Monday rolled around too quick for Alanna's liking. Why couldn't the weekend just last forever or at least switch up with the weekdays so that she only had school for two days. Now that was a fun thought to have. School for two days only, that'd be awesome.

With Ryan's help she was able to pay a little more attention in class. As annoying and comical as that boy was he took his studies seriously and Alanna respected that about him. When it was time for lessons it was just that, learning, but as soon as class was over its like that switch was turned off and he was back to his goofy self. Alanna didn't possess the ability to have different moods at school, she was always serious. But that was also proving to be hard with all the time she was spending with Ryan. She found herself laughing more and always having a smile on her face.

Her favorite part of the day came. If you guessed lunch time you're very correct. She sat at her usual table and opened her flask to get what she'd prepared for lunch that day. Yesterday after Ryan left Alanna had realized she had a lot of time to kill so she made some meat samosas and kebabs. It was her first time making the kebabs but as usual she had aced it. She'd made too many as usual so she decided to carry them today for lunch and share with a certain someone who loved her food a little too much.

As if on cue Ryan dropped himself next to her with all his friends following right behind carrying their own food, either from the cafeteria or home made. Ryan didn't have food with him so she assumed she'd have to share with him as usual. They exchanged greetings and settled down.

"Where's your food Ryan?" Alanna asked him feigning curiosity.

He looked at her with his charming smile and innocent eyes. She knew that look.

"Why do I need to get food when I have my own personal chef?" He replied.

"Oh My God. You do? Where?" She asked dramatically looking around and even under the table.

"I can't see them. Did you put them in your pocket?" She asked sarcastically and everyone around them laughed except for Ryan.

"Ha ha ha.Very funny. Now hand that dish over. Im curious as to what we're having today. I'm starving." He replied and tried snatching the flask from her but she pushed it further away from him.

"I'm not your personal chef Ryan." Alanna warned.

"Yes you are and I love you for it. Now hand it over. I'm about to pass out from hunger." He exaggerated placing his hand over his stomach and his forehead showing he was in pain.

"Take that back." Alanna demanded a little too harshly.

"What?"Ryan asked shocked.

"There are people starving out there Ryan, like really starving with no food at all and here you are claiming you are about to pass out. It's not nice to say that. It's like you're mocking them." Alanna expressed sadly.

Alanna watched the news and saw all those hungry children die on the screen. It's why she never wasted food. If she made too much and there was no one to eat it she packed it up and gave it to the homeless or those begging for food.

"I'm sorry. I'll never say that again. Now can I please have some food?" He requested nicely and she gave in and pushed the flask towards him.

Everyone else had been watching their exchange silently. To them it was comical watching them banter back and forth but they also knew Alanna was right. Ryan shouldn't have said what he did in that manner but he apologized so that was fixed.

"Kebabs and Samosas. Someone's trying to make me gain weight." Ryan exclaimed with the same excitement he did whenever he saw what she'd made.

He was like her own personal cheerleader when it came to food.

"I'm not trying to make you anything. Just eat your food." Alanna reprimanded before picking up a samosa and started munching on it.

"Yes ma'am." Ryan replied like a scolded child but still did as he was told as he started on a Kebab.

"Can I have one?" Liam requested reaching out for one only to get his hand slapped away.

"No!" Ryan exclaimed hugging the flask to himself.

"Ryan come on. I want a taste too." Sophia requested reaching out only to have her hand slapped away too.

"Ryan just share. We can't possibly finish them all by ourselves." Alanna input.

"No." Ryan replied adamantly like a child refusing to share his toys.

Alanna rolled her eyes. He could be such a child sometimes.

"Give them two samosas and two Kebabs to share among each other and I'll make the lunch of your choosing tomorrow." Alanna said making a deal with him.

"Promise?" Ryan asked childishly making Alanna roll her eyes again.

He was so immature at times. A six foot athlete begging was not such a pretty sight.

"Yes I promise." She replied giving in and he did what she'd asked.

"Such a child." Tony muttered under his breath but everyone still heard.

"What did you just call me?" Ryan seethed.

"Nothing." Tony replied quickly raising his hands in surrender.

"Thought so." Ryan scoffed and they all settled down to enjoy their lunch.

As usual praises went around towards Alanna for her amazing cooking and she soaked in it. She tried not to let all the praise get to her but it was the one thing she excelled in so she definitely soaked in on it. She wasn't prideful or anything but she just like being appreciated for then one good thing she did perfectly.

"How was your weekend Alanna?" Sam asked turning her attention back to the group.

She was still wary of all of them but if Ryan trusted them she would try to as well.

"It was good. Ryan invaded it but it still turned out okay." She replied with a smile recalling their conversations yesterday.

"Just good. If I remember correctly it was pretty epic." Ryan counteracted.

Alanna scoffed"Keep telling yourself that."

"He can be a little much can't he." Sam chided in.

"I know right."Alanna added.

"Stop ganging up on me. All of you love me." Ryan defended.

"Yeah sure." Sophia said and they all chuckled while Ryan grumbled to himself but Alanna could tell he wasn't offended.

So this is what it felt like having a group of friends who you could share things with. It felt nice and weird at the same time. Alanna wasn't used to this much company but she find herself liking it. They didn't judge her because of her size like everyone else did. They accepted her as one of their own really quick and it was a really great feeling.

"Guys we should invite Alanna this Saturday." Liam suggested.

