Emily was awake extra early. She lay quiet for a moment trying to figure out why she was awake and what felt different.

Her eyes shot open when she realized it was because she didn't feel a threat. She felt calm. It was weird not waking up with the stomach pain of anxiety. Or a headache from grinding her teeth at night. She stretched and got out of bed.

Her computer was open and indicated she had a message waiting from Subject A7 The Leader. She sat down on the bed and opened it.

Hey princess. It's been a while. It's been a crazy few days. Girl drama is no longer my problem and that friend I mentioned before seems it all worked out. Just thought I'd update ya. Anyway...might have to write a cliche happy the sun will come out tomorrow kinda thing. :)

Emily smiled. She didn't know this person but she was happy he felt better. She was curious about this girl drama and this other situation he was talking about.

Hey A7. I've been busy sucking souls and taking names. I'm glad girl drama isn't your problem anymore. Going off for a while or switching teams?

Emily chuckled and got up to get dressed, she was up early, might as well go for a run. Now that she had her stuff, she could wear proper clothes. Pulling on a pair of short biker shirts and Minho's old hoodie she pulled her hair into a pony. The house was quiet when she left. She scribbled a quick note saying she was going for a run. She put her headphones on and then slipped her running shoes on. She was doing up the laces when someone tapped her.

She yelped, and jumped up. Her heart rate spiked and her stomach dropped. Spinning around yanking her headphones out she saw Minho laughing at her.

"The shuck is your problem you slint head!"

Emily was breathing hard, her heart was still racing. Minho chuckled.

"Well to be fair I did call your name a few times."

"Whatever. Still not cool."

"You're up early."

"Very observant of you." Emily rolled her eyes.

"Whoa, someone needs coffee this early in the morning." He smirked at her.

Emily just scowled. Emily finally took in his appearance, he was dressed in athletic wear and running shoes.

"Nice hoodie." Minho smirked, and raised an eyebrow, and crossed his huge arms, his biceps looked even bigger. Emily's face went pink and she felt the heat rise. She lowered her head.

"It's...comfy." her voice came out quieter then she intended.

"It's too small on me anyways, keep it." Minho shrugged, he still had a smug smirk on his face.

"Don't worry I won't wear it to school. You can keep your popular reputation of the school hero. I'll blend back into the background."

"What?" His smirk dropped, and the corns of his mouth turned, and his eyebrows scrunched, "Emmy, why would yo-"

"Looks like we're both going for a run, if you're coming with me, keep up."

Emily cut him off and pulled the door open and headed down the driveway. She put her headphones back in and cranked the music. Minho matched her pace. She appreciated that he didn't try to talk to her. But he still had the troubled look on his face, which slowly turned into his usual look of stone. But he kept her pace. She slowly sped up, she was pushing herself harder. Minho kept pace.

By the time they rounded the corner of his street they were both breathing heavily, and covered in sweat. Emily slowed down and came to a brisk walk, slowing her heart beat, and trying to regain her regular breath.

"Jeeze, you set a hard pace."

Emily just hummed. Her mind had been spinning while she ran. She didn't know how this would mean for them at school. Minho was the most popular kid at school, she was a no body, but she was now his house mate. She noticed how different he was away from school, but now what? She was staying in his house, she didn't want him to feel obligated to stay with her...like a burrdon or charity case. What she said before they left, was true. She wouldn't force anything, she would slide back into the background, keep her head down and her distance. Not only for his reputation but also because Teresa was still going to be around and she was terrified of her still.

Just because was removed from Ava's care didn't mean that Teresa could still be a bully. Clearly she blamed Emily for their break up, but she didn't know what that meant for her at school. The calm she woke up with this morning was slowly being replaced with her regular familiar anxiety stomach ache.

Minho pushed the front door open and lead her inside.

"Ahh, there they are. Good run you two?"

Emily smiled, "I pushed Thunder Cat hard, he was complaining when we slowed to cool down."

Papa Lee chuckled, while Minho sputtered. Emily high fived Papa Lee on her way down the hall to shower. Emily heard Papa Lee's voice still from the kitchen, it was deep and loud, even when he was talking quietly. Emily froze, she probably shouldn't have but she did.

"I like her."

