TRACY'S POV

"Oh!My!God! Guess what?" Scola yells jumping at me as soon as I arrive at my locker.

She looks flushed and that only happens when she has some good gossip, Jesse is around or she had too much coffee in the morning.

"Jesse asked you out?" I answer but she shakes her head.

"I wish but no."

"Oh! I know your mom bought you that espresso machine you have been constantly crying about." I hinted but was awarded with more head shaking.

I decided to go for the kill.

"Okay Scola, hit me with the news. What did you hear this time?"I ask opening my locker.

She shrieks excitedly and it takes my all not to block my ears with my hands to prevent ear damage.

"You haven't heard?" She asks practically jumping up and down clutching my arm in a death grip.

I close my locker, take both her hands in mine before I bend low so that we're on eye level.

"Why would I when I have you, my personal BBC gossip channel." I say tweaking her nose.

She slaps my hand away.

"I will try and ignore the fact that you just called me a TV station." She huffs but the excitement on her face doesn't waver.

"Okay my beautiful troll, what is this big news?" I ask giving her my cutest smile.

"I heard that the Sloanes want to build a mall at that bare land by the edge of town." She gushes before she starts jumping up and down again.

"This is so cool Trace, I mean a mall in town, that's shopping and food and..." She rambles on and on and by now she can barely breathe.

I halt her movement by placing my hands on her shoulders.

"Scola."I scold hoping she can stay still. "Listen to me, not to burst your bubble or anything but a mall takes a lot of time to build. It's our senior year, we're leaving this place so we will not get to enjoy it. So please calm down and let's get to class."I reason.

As if on cue, the first bell rings and I drag her along with me to our first class. She is silent all of a sudden probably because she hadn't considered all what I'd just said. Scola is a crazy shopper, and me being the faithful best friend is dragged to every shopping expedition every two weeks. And of course I have to carry all the bags which according to my crazy best friend is only right since I am the muscles between us.

The things this girl makes me do, but its only because of our beautiful bond that I do it.The rest of the day passes on pretty quick till lunch arrives and I'm famished.

"Swap day." Scola declares as soon as we stand in the cafeteria line.

I groan and dramatically face palm.

"Fine!" I whine picking up a pink trey for Scola.

Our school even has pink treys. How cliche?I know you're wondering what swap day is. Well let me explain. During our junior year Scola had period cramps one day so I offered to pick her food for her.

The next week it was my turn so she picked my food. From then on it became a habit to pick each others food. So now any of us just decides on a day and we pick each others food. Its quite fun actually since you don't know what to expect.

As soon as we settle down on one of our favourite tables we swap treys and find we've picked the same for each other. Fries, a slice of pizza, a juice box, water and an apple. We look at our food for some time, then stare at each other before we burst out laughing. We laugh pretty loud attracting attention from nearby tables. I struggle to hold my laugh and when I reign it in, I glare at the kids staring at us making them look away. That's it, mind your own business.

We both dig in with the usual chatter between us. After a while I can't ignore the nagging feeling that someone is watching me. I look up and my gaze immediately falls on Christians blue orbs. I hold his gaze, not blinking with both eyebrows raised. Why would he be staring at me?

Soon Christian drops his gaze and I smile in victory. I'm the queen of stare downs, no one can beat me.

"Don't think I missed that,what's going on between you two?" Scola asks eyebrows raised in curiosity.

I nearly choke on my juice.

"What are you talking about?" I ask and she gives me the 'don't-act-dumb-with-me' look.

"You're little stare down with Mchotty over there."She replies.

I roll my eyes at the name. Yes he maybe hot,even a blind person can see that. Especially those blue orbs. Oh shit! Where did that come from? I mentally kick myself a few times.

"Nothing's going on,so stop getting any ideas. How could you even think that?" I asked visibly cringing.

"I just have a hunch that I'll be fifty bucks richer soon. " She smirks making me roll my eyes at her.

"It's not like you need it anyway,not that you're getting it and besides......." I trail not knowing what to say.".... let's just go before you start getting any more bright ideas."I finish unable to come up with something smart.

I don't give her the chance to argue before I get up and leave the cafeteria.

I can feel his gaze on my back but I don't dare look back. I hold my head high as I sashay out of there, Scola following behind complaining about the disadvantages of high school romance.

***************

I've never been happier in my life to arrive home. This is the only place that I'm sure to be Christian free. I hate Wednesday afternoons because I have Christian in all my afternoon lessons. I could feel his gaze boring at the back of my head all the time. I'm surprised I did not get a hole there.

