I notice that Jason is taking exactly 0% of 100% of the notes on the board. He has a bag, a quite nice all-black NIKE bag, but he doesn't take out a pencil or notebook or stylus or anything. In fact, his eyes are roaming around the classroom and occasionally landing on me.

I can't help but wonder if the school put him in the right class? I mean they say he understands English, but if he can't speak it.... wouldn't that give him some trouble especially in college-level classes?

No, that is a BIG X. I already input so much time into this school, it's not my job to run checks on every single student too.

The girls keep giving him flirty looks and he responds with this casual glance back. Well, he was trying to make it look like nothing, but being as hot as he was, I think it just came across ten times as sexy.

I mean flirty. Not sexy, it's not like I'm attracted to him.

Crap, I just dropped my pencil.

It rolls over to Jason's foot and he picks it up. He hands it back to me wordlessly.

"Thanks."

Our fingers touch and I feel a spark of electricity. What the hell? What kind of cliche world and-ahhh wait. It was just a static shock. Thirty minutes until the bell Rinnngg!!! and the muscles in my hand have once again surpassed their tolerance for cramps. I grab my notebook and place my pen in the case, trying to escape this weird tension I'm having with the dark and handsome boy sitting next to me.

"Oh, hold on Madison!" Mrs. Konner stops me before I can head out the door.

"Yes?"

I watch everyone else file out the room. Sweet escape.

She beckons to someone behind me and I turn back to see Jason. Oh no, this better not be what I think it is.

"Well, since you're such a good role model I thought it'd be perfect if you could show Jason around. You know, so he can be adjusted to his new environment and have one familiar face he can always count on!"

"Umm..."

"Oh, don't worry dear! I'll give you a pass so you won't get in trouble!"

She already starts scribbling on a pass form before I can interject that I have a test in Calculus I don't want to miss.

"Alrighty, " she hands me the slip, "off you two go!"

Outside the class, I stand in the emptying hallways with Jason. He has his hands in the pocket of his sweatpants and a half-smirk on his face.

Definitely getting bad boy vibes. I'm just gonna show him around and then be on my way.

"So... let me see your schedule and I'll give you a little tour." I hold my hand out and expect a sheet of paper to land in my hands. Instead, Jason just looks at me amused, his curly hair falls over his eyes.

He shakes his head. "Psychology."

Okaayy then. We head to the first floor.

"Right here."

"IB Business."

Wow, that's a tough class.

We walk all the way down the hall.

"And there it is."

"Home Eco."

Then we walk all the way to the third floor.

"Computer Science."

We're going back to the first floor again and my legs are getting tired. Why is he making me do this? If he just gave me his schedule I wouldn't be pinging back and forth like a game of pong.

。。。。。

"World History," there's a glint in his dark eyes.

This is the FIFTEENTH class he's made us walk to. My legs are on fire and my breathing is hard.

"There is no way you have fifteen classes on your schedule! FIFTEEN! Are you joking with me, we've walked everywhere in this building already!"

Whoops. I yelled at the new kid. I yelled at the new foreign kid. I yelled at the new foreign kid who knows no one and is struggling with English. I put my hands against my warm cheeks and feel bad. He's new here, maybe he really needs to know where these classes are.

The smirk on Jason's face bursts opens into a laugh and I have front row seats to noticing his perfection of pearly whites and the deep boom of his voice that upsets butterflies in my stomach.

I close my eyelids in embarrassment.

"Aigoo..." He mutters something that I can't hear.

"What?"

He smirks and his curls swish over his eyes as he shakes his head.

I take a big sigh to reel in my frustration. "Is there anywhere else you want to go?"

Before he can call out another random classroom, a lightbulb flicks on inside my skull.

"Actually, I'll just give you a full tour. Come along. We'll start from here."

I show him where all the main classrooms are. The science section, the maths hall, the main stairways, and even the grand library on the second floor. His eyes perk up at the long rows of bookshelves and I smile a little thinking maybe he likes to read.

"They're open until six on weekdays."

"Hmm?" He flips his head to me.

I chuckle. "The library. It's open until six on school days if you ever want to visit."

He nods casually and shoves his hands in his pockets like he doesn't care, but I can see his gaze linger on the books as we turn to leave.

On the first floor, we go by the gym and the squeaky thud of sneakers and competitive shouts can be heard through the doors.

We then enter the cafeteria and I feel sorry for all the kids that have third lunch. Still, nothing compared to the pains of third-world countries. Exiting the main building we reach the Jamison Sport's building where all the practices and games take place. There's a swimming pool with the dimensions of an Olympic one, a full-sized basketball court, an ice rink inside, and practice gym spaces. Tennis courts, football and soccer fields, and the track are all nearby.

"Do you play any sports?" I ask.

Jason nods.

"Cool. I play volleyball and basketball."

Jason laughs at me with his eyes slightly narrowed, as if I'd just told him I was a demigod and Percy Jackson is my best friend. "You so short."

I blush a little, knowing he's referring to the fact that I'm only 5'5".

"I'm not short! And I can jump high, you know."

"Really?" he questions, daring me to prove it. His arms are crossed and he has a taunting smile on his lips which I want nothing more in this moment than to wipe away.

"Yes."

I take a couple of steps onto an outdoor basketball court. I jump and my fingers easily touch the rim. With a cocky grin on my face, I look back at Jason. He has his arms crossed and shrugs at me like it was no big deal.

I jog back over to him and continue the tour.

"How about you, any sports?"

He nods.

"Which ones?"

"All them."

I laugh, thinking he's joking, but the deadpan look he gives me says maybe he's not.

I mean, he does seem a little over six feet. And through his black shirt, I can see muscled arms, the kind you imagine doing a hundred push up and easily twirling you around.

