Here it was. The official countdown that made me a nervous wreck. It was officially one month until we graduated and it ran alongside the biggest, most talked about prom and leavers party I've ever have to attend.

I didn't want to go.

I had no one to go with, and didn't actually know many people in this school. I transferred here at the beginning of our final year thanks to my dads new job, which meant leaving my favourite house and school and upping sticks half way across the country right before my final exams. I started at St James's with one goal in my mind; keep my head down and pass my exams. I've already had a few of them, early ones that count towards your final grade, and I've done pretty well so far. I didn't want girls or guys or love making my grades fall. Now we're in the examination period, I've decided to open up a little more to people so that I could at least have some friends... but I'm wondering if it's too little too late.

I walked into class with a smile on my face which was a contrast to every other person in the room who had looked like they were attending a debate. The mood of the room was tense, all the girls eyeing up their competition and turning their noses up. Some were even scowling at others in the room. I wandered over to my desk and sat next to my newly made friend, Rae.

"So... what did I miss?" I said as my eyes scanned the room once more, pretty much every person looking like they were chewing a wasp. I gulped heavily as Rae looked over at me with a dumbfounded look on her face.

"Have you been living under a rock, Leah?" She smirked at me. "It's the ultimate popular girl nightmare... Liam is newly single and has announced he wants to take the best girl as his date to the graduation, leavers party and prom." I let out a thankful smile, at least nothing serious had happened!

"So it's like a really under budget version of 'The Bachelor'?" I smirked again.

"Well yeah!" She nodded. "He's in the process of compiling his list of girls and he's releasing it at lunch. Each girl gets a day of his attention and then he picks on the day before prom." She listed all these facts as if they were common knowledge, which clearly they were to everyone but me.

"Well good luck to them. All thirty of them." I said almost sarcastically. Was this really what people our age were worried about? Whether a popular guy went to prom with you? In a few years time, I'm barely going to speak to anyone from this school so there's no point in fussing and making an idiot of myself.

"You never know - you could be on that list!" She looked over at me deviously, a small smirk rising from her lips. I let out a guffaw, quickly covering my mouth with my hand as a few popular girls threw dirty looks at me.

"Rae, I've never even said hi to Liam. We've never spoken. I definitely won't be on that list..." I shook my head, diffusing the thought, but something else replaced it. "Wait! You're in his class, aren't you?" She rested her head on her hands, her elbows propping her up on the table.

"Yes."

"And you're not wetting your pants with excitement over the prospect of being one of the thirty?" By this point my sarcasm was overflowing. I gripped my hands together and batted my eyelashes. Rae let out a breathy laugh and shook her head.

"Me? Contending for the popular guy's heart with all these popular, fit, beautiful girls? I highly doubt he'd even think to consider me." She focused her attention to the front as the teacher quickly noted everyone that was in attendance and left again. "There'd be no way in hell."

A smile grew on my face. "But you were paired up with him for that coursework and he got a good grade for it. If anything he'd remember that! Do you remember the snarky remarks those girls said when you got chosen to be with him?" She nodded. "Well then. Allow me to wait until lunchtime to prove that you will be on this list. You're just as beautiful as they are."

"You're just saying that to stay on my good side." She said slyly.

"Trust me." I said frankly. She gave me a slightly confused glare but smiled afterwards.

"I do. Thank you."

The bell rang to signify first class. All the girls stood up and rushed out as quickly as possible, the guys groaning and rolling their eyes as they sluggishly left the room.

"You think they're all trying to get a final moment with Liam?" I laughed as we walked out of the room and straight into someone who wasn't looking where they were going. The mobile phone in their hand flew up in the air as this person and I collided, both stumbling backwards. I looked up just as the phone was crash landing and grabbed it before it hit the floor.

"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out before I even looked at the person. "Here you go." I held their phone out as I finally looked at their face. The guy towered over me, his brown hair was messily gelled up at the front and his blue eyes were striking. He offered me a soft smile as he took his phone back.

"No that was my fault. I was too busy on this thing." He looked down at his phone and then back up at me. "You're Leah right? And Rae?" His gazed moved to my friend who was smiling her best movie premiere smile.

"Yeah, hi Conor!" She voiced as she gave me a nudge. "How are you?"

"Good thanks, well other than this Liam thing! Everyone thinks talking to me is going to get them in, or that I know who he's picked already! I keep telling them it's Liam's choice and he's keeping his cards close to his chest, but no one seems to listen!" His smile faded slightly as he moved his gaze to the floor.

"I'm sorry to hear that. It must be annoying because it feels like no one wants to talk to you for you, but to try and get in with Liam. That sucks." I said, placing a hand on his arm instinctively. "Don't worry, it'll die down after the list goes out at lunch. It'll only be one a day from then." I let out a small laugh so he knew my last sentence was a joke. He let out a little laugh in reply.

"Strangely that made me feel better. Thanks." His phone buzzed in his hand five times in a row. "Ah sorry guys, it's Liam. I'll have to take this. It was nice to speak with you both." He waved to us as he answered his phone. "Hey Liam, what's up?"

"Oh my god." Rae blurted out once Conor was out of earshot. "How do you do it? You go all 'thoughtful loving girl' and he loves every second of it! You do realise that he's Liam's best friend? That could get you places!" I place a hand on Rae's arm to calm her.

"Rae, I just spoke to him like a normal person because I am thoughtful and nice. It's not an act. He's got a lot of pressure from all those girls fighting for Liam!"

"He's going to talk to you again today. I know it."