My life had fallen into a routine. Classes during the day and work during the night. Most of my shifts finished at midnight and classes started at eight. Thanks to the elixir of life, coffee. I was able to get through most of the week.

Beckett and I started to form a comfortable friendship. It wasn't hard getting along with Beckett. I realized that I judged him by his black leather jacket and Chuck Taylor's too soon.

I agree he radiated bad boy with his messy hair and boyish smile, but not once did he hit on another girl in front of me, though tons have tried to hit on him.

Even though Beckett was a total flirt and made the occasional perverted joke, he was proving to be a decent guy. Every morning for the past few days Beckett had been driving me to university while going on and on about formula one cars, nascars, and top gear.

I was slowly getting comfortable around him. He made me laugh most of the time and he was my only friend besides Blaire and Himari. But one thing about Beckett was clear, he hated school work. He would often try to bribe me with food so that I could do his work for him.

"I'm sorry is this seat taken?" Someone with a distinct French accent asked. I looked up surprised to see that it was the girl Beckett and I sat next to on the first day of university. I never noticed how strikingly blue her eyes were before. She was wearing a brown sweater and green pants.

"Not at all," I smiled.

I was surprised to be engaging in any form of conversation with her. We sat together for our English lecture every day and it was the first time she directly looked and spoke to me. I would always greet her whenever I saw her but she would just nod without sparing me a glance.

"Merci." She thanked me in French and took a seat. When I was in high school I never saw the use or should I say the need for learning another language, but when my father was alive he ensured I learned three languages. French, Spanish, and Italian.

I never really liked French and Italian. I preferred Spanish. My mother always said my father expected too much from me. But I never felt the pressure. I knew he was hard on me when it came to my education because he wanted me to succeed in life.

The lecture theater doors burst open and in walked professor Villin wearing his favorite everyday scowl.
He was dressed in full black. The room went silent immediately as everyone watched him walk to the front of the lecture theater.

His baggy blazer hung on his skinny body as if it were a trench coat. His face was unshaven and he had dark circles under his eyes."Who here can tell me about five political leaders that influenced society?" He asked and everyone put their heads down to avoid getting called upon.

Beckett sat next to me with his arms folded behind his head while leaning back in his chair. He strongly disliked Villin. "Nobody?" Villin then sneered and moved to look around. "I guess I'll pick then," he said, and at this point, it looked like people were trying to become apart of their chairs with how low they began sinking.

"You there?" He said pointing at the girl next to me and she looked up like a deer in headlights. A few students began to giggle and she started fumbling with her fingers. "What's the matter cat got your tongue?" Villin asked scowling down at her.

"Urm no," she squeaked and the giggles turned up as she started getting red with embarrassment.

Finally unable to take everyone's eyes on her, she stood up and ran out of the lecture theater while muttering something in French. "That was uncalled for," Beckett spoke up, abruptly from beside. The room went silent as everyone turned around in their seat to stare at Beckett.

"What was that?" Villin inquired if he heard right. He crossed his arms over his skeletal body, his hooked nose flaring like a raging bull and his eyeballs began to protrude beyond its sockets as if they were going to pop out of his head and land on the floor. He walked up the steps and stood just three steps away from where Beckett and I had been sitting.

"You heard me," Beckett answered back, unfazed by how unhinged Villin started to look. "You were just rude to a student." Everyone in the lecture theater had their eyes on Becket, but I had my eye on the vein on Villin's head that looked like it was about to punch Beckett in the face.

From the first day, no one spoke directly to Villin, unless he asked them to. Even if someone was desperate for the toilet I think they would have rather soiled themselves than walk out of Villin's lecture.

"Well if you don't like it you can leave," Villin roared. His voice leaving a ringing in my ear. He sounded evil.

"Gladly." Beckett stood and slung his bag over his shoulder, he hopped over the desk and walked to the large theater door. As he exited the room he slammed the door shut and the sound resonated throughout the silent room.