"You staring."

"What, no I'm not!" Warmth splatters my cheeks. "Why would- how, uh- don't be so full yourself!"

I've just realized that even though I'm yelling at him, my eyes are still glued on his strong arms. I have to consciously tear them away.

"Anyway, last thing!"

I speedwalk ahead of him so he can't see my flush.

"Where?"

"You'll see. It's my favorite place."

We enter the refreshingly cool theatre. It was just built five years ago since the old one was falling down. There were leaks, and cracks, and a musty smell that permanently hung in the air. But now, this place is perfect.

There are fancy bulbs on the high ceiling that make it feel like a spotlight is always shining down on you. The walls and floors are shiny mahogany and that smell...

It's there every time I step on stage yet I don't quite know how to describe it. Maybe just happiness.

Jason is staring at me and I realize I must be smiling like an idiot. I snap myself out of la-la land and clear my throat. We start to make our way back to the main building.

"Well, that's it. Welcome to Cremedale Private High! Umm, do you have any questions?"

Jason's beautiful dark eyes are gazing at me. I wiggle a little in my skin. Then just as his lips part-

Rinngg!!!

The bell sounds. Perfect timing.

"Bye!" I quickly turn away and melt into the busy swarm of teenagers.

Now, what is it... seventh period? Okay then, last class.

。。。。。

Afterschool I walk to Mr. Porter's room after school to take the Calculus test I missed.

"Miss Maddie, come on in!"

"Hey, Mr. Porter! Just here to take that test I missed earlier."

"Of course, of course. Here you go."

"Thanks."

I take a seat in the front of the empty room.

Thankfully, it's just on inverse trig, a topic which I mastered through hours of youtube videos and practice workbooks from the library. It was toddler's play now. I blaze halfway through the packet when my two best friends pop into my mind.

Ryan and Olivia are definitely up to something. Did they secretly get together behind my back? I feel betrayed at the idea. If that was true they should've just told me. I was obviously gonna support them.

No, no, no. School now, personal problems later. I shake my head.

"Maddie are you alright?" Mr. Porter asks.

"Um-yes! I was just, uh, dusting... dust out of my hair!" I try to smile.

"Oh, alright."

Dusting dust? That was so stupid.

。。。。。

I get home at four and my stomach has been growling for the past hour. Immediately, I beeline to the kitchen to get a snack.

"Hey, Mom!"

"Hi Honey, how was school?"

She's standing in her blue murse scrubs which tells me that she just got home. Mom is half Brazillian and half Japanese so she's this really pretty mix of short and curvy. I get my really long curly hair from her. My real Dad was half black and half French. He's not in my life anymore and instead I have my stepdad, Eamon.

Eamon is pretty much the whitest guy in the world. He has Californian blonde hair and blue eyes, loves watching Superbowl with his friends, and goes out to play golf every Sunday.

Suddenly, the front door opens and in walks Eamon with a bouquet of pastel orange roses -Mom's favorite color. He hands them to her with her a kiss.

I smile. Eamon may be whiter than a fresh sheet of snow, but he was sweeter than any vanilla ice cream in the world.

"Happy Anniversary, sweetie."

My mom beams at him. "Happy Anniversary!"

They kiss again and I groan.

"Oh, Maddie! I didn't see you there, how are you kid?"

"I was doing the great, Eamon. But then I saw the cheesiest thing ever and now I think I'm gonna puke."

Mom and Eamon laugh at me. I think of Eamon as my father figure, but I've just always called him by his first name and never grew out of it.

"Well, if you'll excuse me, guys." I squeeze past them to grab a cookie from the fridge and then run up the stairs before they blind me with their affection.

They really do love each other. I hope one day I can have something as good as them. Not right now though, I can't afford any distractions.

I collapse on my bed with the chocolate-chip dessert in my mouth and sigh. Drowsiness hits me in a powerfully tempting wave. The coziness of the blankets, how the pillows are just right soft, and this fuzzy coat over my brain. I'm so exhausted, I dream of falling asleep into cookie, but

HOLY SHIT I FORGOT ABOUT THE SPEECH!!!

And the homework, the packets, the reading, it never ends. I jump, dig my hands into my hair, and pace around my bedroom. It's decent-sized and has a lot of walking space so it really allows me to walk back and forth.

I've barely even started it, let alone memorized the words. And I have to do the online biology lab and take notes for history then there's the packet for Spanish.... and it's all due tomorrow. My mind tornadoes with all of my assignments, tornadoes until chaos has left and I'm stuck with the pain and the rubble.

For a minute I think, fuck it all. No, I can't think like that. All these hours of studying and working are all worth something, I have dreams and goals. The IVY league doesn't accomplish itself.

I take a bite of my cookie.

"Okay, Maddie, relax. You can do this. Just practice some internal yoga, breathe, and be cool. You've always managed to pull through, that's why we're still here. Now, let's get some air in here and recollect ourselves."

I walk over to my window and pull it open to let the freshness in. Closing my eyes and take in the autumn breeze, the warmth of sunlight, and the smell of cut grass. That smell is love and healing. I start to imagine that I'm a flower petal floating in the wind. The world is minuscule beneath me and I have absolutely no worries.

Just then, I hear a familiar, accented voice that snaps me out of my daydream.

"Maddie?"

My eyes snap open to see a handsome face with striking dark features.

Standing one side yard away from me is Jason.

The half-eaten cookie in my mouth falls.

What is he doing here?

______________________________________

Hey, y'all! Thanks for reading!

What's your favorite type of cookie? Mine's choco-chip like MADDIE☺

VOTE if you liked, COMMENT any thoughts (tpyos & mitsakes included) and ADD THIS TO YOUR READING LIST if you don't wanna miss out!