Tomorrow is the first day of school, and I really want Paisley to ride with me again this year. She got her repaired car back in the middle of the summer, but to be honest, I really love our time together to and from school. I wanted to ask her the other night, but the time just wasn't right, and I didn't want to ruin a good moment.

I just have such conflicting feelings for her. One moment, she's so kind and polite, and I wonder why she would ever waste her time on someone like me. The next, we're arguing over some petty thing and just butt heads.

The one thing I can't deny though, is that I definitely enjoy spending time with Paisley. She's unlike any of my other friends, and I guess I crave that uniqueness.

For some reason, she makes me feel nervous and vulnerable like no one else had been able to. I guess it's because she put me in my place the first time we ever talked.

I pulled out my phone and decided to send her a text and extend an invitation to drive her to school.

To: Paisley- I know your car is fixed, but I was wondering if you still wanted to ride to school together? You don't have to if you don't want to though.

A couple minutes later, I was extremely relieved to have a reply from her.

From: Paisley- I'd love that! It actually makes getting up for school fun because I know I'll get to see a friend :D

To: Paisley- Great :) I'll pick you up at our normal time then. Have a good 'back-to-school' night's sleep.

From: Paisley- Sounds good! You too!

I set my alarm for tomorrow morning and then hit the sack, falling asleep immediately.

* * * * * * *

Paisley shut the car door behind her as she shoved her backpack in the back seat, and handed me a styrofoam cup of some steaming liquid.

"What's this?" I questioned, my eyebrow shooting up.

"A cup of 'get-through-the-first-day-of-school' coffee." She said, chuckling as she put on her seatbelt. She was wearing a floral printed dress, with some sandals and her hair pulled off to the side in a braid.

"Oh, thanks." I said, taking a sip as I backed out of the driveway.

"No problem. I was making myself one and figured I might as well make two. We're gonna need it since it's our first day of senior year." She said, excentuating the 'senior year' part. She was one of those people who was super excited for their senior year. And I was one of those people who couldn't wait to get the hell out of there.

"Oh, yeah. Cause we're super cool seniors now!" I said sarcastically. I know she hated when I did that.

"Oh, shut up Styles. Don't try to tell me you're not even a little bit excited."

"I'm not excited." I said blankly.

"Don't you have, like, one class you're looking forward to taking?" She urged. Leave it to Paisley to try to get me excited for school--on the way to school.

"No, I don't get excited for class." I said, a smile taking over my face. She should know this about me by now.

"Well, I'm excited." She said, sensing my doubtfulness and giving up.

"I'm glad you're excited." I told her genuinely. And it was true. Paisley being happy also kind of made me happy. Just because when she was happy this aura of joy just sort of radiated off of her, like no one I've ever met before. Maybe that's why everyone seemed to like her so much.

We pulled into the parking lot, and as usual, the whole student body was here early. I don't understand why they all feel the need to be early on the first day, but then get here ten minutes later during the rest of the year. What's so special about the first day? I get here at the same time, everyday of the year.

I quickly pulled into a spot and got out. Paisley did the same, grabbing her backpack from the backseat.

"I'll meet you out here after school." I said, motioning to the car.

"Okay! Good luck today." She said, smiling at me.

"Yeah, you too." I said sarcastically and turned away.

"Oh, cheer up." She smirked as we went our seperate ways.

I walked into the building, and just like last year, went to the very end of the hallway, where all my friends were standing in a little group. I walked up to them non-chalantly.

"Hey." I said.

"Harry, hi." Louis said.

"It's our last year." Liam said excitedly. God, he should go hang out with Paisley.

"Yeah, and then we can all get the hell out of here." Zayn said, obviously sharing my sympathies on this one. Liam just sort of cowered back.

"Hey, Harry. We missed you Saturday night. It was one hell of a back to school blast." Niall said.

"Yeah, you should have seen all the-" Luke started, but Ava cut him off.

"Luke!" She frowned at him.

"Something came up and I couldn't make it, obviously." I said annoyed. That was the night Hattie left for college so I went over to Paisley's. But of course, I wasn't going to tell them that.

"What? Something with, what's her name, Penny?" Louis asked. I loved the guy to death, but sometimes he didn't know when to stop. After I left the party that night with Paisley, no one has brought her or the incident up since then.

"Paisley, her name is Paisley, and I don't really think it conerns you." I snapped.

"Sorry." Louis said.

"You know you can tell us anything." Liam said quietly.

