Sup! I'm back. This chapter took a little longer, whoops. Hope you guys enjoy it. Happy reading!

"At least we both have bio first period today, thank god. Otherwise, I'd die of boredom. I don't understand shit anyway."

"Biology isn't really that complicated Meg."

"There are so many big words!"

I slammed my locker door shut and raised my eyebrows at her. "Woman, I don't care about that shit. Let's talk about that text you sent huh?"

Meg's face turned red, almost the same red as the locker she was rummaging through. "It's not that big of a deal. I'm just saying that if Ezra were to ask me out... I wouldn't say no."

Then I hit her on the shoulder. "You idiot! What is this, nineteen-fifty? You can ask him out too you know."

"Yeah, but he's usually so shy, I don't want to be dating a guy who has like, zero courage."

At first, I nodded my head like it made sense, until I realised something. I smirked.

"Oh really? You sure you aren't just too chicken?"

"Shut up."

She shut her locker door and we started walking down the hall, and I literally had the biggest smile on my face. "I can't believe it! You actually like him? Who would've guessed? I don't care who does the asking out, but you guys have got to get together."

Megan groaned and facepalmed herself. "Why do I tell you anything?"

I winked at her. "Cause you love me." I said in a mocking tone.

Before I could say anything else, we saw Tyler standing against a locker, laughing and chatting with Veronica Grey. Both of them looked equally happy, and it looked like Veronica was laughing at something Tyler said. Dang, that guy has got some serious moves.

Then the two of them started openly kissing, and Megan and I stopped in our tracks. "Holy shit!" Megan laughed. I grinned too. "Wow, looks like they had some fun over the weekend."

I think pretty much everyone in the hallway saw it, and it was definitely about to become the talk of the school. Then one of her friends came over and she said goodbye to Tyler and walked away. He turned around and noticed us, walking towards us with a big dumb goofy smile on his face.

"Why are you smiling like an idiot?" I asked him.

He raised his eyebrows at me. "Oh, come on. You know why I'm smiling."

"I know why you're smiling, I asked why are you smiling like an idiot."

He rolled his eyes. Megan gave him a fist bump. "Way to go Ty, finally got the girl."

"Yup. She's amazing. She's isn't like any of the other bratty cheerleaders, she's actually nice. And her ass is awesome."

Now it was my turn to roll my eyes. "You guys hooked up over the weekend huh?"

"Yeah, she came over." Then he leaned in and whispered. "She is literally the best I have ever had."

"Speaking of the best, Megan told me she likes Ezra!"

Tyler threw his arms up in the air and cheered. "What?! Really? About time. Hey, now you, Ezra, Veronica and I can double date!"

"Woah woah woah. Slow your roll. Double date with you? You're joking right?" Megan protested.

"She refuses to ask him out because she's too scared." I said in exasperation. Tyler punched her in the shoulder. "Seriously Meg? Just do it, you big baby."

She punched him back. "No thank you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to get to class." With that, she hurried off before either of us could stop her. Tyler and I exchanged a look and we immediately went to find Ezra. He was at his locker as usual, grabbing his books and about to head to class. Tyler and I skidded to a halt in front of him and he jumped back.

"Woah! What's up guys?"

"You have to ask out Meg."

"Say what now?"

Tyler shook his shoulders, talking right to his face, looking him in the eye. "We know you like her-" Ezra opened his mouth to argue but Tyler shut him off before he could. "-don't bother denying it, you like her and she likes you. Can you just grow a pair already bro?"

He stared at Tyler for ten straight seconds before he responded. "She... likes me?"

Now it was my turn to punch someone. "Yes Ezra! For the love of god can you just ask her out?"

He brushed us off, his eyes wide and started walking to class. Ezra also has bio with me and Meg so it just made my job easier. "No way she likes me, you guys are lying."

"Ezra get it through your thick skull. You both like each other! Now shut up and do what you got to do!"

He shook his head. "No way. Nuh uh. See you in bio." Then he ran off. I sighed. These two are the dumbest idiots in the universe. I waved goodbye to Tyler and went to class since it was starting.

I went in and sat in my usual place next to Megan. We were lab partners. Ezra was partners with one of his other buddies. He sits directly behind Megan, and right now he was staring at the back of her head with a crimson blush on his face. I flicked him in the forehead and he flicked me back. Wow, we are a weirdly violent group.

"Stop staring you idiot." I whispered to him so Megan couldn't hear. She was oddly focused on what the teacher was saying. Ezra snapped out of it and started writing in his notebook.

The class felt like it took forever, with those two constantly shooting derivative glances at the other throughout the entire class. The rest of the school day was its usual boredom. During English, I asked Mr. Jones if I could switch my partners and he said it was too late to change it now. So that was a bummer. The rest of the day went on, until Shawn Hunter randomly walked up to me before last period.

