"Why do you hang out with those people if you don't even like them?" Ashwin asks as he leans closer, whispering to me.

I shrug, "They are my best friend's squad."

He shakes his head and just as he's about to say something, the bell rings, signaling the end of lunch break. Pretending I didn't notice he wasn't done giving advice, I just grabbed my bag and started making my way to class.

We heard an intercom beep during our second last lesson, notifying us of Mrs. Amory's absence.

"All senior Chemistry learners should make their way to Mr. Robin's class." Was the last instruction before it beeped once again.

Everyone suddenly squealed and I already knew what was to come.

Shelby turned to me, ignoring our English teacher in front, talking about our upcoming assignment later on in the year about the Marvel comic house.

"Should I invite Ashwin over?" She wiggled her eyebrows in a suggestive manner.

"For what?" I questioned, pretending to be clueless.

She rolled her eyes, "Duh... we have substitution so obviously, we'll be playing spin the bottle."

I internally sighed. I don't know why she treats me differently at school than at home. But I guess popularity does this to people. She doesn't want to look like a weakling or a softie even though it's me, her best friend, that she's dealing with.

"Oh. No," I told her, already knowing that it wasn't my final answer yet.

"Why?!" She whined, "I thought you two liked each other." I heard a few snickers from the people in the nearby tables.

Shelby sent them each a glare. "Shut up, nobody's talking to you!" They each started turning away in shame.

This, I was grateful for because I was embarrassed beyond measure. She then sent me an apologetic smile.

"By the way, the party is this Saturday. I already got my outfit. Wanna come over to my house and we can help each other get ready?" She offered, reminding me of that day I was supposed to help her with 'shopping' for this outfit, but ended up going to the movies with her and Miles instead.

I smiled, "Sure."

"Don't worry," Shelby sighed with a small smile as she put her arm around my shoulders. She's really good at comforting. I remember when I used to feel like the walls were closing in on me and I couldn't take it anymore. She has always been there for me. "At least you'll get to possibly kiss Ashwin?" She raised her eyebrows in excitement.

A very tight smile left my lips at that moment.

I'm sorry but ew. Not in a bad way, but you know when you finally get over someone and you realise that he wasn't 'all that' in the first place? That's exactly what happened with Ashwin.

I'm in my 'what did I ever see in him?' phase.

"I'm inviting Ashwin over," She started, much to my dismay. "I know you Tyler. You always say one thing, but mean the other. Right?"

I don't say anything to that, instead I just shrug and we walk to class together after she asks another one of the jocks to get Ashwin before he gets to his IT class.

"So... who's spinning first?" Oliver asked, running his hands together in anticipation.

"Since you're the one who's already talking, how about you spin, dickhead?" Miles said with a smirk. Miles is good at making friends, especially popular ones. He had already made good friends with the jocks and it's hardly been a week since he came to this school.

Of course, his looks are a great help. Obviously the popular squad would do anything in their power to secure the cutest guy in the school over to their side.

Oliver held both sides of the bottle with the tips of his fingers and spinned the empty water bottle.

I could feel my heart beat faster as the bottle started slowing down it's movements. The bottle better not point to Shelby, because that would mean that she and Miles would have to kiss. And that bottle better not point to Ashwin because then, I'd have to kiss him. Shelby made Miles sit opposite her and also urged me to sit opposite Ashwin.

So, either way... I'm fucked if the bottle comes anywhere near the four of us. I don't think I can handle seeing anymore of their PDA. Not only does it make me feel a tad bit jealous, but it's also annoying watching people make out in front of you.

The bottle comes to a stop and points to the vice cheerleading captain, Tanya and Derrick, one of the football players.

Derrick bites his lower lip and stands up excitedly while Tanya blushed slightly. As soon as they reach each other, Derrick pulls her close and closes in on her as the distance between their lips becomes non-existent.

Tanya is left panting at the end with the largest grin ever, and the guys commend Derrick on his 'good work'.

Ugh, men.

"Aw, she's blushing!" Trish squealed, making the smile on Tanya's face expand.

Ashwin checks the time on his watch, a look of concern on his face. "Um guys, I really have to go. Class started seven minutes ago, I really don't know what you called me for."

Patricia rolls her eyes, "Don't be such a bore, you moron."

"Did I invite myself over?" He questioned rhetorically. "Because really, you seriously need to consider that part before coming at me like that."

As a result, everyone turned to Shelby and she pushed a strand of her hair behind her hair, rolling her lips back nervously.

"WelI, I was helping out a friend." She shrugged. "Tyler needs a boyfriend like NOW! She'll eventually get depressed if she doesn't get one like asap and finally satisfy her sexual needs!" She ended with a small awkward laugh.

The group snickered and I blinked a few times and looked down at my hands, feeling rather embarrassed. When I looked up, Miles wasn't laughing at all. Instead, his intense gaze lingered on me for a long time.

He slowly tilted his head at me as if analysing whether I was okay or not. When his eyebrows raised slightly at me, I just shrugged and tried smiling at him, but I could tell from the way he looked at me that he still wasn't convinced.

"You know," Miles suddenly spoke out, breaking all their laughter as they quieted down to hear what he wanted to say. "It's kind of better to be inexperienced. At least her parts will get worn out a lot later than all of yours."

When he said the last part, Ashwin snorted out loud, immediately receiving glares from some of the cheerleaders, and I felt my face involuntarily broke out into a smile as Miles turned to look at me. Having caught sight of the smile on my face, he smiled softly and winked at me.

The squad was still quiet after his harsh blow towards them, but no one dared to speak out against him.

Shelby eyed us suspiciously and I turned my gaze away from her. Miles, having caught on to Shelby's reaction, just kissed her on the cheek and that's when she seemingly let it go and urged everyone to continue with the game.

It's either Miles was starting to warm up to their relationship, or he did that so Shelby wouldn't suspect anything about us. Not that there was anything to suspect... Miles and I hadn't done anything inappropriate. 

Yet. 

I shut out the stubborn, annoying voice in my head.

Miles would never go for me.