"Well, I don't want to talk about this shit, okay." I said angrily again. We were all quiet for a minute, nobody saying a thing. Luckily the bell rang, and relieved us from the awkward situation.

I don't know why I don't want to tell them that I've become friends with Paisley. Fear of judgement, I guess, but then again Luke and Ava and Carrie and Liam are together and no one gives them a hard time. And Paisley and I aren't even like that. We're just friends.

* * * * * * *

The whole day went by painfully slow. I can't even begin to imagine what the entire year will feel like.

My classes ended up being not that bad. My schedule this year is freakishly easy, although I'm not sure what I expected since I didn't sign up for any hard classes. I stopped by my locker quickly after my last class, seeing Ashton and Liam standing by the stairs.

Things were fine after this morning, and nobody brought up Paisley again afterwards. We all had lunch together, so we sat at a long, rectangular table.

"Bye guys." I said as I walked past them.

"Bye Harry." Liam said, and Ashton just gave me a adknowledging nod.

I walked through the back doors of the school, and the weather outside was beautiful. The sun was out, with a slight slight breeze. It was perfect weather. Making my way out to the car, I saw Paisley already standing against it, waiting for me.

"Hi there." I said, unlocking the car as both of us climbed in.

"Hi." She said excitedly.

"Did you have a good day?" I asked.

"Absolutely." She said. She was almost too excited and giddy.

"That good, huh?" I chuckled.

"Yep."

"Care to elaborate?" I smirked.

"No."

"Why?" I said, playfully hitting my elbow with hers. "We're friends, remember. We're supposed to tell each other stuff."

"I don't think you'll find this entertaining." She said, a small blush creeping up her face. This was the first time she's ever been secretive or emabarassed about something in front of me before.

"I think I will." I said, trying to sound as genuine as possible.

"I think I'll save it for Hattie. It's really not a big deal." She said, turning up the radio. I turned the radio back down.

"Just tell me. It's got you all smiles so I want to know."

"Promise you won't laugh." There goes the blushing again.

"I promise."

"There's this new guy, uh, his name is William." She started and I immediately knew where this was going. "And he's just in a couple of my classes and he semed really nice and yeah."

"Do I detect a little crush?" I teased her. Now I knew why she didn't want to tell me.

"No." She said quickly.

"Okay." I said, putting my hands up and chuckling.

"This is why I didn't want to tell you." She said, putting her hands over her head.

"No, it's fine. Don't worry." I said, trying to save her from further emarassment.

I have to say, I'm kind of surprised by this. I laughed at the start, but I'm almost kind of mad that she's smiling and all happy just for him. She's my friend, not his.

"Well, how was your day?" She asked, diverting the attention from her.

"It was okay. As good as school can be, I guess. Lunch was good, my friends and I all have lunch together." I said, trying but failing to sound at least half as enthusiastic as her.

"That's great, Harry! How were your classes?"

"They were shit." I said blatantly.

"Harry!" She scolded.

"What? They are."

"A positive attitude goes a long way." She said. And she's proof of that. But I'm just not like that.

"I'll try." I said, just wanting to change the subject. "We're still on for Friday right?"

"Yeah, of course." She said.

"Okay good because I've seriously been wanting to see Gravity." I said. Well more sort of exaggerated. I just want to spend time with her.

"Me too! It looks really good and won a ton of awards." She said excitedly. "We should have ice cream sundaes this week."

"Sounds good to me. I'm always up for ice cream."

"I'll pick it up on my way over, then." She said.

"No, I'll take care of it."

"No, you always get the food."

"It's fine. It's my parents money anyway." I insisted. She always has to be so damn persistant. Unlike me, I know Paisley has a job and is saving for college, so since my parents give me everything I want anyway, I don't want her to have to pay for food.

"Ugh, Harry. You drive me crazy sometimes." She groaned, pulling at the ends of her hair. I started turning the steering wheel wildly, swerving around in our lane. She quickly grabbed onto the seat and looked over at me.

"What the heck, Harry."

"You said I drive you crazy. That was driving you crazy in the safest way possible." I smirked.

"Oh my lord." She sighed, putting her head in her hands. I just started laughing at her.

"You love me." I said sarcastically.

"Not yet, but keep telling yourself that."

* * * * * * *

Hey Guys!!

Sorry this is a day late, I just didn't have time to edit this last night! Don't hate me too much :)

Anyway, I know it seems like time is moving really fast in this story, but that's the way it's supposed to for the events to make sense!

I hope you liked this! Press the ★!!

Macy xx