There was a momentary pin drop silence that prevailed around the office, except only the ticking of the wall clock could be distinctly heard.

"Oh... Okay, I see. It seems like there has been some sort of misunderstanding. I apologize, Ms. Matthews." He finally spoke, adjusting his cylindrical spectacles.

"No no, it's alright sir," I intervened sheepishly.

"But you better start attending your class Mr. Daniels and Ms. Matthews, it's your duty to ensure it."

"Got it." We both said in unison.

"You may leave now."

We hurriedly got up from our seats and took off.

"Maya, wait!" Shawn called me from behind, bringing me turn around to face him.

"Hey, I'm sorry what happened back there. I didn't know he would drag you into it." He apologized ambivalently, running his hand through his messy hair.

"Yeah, whatever," I replied, and walked away increasing my pace. I just wanted to get out of this place.

“Hey, hey!” He called out again, jogging and catching up to me he continued, “Listen I'm sorry okay. I didn't mean to drag you into trouble on my first day here. I couldn't find my class, so I just... went to explore other classes here and then wandered around." He said, his voice trailing off by the end.

I could swear I saw his face turn red for a second.

"Okay. Apology accepted. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go."

"Where are you heading?" He asked, walking along with me “If you don't mind me asking."

"Home." I replied.

"Home? Do you go straight home from school? Don't you hang out with your friends? I mean, assuming everyone seems to know you here, you must have a large friend circle."

"Well, you assumed wrong. I don't."

"Why are you such taciturn? Replying to everything I say in short sentences.” He stepped forward and positioned himself in front of me, his face facing me as he walked forward in a backward manner.

"Why are you so loquacious?" I retorted, still walking, the path seemed to never end.

What is this? A Soap opera?

"Okay, point taken. So...where are we going?"

I stopped on my step right there, my left leg flying in mid-air, and I turned to face him.

“What do you mean by 'we'?”

"Yeah, We! Where are we going?"

"There is no We!" I screeched.

"Oh yes there is. You need to help me catch up on my studies, remember?"

"But we can do it here, right? In school!"

"Yes we could, but that leaves us with lunch breaks and a few classes that we have together, which I don't think is suitable for any of us so that leaves us with time only after the school ends." He explained, emphasizing his words strongly, “And since you go straight home after school, that's the only option we could work with.” He ended his argument, making complete sense.

"Ugh, Fine! Let's go." I sighed, terminating the argument.

~

We walked through the gateway, stepping into the vintage marble bricks leading us to my house.

We waited at the porch for the door to open as I rang the doorbell. Shawn looked around to retain my neighborhood.

Before I could say anything, my mom opened the door.

"Hey, sweetie! Welcome back..." Her voice trailed off as soon as she noticed an unfamiliar guy beside me.

I could see the utter shock on her face. That poor woman never got a chance to know any of my friends in school since I never brought friends at home, let alone bringing a male company and now she had an unexpected visitor which was surprisingly brought by me.

It was the same as dropping a nuclear bomb on her.

"I didn't know you were bringing a guest with you, Maya." She said, her voice still trailing off from time to time as her eyes kept switching between me and Shawn.

"Oh! Where are my manners? Come in please, both of you." My mom gestured with her hand to come in.

"He just got transferred here. Mr. Johnson made me in charge of him." I explained in an ironic voice so she wouldn't get the wrong idea, still not very happy about the entire situation.

I jogged upstairs to my bedroom to wear something more comfortable. I left the door open so that I could hear them distinctly. I shuffled the clothes on my wardrobe, unable to find anything decent.

“Ugh! I don't have anything to wear!” I sighed in frustration.

Choosing an outfit to wear was an everyday crisis!

I finally donned a black and white gingham ruffle off-shoulder check dress, letting my hair loose while still eavesdropping to their conversation.

"She's supposed to help me catch up with my studies on whatever I've missed so far. So you'll be seeing me here a lot for a few days Mrs. Matthews. I'm Shawn, by the way." He informed her.

"Hello, Shawn. It's so good to meet you, and well it's a good thing that you'll be here. She will finally have some human company with herself. Plus, she could be really helpful for you with your homework and studies. You're in good hands. It's a win-win situation."

"So I've been told."

I rushed downstairs after checking my reflection in the mirror for one last time.

"You worry too much mom. I told you I'm not alone for the gazillion times now." I defended myself.

"You were honey." She protested as she noticed my presence. "You know you were. But not anymore." Her eyes landed on Shawn, "You finally got yourself a friend."

"He's not my friend," I blurted.

They both turned to look at me at the same time.

"Oh yes, I am," Shawn claimed.

"No. We're not friends. We're just schoolmates."

" Yes, we are. We have your mother's blessing as well."

"No, we are not."

My mom cut in before we could continue to sing the repeated game.

"You both are so cute. Well, if you guys cannot come to an agreement, then let's settle for the fact that you two are uh... unfriendly friends!" She exclaimed, putting on a bright smile.

That's it. I am going to unsubscribe all those idiotic meme feeds she reads everyday.

How the hell does she come up with all this nonsensical stuff?

"That's the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard." I defied the idea.

"That's interesting. Hmm... I actually liked it." He supported, jumping up from his seat.

"Hey, unfriendly friend!" He teased me.

"Shut up." I squeaked.

"Shall we?" I said, arranging all the stuff that we would be needing for the study session. He shot me a puzzled look. "Study." I clarified.

"Sure. But before that, can I make a quick call from your phone to my dad that I'll be late today. My phone just died."

"Sure, here." I passed him my phone from the couch.

