Today was the deadline for submitting university applications online. They took a seat next to each other and looked at their screens.

"Are you ready for this?" she asked, her face stony.

"I am, sensei."

"God, you really enjoy calling me that."

"It has a ring to it. And it's kind of cool," said Rafe.

"You're a dork."

"We both know I'm not," he replied.

"This is it," she said. After re-reading everything for a thousandth time, with a sigh she pressed 'submit' and had sent off the application. She'd done it. Everything else was now up to fate. Four out of five universities she picked in were in London.

"This is what we've been waiting for," he said in anticipation again.

"Hurry and click it already, I've submitted mine. Now you're making me all nervous," she snapped, glaring at him and his screen.

"Ha! You can't change yours now!"

"Rafe, you've done more than enough. There's nothing you can change now. Just submit it already."

With a heavy sigh he clicked the mouse. A message appeared on his screen with his ID number and confirmation.

"The actual offers will come through by post to the Headmaster. Miss McGrath will then hand them out to us."

"When will we have the results?"

"Tenth of April." She switched off her computer.

"We have a game that day," Rafe muttered. "Last one of the season."

The bell for lunch had rung and after a moment, Rafe's usual crowd except Luke walked in, asking him to come to lunch.

"We're going out to get food at Dim Sum. You coming?"

"Yeah, coming, as long as you're paying. Norah, wanna come?" Rafe asked.

She gave him a tight smile. "No. Definitely not."

"You guys go ahead, I will catch up."

Norah didn't miss the confused exchange of looks between Hazel and Jack and Alex.

Rafe turned to her. "Why don't you want to hang out with us for once? They're a fun bunch once you get to know them."

"Rafe, I've been going to school with them longer than you have. I think I know better what kind of bunch they are."

"You know, you should be less judgmental. Get out of your comfort zone. They are not bad. You can't make up your mind because of one girl." He grabbed his school bag and opened the door for her as they both left the classroom.

"Honestly Rafe, I am fine without their company. You go on," she said as she looked at the group lingering around outside the school's main doors.

Rafe was about to say something, but in a split second Luke unexpectedly barged into Norah, stepping on her foot. She lost her balance from the impact and almost slammed into the lockers. The impact surprised Rafe, but he quickly caught Norah by the waist and shoved Luke away, swearing at him.

Luke had been trying to catch a rugby ball that flew past them onto the floor. "Shit!" He quickly apologised to Norah. "Are you okay? Sorry, didn't see you," he said sheepishly. Miss Gray came out of the classroom and gave Luke and Alex detention immediately for playing rugby in the corridor.

"You okay?" Rafe asked as Norah assured them both that she was absolutely fine. She was dazed. Her left foot on the other hand...

As if reading her thoughts, Rafe immediately reacted. "Luke, let her step on your foot."

The blond looked confused and blinked at both of them. Norah looked at Rafe with newfound adoration.

"Just do it. If you stepped on her foot, it's bad luck if she doesn't return the favour."

"What kind of stupid-"

"Just do it," Rafe insisted almost angrily.

He hadn't realised that he still held her by the waist until Norah place a hand on his, giving him nod of thanks for his rescue. Luke put his right foot forward and Norah softy pressed on his muddy shoe with her own. She mouthed a thank you to him while Luke just looked confused.

"Good. So I'll see you later?" Rafe said, nudging her arm. She nodded and began walking the other way. Rafe frowned.

"Where are you going? Cafeteria is that way."

"If you must know," she said dryly, looking back, "I'm paired up with William for the Economics project. So we're having lunch together to get a head start on it."

Luke took the moment to leave quietly, moping at his newly earned detention.

Rafe looked at her in confusion. "William? William Manuel?"

"No, Shakespeare actually," she replied.

"As in your crush William?"

She let out a frustrated growl and pushed him toward the doors. "Not my crush. My classmate. Go away if you're planning on making fun of me again."

She noticed that Rafe's entire mood soured. "Don't study with him," he said in a husky voice. There was something sexy in his rough, raspy voice. It was even more pronounced when he spoke in Italian.

Norah let out a chuckle. "Oh I see what's going on," she said.

"You do?"

"Yes. I'm still your tutor Rafe. It's just William and I have to work together on this project, it's not like I'm teaching him. We'll finish it in two days. You and I will still have our regular lessons, so don't worry. I love how dedicated you are," she said giving his arm a squeeze.

He looked at her with some bewilderment. "You are so dense sometimes."

Norah frowned. "What?"

"Just... never mind. Make sure you don't miss our lessons because of Manuel. In fact, let him do all the work, he won't need you for it. But I do."

She shook her head in amusement. "Just go to lunch and stop worrying. I'll see you after school."

"Oh wait, by the way," he said with a grin, tugging her arm back to him. "It's my birthday next week. I'm celebrating. Will you come?"

That took her by surprise. So he was a Capricorn. That explained quite a few things.

"I thought you were broke."

"Yes, thank you for reminding me," he said dryly. "It's being organised for me. You coming?"

"Rafe, you know I don't go to parties. I don't like your crowd," she said. "You don't need me there."

"Norah, of course I need you there. You're my sensei," he said it as if being a sensei was like being the center of the universe. "And don't you want to meet my brother?"

She stopped to think for a minute. "He's coming?"

"Yes, he's the one organising this whole thing. We had a chat on the phone and he said if I can't have my 18th birthday in London, then he'll bring London here. I mean obviously compared to the standards of how I throw parties, this will be subpar but it's better than nothing. This is my eighteenth, for god's sake."

"Rafe, I had my eighteen birthday in the pub. With fish and chips and a beer. In Buckinghamshire."

"If you think that makes me feel better, it really doesn't," he said, looking like he was going to sulk.

"Where will the party be?"

"Vodka Rev."

Norah did want to meet Rafe's brother. Partly out of curiosity and admiration. She still had high hopes to start her law career in the very firm that belonged to Rafe's brother, Emile. But to go to a party with Rafe's friends? Everyone getting loud and drunk, girls stepping on your feet with high heels, deafening music, the sticky floors of a bar and the smell of people's breath after shots...

"You look like I've just invited you to check out the sewers..." he said.

She snapped out of her thoughts. "I'll think about it, okay?"

"Won't take no for an answer. I already invited Benny and Louis. Louis won't be in town, but Benny is coming. So stop playing hard to get," Rafe said, walking away with a wink.

Norah imagined Benny being over the moon for getting invited to the party. He needed a night out. He's been sulky ever since that nasty incident with the car paint and no amount of persuading would make him report this it to the police or the headmaster.

Slightly flustered from that sexy wink of his, Norah went to meet William. Throughout their study session, she mulled over her decision to go. As a good friend, she must go. And this was the perfect opportunity to make an impression on Emile Ferreira. Good excuse to relax after the uni applications. She was grateful that Benny was invited too. At least she wouldn't be alone.

"Are you okay? You're really out of it today," Will said. As he smiled, there was a dimple on his right cheek.

"Yeah... Are you going to Rafe's birthday party?"

"Yep. Are you?"

"I guess so... don't really have an excuse not to go...Don't you usually go back to London on the weekends?"

William gave a crooked smile. "Kinda hit a rough patch with my girlfriend. I don't even know if I have a girlfriend to go back to. So I'll hang around Berkshire for a couple of weekends."

"Oh... I see."

"But go to the party for sure. It'll be fun."

Will it really? Norah thought to herself, already deciding to go after all.