She heard Minho's voice, but she couldn't hear distinguishable words. Then she heard a deep sigh.

"Sure, that's true. But don't wait too long "

She heard footsteps, and Emily slid into her room, going straight to the shower. It didn't take her long, she left her hair down, drying it mostly dry and then leaving it. Pulling her jeans on and a plain white t shirt and her sneakers. She went to pack her backpack when she saw a message from A7 waiting. He must have messaged her back while she was running.

Haha. Just taking a break. There will always be girl problems. Such is life of a guy who looks as awesome as I. 😎

But nah...she was bad news. She is no more. But...there is another one...like shuck sakes I'm in trouble, Princess.

Emily rolled her eyes at the first message. Of course a guy would say that. But the second half intreged her. She messaged back quickly.

Wow there A7, ego much?
Well glad you dropped that dead weight, who needs someone causing issues for the sake of drama, I hope it made you happy. Now this other one? Intreged. Moving kinda fast no? Break up with 1 and already onto 2...it's like a month into school. Jeeze man, slow your roll! Advice from a girl: Don't let this new one think (or be) she's a rebound. Give yourself time to heal from the last one- she seemed like a handful.

She closed her computer and grabbed her bag and went into the kitchen. It was still early, but she was surprised to see both Minho's parents in the kitchen.

"Morning dear."

"Morning Mama Lee!" Emily said brightly.

She turned from the counter and gave Emily a big hug. After she let go she handed her a cup of coffee.

"So what's the plan today?"

Emily sat down on the stool, pulling a knee up. Sipping the coffee.

"School and studying. I have a bio test and report due coming up, same with calculus and an essay due."

Emily was throwing her lunch into her bag when Minho finally emerged from his room. Jeans, simple black t shirt and perfectly styled hair.

"Thunder Cat has emerged." His mom teased, "finally get that hair just right?"

Minho rolled his eyes, "it takes a lot to look this good."

His mom just laughed, giving him a quick kiss on the cheek.

"I have meetings all day, I'll be home later, your father should be home for supper. Is football practice tonight or was it moved to tomorrow?"

"Nah, it's today. I'll be home by supper, don't worry mom." Minho answered filling up a travel mug of coffee, and throwing some bread into the toaster. Papa Lee came to refill his coffee and went back to his office.

"Good man. Now, Emily packed you a lunch, 'cause you took forever."

Emily's face went pink again, and she looked down, at the bowl of cereal she had.

"Thanks Em!"

She kept her head down, her face pink. "It's out of habit, always made 2 lunches..."

Emily finished her breakfast and quickly did her dishes and grabbed her backpack.

"Bye Mama Lee."

"By dear."

"Bye Papa Lee!" She called, knowing he had the door open.

"Bye! Keep Thunder Cat in line!"

"I'm shucked with the three of you, aren't I?" Minho grumbled.

"Yes you are son." His mom chuckled.

Emily was out the door and down the driveway when she heard her name called. She looked over her shoulder. Minho was gesturing to his truck with a confused look.

"Do I smell that bad? That why your not coming? I showered and used soap, I promise."

"But Mr Popular giving me a ride? Won't that ruin your reputation?"

"What reputation?" He asked, crossing his arms.

"Don't give me that klunk. You know it's true. The crowd splits apart when you walk down the hall like your a king."

"Emily Fitz, get your shuck butt into the truck." His jaw clenched, and his eyes narrowed. "I couldn't give a flying shuck about reputation. I got that reputation 'cause I play football and I'm shucken good. You are living in my house, and I had hoped we're friends...."

Emily shrunk, and hung her head and pulled her coffee closer to her chest, like she was trying to keep it safe. She was shielding herself, preping for the lash out. She heard the footsteps, and she tensed. She flinched when Minho placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Emmy, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to scare you. But.. I don't understand why you think I wouldn't want to be around you."

"'Cause I'm a no body." She whispered.

"You're a somebody to me." He said quietly.

She picked her head up and met his eyes. He was already looking, his dark brown eyes were intense, looking into her soul.

"Will you please just let me drive you to the shuck school?"

Emily swallowed, her stomach still twisting, and her hands were shaking slightly, but she nodded.

"Okay." He nodded, running a hand through his hair. He turned back to the door and opened the door for her.

