"How was your day, honey?" Annie asked smiling, was it me or Jace? What am I saying, it's definitely Jace.

"It's was the usual mum." Jace answered going upstairs.

"I'm not asking you, Jace. Elena dear, how was your day?" Annie said earning a shocked look from Jace.

"Um, it was interesting" I replied smiling widely. It was really nice knowing that someone was ready to ask you how your day was.

"Mum! I'm your son, remember?" Jace asked frowning at his mother.

"I carried you for nine months so how can I forget?" Annie replied turning on the TV, Jace just walked upstairs not before glaring at me.

"Um, Annie. What do you give someone who has an injury from a punch?" I asked suddenly feeling concern about Ross's nose.

"Probably an ice pack, why do you ask?" Annie asked raising her eyebrow at me.

"I just wanted to know?" I said, more like asked.

"Ok, sure." Annie replied but I have a feeling she already knew I was lying.

********
It was the second day of school and I decided to get out of Laura's way the whole day. If she can send a school bully to threaten me, then she can do worse if I continue. I was currently sitting in literature class and Laura took her chance to glare at me every single time we made eye contact.

"So class, since you guys obviously don't want to read the book I told you to read, I'll give you a group assignment and you'll have to read the book to get the answers right." miss Rachel announced, "I'll group you guys in two, the assignment will be submitted on Friday so good luck."

She kept on calling out names of students accordingly and I started getting bored because my name started with 'w'.

".... and Elena Walter" She concluded. Who am I paired with?, I was too lost in boredom that I forgot miss Rachel was still calling the names.

"What?!!" Laura shouted with a shocked look on her face, ""isn't there anyone whose name starts with a t, u or v?"

"No Laura, you are paired with Elena" miss Rachel said nonchalantly and Laura glared holes into her head. "This assignment must be done collectively because I'll ask questions to anyone of you on Friday and if one person fails the group fails, just so you know."

******
"Look, on behalf of my grades and love for 'A', I'm willing to put our differences aside and work with you on this assignment" Laura said at the end of the class.

"Ok" I said smiling widely, at least we weren't enemies anymore.

"Why are you smiling?, it's not like we are friends." she said rolling her eyes at me bursting the tiny bubble of hope I had, "So after school, your house or mine?". I promised Celine I'd go to the library with her for our history assignment, history was the only class we have together so far and most importantly, I can't let anyone find out I'm staying with Jace.

"What about the library?" I asked hopefully.

"Why?, It's easier in either of our houses." Laura said glaring at the students who were looking at us weirdly, you don't blame them though, I am talking to a girl who sent a bully to threaten me, any other person would either run away from her or be angry at her.

"Celine and I are going to the library after school for our history assignment so I thought we could all go together" I finished timidly.

"Ugh! Fine just text me when you guys are ready to go." she said before walking away and i was amazed by how the kids parted just for her to walk by.

*******
"Elena!" I turned around only to see a super hyper Celine waving at me. I was currently in gym class and apparently it is compulsory to change into shorts and a tank top that both had the school logo on them.

"I'm so happy we have another class together." Celine said when she got closer, "and by the way, this is the worst class ever so don't expect much."

"Why is it the worst?" I asked curiously.

"There's a lot of sports and exercises and a partial teacher, this class is the worst" she said holding her head dramatically, "but you get to see hot guys so it's no problem for me." I rolled my eyes at her and she just grinned.

"Laura is coming with us to the library, I asked her to because we were paired for a literature assignment and I decided to kill two birds with one stone." I informed her.

"Oh shoot! I forgot to tell you something. I have a doctor's appointment today so I can't come to the library with you" Celine said apologetically, "I can't let you go alone with Laura, that girl is scary."

"It's ok, I'll just go with her." I said looking around.

"No, go to Sunny cafe with her in case she wants to do anything funny she'd do it in front of people." Celine warned.

"Ok.." I heard a loud whistle and I looked for the source only to see a buff woman standing in the middle of the field.