Villin turned back to the class and sneered. "Everyone turn to page one hundred and two," he ordered. Villin walked back to the front of the room and I gathered my things to go find Beckett or even the girl.

I didn't care what Villiin had to say to me for leaving. I heard him scoff as I got up and walked to the door, but I ignored him. He had no right to speak and treat students the way he did. We were all adults and yet he was acting as if we were in high school.

I had a feeling I knew where Beckett would go so I left the university doors and walked down the grassy field.

The sun shone down harshly while the brisk wind blew my open hair in all sorts of angles. Autumn was my least favorite season. I could never decide if I was hot or cold, it was always both. But nevermind autumns confusing weather. I liked the colors of autumn. Red, brown, and orange leaves covered the tall trees and grass as I walked down the field.

My hunch of where Beckett could have been was correct. Beckett was sitting on the grass with his back resting against a tree. His eyes were closed. I walked over to him and dropped my bag to the ground causing him to look up. "What was that?" I asked and moved to sit crossed legged across from him.

"Villan had it coming," he growled,  closing his eyes again.

"You know we have a political science project coming up in a few days," I reminded him and he sighed pinching the bridge of his nose.

"Don't remind me, Liz. I'm screwed but I just couldn't take it anymore. He was behaving as if we were in a courtroom and beret chick was a suspect."

"Did you see her by any chance when you left the building?" I asked and he shook his head.

"I thought I would, but it's like she disappeared. "I hate it when people take advantage of quiet people. It's bullying."

I sat and just stared at the fuming boy in front of me. His cheeks were red and his hands were balled into fists. He looked adorable yet dangerous at the same time. Like a wolf.

"Wanna go get some food?" I asked in an attempt to cheer him up and he opened one eye to look at me.

"What kind of food?" He asked curiously like a little child. His lips turning up slightly to form a smile.

"Do you care? It's food," I chuckled and he smiled up at me.

"You right," he chuckled and I offered him a hand. I pulled him up with great difficulty and we walked to the food trucks that were situated on the campus grounds.

There were pizza, Mexican food, hotdogs, and burger food trucks situated on the campus grounds. The smell of the food made my stomach growl as if I had a beast residing within it. Beckett moved to go to the Mexican food line. He loved Mexican food. He ate a quesadilla every day.

I saw a beret bouncing around in the crowd of people and I knew I had to talk to the girl. "I'll be back," I said to Beckett before moving into the pizza line.

"Wait Liz, what should I get you?" He called after me.

"Whatever you having," I shouted back.

Maybe it was the fact that she reminded me of myself when I started at my new high school in Pasadena. I was shy and I didn't talk to anyone besides Andrew. Luckily for me, I had Andrew. The girl in the beret had no friends.

She was standing with her hands wrapped around her body looking down at the ground. She was shy and she probably felt like an outcast because she couldn't speak English without going back into French.
"Bonjour," I greeted and she looked up at me frightened. "My name is Elizabeth."

"Bonjour, Elizabeth," she said looking down at the ground again. "I'm Adrienne."

"Comment allez-vous?" I asked how she was and she looked up, tears swelling in her eyes threatening to fall.

"Çava va. Look, Elizabeth thank you. I don't speak often because people find it hard to understand me because of my accent. Plus sometimes they make fun of me."

"I think your accent is refreshing," I said, hoping it would make her feel better. "Would you like to join me and my friend, Beckett, for lunch?" I asked and she tinged red.

"Is he your boyfriend?

"Oh no, Beckett and I are just friends."

"He is very handsome," she blushed.

"Don't tell him that," I murmured.

"Don't tell him what?" Beckett asked from behind me and I turned around to see him holding a bag of food.

"Beckett this is Adrienne," I said grabbing onto his arm and pulling him in front of me.

"Bonjour Beckett," she greeted and he bowed.

