"Do you think that Jordan's last name is a clever play on words, I mean because he is hypothetically 'heartless'?" Raven wondered airly and gazed lazily across the quad at Jordan Hart, not with lust or love, just plain curiosity because of Raven as just inquisitive like that. And I mean Raven had eyes for Riley Saldana and Riley Saldana only, even though his girlfriend Emerson was slung across his lap like some slab of meat. "Raven, I'm just trying to finish my delicious salad in remaining —" I rose my wrist to check my watch and exclaimed, " — ten minutes!"

    Raven rolled her eyes at my theatrics, "You're so dramatic and can you come with me to Riley's concert, please?" She spat out hopefully as if me being there was gonna make her look less pitiful. A perk of having a best friend helplessly in love with Riley Saldana is that you have to sometimes go to his terrible concerts.

    Okay, the music's not terrible but the venues are disgusting. They serve alcohol to minors, the place is filthy, and I've had show off my impeccable karate skills to a few grabby hands and their owners. "I'll see Raven, but I'm not making any promi —" I was cut off by Raven's squeal of delight and her yanking me into a hug from across the lunch table.

   Honestly, I don't know why Raven bothered with douches like Riley who couldn't see her worth. I mean she's beautiful. Raven hated her eyes, I meanwhile loved them, they always depicted her deepest emotions without her saying a word, her feelings in moment practically shined on her velvet-brown eyes that were shaped like crescents that turned golden in the sunlight. And her ironically 'raven' colored black hair that flowed down her back contrasting with inherited pale skin.

    "Just don't get your hopes up, you know how my Mom is Rave," I warned her before shoveling two spoonfuls of salad into my mouth. Very ladylike, I know. "Yeah, yeah, whatever." Raven shrugged me off before turning around to stare at Riley, some more before lunch was over.

    And I sorta felt bad for Riley because Jordan Hart was staring holes at me from his spot next to Riley.

   Next time, I'll let Raven take this seat. Jordan just sat there staring, his messy hair peeped out from under his black beanie, and he wore his usual outfit too. All black everything. Black shirt, black pants, some sort of black shoes, today it was low-top Vans. It looked perfect, messy but it showed a little effort in all black-ism.

     I resisted my urge to flip him off, I simply stood up, wiped the invisible dust off my jeans, and tossed my lunch before walking into the building, the library, my destination of choice for the remaining seven minutes to read.

       "Hey, Eleanor... how are you..." rang from some people I'd never seen in my life as I made my way through the cafeteria. Yet I'd still waved, not even checking for the specific location, just waving and smiling like I always do.

       And they ate it up like they always do. Because they were just grateful to get that simple wave and smile, not check to see if my smile reached my eyes or did I use my whole arm to wave.

       Nope, they never did except for Jordan.

       One thing I hated about him was that Jordan thought he knew me so well. Which I was pretty sure he did. And per usual, he trailed behind me like a watchdog, staring down evilly every boy who glanced at me for a little too long.

       I didn't dare glance back until I knew we were alone in the hallway and clicking footsteps echoing were the only sound. I spun around, "Jordan, why do you insist on doing this? Because you know once we step into this library with the remaining five minutes, all you're going to do is stare at me while I try to read in peace."

       He simply shrugged and said nothing like he always did. That was another thing with him, he never spoke, I mean if you're going to stalk me at least speak to me. In English. I'd only heard him speak once in Spanish when we were completely alone, and I knew he spoke English from the shrugs, nods, and shakes I got when I asked him questions. But I left him alone for the most part, I liked the silence. 

      Jordan and I reached the library, me looking behind myself about twenty times to see if he left and he never did or does. "Hi," I waved to the ancient librarian Ms. McGrundy who just sat there on her computer on Pinterest all day seeing as the only people that came in the library were Jordan and me. She reminded me of Jordan behaviorally because I always spoke to her and only got a grunt in response.

        I sat where I always sat, in the arm chair in the deepest corner of the library, Jordan finding his spot beside me while I pulled out 'If I Stay' by Gayle Forman, I was so close to the end and I'd already cried like five times already. I wish Jordan would leave because I didn't appreciate him seeing me cry. I didn't appreciate anyone seeing me cry. 

       But it happened as soon as I got to that last page, I covered my face with the book but I knew Jordan had seen as I felt his calloused hands on my wrist holding the book, and you know what, I appreciated the company. We sat like for a minute before the bell rang and I hastily grabbed my bag and ran to my 8th period, Advanced Biology.

        About twenty minutes after, Ms. Fernando ranting about Cell Structure and Functions, we'd been put in partners and I was discussing Cells with Taylor Hannington avoiding her envious and malicious glances, I'd felt bad for leaving Jordan in the library. I mean he had given me emotional support in a weak moment of mine, so I'd decided to give him a smile when I saw him. But that would be sooner than I thought.

         Ms. Fernando's class-phone rung and she spoke into, laughing at whatever the person on the phone said that was funny, saying her goodbyes and developing a stony face before her eyes settled upon me, "Ms. Grey, go to Mr. Kaufman's after class." She said and resumed teaching. I honestly liked Ms. Fernando, she was the only teacher who didn't treat me like a celebrity (which all the other teachers did), she realized that all the other kids had worked to get into this class too.

       The seven minutes left of class I practically killed myself with how bad I ached, eager for my questions to be answered. Mr. Kaufman was a regular, average class teacher and his class was right across the hall, why'd he call? 

      But finally the bell rang and I raced out of class and across the hall before even one of his students got out of the classroom. I stood politely by the door waiting for the doorway to be empty, not risking pushing one of his students and them beating the crap outta me. Regular class students mostly had nothing to lose, half of them couldn't give two fucks about school, and the other half was loaded and had an entire company to fall back on. 

        The students flooded out like a river and I made my way in. And I have to say, I lied about giving Jordan a smile when I saw him again. Because there he sat in the car across from Mr. Kaufman, his beanie clutched in his hand tightly, his knuckles practically white, and Jordan had his jaw clenched in anger the bones almost popping out his jaw while Mr. Kaufman was all smiles from his spot behind his desk and even got up to hug me when saw me, pushing me into a chair next to Jordan like I'd run away if he didn't. 

        "Miss. Grey," At that Jordan looked up, almost giving himself whiplash because of his surprise, but he put his head back down immediately a frown worn on his lips. "I called you here, today on behalf of all Jordan's teachers, you are by far the smartest student ever to grace Sinclair High, you are fully involved in after school activities and star player on the Lady Tiger's Swim and Volleyball Team, yet you still have impeccable grades. So we chose you to have the task of tutoring Jordan Hart. Jordan has been failing all of his classes since he came here, and from what we understood you to have an established relationship, so please say yes." Mr. Kaufman practically pleaded and I was speechless and so tempted to say no but I mean Jordan and I spend a lot of time together anyway but this is a lot to take in while I have Volleyball practice in a couple minutes.  

       So I had to make this decision, and later on, I'd be pretty sure it was the wrong one, "S-Sure. But I really have to get to Volleyball practice." Wait, until Raven hears.

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  ➟ A U T H O R ' S  N O T E    

I had to because that was terrible and only Scott and Stiles can make that right.