Three years ago.

Jace's POV.

Olivia and I are good, I think, our sex life is a little on hold without her knowing it but we're good. We had a fantastic time at the racing ring and she actually admitted to having fun.

But then just when I think I have it all under control...

She proves me wrong.

The school hallway is crowded and noisy but I still spot them, laughing and slapping each other's shoulders in that playful or should I say flirtatious way.

I don't know who the guy he is but he looks genuinely interested in her.

It makes my skin crawl.

"Who the fuck is that?" Diego shuts his locker and stares at them too.

"I was gonna ask you the same thing." I respond, scowling at the way she grins up at him.

"Well why are you still standing here for? Let's go find out." He slaps my shoulder with the back of his hand and starts walking towards them.

I should stop him, right?

Cause Olivia and I are doing that whole trust thing?

Fuck the whole trust thing, if I see someone flirting with my girl, I'll fucking react, prevention is better than cure.

"Hey, sweethearts." Diego cuts in between the two, leaning his shoulder against the locker door, showing Olivia his back as he faces the guy.

"Uh...." The guy looks back at me and then Diego. "Hey?" He lets out, so unsure of what's happening.

"What are you doing?" Olivia whispers to Diego, moving from behind him to stand by his side, she glances at me but it's quick and brief.

Ooookay?

"What's your name?" Diego ignores Olivia's question.

"Tyler." The guy responds, looking back and forth between Olivia and Diego, "Boyfriend?" He points a finger at Diego while looking at Olivia, she quickly shakes her head no.

I wait for her to point at me instead but she doesn't, infact she doesn't even look at me.

My asshole side says grab her and kiss the life out of her right now, right in front of this Tyler person but the matured part of me says she just doesn't want attention, that's the only reason why she's not pointing at you right now.

Either way, it hurts my feelings, I haven't had someone hide our relationship like this before, I'm used to girls forcing me to take pictures with them for their Instagram but this girl is making me feel like I'm in a fucking love affair or some shit.

Diego's mouth is moving, he's saying something intimidating to the guy but my ears already cut them off, I already heard enough.

"Hey, tell your friend to cut it out." She says to me like I'm some random dude who decided to bully her new guy friend in the hallway.

I scoff at her, turning around and letting my feet drag me away from the scene. Diego calls my name behind me but I don't look back, I find my way to English class, sitting by my usual table by the window, the bell goes off not long afterwards and people start walking in.

I really try not to but my mind won't leave me alone until I do it so I pull out my phone and I send her a text.

*The fuck was that?"

*I'm in class, you mind?*

*Wtf?*

I stare at the screen, waiting for an explanation or any response.

"Mr Rodriguez, please put your phone away." Mr Danielson orders as soon as he enters the class room.

"Yes, sir." I sigh, tucking my phone in my pocket.

They start reading whatever stupid book they're reading this month while I look out the window and try to think of one thing I could have possibly done from last night to this morning that made her angry at me.

A fumbled piece of paper lands on my desk, I knit my brows together, looking around for who might have thrown it.

My eyes land on Cass sitting across the room, she sends me a little wave, I smile in return, grabbing the paper and reading her cursive writing.

"My boyfriend is not allowed to look sad, didn't you read the contract?"

My smile grows even wider as I grab my pen and turn the piece of paper over.

"I'm too lazy to read but I had a dream that I had read it and it said you're supposed to make me happy at all times."

I throw it back to her but it hits Daisy's head instead, she glares at me and I mouth an apology, blowing her a kiss.

She picks up the paper and passes it to Cass, Cass reads every word with a smile on her face and when she's done, she looks my way and shakes her head before ripping another piece of paper from her notebook.

This is fun. Childish but fun.

She takes her time writing it and when it arrives on my desk, I don't even realize that I've already forgotten about what happened in the hallway.

"Okay, if this one doesn't make you smile then I don't know what will, here we go..
Most foolish people answer every question with the word no, are you a fool?"

I read over it again and you know what? It does make me smile, it also makes me think of a correct answer.

"Mr Rodriguez?" I hear someone call.

"Huh?" I look to my front then suddenly everyone is looking at me.

"Stand up." Says Mr Danielson.

Damnit.

I stand, holding my hands behind me.

"What do you have there?" He points at me.

"Where?" I act stupid.

"Behind you." He says.

"My ass?" I smirk, the class erupts into laughter.

"Ha-ha, very funny, come in front." He waves his hand, gesturing for me to go to him.

I slip the note in my back pocket as I stride towards him, I stand in front of the class and I make eye contact with Cass, she's biting her lip like she's trying very hard not to burst out laughing.

"I want you to share with the class whatever message Miss Richardson shared with you on that piece of paper." He instructs.

"What piece of paper?" I scratch my head, acting clueless.

"Stop wasting my time." He shakes his head.

"Okay." I pull the piece of paper out of my back pocket, unfolding it and reading over the words in my head. "But, Mr Danielson, I don't think these words are supposed to be read out loud since we're at school and all."

"You have my full permission to say every word in the English dictionary." He says.

"Yeah but some of these are not-"

"Jace, read the note." He cuts me off with a fake smile.

Motherfucker doesn't like me one bit.

I sweep my tongue over my lower lip, drifting my eyes to Cass, she gives me a playful smirk, clearly having fun with herself.

"Miss Richardson should read it, since she wrote it and all." I suggest.

"Miss Richardson, if you will." He summons Cass in his deep bored tone.

"It would be my pleasure." She stands and walks over to the front, she takes the note from my fingers and clears her throat.

"Jace, you look so fucking gorgeous today, I  know letters are now a thing of the past but the thought of writing these words down and having you read them sounded so fucking romantic and special, the world wouldn't approve but I'd let you have my-"

"That's enough." Mr Danielson quickly snatches the note from her, reading what it really says.

"But I haven't even read the good part yet." She whines.

"Detention, both of you." He tosses the note in the bin beside his desk.

"For what?" I chuckle.

"That's a stupid question, stupid questions get you kicked out of my class for the rest of the period." He says, Cass walks back to her desk and starts packing up her books.

"What are you doing, Miss Richardson?" Mr Danielson asks with a tired sigh.

"Thought I heard you kick us out?" She swings her backpack over her shoulder.

"I didn't, It was a warning." He points out.

"Okay, cool." She starts making her way out of the classroom.

Oh, I like this girl.

I didn't even come in here with any books, just a pen so I turn on my heel and follow her out.

"You'll be remembering this day in the next ten years." He says behind me.

"Will I though?" I mumble, walking out the door and jog after Cass who's making her way to the exit.

"Brooo, what was that?" I now walk beside her.

"Believe it or not, they were expecting it to be sexual." She responds.

"No, they were not, not everyone is out to get you." I wrap my arm around her shoulder.

"I know but when a teacher gives you permission to cuss, you take that opportunity and you use it." She advises, looking up at me, I laugh.

"Where are we going?" I ask as she pushes the double doors open.

"I don't know about you but this is my ditch day, I'm ditching class." She fills me in.

"Why do I always become friends with people who are just like me?" I mutter underneath my tone.