"Bolognaise to you too," he said stupidly and I smacked him on the back of his head.

"Ouch!" He exclaimed, rubbing his head."What was that for?"

I shook my head and I looked over at Adrienne who was chuckling. "He is funny," she giggled.

We walked back to the grassy field. This time with Adrienne in tow and we found a nice spot under a large tree. We sat on the grass and Beckett handed me the bag of food. "So where are you from?" Beckett asked Adrienne.

"A place called Bastille in Paris," she explainer, and Beckett nodded before stuffing his face with more food.

"How about you two?" She asked. 

"Staten Island," Beckett answered with his cheeks full of food, and then he looked at me. I never really told Beckett anything about myself. Every time he would try to find out something about me I would move the topic back to him.

"Pasadena," I shrugged. I wasn't going to mention Manhatten to anyone as yet. Beckett raised a suspicious eyebrow at me as if he knew there was something I wasn't saying, but he looked away. "I like your Beret," I complimented Adrienne as a means to change the subject.

She smiled, looking as if she was lost in deep thought. "Thank you, my mamè made it for me."

********

After our last two classes for the day, Beckett and I walked to his car and his head was buried into his phone.
I was exhausted so I barely noticed how quiet he was being. "So I just got the best news ever," he suddenly said from beside me.

"Go on," I encouraged, curious to learn about his best news.

"Callum managed to get tickets for the race. So are you game?"

"Tomorrow?" I asked and he nodded.  Friday was my only day off from work.

"Come on it will be fun. Blaire is coming." Work and schoolwork had been my number one priority. I never really did anything fun. "Liz?" Beckett called me from my thoughts. "You know I'm just asking you to go watch a race with me and not marry me right?" he joked and burst out into laughter. I punched him on the arm, but that just encouraged his laughter more. "So is that a yes?" He asked between his laughs. "To the race, not the marriage," he said and snorted.

"Fine," I said giving in without giving it another thought. He started to smile as if someone just told him he won the lottery.

We got into his car and he switched on the radio. He skipped through a few songs and then finally settled on a rap number. I was used to Beckett humming along or singing under his breath as he drove, but this time he burst out into song. He turned the music up louder and started the car.

After a few rap songs. Happier by Marshmallow came on and he sang along to that as well. I couldn't help but laugh when his voice got all high when he tried to sing the word happier. He turned the music down and turned to look at me while keeping one eye on the road. "What?" I asked trying to stifle my bubbling laughter.

"Are you laughing at me?" He asked, with a raised eyebrow.

"Nope, no why would I?" I tried to keep a straight face but the memory of his cracking voice was too fresh and the laughter fumbled out of me.

"Oh okay," he said smiling and narrowing his eyes on me playfully.

"You should probably keep both eyes on the road."

"Don't trust my driving?" He asked, stopping at the red light. A devious smile formed on his face while he began revving his car.

"Beckett, I swear to the cloud fairies," I tried to warn him because I knew what he was about to do, but it was too late as soon as the light turned green. Beckett shot down the road like a bullet. "I'm gonna kill you!" I yelled over the blaring music and roaring engine and he began to chuckle. I closed my eyes tightly as my adrenaline started to pump.

This boy was going to get us killed. I held onto my seat and began to count, but then I felt the car slow down. His chuckles came out more clear and he put the radio off.

"What?" He said, in defense taking both his hands off the steering wheel and I began to sweat.

"Beckett!" I exclaimed in shock and he chuckled and put both his hands back on the wheel.

"What?" He said feigning innocence and I narrowed my eyes into slits. "Okay, I'm sorry please forgive my bad behavior," he said, sweetly and I clutched onto my heart that was now racing. "I would never really put you in any real danger. I was supporting the wheel with my knees. I've been driving ever since I was eleven years old you know."

"I'm not talking to you. You almost killed me!"

"Oh come on," he tried to defend but I wasn't hearing it.  I ignored him for the rest of the drive to the campus housing, but a smirk had settled on his smug face.