~•~

Minho pulled into the parking lot. he already saw the eyes following the truck. He took a deep breath and plastered the same expression he always had at school, cool collected smug smirk.

"Thank you." She whispered, "I have to ask Miss Mary something before class. I'll see you later, Minho."

He hardly heard her, her voice was so quiet and thin. It made him sad seeing her shrink like this, trying to protect herself.

"I thought it was Thunder Cat?" He asked.

He raising an eyebrow at her, as he turned the truck off. The corner of her mouth turned up, and he saw a little spark in her eye before it disappeared. She opened the door and hurried off, her head down, weaving through the crowd, trying to avoid anyone. He watch with a frown. He opened the door and climbed out, as was immediately surrounded by some of the guys.

"So rumor has it, you and Tes broke up 'cause you cheated!"

"Dude who was that chick?"

"Who is she?"

"She the girl you cheated with?"

"Tes is pissed, man! What the shuck happened?"

Minho's head was spinning. He had to blink a few times trying to process what was being thrown at him. His smirk slid into his other school mask, cold stone.

"The shuck? Where'd you hear that rumor, Winston?"

"Brenda said Tes was at her place crying 'cause you broke up 'cause you cheated on her, she found out and asked you about it and said you got mad and broke up with her and rushed over to your new chick."

Minho blinked again. It took him a second to process what Winston said.

"Again, what ...and I can't stress this enough- the actual shuck?" Minho finally said.

"That's what I was told. There's even a picture going around from the weekend."

"What picture?"

Gally pulled his phone out, showing Minho. It was at Alby's match. Whoever took it, Teresa or Brenda, probably, but it was Minho leaning down towards Emily, he had his hand on her back and she had her face turned up towards him. Their faces were only inches apart and Emily had a big smile on her face. It was actually a really sweet picture or her. He could see how it could look like that with the rumors that apparently were now spreading like wild fire.

Minho rolled his eyes. He needed to disposal these as fast as possible. Emily had warned him in the truck that Teresa wouldn't physically hurt her out right, but she was nasty. And clearly she was right. Destroying everything Emily owned wasn't enough for her ..now she was going after her in another way, and himself. He could care less about what others thought of him, win the next football game and the school would forget. He was worried about Emily.

"You shucked faced shanks. You've known me for how long?" He growled, looking around the group.

"A long ti-"

"Time, you've know me for years. And how long have you know Teresa?" He asked, raising an eyebrow folding his arms.

"A month." Winston said sheepishly.

"A shucken month. Who are you going to believe? Someone who you've know for years, have seen me with past girlfriends... Or some new chick you hardly know? Also you know how jacked Brenda can be."

"Yeah...okay. But the picture?"

"Dude, it was that business project, they were at the fight at the university." Thomas said sliding into the conversation. He missed the beginning of the conversation, but clearly he knew of the picture.

"How do you know?"

"I was there, shank." Thomas frowned. "And know how loud it was? Yeah, ya had to lean in close. I couldn't even hear myself. They were down in the coaches corner, in the centre. Come on guys. Grow up." Thomas rolled his eyes.

"Okay fine. But the rest..?"

"Do I gotta explain everything to you shuck faces? I have a friend. I gave her a lift. Shuck sakes. I ended it with Teresa. End of the shucken story."

Minho was sick of this conversation. He was glad the bell rang, he had an excuse to leave.

"I don't wanna hear anymore about this Klunk." He shoved through the guys and stormed up the steps.

He slammed the locker door closed and jumped. A bleach blond girl with a low cut shirt was leaning on the locked beside his, she batted her eyes up at him.

"Can I help you?" He snapped.

"I heard you and Tes broke up. I'm so sorry." She pouted. She twisted a strand of hair around her finger and tried to step closer. Minho stepped back, "do I know you?"

"Oh you silly, yes. I'm on the cheer team."

"Of shucken course you are." He growled, he turned away and saw Emily looking away. He swore he saw tears in her eyes. He frowned his eyes still on the back of Emily's head. The girl at the locker apparently was still talking.

"Ya, I don't care." He said, and walked away, trying to follow Emily through the crowd, but the halls were too busy. He growled in frustration. He'd catch her after class this morning.