"Gather round, so today we are going to do a little warm up but to ensure all of you participates actively, the loser picks each and every gum in the bleachers" she did in a gruff voice earning a groan from everybody, "and the second place gets to clean the boys locker room"

"Eww!" "Gross!"

Why does the second position get a punishment too? I mean they even tried to reach the second position. "The second position gets punished because there should be no reason to loose to your fellow student" the woman said, "Now everybody move to the field, it's running time!"

"Ugh! Coach Sam is evil, I tell you, evil" Celine groaned sadly, "look at Shane, he must be excited." I looked over only to see a lean tall boy who was stretching.

"Why would he be excited?" I asked

"He runs for our school, he's coach Sam's source of hope. Telling him to run with us is like telling him to warm up. He should be transferring to Jace's class soon though." Celine said as we watched the first set of students run, "Jace's class is for the footballers and cheerleaders, Shane is an athlete so he should also be training with them."

"Ohk" I said in understanding.

******
"Now it's down to our two final students, are you ready?" Coach Sam said. I, somehow, reached the finals and unlike Laura, Shane has been giving me some pointers on how to run better and he always gave me a smile anytime I won the others.

"On your mark! Get set! and... Go!", I took off running and Shane was just jogging smoothly and I was already looking at the finish line before Shane flew past me and won, I now see why he is the coach's favourite.

" And Shane wins the race!" Coach yells, "Hey new girl, come here for a sec." I jogged towards her and I saw Celine giving me a sympathetic look.

"What's your name, kiddo?" She said.

"Elena Walter." I answered politely

"Go and give coach Mitch this letter before you clean the locker room, ok?" She said.

"Yes ma'am!" I answered a bit terrified.

******
"She asked you to bring this letter to me?" Coach Mitch asked.

"Yes sir." I answered standing on my toes.

"Tell Shane that starting from tomorrow he would be in my class." he said.

"Yes sir." I replied

"And you too." he added

"Yes.. wait what?!" I exclaimed.

"That's what she scribbled down in this sheet of paper, she said you are a fast runner so see you in class." he said dismissing me.

"So what did he say?" Celine asked the moment I stepped out of the staff room.

"He said I'm now in his class, Shane too so my next gym class will be with him."I explained.

"You can't leave me in that class. I just got you today and I can't loose you." Celine wailed, "here I got you stuff for cleaning, I would've joined you but mum will be here in five minutes"

"It's ok" I said.

"Just be careful because..., My mum is here, I got to go" Celine said hurriedly running down the hallway, "the boys are..." and she left. I carried the cleaning supplies to the boys locker room. I opened the door only to be hit by a horrid smell mixed with the smell of soap and perfume, what in heavens name goes on here? I started sweeping the floor when I heard voices coming from the direction of the shower. Oh no!

"Elena, what the hell are you doing here?!" Jace whisper yelled at me.

"Coach Sam asked me to clean this place." I explained.

"You can't be in here." he said leading me to the door.

"Yo!, Jace who's the chick?" I heard a voice say and before I could turn Jace covered my eyes with his hand, followed by a towel.

"What the hell man? Where are your clothes?" Jace yelled.

"Chill, is that Elena?" the person asked and Jace didn't even respond he just led me out of the locker room and removed the towel.

"What were you thinking?!" He scolded, "this is a BOYS locker room, you can't just come in."

"Sorry." I whispered, "I didn't know you guys were inside." I said sniffling.

"You are not crying, are you?" Jace asked peering at my face.

"No, I'm not." I was almost crying, call me weak but the way Jace was scolding me was like a parent scolding his child.

"Look, sorry for yelling but you would have been scarred for life, if I wasn't there." Jace said in a softer voice.

"I know, thanks..."

"Elena Walter!, it has been twenty minutes since school ended and I've been waiting for you. I don't care whatever lovey dovey stuff you guys are doing but we need to go!" Laura boomed in the empty hallway, before I could do anything Laura dragged me out of the school mumbling about how her grades were important. I turned back only to find Jace looking at us amused and when he saw I was looking at him, he waved his hand and I waved back. Why do I feel so giddy at that simple friendly act?