"Project. My house, after school."

"Seriously? I'm not jobless. You can't randomly tell me to come whenever you want to at the last minute. Also, we have practice today. Atleast my team does."

He shrugged and stuffed his hands in his hoodie. "After practice then. Don't be late."

"Like I said Shawn, I'm not-"

He waved me off and walked away before I could finish my sentence.

Jerk face.

Soon enough it was time for practice and it went great. It was my first practice ever as captain, and it was absolutely awesome. My team mates actually respected me and Coach was happier with me than ever. Validation feels great. I could barely keep the huge grin off my face the entire time. I was feeling elated. Then of course, it had to be ruined yet again, by a shirtless Shawn Hunter answering the door to his fancy house.

"Dude. Don't you own even one freaking shirt?"

"Yep. But I took it off."

"Why?"

"Cause it's hot. And it seems to annoy you."

I'd already made up half my mind to leave and just do the project by myself and not give him any credit. Although, I knew that was not possible since it was a "group project" and I had to do this shit. Shockingly, we actually made some gain way today. I was already surprised Shawn willingly asked to work on the project, and now he was actually concentrating. He was still shirtless, but I tried my best to ignore it.

"Dang Shawn. What made you start taking this seriously all of a sudden?"

"Why the hell would I tell you?"

I blinked at him, taken aback by the sudden rudeness. He sighed. "Sorry. My grades have dropped. Coach told me I can't stay on the team if it goes any lower, let alone be captain. So yeah, I'm in a little bit of a bad mood because I'm screwed."

Huh. I think that's the longest sentences Shawn has ever said to me. But I did get where he was coming from. I would be in full blown panic mode if someone told me I couldn't be in the basketball team.

"Makes sense. You'd feel better if you started working hard academically. Especially when you get your results."

"I highly doubt it."

I restrained myself from rolling my eyes at him. "Trust me dude. Basketball is everything to me. So, I always do whatever it takes to play, even if it's not physically playing the sport. Everything about it matters. Working on every detail is what shows you care. Everything can't always be handed to you Shawn."

For a moment he looked stunned, like what I said actually had some sort of impact on him. Then he forced his face back to its usual bored demeanour and picked up his notebook. "Thanks." He said dryly.

We worked on the project for another half hour, before Shawn started to lose his concentration again. He started tapping his feet and sketching instead of writing. I tried to get him to work on it for a little while longer, but soon gave up. The guy had the attention span of a goldfish.

"What the heck is up with you? You know what, it doesn't matter. We managed to do some work today. I should probably head home anyway. See you around."

I packed up my stuff and made to leave when he randomly spoke up.

"Do you want to play a match?"

*************************

"That was a travel! I clearly saw you."

"No it wasn't! I was dribbling the ball the entire time. I didn't hold it once."

"I saw you, Hunter."

"Then your eyes are malfunctioning."

"Ooh, malfunctioning. Are you sure your tiny brain won't explode from using such a big word?"

Shawn and I were bickering once again playing basketball, only it wasn't in school, but on his own court in his backyard. We'd been at it for an hour, both of us messing with the other. I had to admit, he posed quite a challenge, way more than Tyler or any of the girls on the team. He really did earn his rep. I wasn't going to tell him that of course.

I was sweating like crazy at this point, and I was also extremely dehydrated from playing so much today. I walked off the court and sat on the bench. "Whatever. I still won."

"No you didn't."

Shawn followed me to the bench and sat down panting. He took out his water bottle and instead of drinking from it, he poured it all over himself on his head.

I gaped at him, watching as the water droplets cascaded down his bare chest in slow motion like it was a movie or something. I couldn't help but stare like an unbelievable creep, as his curls stuck to his forehead and he groaned with satisfaction as the water fell on him and coated his skin. Yeesh.

He turned to the side and before I could snap my head away, he noticed I was staring at him. A smirk spread across his face, as his dripping wet hair stuck to it. Then he started laughing.

Laughing.

"Oh my god! I'm freaking dying! Holy shit, I could fry an egg on your face right now."

I threw my extremely gross sweaty towel at him, burying my face in my bag and packing it up. He shook it off him with a gag and threw it back at me. "Ew! Alex that's gross."

"Shut up dickhead. I'm leaving now."

"Haha! You find me hot, don't you?"

"I'm leaving!" I started walking further away.

"You definitely find me hot. I'm never letting go off this."

"Bye Shawn!"

"Bye!"

I went out the backyard, and just as I did, I saw a shiny white Mercedes pull up in the drive way. Huh, looks like his parents are finally home.

I walked back to my house, enjoying the late evening view. Wow, looks like Shawn might have a different side to him instead of a condescending jerk. I just might be able to work with him after all. Atleast, we have something in common, so our project could also have that.

Smiling to myself, I kept walking.