"What's this Saturday?" Alanna asked curiously.

"Yeah that's a great idea. Why hadn't I thought of it?" Ryan asked.

"Too many Kebabs." Tony replied sarcastically and everyone laughed at him making Ryans face fall.

They really teased other a lot.

"Have you ever heard of Chapo Festival?" Sophia asked bringing back the attention to the topic at hand.

Alanna shook her head because she honestly didn't know what it was.

"I'm not surprised it's not that famous. A student at Maseno University started it to help the less fortunate. They visit children homes and cook with them, donate and just have fun for a whole day. Anyway we heard about it and contacted him asking if they'd be interested to doing it here. He was a little skeptical at first because of the distance but once we agreed that all they had to do was show up he agreed and said he'd be there with his team so we made plans and its happening this Saturday." Sam explained.

"So you in?" Ryan asked looking at her expectantly just like everyone else.

"Of course I'm in." Alanna replied excitedly and everyone cheered.

Anything to help the less fortunate and on top of that she got to cook chapatis for all those little kids. It was going to be amazing.

She was really humbled that the guys considered her for this. It was an honor to be included in their group activities. It meant more to her than she ever thought it would.

Before they could get into details the lunch bell rang and they all gathered their things and started walking back to class.

"See you later guys. Ryan be sure to fill in Alanna on all the details." Sophia instructed.

"Will do." Ryan replied as they headed into their respective classes.

As usual people kept looking at Alanna but this time they were staring more than usual with different looks. Alanna wondered why but after looking at the person walking besides her everything clicked into place.

Ryan was drawing more attention to her than usual. She didn't hate it, she just wasn't used to it. Most people were looking at Ryan as if he was crazy to be walking next to her. Join the club people. She herself thought there was something wrong with him. Others looked at her with hatred and jealousy.

Ryan was well known as the fun friendly and super cool football player. Everyone loved him and wanted to be around him but he kept his circle small. He didn't even have a girlfriend or sleep around like most people in his position would. That's what Alanna knew anyway.

But the fact that people wished they were in her shoes right now made her feel kind of giddy. Of all the people he could have chosen to hang out with he chose her. She looked at him with a smile and moved a little closer than she would usually be comfortable with.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" Ryan asked catching her gaze.

Anyone else in her shoes would have looked away blushing and denying they were looking but not Alanna.

"Just trying to figure you out." She replied.

"If you do please tell me because I can't figure myself out half the time." Ryan joked and Alanna laughed gaining the attention of more people around them.

They looked at her shocked as if she wasn't capable of laughing.

"I love your laugh." Ryan blurted out catching Alanna of guard and this time she did blush.

Thank God for her melanin skin because turning pink would have been an embarrassment. She didn't reply to his comment because she honestly didn't know what to say.

She just brushed him off and focused her gaze ahead. The whole walk to their class Ryan hadn't reacted to all the stares they were getting. Either he was so used to them he knew how to block them out or he was so good at ignoring people. Either way Alanna admired how Ryan didn't let anything affect him. He should teach her that because as much as Alanna tried she couldn't block everyone out so some things people said and did got to her.

They got to their class, took their respective seats before taking out their books for the first class of the afternoon.

"Thanks for lunch." Ryan said as they waited for class to start.

"You're welcome. Have you decided what you want tomorrow?" She asked appreciating the fact that Ryan always said thank you after every meal he got from her.

She liked his courtesy. He held his chin seeming to think about it for a few minutes before he made up his mind like a light bulb had lit inside his head.

"Mukimo and beef."He announced with his usual childish excitement at the mention of food.

Alanna had noticed that Ryan was a foodie, even bigger than her. She had gotten into culinary because she found out that she enjoyed good food which was rare so she had to learn to cook what she wanted to eat.

You know that statement about if you want something done properly do it yourself that was literally Alanna and food. She learnt to make her own food for her.

Ryan couldn't cook that well as she had discovered when she asked him why he needed help with home science. She had yet to test his skills but for now she was taking his word for it because it was one of the reasons she had agreed get his help, he needed hers too.

"Mukimo and beef it is." She agreed and Ryan squealed like a little girl startling Alanna a little bit.

What was with this boy and food? Before Alanna could question him the teacher entered the class rendering it silent. Time to learn math. Not a very fun subject to have with you're belly full. That was the perfect recipe for dozing off in class.

She looked over at Ryan to see he was in his serious mode. He caught her gaze and she looked away. She really needed to stop looking at him like that unless she wanted to become the class creep too on top of being the class fatty and the class fool. Not pretty nicknames but she was used to them. She had her own definition of herself and theirs didn't matter.

She turned her attention back to the teacher deciding to at least try to concentrate for once. She knew Ryan would go through the whole lesson with her later but she at least needed to put in the work so he didn't have to strain as much teaching her every single thing. He maybe nice and patient but she didn't want to take advantage of him. It didn't feel cool at all.

Time to pay attention.

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Hello you beautiful earthlings. How've you been? Hope you're keeping safe and taking care of yourselves, your loved ones and those around you by maintaining all guidelines needed to curb this virus that's invading our world.

Anyway this chapter was more of a filler but it was needed to back up the upcoming chapter. I also wanted to show the budding relationship between Alanna and her new friends. Awesome right. I hope you enjoyed it.

Don't forget to click that little star to vote. Please comment, I love your comments, they make my day and be sure to share so other people may enjoy this good book like you are.

As always I Love You 3000.