Sky left and I started to get ready, I skimmed through my closet to find something casual to wear and just then my phone rings.

I look at my phone and see Sky calling,

"Hey! What's up?" I said

"Don't go to the party." She said

"Sky you already told me to go, and now you're telling me don't."

"Remi, please just don't go." She pleaded

"I've got to go Sky. I'm going to be late." I said then ended the call,

I continued to skim through my clothes and I found a pair of ripped jeans and a cropped shirt and slipped it on,

"Remi! Your friend is here?" My dad yelled

I grab my bag and run downstairs to see Marcus, he stood there with his hair lightly permed mixing his black strands with the blond, and the sides of his hair were faded, he wore an acid washed army green shirt along with black jeans and a jacket hung over his shoulders, I could see my dad examining him also,

"I thought I'd never see permed hair again since your mother left." My dad joked

"Mm, funny papa. I'm gonna go now bye!" I said waking out the door and into the chilled September air, I rub my arms in hope that they'd warm up,

"Are you cold?" He asked opening his passenger door for me,

"Just a little, but I'll manage." I said getting into his car

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We pulled into a fancy neighborhood, thankfully I know area enough to get home, though it was an hour walk.

"Would you look at this." Marcus said passing all the houses

"It's gorgeous here!" I gazed at the houses

We pulled up to a house at the end of the block, we made our way up the walkway and Marcus knocked on the door and it flung open seconds after,

"Tammel! Mallas! Thought you'd never come." Dylan Crook said

Dylan Crook is the crackhead of the school, he's known for setting off the fire alarm almost every month for smoking weed in the bathrooms, surprisingly he hasn't been caught. I'm amazed to not see a blunt in between his fingers or in his mouth.

Marcus and I made our way to the pool table and I see in the backyard Andrew Cole, and like always he's surrounded by five or so girls. Sickening. Just then Marcus puts his arm around my shoulder and that seemed to spike Cole's Attention,

"She seems more interested in Redley over there." A guy says

I quickly look over and look the person in the eyes, they were familiar then I realized it was Ricky, Sky's ex-boyfriend. He cheated on her, and I told Sky way before they were officially dating, that it wasn't too late to get away from him.

"Hey Ricky." I said with a tone of sarcasm

"Hey Rem." He narrowed his eyes and smiled

I look at the girl who had his arm around her waist

"How's life been? Got rid of your chlamydia yet?" I tilted my head

I see the girls mouth open and she pushes him off and walks off, I laugh at my success.

Marcus and I walk away and I get stopped by Cole,

"Woah there buddy." I said putting my arms up

"Let me talk to you Remi." He said grabbing my arm

He walked me to the front door,

"Get out of here." He stated

"What?" I said out of utter confusion

"I said—"

"I know what you said Andrew Cole, but I'm not going to listen to you."

"Remi, Marcus isn't the typ—"

"You don't have the right to tell me what's good for me." I said and pushed him out of the way

I made my way back to Marcus and playfully bumped shoulders with him,

"Hey! I was about to go to the store to buy something. Did you want to come?" He asked

"Sure." I said

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We walk all the way to the store and he picked out some lime juice and sparkling water and walked outside, I started to shiver and Marcus looks back at me and stops to put his jacket on my shoulders, I slip my arms in the sleeves. A couple minutes into the walk I hear a police siren and I froze and Marcus kept walking,

"Tammel! Is that you?"

I then see Marcus turn around and he walks over to me,

"Hold this and put it in the pocket for me baby." He said kissing my cheek and handed me a small baggie filled with white powder

I slipped the baggie into the jacket pocket and I couldn't believe I was covering for him, after months of thinking he was a "good kid". I stood up for him against my best friend, all for what? Him to prove me wrong? I was filled with pure hate and rage.

"What do you want." Marcus said

"Check him." The police man said to the other man

"I'm clean. Go ahead and check me, I've been clean for months." Marcus said

Liar.

Marcus put his hands up and the police patted him down and then after searched through the store bag we've gotten.

"He's clean." The man said and backed away into his car

"We'll get you next time Tammel." The first man yelled and drove off

I watched as the car drove,

"Take your shit!" I yelled and threw his baggie on the floor along with sparking water, I started to walk away

"Remi!" I heard Marcus sprint after me, I felt him grab my wrist and he gently turned me around,

"That's not what it looks like." He explained

"No Marcus. I think it's exactly what it looks like,"

"God! I told you the hate I have for drugs, and here you are telling me to shove it the pocket of your jacket." I screamed

"Remi, clam down." He said grabbing my shoulders

I reached into the bag and sprayed the lime juice on him.

"Stay away from me Marcus Tammel." I said and started to run away dropping his jacket on the ground.

A few minutes later I hear a honk and I turn around and stopped for the car, the car pulled over and I crossed my arms, I watched as the windows rolled down,

"What did I say Marcus!" I yelled

"You need a ride?" Andrew Cole said turning on his car light,

"I'd rather walk." I said and continued to walk

He continued to follow me,

"Remi, let me drive you home. It's cold outside and you're going to catch a cold." Cole said

I stood there for a second clueless, did Andrew Cole Redley care for me?

"If you get sick I won't have anyone to torment tomorrow." He said and winked

"You're impossible." I said and opened his passenger door

"I'm only getting a ride from you because I'm cold and I don't want to get sick." I said making my knees face the door

"Where's Tammel?" He asked

"Why should you care?" I said resting my head on my hand

"Well, when you take a girl out, you shouldn't have them walk home at night, and let me add, in the freezing cold." He said

I hummed and smiled,

"Didn't think you knew how to care for a girl, Redley." I stated

"I'm not a heartless dick." He scoffed

"Sure."

"Ok well I kinda need your address." He said tapping his steering wheel

"Just drive. I'll tell you where to turn." I said

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"So you're telling me— you don't want to put your address in my phone so I can drop you off from school?" He laughed

"Goodbye Andrew Cole." I said getting out of his car and closing the door behind me

"You could just me call me Cole." He yelled from his window

"Why would I do that?" I yelled from my doorstep and went inside and up to my room,

I don't know what you have planned Andrew Cole but I know I don't want a player like you in my life.

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