"You know someday he's going to catch you ogling at him," I tell Fionna, taking a seat on the lunch table. "And it's gross, by the way. He's my brother."

"But he's so hot, Fay. Oh god, those deep blue eyes." She sighs, still staring at him as he seems to be chatting with a couple of guys from the team at some other table.

"Like I said, gross." I try to focus on my food instead of her fangirling over my brother.

Fionna Quinton is the head of cheerleading team but unlike hollywood movies like us to believe, she isn't a mean girl. She's one of the sweetest person I've had the privilege to befriend. We were in middle school, more specifically eighth grade when I started my period and freaked out. Mom had already given me the talk so I could be prepared but I think it's safe to say, no amount of talk can prepare you to witness yourself bleeding from your vagina.

I didn't have a sanitary pad or tampon, or anything for that matter so I was freaking out in the girl's washroom when she walked in. She asked me what was wrong and when I told her, rather hesitantly, she told me to just wait. She went to the nurse's office and got me a sanitary pad.

It's safe to say we've been inseparable since then. That day when I walked in with a new friend in the house, Fionna claims she fell in love with Dylan at the first sight. And Dylan, being the overdramatic queen he is, flipped out that I had a new friend. It's a tale that I hope to tell her kids and husband one day so we all can laugh about it.

"He's coming here." Fionna starts shaking my arm and I almost bite on my own tongue instead of the fry in my mouth.

"Ouch, woman. Of course, he is. We all eat lunch together. That hasn't changed since ever. I thought we established you can act like a normal person around him. What's with this regression to middle school?" I study her face with curiosity because this isn't like her.

Over the years because we all hang out together so much, she has learned to be friends with Dylan without making it awkward. But since this morning, all she has done is freaked the hell out. So, something's definitely up.

Before I can investigate her further, Dylan joins us on the table, followed by Josh who takes a seat on my other side. He gives a silent nod to two of them before Ethan plops down across me. He grins at me but I ignore him.

"What did Momma Lee pack for you?" Josh grabs my packed sandwich.

"Hey, that's for me." I snatch it back.

"Dude, you already got two Mommies. How many more do you need?" Ethan snickers at Josh, his comment earning him not one but four glares.

"Shut the fuck up, man." Dylan snaps at him, obviously knowing that he was being out of line.

"No, it's fine. We all know Ethan's Mommy issues run deep. I empathise." Josh smiles at him innocently.

I try to hold back my laugh but fail miserably. Ethan narrows his eyes at me, anger flaring beneath them but I just offer him the same smile Josh did a second ago. Ethan's mother is the town mayor who likes to keep a tight leash around the entire Summer Hill which means around her son too. But he rebels against her just as much. It's sad, but he's an asshole.

Josh, on the other hand, has two beautiful mothers. Kia and Cathy Matthews-Jeong are very much the parent goals I'd like to have in life. If they could adopt me, I wouldn't even hesitate for a second before agreeing. Kia is korean but has been brought up in the states ever since she was born. She's one of my favourite person, all credits to the amazing food she makes.

"Where's Kace?" Dylan finally breaks the awkward tension.

"Pretty sure he's with that other Latino. The community's sticking together." Ethan mutters, picking up fries from my tray.

"She has a name, and stop eating my food." I swat his hand away.

Asshole. Pure asshole. His face, his voice, his hairstyle everything about him annoys me. He's 6'2, slightly taller than my brother and Kace, and is the captain of the soccer team which kind of explains his jerk behaviour. He thinks that his dark blonde hair, hazel eyes and charming cheekbones will make everyone worship him. But he's wrong. So damn wrong. I don't get angry often so the most someone pushes me towards is annoyance and that's Ethan right here, my trigger.

"You have changed, haven't you?" He remarks and Fionna chokes on the fry she was eating.

I let out a low groan, rubbing her back as Dylan pushes a water bottle in her direction. He looks at her with concern, "You okay?"

She gulps down the water and then nods, "Yeah. Wrong pipe."

I hear two familiar laughs behind me, recognising the sound. Kace and May join us at the table, caught up in their own conversation. They take a seat beside Dylan who stares between the two of them.

"What's so funny?"

"We almost got detention in history." May fills us in, amusingly looking at Kace. "He kept passing me notes."

"Hey, you're the one who started it." He pinches her side.

Kace and May have been inseparable from as long as I can remember. They are each other's neighbours who live a few streets away from us. There's a lot I know that strengthens their bond and since they are so attached to the hip, it's easy to assume they are dating. Even though they both have denied it time and again.

"So, what did I miss?" May claps her hands, looking between everyone.

"Nothing much. Ethan's a wuss. That's all." Fionna grins at the guy.

"Funny, aren't you?" He smirks at her. "It doesn't take much to cause feud in the cheerleading team, babe. Remember that."

"Ew. Don't call me babe. Like ever again." She practically shudders, making Josh and I laugh as I lean my head on his shoulder. "And unlike you, I earned the leader title with lots of hardwork, Howard. Mind your tongue."

"If all of you are going to bicker the entire time, we should switch tables." Dylan speaks up, looking a little pissed.

"No." Ethan and Fionna both protest, surprising me.

I know Fionna wouldn't want Dylan to switch tables but what surprises me is Ethan's reluctancy. I frown at him but he seems to be staring at me already. I try not to get unnerved by his gaze but then I feel another one on me. I blink in Kace's direction and he seems to be staring at me with a quizzical look, like a puzzle he's trying to solve.

May clears her throat, looking at me with a smile on her face, "I love your dress, Farrah. Where did you get it from?"

Her words instantly cause me to smile, "This new boutique shop around the gazebo. You have to check it out."

"Is that where you buy your flannel shirts too?" Dylan teases, his features relaxed now and I pick up a fry to throw at him.

