A/N: Exam is in a certain amount of hours now (like twelve or something, idk) so why am I writing this? That is a fantastic question but I think I have hurt my brain studying and need to repair it. Oh and also, I'm not tired. So here you another. Another chapter! x

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The first thing I noticed when I got into class on Thursday morning was Rylie, with her head on the table mid-conversation with Olly. She looked exhausted, though I couldn't figure out why she would be. Unfortunately Miss Kyla was walking behind me so I didn't get the chance to ask.

She started the class, telling everyone to submit their videos and saying that the best one would be screened at the assembly. As soon as I heard the start to I Write Sins Not Tragedies I knew Rylie's was going to be the best, and it was by far. All the others looked like a toddler made it compared to hers. It was brilliant. I saw Miss Kyla smile and nod once the video finished, scribbling something down in her notes.

Yes, Rylie's was definitely going to be screened this afternoon.

Although said girl had her head on the table for the entire double period, her brown hair falling down her back, covered with a light gray sweater. I was pretty sure she was asleep for most of it.

I decided not to talk to her because I knew that whenever I opened my mouth she was annoyed. So I stayed out of her hair, sticking to fiddling with stuff on my laptop for the rest of the lesson.

The bell rang and Rylie startled, probably waking up. She stood up at the same time as Olly and they walked out together in silence. I trailed behind until I had to turn a different way to go to my locker.

I pushed up the sleeves of my navy hoodie as I strolled down the hallway. It was getting far too warm and I knew I'd take off my jumper when I could be bothered. Thankfully today I wasn't stopped by many girls, only one who asked if I needed help to my next class.

I denied her help politely and moved around her, to my next class; politics.

I didn't really understand anything in the double lesson, although I might have if I were paying attention. The only problem was that I didn't want to pay attention. I hated politics and anything to do with them so I tuned out. I'd probably fail my exam at the end of the year but I wasn't planning on going to university.

After the excruciating long, dull and boring lesson the bell rang and I was set free. Only lunch, an assembly and then I was a free man. I couldn't wait.

On the way back to my locker I was held up a few more times, some girls asking if I needed help and some boldly coming outright and asking if I wanted to hook up with them. I had more respect for those girls because as soon as I dismissed them, they left me alone. They didn't keep coming back. Although, respect is probably the wrong word for it. Tolerance, maybe?

By the time I had escaped the claws of the last girl before the cafeteria it was fifteen minutes into lunch and I was the last one to the table, leaving me no other option than to sit opposite Brooklyn. She made hopeless attempts to win my attention over but I was trying to hear anything in relation to Rylie. At least she looked better than this morning and her eyes were no longer falling out of her head.

"So, Max," she tried again. "Do you really want to go camping this weekend? You could always come to the party with me?"

Oh good lord. Did she really think I was a guy to ditch my friends on a camping trip to go to some stupid party? Maybe that's what it looked like when I was acting the player but I had tried to tone that down; it wasn't me.

"Sorry but I'd rather go camping. I'm not really into big parties," I shrugged, telling her the truth. I truly tried to look apologetic but I just wasn't feeling it.

"Are you sure? It's only a small gathering. Only like, 70 people," she said, twirling her dark hair around her finger. Small gathering my ass. That was a full blown rager. One that I would not be attending.

"Again, sorry, but I'd rather not." I said, wanting this damn conversation to end already. Why couldn't anyone see that I was struggling and help me?

Apparently the bell could see that I was struggling so it saved me by ringing loudly. Everyone got up and I went straight over to Nate, who was going to the same place as I was. I would have bugged Rylie but she was talking to August and I didn't want to interrupt.

All six of us rocked up to class together, greeted by Mr Cole who was in a stylish suit with a piece of paper in his hands. He wrote something on it when he saw all of us then proceeded to ask us if we were all from the same group, which Seth replied to for us.

He then led us to the hall where we sat at one of the back rows and I was lucky enough to sit beside Rylie who was at the end of the row. Considering there were seven people that needed to fit in a row of thirty, it wasn't hard to be on the end.

After only a few seconds the chatter died down as the principal started talking. He was old and chubby, with a toupe clearly covering his head. He wore glassess to read the sheet of paper on the podium and tripped up whenever he got to a word starting with 's'.

All of his speech was rather dull, despite his exuberant demeanor. I was only really interested towards the end when he was introducing a music video clip from Miss Kyla's class; my class.

As I predicted, the lights flicked off and Rylie's video flicked on, the perfect sounds of I Write Sins Not Tragedies sounding through the hall. I looked over to Rylie who had just groaned quietly, and now she had sunk low into her seat. Then she did the strangest thing; she put her head in my shoulder as if it would block out her video from everyone seeing it.

I laughed softly - ignoring the weird feeling I got in my stomach from her leaning on me - and put my hand on her back, rubbing soothing circles into it. It seemed like she was embarassed, although I had no idea why.

When the song was over she sat back up, making me frown. I knew she was going to but I hoped she wouldn't.

"Why did they have to play mine?" She whispered to me as the principal said some concluding words.

Really? I thought. She doesn't know??

"Becuase it was the best," I whispered in her ear. I thought I saw her roll her eyes in the darkness, but I couldn't tell.

The lights went up and we all filed out of the hall, being one of the last rows to leave. We had started on the topic of Butterfly Forest and we were discussing how to get to Nate and Isaac's house.

"Well Seth is picking up me, Tessa, Leah and Olly and he has a seven seater, so if you want to I can get Seth to come by and pick you up as well," I offered, happy that I'd taken my hoodie off. The sun was shining onto my bare arms and I soaked up all the heat, taking it in.

"Sounds good," she smiled at me. I involuntarily smiled back.

I had to go right to my locker so I started up a conversation with Tessa who was now walking with Leah. Both of them looked my way when I greeted them.

In physical appearance they were the complete opposites, but their facial expressions were exactly the same. Both of them looked suspicious and curious.

"You like Rylie, yeah?" Leah asked, her black hair pulled back into a hairtie. Tessa's expectant expression matched Leah's and I sighed, not being able to deny it. I nodded.

"Aha! I knew it!" Tessa exclaimed with a huge grin while Leah smiled as well, though not as big. I didn't ask.

"You did?" I asked with a frown. I hoped I wasn't that transparently obvious.

"It's so obvious," she said.

Shit! If it's obvious then Rylie will know and stop talking to me all together.

As if reading my mind - or my worried expression - Leah laughed. "Don't worry, mate. Ry is one of the most unobservant girls I know. She has no idea and she won't, really. Even if you told her she'd probably just laugh at you and say you're crazy."

Leah nodded in agreement. Phew.

"Great," I told them as they started walking the other way. "See you tomorrow!"

"Yeah, bye!" Leah called while Tessa just smile.

Hazel was waiting for me at my bike and explained that I had to take her home as well, so it took extra long to get there. Once we were there, she talked to me while I packed and we made dinner as everyone else was out that evening.

We ate upstairs while watching a movie and falling asleep on the couch. Luckily I had remembered to set an alarm so that I could wake up bright and early to go to Butterfly Forest.

A whole weekend in a forest with the group and Rylie.

How much better could it get?