"Thanks. I'll be back." He got up from the couch and headed towards the kitchen. He returned shortly after the call, with a hint of annoyance spread across his face.

"Everything alright?" I asked in a genuine tone.

"Yeah, everything is fine. Let's get started," He muttered, looking away and focusing on the notebook, trying to avoid the conversation.

I let go of the topic as well. I didn't want to intrude or push his buttons. We headed to my room with all our books and materials.

~

Time flew by so fast. We spent hours on Shawn's assignments and homework. He was, surprisingly, a fast learner. Although he tried to be extra friendly at some point a few times. He would crack some corny lame-ass jokes every now and then when he got too bored or the atmosphere felt too serious.

"Okay! This one is good" He assured, his eyes twinkling. "What would you do, if you got locked out of your house?" He questioned with both his eyebrows rising.

I thought for a while before giving in, knowing that it would be something lame. Again. I shrugged.

"Talk to the lock, because communication is key." He answered and started laughing all by himself.

"Haha, hilarious!" I remarked sarcastically rolling my eyes.

"Hey! Admit it that you found it funny!"

"Actually... I did!"

"You did?"

"Absolutely not."

"Argh! You're no fun nerdy!" He mocked.

"Hey, I'm not!" I protested.

"You're not what? Not no fun or, not nerdy?" He asked in a playful manner.

"Both. I'm not nerdy. I'm... intellectual. And I'm fun." I replied, disclaiming his assertions.

"So you think you're fun huh?" A devilish grin forming on his face.

"I am," I responded. Doubtfully.

"Then show me." He mumbled seductively, that devilish grin still fixated on his face. He began walking closer to me.

My mind went blank for a few seconds.

What did he mean by 'show me'? Did he mean that in the same context as I was just thinking?

"Wha... What do you mean?" I asked reluctantly, my voice trailing off.

"You said yourself that you're fun. I am telling you... to show me how fun you are." He whispered in almost a lustrous voice, still moving closer.

"Uh. I... I-"

He suddenly burst into laughter, unable to hold himself anymore, and collapsed on the floor, laughing.

"You should have seen your face," He said, his voice barely clear due to his excessive laughing.

I shook my head to snap out of what just happened.

"You just caught me off guard. That's it. Nothing else. Don't flatter yourself." I responded, trying to sound unaffected.

"Sure. Whatever helps you sleep at night." He said, standing up on his feet, throwing a wink at me.

"I think we're good for today," I finally announced. He was yearning to hear this since the study session started.

"Yes! Finally." He jumped out in excitement.

I helped him pack his stuff before heading downstairs.

"I should head back now. It's started to get dark outside." He informed, looking outside the window.

"Yes, you should dear before it gets darker. How long will it take you to reach home from here?" My mom asked.

"Not long. It'll take around half an hour or so. I'll probably reach before it gets dark." He answered sincerely.

"Oh, that's good. You should get going then. We don't want you to get lost in this new town." She suggested wholeheartedly.

"That's very thoughtful of you Mrs. Matthews. And don't worry! I've memorized my routes. I'll not get lost rest assured." He replied, touched by her empathy.

"Just be careful Shawn."

"I will. Bye Mrs. Matthews."

"Bye, dear."

I walked him to the door. He then turned to face me.

"Bye, Maya." He said, surprisingly giving me a sincere smile. "I had fun."

I bet you did by pulling out the prank.

Rascal.

Though he seemed genuine.

"Me too. Just reach home safely."

"Are you concerned about me, Maya?" He said, pulling on a playful smile.

"Just go," I said, pushing him out, chuckling. "Bye Shawn."

"Haha, bye Maya."

“He seems like a good kid.” My mom stated as he watched him walking off into the distance and turned around to attend to whatever she had been doing.

If only you knew, mother.

~

I stepped out of my steaming bathroom, where, I just had a hot relaxing shower, and entered my room, clad in just a bathrobe. I dried my hair with a towel while playing my jam loudly on my phone.

I slowly started to sway my body in rhythm and started dancing in front of the mirror. That was something I always did after having a nice shower. Call me childish but I would keep doing it till the last day of my life.

My phone pinged with a notification. A text message.

Hmm... who might that be?

An unknown number popped up on my screen as I unlocked my phone. It read,

"Don't think too much about me *winking face and tongue stuck-out emoji*.

What the hell does that mean?

"Who is this?"

I texted hastily, waiting for an answer.

There was a long pause before the typing indicator showed up.

"Your biggest nightmare! *happy devil emoji*"

"Excuse me?"

"Haha, I'm kidding. Shawn here."

"What the hell Shawn!"
"How'd you get my number?"

"Oh, it's nothing. I just did some spells and a little abracadabra and boom! I got your number."

"Ha-ha, Hilarious. Now tell me."

"I called at home from your phone earlier, remember?"

"Oh right."

"Yeah. And tell your mom that I reached safely. She was a bit concerned."

"She was. Will do."

"Great. Now tell me... You were, weren't you? *winking face and tongue stuck-out emoji*."

"I was what?"

"You were concerned about me. Admit it, you were!"

"No, I wasn't."

"Yes, you were."

"I'm not doing this now. Bye."

I cut in before he could even type for a reply.

"Goodnight Shawn!"

H

e typed something for a while and I waited for the response. The sign went off and another quick text dropped by.

"Goodnight Maya!"

I exited my messenger and swiped my screen to open my contacts. I thought for a while before saving his name in my contacts.

"Pretty Boy" I typed, giggling. Perfect name to annoy a bad boy.

Hey guy, thanks for reading.
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