Gah! I hated these weird feelings. I just wished I could get rid of him from my head. He just kept creeping in even when I did not want him to. I needed a distraction and riding just was not gonna do it for me.

"Dad?" I call out but was met with complete silence

"Daddy?" I yell louder but was awarded with more erie silence.

"Daaaaaaaaddddddyyyy."I shout making it echo through the whole house.

"What is it? I'm not deaf you know, I heard you clearly the first time." My dad complains as he came out of the kitchen covered in flour.

He was wiping his hands on a kitchen towel. I rolled my eyes before brushing past him into the kitchen. The two layer chocolate and vanilla cream cake almost made me faint in joy.

As I made a swipe at the cream a hand slapped mine away.

I pouted at my dad" Just a tiny taste." I pleaded.

"You can have it all just wash your hands and use a fork please."He demanded.

I quickly washed my hands. picked a fork before digging into the glorious temptation. I moaned loudly savoring the sweet taste, my taste buds screaming in pleasure. In no time I was done so I leaned back on the chair sighing in satisfaction.

I heard a cough behind me and that's when I turned to see my dad staring at me his arms crossed. I had totally forgotten he was there. I turned to offer him some cake only to find it gone. Oops! Did I eat it all?

"Sorry, I should have asked if you wanted some." I said sheepishly.

My dad just shook his head before clearing the now empty platter.

"I'm sorry but it was just too good. Thanks dad."I grinned rubbing my belly.

"You're welcome anytime. Good thing I had put some aside earlier." He smiled.

"And here I was feeling all guilty!" I frowned playfully.

My dad just grinned at me. I got up to go up to my room to change and get my homework done.

"Aren't you going for a ride today?" My dad asked his brow furrowing in confusion.

I rarely missed practise ever.

"Nope, I'm not feeling it today." I replied. He furrowed his brow but did not say anything.

If there is I one thing I loved about living with my dad is that he totally understood me. He was more of a big brother that my dad, considering he was only thirty seven. Yeah I know, too young to be the dad of an eighteen year old. He got my momma pregnant right after high school. He was twenty when I was born and my mom was nineteen. They got married young and though they loved each other, raising a kid was not something they wanted to do while so young. So after a few years of struggle they divorced. And wallah, you know how the rest goes.

Anyway I love both my parents equally but I am a full blooded daddy's girl and proud of it.

************

Two hours later I had completed all my homework and chosen an outfit for tomorrow. I decided to go downstairs and see what my dad was preparing for dinner. I just knew it was gonna be good whatever it was.

"Hey dad what's for..... whoa, we expecting guests or what?" I asked eyeing all the food laid out on the kitchen island. It was enough to feed five people yet it was only the two of us.

My dad stiffened from my question and laughed it off awkwardly. Something was definitely going on here and I had to get to the bottom of it. Just as I was about to ask him I was cut off by the door bell.

"I'll get it."I announced.

"No don't." My dad intercepted quickly.

What was wrong with him? It was just the door bell.

"Its probably the pizza I ordered, just stir this for me and I'll go pay."He instructed handing me the wooden spoon.

Before I could reply he was already out of the kitchen. Pizza with all this food on the table? Something is definitely wrong with that man. I just shrugged and started stirring the casserole, it looked so good. I could already feel my taste buds screaming in anticipation. Food is my second best friend to Scola, well third if you include my motorcycle. I started humming on of my favourite tunes, Attention by Charlie Puth. I loved that song.

I was so engrossed in my thoughts I did not notice someone approach me.

"Trace." The mention of my name by that voice made me whip around so fast my wrist got scorched by the hot cooking pan. The pain didn't register immediately due to the shock of seeing my worst nightmare standing in front of me. He was in MY house in MY kitchen. Okay its my dads but you get the point.

When the pain finally kicked in, I cursed out loud before turning my back to the jerk face whose fault this was and run some cold water over my burnt wrist. It was already blistering and though the cold water helped I knew I would need more than cold water to soothe the pain.

"My God! Trace I'm so sorry" Christian apologised coming closer.

I turned my head so fast to face him I heard a light crack on my neck but I ignored it.

"Take one step closer and I'll dip your whole hand into the boiling pan."I threaten.

That seemed to stop him in his tracks and I smirked inwardly.

He held his hands up in surrender.

