"Faye! Wake up!-" I heard a voice from downstairs and grunted in annoyance. 

"Faye wake up honey, Mr. Malik is driving you to school today since I can't," My eyes shot open as soon as I heard my mother say that. I looked at the time and sighed in relief. I have about thirty minutes to fix myself before I have to meet Mr. Malik. 

"I'm up, I'm up," I mumble absent-mindedly and dismiss her warnings about falling asleep again. She should know her daughter better than this. A greek god of a neighbour will be driving me to school and she thinks that I have the decency to fall back asleep? Shame on you mother. 

I shrug off the warm blanket off of my body and speed walk to the bathroom. I sigh when I look at my reflection in the mirror. Glad that I washed my hair last night, I begin brushing my teeth and turn the water on beforehand so that it is warm. 

Once I am done with cleaning my trash of a body, I walk back to my room and pick an outfit. Trying on about three different t-shirts and hoodies leaves me with five minutes to get my shit together. 

"Okay, you got this Faye. All you have to do is not be yourself. Not the hardest thing alright?" I mumble to myself and finish my little 'self-preparatory pep talk.' 

"Bye, mom!" I yell and grab my binder. I had my phone in my bag so I did not bother looking for it. 

"Bye Love,"

As I was walking down our driveway, I saw Mr. Malik backing his car out from his. Blushing, I fasten my speed and wait patiently on his lawn. Mr. Malik rolled down his window with a small smile framing his face. 

"Hey lo- Faye," He immediately corrected himself and my heart skipped a beat. Was he going to call me love? Surely he calls every girl, or in his case, a woman, 'love.' Shaking the jealousy out of my heart, I smile at him and take a seat in his car. 

"What are you doing?" He questions in a serious tone once he saw me settled in his back seat. I shrugged, "I am just sitting in the back seat. I don't want to be any more of a problem than I already am."

He shook his head profusely, "that's rubbish! Leave your stuff in the back and come and join me in the front Ishita." My legs clutched together as I felt myself getting slightly aroused by his demanding nature. Regardless of my discomfort, I moved to the front of the car not wanting to lose the only ride I've got today. It's days like these that I am glad that I wore jeans and not a skirt. Besides, it is too cold to wear a skirt. 

"So where are we off to?" He looks at me once I am all settled and ready to go. 

"Lincoln High," I say just above a whisper. Nodding at me, Mr. Malik begins driving to my school. 

It was getting kind of awkward in his car so I decided to break the obvious tension. 

"Uhm thanks for the ride Mr. Malik," I said. I noticed how he suddenly tensed up when I said 'Mr. Malik.' My eyes widened slowly but returned back to their normal size once he began speaking. 

"It is no problem," he mumbled and I nodded, sinking back into my spot. 

"If you want, you can play some music," he gestured towards his radio and I shook my head declining his offer. 

"I'd rather talk to to you," my mouth spoke itself and I began panicking on the inside. Mr. Malik stared at me for a little bit but then concentrated on driving. 

"That is sweet. I'd rather talk to you too," he said and I scoffed. 

"You don't have to pretend," I said while laughing. "If I were me, I'd never talk to me too. So I totally get it."

"Nonsense. You speak nonsense." I gasped at his harsh words. Mr. Malik did not look surprised although as if he wanted to gain such a reaction out of me. 

"I speak nonsense? You speak lies!" I mumbled and he looked at me cautiously. He caught me by surprise when he pulled my arm so I'd look him in the eye.

"When I said that I'd rather talk to you too, I meant it. No need to think otherwise," he said and let go of my arm rather forcefully. I winced as I pulled my sleeve up and saw his fingerprints. 

"I think that this discussion is over and you are at your school. Have a good day," he mumbled and I looked out the window. I was indeed at school, my destination. I quickly nodded, scared of him and his temper and grabbed my bag and binder. 

"Thank you," I muttered and ran into the building without giving him a second look. 

~~

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