The first day wasn't all that bad, I ended up having lunch and Gym with Shae; so at least I had someone to chat with and didn't have to eat in the bathroom on my first day. Unfortunately Angela is in several of my classes and that includes Gym and lunch.

By the end of the day I made a few acquaintances in several classes, and was lucky enough to get Levi's number - sarcasm for that last one implied. He found me at my locker before I hopped in the car with Ethan and told me it was for the project and our date on his roof.

I jiggle the key inside the apartment door and the moment I step in I spot mom sitting at an unfamiliar round table between the kitchen and living room. Papers are spread all across, her laptop is open, and she has a cordless phone between her shoulder and ear. She looks stressed already and it's only her first day officially on the job.

"Hey sweetie," she mouths.

Not wanting to bother her I go wash up and then collapse onto my bed, exhausted from the lack of sleep and the long day at school. My phone chimes from inside the front pocket of my bag. I pull it out and see it's from Shae. Think about tryouts - could use a friend like you on the team. She adds a winking face and I can't help smile. Shae has really shown me that there still are some decent people in the world.

I'll think about it, I type back. She sends an emoji smiling with all its teeth showing. I go to put my phone down when it goes off again. I look at it and it's from Levi, Friday after school okay? I'll drive us to my house after school. LMK. I'm the type of person who gives everyone a chance and with Levi I feel like there's more to him than the cocky arrogant boy on the surface and I'd be wrong to not give him a chance. Sounds great.

I'm not annoyed by his text, and maybe it's because I was ignored by every single one of my friends this summer, including Jenna - that having people talk to me is a breath of fresh air. If anyone spoke to me at my old school they would be ridiculed. Dad made a huge mistake and he paid for it by bringing death to his doorstep as well.

There's a soft knock on my door, "Come in," I say.

"Hey, sorry about that I've been swamped today. Apparently the other guy was a real piece of work," she says.

"I heard that from Ethan," I say.

Her smile widens when I mention his name, "So Ethan?"

Her eyebrows wiggle and I'm so glad nobody else is here to see her embarrassing behavior.

"There's nothing there, mom," I laugh.

"So how was it?"

"Not bad actually. Ethan is cool. I'm doing an art project with his friend Levi Friday after school, we have to draw each other. I'm not sure when I'll be home..."

"Take all the time you need," she says, with a smile.

Ever since my friends abandoned me, she has been pushing me to get back out there. When we lived in Tulsa making new friends was nearly impossible because everyone knew who I was and what my father did. Here, it's like a fresh start and as annoying as it is when she pushes me, I know she's doing it out of the goodness of her heart.

"So are we doing takeout or should I actually cook tonight?"

I laugh, "Maybe one more night of takeout won't hurt."

"I agree," she says.

Mom gets up and starts for the door, "Hey mom," I call out.

She turns back around, "Yeah sweetheart?"

I sigh, "One of the girls I met asked if I would try out for cheerleading," I say. She raises a brow, most likely remembering how I felt when I was cut back in Tulsa.

"Are you thinking about it?"

"I don't know, I guess. Part of me misses it. The other part of me says if I don't make it, what if it sends me over the edge?"

Mom sighs, but keeps her smile intact, "Honestly? Why not go for it, if you don't make it maybe I'll sign you up for a dance class or two if you want, there's no pressure there."

"That's true. I'm so rusty though," I laugh.

"The girl I remember, wouldn't let a little rust get in the way."

Mom walks out of the room leaving me to my thoughts.

Okay, I'll try out. I might need your help though it's been a while. I type out to Shae. Within seconds she writes back, tomorrow after school, on the football field near the bleachers. When I'm done with you it will be like you never stopped. For the first time since everything I find myself really smiling, as much as I think hanging out with Ethan's crew is not the best move for me, meeting Shae has definitely brought a little light back in my life.

Day two starts out much smoother than day one, neither Ethan or I wake up late and we get to school well before the first bell rings. I even make it to art class early and as I sit there Levi is the one who rushes in seconds after the bell, and the teacher gives him a dirty look instead of me. The minute we walk in she immediately wants us to break into groups.

"So why don't we finish the questions now and we'll do the drawing at my house."

"Okay."

I'm nervous about answering some of those questions, especially the ones that we skipped yesterday that I know we have to go back to.

"What are you most passionate about?" he asks.

I stop for a minute, the one passion I had died with my father and now I have to somehow come up with something new. I wanted to be just like him, a well known journalist and now I have no idea. Maybe it doesn't have to be new though. I know in life I love just stopping in random places and taking in the beauty surrounding it. That could be something passionate, I think.

"My passion is finding new adventures and discovering the beauty in those adventures," I admit.

His eyes widen as he writes it down, then he looks over at me.

"That's very vague. What kind of adventures?" he asks.

