"You ready to go, Fluff?" Crixus asks leaning against my door frame as I lip gloss.

"Two more minutes," I say back making eye contact with him through the mirror.

"If we don't go now I won't be able to pick up Angelica," he sighs and I abandon my makeup.

"Shit, okay let's go."

"BELLS! Stop cussing," my dad says as he stands beside Crixus at the door.

"Sorry, Daddy!" I say going on my tippy toes to press a kiss to his cheek.

My dad grabs me and pulls me into a tight hug. I can hear him sniffling and I groan, trying to pull away from him.

"Daddy, stop," I whine.

"It was just yesterday I was dropping you off to kindergarten and you were crying for me not to leave and look at you now...going to your first day of high school," he says with tears in his eyes and I huff at him being so emotional.

"It's not that serious."

"It is, Fluff! His little baby is going to high school," Crixus teases and I shoot him a glare.

"Babe, let her go they are going to be late," Violet says behind dad and I frown immediately.

I hug dad tightly and he lets me go wishing me a good first day. Crixus kisses his mom on the cheek before rushing out the door with me.

"It wouldn't have killed you to say bye to her, Fluff," Crixus says as I climb into the passenger seat.

"I waved."

He lets out a sigh but drops the subject. As the years went on, I never did seem to warm up to Violet. She had learned to back off and we were cordial to each other and that's the best I could do. She made my dad happy and she left me alone so I couldn't complain when she and Crixus moved into the house.

We pull up in front of Angelica's and she quickly rushes into the car. Already making eyes at Crixus who's completely oblivious to her crush.

"You cut your hair!" I gush loving the cute bob she has.

"I did, do you like it?" she asks nervously touching it.

"I love it! Doesn't she look pretty?" I question Crixus who looks in the mirror at Angelica.

"You look very pretty," he agrees, flashing her a smile and she blushes instantly.

When we get to school, we all pile out of the car. Crixus walks with us for a little before some guys call out to him. He turns to us and gives a nervous smile.

"You guys gonna be good without me?"

"Yeah, that's fine. We will see you at lunch?" I question and he nods.

"Yup. Okay, have a good morning. Bye, Fluff, bye Angie," he ruffles my hair and I groan as Angie waves.

"Don't call me that at school," I yell as he jogs away from us.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀

Angelica and I didn't have any classes together until the afternoon so I spent my first two classes alone. I was in second-year history because I had always excelled in it and tested out of freshman history. It was my last class right before lunch, I'd managed to grab a seat in the back which was perfect because it was closest to the door, which meant I could leave as soon as the bell rang and not get stuck behind all the other kids trying to leave.

I was doodling on my notebook when someone sat beside me in the empty desk.

"Wow you're a great drawer," the voice said beside me and I found myself staring at a beautiful set of deep green eyes.

He has dark brown hair and broad shoulders outlined by his fitted black t-shirt. He smiles at me and I feel myself blushing. This is the first time another boy who is not in my family has given me a compliment and I don't know how to act.

BE COOL!

"Thanks, I try," I giggle and instantly scold myself.

"Who taught you?" he asks leaning over and getting a better look at my notebook.

My breath catches as I feel the heat radiating off his body, the smell of woods reaches my nose and I inhale deeply.

"My Daddy," I say and internally groan.

Not cool, idiot!

He laughs and leans away from me. "My name's Vincent."

"Arabella," I mumble shyly as he smiles at me again.

"Would you like to have lunch with me, Arabella?"

"Um, well I would but I already promised to eat with my best friend and brother," I say and he frowns a little.

"But you could join us if you like?" I quickly rush out my words and he nods happily.

"I'd love to."

The teacher walks in and starts the class. We both grow quiet and I try my best to focus on what the teacher says, but I keep glancing at the cute boy who is sitting beside me. He catches me a few times and winks at me causing me to blush again and bury my head into my book.

He laughs and I hear him whisper 'cute' beside me. I could die right here happily.

Does he think I'm cute?

The bell rings and I quickly gather my stuff to head to lunch. A hand grabs mine and I look back to see Vincent holding it.

"You weren't going to leave without me were you?"

"Uh, n-no," I stutter out and he grins.

"Okay, perfect let's go, beautiful," he pulls me out of the classroom but does not let go of my hand.

I'm internally panicking. Is my hand sweaty? Am I holding it too tight? Should I let go? As I loosen my grip he looks at me and laces our fingers together.

"You okay?"

"Peachy!" I say nervously.

We stand in line for lunch and he puts mine on his tray carrying it over to an empty table never once letting go of me. My eyes scan around the crowd looking for Crixus and Angelica everywhere, hoping they would be able to find me in the middle of the chaos.

"Fluff?" I hear him behind me and turn to see them together.

Angelica is all smiles, making eyes at Vincent. I tell her to shut up with my eyes and she starts laughing. Crixus is scowling as he notices how close Vincent is sitting next to me. He doesn't even try to hide his displeasure as he wiggles in between the two of us forcing me to get up and sit on the other side of the table with Angelica.

"Hey, Crix!" Vincent says happily and Crixus still scowls.

"What are you doing with my baby sister?" he says trying to be menacing and I groan.

"Crixus," I whine but he ignores me.

"Not now, Fluff, we are talking," he says not looking away from Vincent.

"I said not to call me that at school," I huff out.

Vincent doesn't miss a beat, not even looking a little scared at Crixus' look.

"We just had a class together and thought we could be friends."

"Just friends?" my brother says and Vincent nods.

"For now," he whispers and I turn beet red as Angelica snickers beside me.

Lunch passes quickly and Vincent offers to walk me to my next class. Crixus being the biggest buzz-kill ever quickly denies him saying he will walk us since Angelica and I have class together. I spend all of math class whispering to Angelica about how Vincent and I started talking. Both of us are smitten with the idea of me maybe actually dating this year.

When the end of the day comes, I make my way to Crixus' jeep and hear someone call my name. I turn and see Vincent rushing over to me.

"Heading home already?" he asks out of breath and I nod my head.

"Do you think I could have your number? I'd really like to get to know you," he says boldly and I feel shy.

He hands me his phone and I type my number into it. He calls me instantly and as soon as he hears my phone ring he hangs up with a wide smile.

"Make sure to save my number. I'll see you tomorrow, beautiful."

I'm on cloud nine all the way home not hearing a single thing the other two are saying. When I finally get into the house, I totally miss dad calling my name. However, I don't miss how loudly Crixus is telling him I met a boy.

I quickly turn around and Dad looks shocked and then upset.

"A boy?" he questions and I gulp nervously.

❀⊱┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄┄⊰❀