"I'm sorry I meant no harm, I just wanted to help." He apologized.

"Of course you would seeing this is all your fault." I spit back.

A flash of hurt passed through his face so quick I thought I may have imagined it and it tugged at my heart. Why would Christian Sloane's hurt feelings matter to me?

Because you like him, actually you love him.

Damn my stupid feelings. Anyway back to the matter at hand. What was he doing in my house? I looked down at was I was wearing and mentally slapped myself. I was dressed in an oversized T-shirt and a pair of cotton shorts that just peeked under my T-shirt, my hair was in a messy bun and to top it all off I was barefoot.

"You know the only thing lacking in that look you have is a pregnant belly, to complete the whole barefoot, pregnant and in my kitchen look." Christian smirked.

I was so not in the mood for his jokes right now.

"If not for my painful wrist I would have slapped those words back into your mouth." I said through gritted teeth.

My dad came in right then and rushed to my side after seeing my wrist under the running water tap.

"Sweetheart what happened?" My dad asked worry etched all over his face .

I sent a burning stare at Christian "Well dad you see this meathead here decided to startle me and I swiped my wrist on the hot pan." I hissed.

Christian opened his mouth to apologise again but he was cut off by his father who just happened to be walking in.

"I'm sorry Tracy but this meathead needs to learn how to not startle a lady."His dad commented

I laughed when his dad used that name on him.

"Come on dear go put some ointment on that and wrap it, I'll finish up on dinner." My dad said pushing me out of the kitchen.

"I'll come with you and help." Christian said following me.

"Oh no you stay here, I don't want your meathead bad luck following me into more accidents." I smirked at that before turning my attention to Mr.Sloane "Its a pleasure to have you over Mr Sloane. I'm sorry about this."

"Its okay dear you go clean that and we will catch up later." He replied politely.

I excused myself after sending another smoldering glare towards Christian.

Coming into the kitchen a few minutes later, I found Christian stuffing himself with my dads food with only another place set on the counter.

"Um! Where are the dads?"I asked seeing as he was the only one in the kitchen.

Christian looked shocked for a minute at my voice. He swallowed before his gaze strayed to my now bandaged wrist and back to my face. I could see the guilt lurking there but he deserved to feel that way.

"Are you gonna stare all night or will you answer me?" I asked sitting at the furthest edge from him. I did not want to be any closer to him than necessary seeing as he was staying.

Christian cleared his throat awkwardly "They decided to eat in the dining room as they discuss business."

I only nodded my head and dug in. I could feel his stare on the side of my face but I ignored him completely. I was about to tell him off when my phone rang.

Knowing it was Scola from the ringtone I picked up.

"Talk to mama." I said as I always do whenever I pick her call.

"Oh mi gosh. Guess whaaat? Actually don't guess, I'll just tell you. Jesse just commented on the bikini picture I posted on Instagram yesterday." she yelled and a loud scream followed making me pull the phone a little further away from my ear.

I shook my head in disbelief.

"He comments on all your posts, what's so different with this one?"I inquired.

More squealing followed," He said and I quote, looking beautiful princess but I don't approve of you flaunting what's mine on social media, end quote."She gushed followed by muffled screams.

"That's great but the problem is he typed it not said it." I said logically.

"You couldn't have sugarcoated that even a little." Her rejected voice asked.

Now I felt bad, me and my cursed tongue.

"Sorry we are out of sugar." I tried to lessen the blow and she chuckled slightly making me smile.

"But look on the bright side. It's a step forward, now this boy has to grow some balls and ask you out." I encouraged.

"I guess you're right. Watcha doing?"She asked.

I rolled my eyes, typical Scola to change mood so quickly.

I looked over at Christian and before I could answer he spoke.

"May I have some water please?"He requested.

Scola screamed at that after hearing bus voice.

I pointed at the cupboard where the glasses were kept and towards the sink. No way I was serving his arrogant ass.

"Is that who I think it is?" She asked her voice filled with curiosity.

"Yes and before you jump into conclusions, I'll fill you in tomorrow. Goodnight. Love you." I rushed out and hang up.

I did not want any more drama from her. I looked at Christian who was staring at me over the glass rim. I scoffed before finishing the rest of my dinner. When I was finished I put my plate in the sink before getting out of the kitchen. I was totally ignoring Christian. I decided to go down to the garage to check on my car since I'll be driving tomorrow. I can't as well ride with my burnt hand.

My dad would call me up when they were done.