The car stopped in my driveway behind Callum's car. "Well I guess I'm coming in since my brother is here," he said with an innocent smile.

"If you must," I said and moved to get out of the car. He got out of the car and locked it.

"Are you still mad at me?" He asked in a sound of amazement.

"What do you think Speedy?" I asked rhetorically before walking up to the front door.

I walked into the house, Beckett trailing behind me. I heard talking coming from the living room and I  walked in to see Himari, sitting on the floor cross-legged with a book in her hand, Blaire, sprawled out on the couch with a textbook over her face, and Cullum, sitting in a bean bag chair focusing intently on a book as he scratched his head.

"Hey," I said getting their attention.

"Hey," they all chimed in a dead tone of voice. Blaire still not removing the book from her face but she moved her hand to wave up at me.

The swelling on Blaire's face had gone down a lot in the past few days and it was barely noticeable anymore, but she still refused to attend university until it was fully cleared up.

"I was thinking, Liz." Beckett nudged me. "Maybe since I got kicked out of Villin's class. You can tutor me."

"I barely have time to teach myself, Beckett," I admitted and moved to go upstairs to my room.

"Ahhh, come on. It'll be fun," he said, following me.

"Fun for who exactly?"

"Please," he said, sweetly.

"Nooooo," I dragged out stomping up the stairs. I walked into my room and he came in after me. He walked over to my bed and plopped himself down on it letting out a content sigh.

"Okay then how about we work on the project together?" he suggested and that wasn't a bad idea at all.

"Fine," I sighed wearily. I walked over to my closet and pulled out a fresh set of work uniforms. My shift started at six pm and finished at midnight.

"What time do you have to be at work?"

"Six," I said and he yawned while stretching out his body on my bed.

"I don't know how you doing it Liz," he said looking up at me. "But you still look as fresh as a daisy."

"Really?" I asked sarcastically. "I feel dead on the inside." I plopped down next to him on the bed and covered my face with my hands as I stifled a yawn of my own. I could feel Beckett staring at me and I peeped at him through my fingers to see him propped up on one elbow looking at me.

"Do you want to watch a movie?" He asked while pouting. His messy hair fell onto his forehead and he moved it back into place.

"No," I said and it sounded colder than I intended it to.

"Pleasssseeee," he sang.

"Go away. I need to rejuvenate my brain cells."

"Watch one movie with me and then I promise I will leave," he bargained and I let out a sigh.

"Fine," I said and he did a fist pump earning him a smack on the face with my pillow for being so lame in my room.

"Hey what was that for?" he asked chuckling earning him another smack with my pillow.

His eyes fell on my stuffed monkey and he picked it up by the ear. "Cool," he said while examining it. I quickly grabbed the monkey out of his hand and smacked him with my pillow in the face again.

"To touch my monkey is to die!" I declared and he chuckled.

He took the pillow away from me and then reached for his bag. He pulled out his laptop and I balanced my head on my elbow as my eyes scanned over his movie list and landed on frozen. "You watch frozen?" I asked and he let out an awkward cough.

"Urm, it's for my little sister," he said, turning red. "So what do you want to watch?" He asked and I could feel a devious smirk form on my face. I was going to get revenge for his little stunt on the road.

"Frozen," I said and the smile on his face dropped.

"This is going to be the longest hour of my life," he said while running a hand down his face.

"It's actually one and a half hours," I said getting comfortable and he shook his head.

"Cloud fairies help me!" he cried.

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

A/N

A little late with this update. I hope you guys enjoyed it. Drop a like, a comment, and don't forget to recommend.😜

Also please pardon grammatical errors. I will edit this book when it is complete. Feel free to correct me if you come across any errors.

So what do you guys think about the progress in Liz and Beckett's relationship??? Feel free to comment on your thoughts and I'll be sure to reply.

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