I blow out a breath, "Well it's kind of like when mom and I drove here from Tulsa, sometimes we'd just stop in a random location and just take it all in. It didn't matter if it set us back an hour or so, we just needed to see something beautiful."

"That sounds like a good way to relieve stress."

Aside from writing things, it almost looks as if Levi is taking it all in for himself. As he writes his mouth moves like he's trying to commit my answers to his memory, saving it for later.

"What about you?" I ask. "Are you passionate about anything, Levi?"

"Art, I guess," he shrugs.

He barely looks at me when he says it, and I know that's not the real answer he wants to give, but it's all I'm getting from him.

"So where will you draw me?"

I change the subject, these questions seem to be getting too intense for both of us.

"Your roof isn't my favorite spot," I say, a hint of teasing plays in my voice.

"Ouch," he says touching his chest. "Way to diss my favorite spot."

Levi smirks playfully.

"Not dissing, it's just not my spot. I'm new here and have no idea where anything is in this town."

Levi purses his lips like he's thinking about something. Even though it's frowned upon in class he takes out his cell and checks something on his phone.

"Got it," he says. "Do you trust me? I've got just the place," he tells me. "We can go there first before we head to my house and I could do my drawing," he says.

Trust is a very hard thing for me to have, especially after everything that went down in Tulsa. I can already feel my chest tighten with the pressure of anxiety, but I give Levi a polite nod.

"Hey, you okay?"

For a moment the cocky Levi leaves his body and the guy that I could see being friends with slips in.

"Yeah, and uh - your plan sounds great," I say, reaching for my chest. "Should we finish these questions?"

"Yeah."

Levi presses his lips together, like he's analyzing me. I'm uncomfortable under his stare, but thankfully it doesn't last long. He takes a deep breath and starts asking more questions. I'm thrown into a whirlwind of having to answer things like; my greatest strength and weakness. He sits there waiting for my answer. It's not that I don't know them, it's that I don't want to tell him. After making up some bullshit I immediately swap it and roast him instead.

I'm relieved when the bell rings and I can move on to the rest of the day. By the end of the day everything seems to be going smoothly. After the last bell it doesn't take me long to find the area near the bleachers where Shae is waiting for me. I wore leggings today so that it would be easier for me to practice with her.

"Hey girl, you ready to cheer?" she asks.

"I guess," I say, setting my backpack down beside the tall metal bleachers.

"When was the last time you took a dance class?"

"I danced right up until about two months ago, but I haven't cheered since seventh grade."

"So you shouldn't be too rusty then," she says, starting some music on her phone.

As we start our stretches a bunch of whistles and hollars come from the field behind us. Boys in pads and helmets at their side come jogging onto the field, two of them include Levi and Ethan.

"Football try-outs," she says. "Ignore them, all men are pigs."

"Hello ladies," Levi says, jogging over.

I'm bent over towards the ground, my ass pretty much in direct view of the field. I stand immediately, but Shae doesn't seem bothered.

"Harmon, get your flirty behind back onto my field!"

The three of us turn to see the short stocky coach pointing his finger like a mad man at Levi.

"Coming coach," he says, winking at the two of us.

Shae rolls her eyes, and then turns to me.

"If he bothers you, you have every right to kick him in the balls," she says, making me laugh.

"He has his moments."

She raises her brow at my comment.

"Don't get tangled in that web, girl," she says. "You don't want to end up like Angela, although she's still flying into the web head first. He likes it though."

"She was half naked in his room..."

"When were you in his room?" she asks, wide eyed.

"At the party he showed me his spot on the roof...."

"Oh girl, Levi's got it bad."

She shits down on the floor to stretch some more. I follow her lead and sit facing her, my legs spread as my body leans to the left to grab my foot.

"He just seems like he flirts with anything with two legs and a chest," I say.

Shae laughs, but her face also remains serious, "He's very particular about who he allows on that roof. I'm actually surprised he brought you up. Most girls write fanfic about that shit."

"Are girls really that obsessed with him?" I question.

I turn to glance over my shoulder for a quick second, only to find Ethan watching me while swigging some water on one side of the field and Levi glaring at Ethan from the other side. I turn my attention back to Shae.

"They are, but there's one thing standing in their way."

"Oh? And what's that?"

"Angela."

"I thought she was with that Jay guy," I say.

"If Jay could have anything in the world it would be Angela. She plays him though. Don't get me wrong Angela is my best friend in the entire world, but with her parents hardly home she's made some pretty awful decisions," she says.

"Seems to be the trend around here, huh? Absentee parents. Ethan said Levi's parents are the same..."

"Why do you think the two of them stick together?"

Shae reaches down the center of her open legs and touches the grass in front of her.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry."

"Nah not at all, figured I'd try to save you before you fell for a love triangle that will break your little heart," she says.

I laugh, "That's most definitely not my plan."

"Good. Are you all stretched out and ready?" she asks.

I nod.

"Good. Let's do this."