"No. Those I steal from you." I grin at him, glad that he's finally smiling since the morning.

It worries me when he's on the edge. It basically puts me on the edge too. Josh laughs at him, "Those are yours?"

"No." Dylan defends himself. "She's just joking. We both shop together sometimes."

I roll my eyes because he felt the need to explain. Dylan's always been the one to care about what people think about him. I, on the other hand, not so much. I care about my closed one's opinions but that's about it.

"Shocker. Farrah-the tomboy-shops from men's section." Kace smirks at me and that's like a hitting a nerve.

I immediately start to reach over to smack him when Josh's strong arms hold me back. I try to wiggle out from his grasp when he leans in to whisper, "Don't let him get to you."

"Why the fuck not?" I snap, still glaring at Kace who's full on smirking now. "You can call me weirdo, you can call me whatever the hell you want, jackass but don't ever call me a tomboy."

"But isn't he just stating the truth?" Ethan adds on to my frustration.

"Are you both idiots? You know she hates being called that, and she isn't a tomboy." Dylan scowls at his friends, defending me like a loyal twin.

"What he said." I grit my teeth at both his idiot friends. "I'm a girl who likes to dress up however I please. Sometimes I like to wear a dress, sometimes I like to wear flannel shirts. If you have so much problem that I'm not conforming to your so called feminine standards, then I suggest you shove it up your asses."

I don't get angry, I really don't but I hate being called a tomboy. What exactly does a tomboy even mean? Just because a girl doesn't follow the ridiculous societal norms, she needs to be associated with a name that has boy in it? Who the fuck made these rules?

Without waiting for either of them to respond, I get up from the table and leave everyone behind. But I know a second later that both Fionna and Josh are following behind me.

It's Fionna who entangles her arm with mine and Josh extends his arm to wrap it around my shoulders. I take a deep breath, letting in the air into my stomach before exhaling it out.

"I overreacted, didn't I?" I ask both of them.

Fionna gives me a knowing smile while Josh shakes his head, "We all know that it's a no-go zone for you. I don't know what he was thinking."

"He wasn't. Both of them like to annoy you, you know that." Fionna tries to make me feel like it's fine but it's not. If Kace ever calls me a tom-boy again, I'll kick him where the sun doesn't shine.

The rest of the day goes by smoothly. I share sociology class with him, an elective that has been newly introduced couple of years back and one I've been curious to study. I was surprised to find him in the backseat last week but today, I ignored him. As for Ethan, he and I only share history class in which he sits amongst other jocks.

"Where are you headed?" Josh asks me standing against Fionna's locker because she's staying back for the cheerleading practice.

"Bakery. You wanna come along?" I ask, getting my stuff from my own locker.

"Sure. I got nothing better to do." He shrugs. "Mom asked me to tell you she'll be making dumplings next week."

My ears perk up at that, "Really?"

"Yes. For lunch, of course." He doesn't fail to mention and I offer him a grateful smile.

"That's sweet of her."

My father, my genius father, doesn't really like it when I go out for dinner anywhere. He doesn't object to it directly but when he keeps a sour mood and doesn't talk to me properly the following day, it kinda speaks a lot. So, I try to avoid it as much as possible because we have enough issues to deal with at home.

I hear mumbles behind me so it takes me by surprise when I turn around to find Kace and May talking a few lockers away. She seems to be scowling at him while talking frantically.

"What's that about?" Josh leans over my shoulder, keeping his chin on it.

"No idea." I shrug.

"Ow. I bit my tongue!" He shoves my shoulder playfully and I snicker at him. "Not funny."

Our conversation is interrupted when Kace makes his way to his locker, but his gaze is fixed on me. I frown at his actions when he stands in front of me, his eyes faltering to Josh.

"Can I talk to you?" He asks, his voice a little on the edge.

I'm about to protest when Josh gives me wrist a squeeze, "Sure."

"Alone." He looks at Josh who's about to walk away but I shake my head.

"Whatever insult you've got planned, I'm sure Josh can make a good eye witness for it."

Kace instantly scowls at me, "Why do you always assume the worst?"

"Excuse me?" I laugh humourlessly, "Have you ever given me a reason to assume the best about you?"

He's about to argue back when May comes to stand by his side. She gives his arm a light graze, pushing him. He narrows his eyes at her and they both do some weird conversation through their eyes before he lets out a long sigh.

"Okay. I'm sorry about what I said during lunch. I was just trying to mess with you, and I didn't mean to piss you off or imply anything deep. I understand it's offensive to call a girl tomboy."

My lips are parted with surprise by the time he finishes speaking. I don't know what I was expecting, but it was definitely not that. He meets my eyes, the brown orbs of his staring at me, waiting for me to respond. There's a small but prominent blood clot in Kace's right eye, peeking from underneath his eyeball. It's always been there, but I've never been close enough to ask him why he has it. Right now, as I stare at him, all I can think about is his apology and that clot.

Josh gives my arm a little nudge so I clear my throat, snapping out my thoughts, "It's okay."

"Really?" He looks surprised and I nod. "I mean it, Fay. You're a weirdo, but I would never call you or anyone tomboy ever again. Thanks for the lesson."

I can't help but smile at his words, a part of me happy that the words I said to him stuck by. I nod at him, still beaming and he smiles back at me. I try not to get dazed by it, I always have to keep myself in check regarding that.

"Okay. I'll see you guys later. Gotta run to practice." He waves at all three of us before rushing away.

May looks at his back before turning towards me and I arch an eyebrow at her, "Do I need to thank you for that apology?"

She laughs, shaking her head. "It wasn't me."

"Sure." I roll my eyes, aware that she's lying.

There's no universe which exists where Kace would himself approach me to offer an apology for his offensive words.