she ended her speech.
“ Thank you for the wonderful presentation, Miss Grayson. You may now head back to your seat. ”
“ It’s my pleasure, Sir. Thank you. ” She bowed once again, before heading towards me. 
“ So how was my presentation? ” Cecile inquired shamelessly before I could utter a single word. 
“ It was good. ”
“ Just good? ” I nearly chuckled at her raised eyebrow. 
“ It was amazing! I love it. ” 
“ Really? ” Her eyes glittered like stars as she spoke. “ Su — ”
 “ It seems like Miss Grayson has forgotten that a class is still ongoing. ” My Faye’s words interrupted us. 
“ I am sorry, sir. ” Despite how much she attempted to cover it, The awkwardness in her tone was still obvious and I fought hard to hold back my laughter. 
“ It's your fault. ” She muttered after she’d taken a seat beside me.
“ Mine, How? ”
“ Because — ”
“ Joel Maverick, it’s time for your presentation. ” Mr Faye’s words interrupted our conversation yet again and I couldn't help sighing. 
“ Okay, sir. ” I replied, standing up with my still packaged painting. 
“ All the best. ” Her sudden words surprised me and I smiled. “ Thank you. ”
As I stood in front of the classroom. My legs suddenly became like jelly and I felt paralyzed suddenly. 
Though it was a simple class presentation, to me it felt like I was going to be given an autobiography of myself and it's scary.
Nevertheless, I decided to do it afraid. “ Good day, Class. I'm Joel and here’s my painting of the Eiffel tower. ” My hands instantly began unwrapping it and almost immediately, I heard gasps all around the room.  
“ That's ethereal. ” I heard someone say and the simple comment fuelled my confidence. 
“ Your painting is beautiful, Joel. ” Mr Faye’s unexpected words made my heart soar. 
“ Thank you, Sir. ”
“ My pleasure. Please begin your presentation. ” 
“ Alright, sir. ”
I took a deep calming breath before I began speaking again. “ Okay. My painting is based on Love and loss. As we all know there's a wide gap between those two yet, they’ve been brought to close contact so many times. ”   
“ I’d once loved someone so deeply that I felt like I wouldn't be able to live without her. But my worst fear came through when I watched her breathe her last. I survived, even though I think I never would. ”  
“ Losing her was very painful and till date, the pain is still as raw as it was. ” A sniff from the middle of the class made me pause and it didn't take me long to realize where it came from. 
I started feeling guilty about reminding her of her loss. “ I’m sorry. ” I sent it to her, but she shook her head and replied. “ It's okay. ” Then she gave me a smile that urged me to continue. 
“ I see love as fire. Which can make or mar a person. Despite the risk it comes with, we definitely can't stay away from it. We wouldn't want to live a life of misery and isolation, would we? ”
“ Love is sweet, it's beautiful, it's lovely, it's amazing. Just like Cecile had mentioned, the feeling of love is the best one ever. but, it can also destroy a person. I have heard of people going to lengths all in the name of love. So it’s got both pros and cons as other things in life. We need it and definitely can't hide from it, we simply need to learn to maintain a balance. Thank you. ” 
“ Wow! That was spectacular! a round of applause for Mr Maverick! ” The class roared in applause at his words.
I stared in Cecile’s direction and I was amazed at the merriment of her face as she clapped with all her might. For a moment, I forgot where I was and got lost in those pretty eyes of hers. 
 “ That was an amazing performance, Joel. keep it up. ” 
“ Thank you, Sir. ” I bowed respectfully, before finally heading to my seat. 
“ That was amazing, Joel! proud of you! ” Cecile beamed happily, completely forgetting that we were still in a class.
“ Miss Grayson? ” Mr Faye interrupted us before I could say a word. 
“ Oh, I am sorry sir. ” 
“ Hm. ” He retracted his gaze from ours to face the class. 
“ Thank you, Cecile. ”
“ It’s my pleasure. ” She said with a smile that reminded me of the most beautiful sunshine. It was also one I find myself slowly growing to fall in love with on a daily basis. 
***
[ A/N : * Cough * What do you think of the chapter, guys? ]