Sapphire

I hum a tune as I place the strips of bacon on the plate, before serving the french toast beside it. "Ian, breakfast is ready!" I call out.

He walks out of his room and into the kitchen in his jersey and black jeans, his wet hair combed back. Casually, he pulls out a stool and takes a seat, smiling down at his plate. "I don't know if it's just because I've been wanting someone to cook for me for so long or what, but this looks amazing. Thank you."

"I'm sure it's just because you didn't have to cook it yourself. But sure, no problem." I laugh, watching him cut up a piece of french toast. "Also, you finished the juice yesterday, so I made you some freshly-squeezed orange juice." I set his glass down as I take a sip of my water bottle.

"This French toast is delicious." He pauses mid-bite, furrowing his eyebrows as he looks for my plate. "Wait, you're not eating?"

"Nah, I already brushed my teeth. I'm just following the house rules." I point out, going around the kitchen island to walk towards my room. "Now if you'll excuse me, I gotta go before I miss the bus."

"Bus?" He repeats in a questioning manner. "You take the bus to school?"

I spin on my heel, crossing my arms over my chest as I raise a brow. "Yeah? Is there a problem with that?"

He throws his hands up, "Nope, just a question." He pauses momentarily, "but I'll give you a ride, if you want."

"Thank you for the offer, but I would like to keep my head where it is."

"What's that supposed to mean?" He chuckles.

"It means you have a crazy-jealous girlfriend and I don't want to get on her bad side."

He mutters something under his breath as he drinks his orange juice and I walk towards him, hands on my hips. "I'm sorry, what was that?" I inquire. He looks taken aback when he sees me, before sending me a sheepish smile. I narrow my eyes, "Ian..."

"It's a little late for that. You got on her bad side the day you moved in." He explains. "She knows I need help paying for this place, but I guess she just didn't expect for me to rent to a girl."

"Great." I grumble, dragging my feet to walk into my room. "Just great!"

I hear him laugh, "It's not that big of a deal."

"Says you! You're not the one being targeted by the biggest bitch in school!"

"Watch it." He warns. "That's my girl."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I forgot you have a psychopath as a girlfriend." I step back out of my room with my backpack fixed on my shoulder. "Do you know what happened to the last girl who let you borrow a pencil? A pencil! All because her hand accidentally touched yours as she handed it to you."

"No, I don't. Enlighten me."

"She ripped her P.E. shorts without her knowing. Poor girl had to switch schools because the entire class found out she wore underwear that said 'spank me'."

"Kinky." He muses.

"That's not funny."

He sighs, finishing the last of his breakfast. "Look, do you wear embarrassing or kinky underwear?"

"What? No!" I sputter. "What kind of question is that? That's personal."

"Then you have nothing to worry about. She can't do anything that'll embarrass you." He says matter-of-factly, standing up as he chugs the last of his orange juice.

I roll my eyes, "you act like that's the only thing she's capable of doing."

"I'll tell her to back off, okay?" He offers, putting his dishes in the dishwasher. "Don't worry about it."

Heaving out a sigh, I march my way towards the door before swinging it open. "I'm taking your word for it."

"Trust me."

I offer a lopsided smile before I step out, shutting the door behind me. He underestimates the power of his girlfriend sometimes. Well, most times. Love has him blinded so hard, he completely looked over the fact that she got taken away in handcuffs once. Bitch is completely psycho when it comes to her boyfriend. That's why it's hard to believe she would ever cheat. How hypocritical would that be?

I exhale sharply as I walk over to the elevator, pushing the button for the lobby. Ian runs out, his backpack bouncing on his shoulder as he yells for me to stop the elevator. I do just that, shaking my head in amusement as he makes it inside. He bends over and takes a deep breath, before he straightens back up to smile at me. "Thanks."

"No prob." I muse. "You know, for a quarterback, you're kind of lacking athleticism, don't you think?"

He narrows his eyes at me, clearly offended. "I'm sorry for not waking up able to run a mile. I stayed up most of the night, so I'm still very exhausted. Sue me."

"Why's that?" I wonder, lifting a curious brow.

"Just thinking."

"I see." I simply say as the elevator reaches the lobby. Waving at the doorman, I walk out of the apartment complex, making the bus stop my destination. Though, when I see the last person stepping into the bus, I curse under my breath. Missed the bus again.

"Tough luck." Ian chuckles from beside me. "You up for that ride now?"

I give him side-eye, "I don't have much of a choice, do I?"

"I mean, you can walk." He shrugs, shoving his hands into his pockets and spinning on his heel to go towards his car. "See ya!"

"Jerk." I mutter under my breath, before slumping my shoulders forward in defeat. "Wait up, I'll take the offer." I call out as I jog to meet his step.

He laughs, clearly amused as he looks over at me briefly, "thanks for the breakfast, by the way. Where'd you learn to make the french toast? It's probably the best I've ever had." He admits as he unlocks the car and slides into the driver's seat. I join him inside shortly after.

"It's really simple, actually. That's what my dad and I usually eat in the mornings. It's his special recipe; he learned to master it after so many years. Tweaking it every year until it became the recipe I made today."

"Speaking of your dad, uh..." he trails off awkwardly as he turns the engine over. "He's...nice."

An involuntary cringe ransacks my shoulders when the memory of my father being so inquisitive comes to mind. He sure knows how to make things awkward. I sigh and let my head fall back against the seat as I roll down the window. Because suddenly, the space in here is too small for me to breathe properly.

"About him, I'm really sorry." I mutter, dragging a hand down my face. "I don't know why he always has to make things awkward."

He laughs, checking his mirrors as he pulls out of the parking spot. "I'm sure he meant no harm. Plus, he's actually kind of hilarious and I can tell he adores you. He means well. Though, I think our meeting would've been better off if he didn't go assuming that you and I are gonna end up sleeping together. Especially after I told him that I have a girlfriend who I don't plan to cheat on."

"Yeah..." I laugh awkwardly. "Can we just forget he ever said that? For my sake?"

"Sure." He shrugs, pulling out of the parking lot and driving onto the main road, towards school.

Our conversation dies down on our way there, him focused on the road in front of us while I look out of the window. I admire the ocean waves as we zoom by, the seagulls already looking for a victim to steal food from. I'll have to go out to enjoy the beach one of these days. Take advantage of the fact that it's right outside the apartment complex.

When we finally reach the school parking lot, he takes a space near the back and I immediately jump out, not wanting to be seen by Julissa. I can manage to be scolded by my dad the rare times I manage to make him angry, but I never want to be on Julissa's bad side. That's another level of scary.

"Thanks for the ride." I quickly say as I walk past him. "See you around."

"No problem." He waves, "see you."

If anyone ever told me that I would end up getting a ride from the school's quarterback, I'd say they were crazy. But if that same person told me that I'd end up living with him, I would upgrade them to the title of delusional. Yet, here I am, walking in through the school gates with Ian by my side.

Wait.

"Why are you following me?" I ask. "Julissa already hates me enough with me just renting a room with you. I don't need to be on her kill list."

There's no missing his amused eye roll, but I choose to ignore it. "Will you relax? I already told you that I'll have her back off. She won't do anything."

"Are you really good enough to tame the beast?" I question. And when he chooses to smirk at me instead of actually replying, I shudder. "Okay gross, I don't need to know your personal life."

"Ian!" A high-pitched voice calls out and I quicken my step. Speak of the devil and he shall appear.

I look over my shoulder to see her throw herself into his arms. He happily wraps his arms around her waist, planting a kiss at the top of her head. If she's actually cheating, I feel really bad for him. Poor dude is head over heels in love with the girl.