"So let me get this straight, he laughed? He has the ability to laugh?" It is lunch and the entire group is still grilling me about Matt. If only they knew I slept at his house they would go insane.

When he left our lockers this morning, Julia texted everyone else to tell them what she witnessed. This resulted in everyone running to us and asking a million questions. We have study hall instead of gym today so I promised to tell them the whole story then. This, thankfully, gave me enough time to make up a fake story and text it to Matt, so he didn't fuck it up, incase Julia got bold and asked him about it.

I ended up telling them that Matt's parents don't know about the MMA stuff, so when he cut his head open Saturday he couldn't call them to come get him, I ended up driving him home and when they asked what happened I lied for him. Then I left after meeting his parents. They're still asking me a million questions but mostly about his parents and if they're nice. I was honest minus a few little things. But this has been going on for over an hour now and I am sick of it. The more they all talk about him the more this morning's dream replays in my head.

"Guys, can we just drop it? Matt only tolerates me because his boss and I get along. His boss really wants to meet my old trainer and I am pretty sure Rodney would kick Matt's ass if he ruined his chance to meet TJ." I say, quickly checking how many minutes are left before lunch is over. 10 more minutes and then it is freedom.

"Fine. Let's talk about you two." Amanda says switching her focus to Julia and Kyle. I sigh, relieved the attention is off me and laugh as they both try to dodge all of Amanda and Tyler's super intrusive questions.

When the bell rings, Tyler tells me he needs to go drop something in his locker and he will meet me in history. I walk in and take my usual seat, texting Sasha that we have to talk tonight so I can update her. I am not sure how much I will tell her about Matt, but she is my best friend so I have to keep her somewhat updated.

"Barbie, you lie a lot." Matt says as he takes his original seat next to me from the first day. I roll my eyes but turn to face him. I notice the entire room get a little quieter and people begin to watch us.

"What can I say, you bring out the worst in me, Satan." He laughs and uses his two pointer fingers to give himself devil horns.

"It's all good, my friends all wanted to know why I ditched them Saturday night, since usually I come around after fights, so I ended up stealing your story." I mentally groan as Tyler walks in watching me talk to Matt. Seconds later my phone vibrates but I don't need to flip it over to know it is Tyler updating the group chat.

Mrs. Johnson walks into the room and immediately looks at Matt back in his old seat. "Mr. Dean, your new seat will not be an interruption will it?"

"No ma'am, Barbie and I settled our differences, she showed me why I shouldn't mess with her." He replies while pointing to the cut on his head. I try not to laugh but the look on our teachers face is priceless.

"Very well. Hello class, I want to begin by telling you that you will have a quiz tomorrow that will be 15 multiple choice questions based off what we did in class so far and the homework." The class moans and quietly complains before settling down for the remainder of class.

When class ends I begin my walk to Art History. I feel a tap on my shoulder and turn to see Matt. "Yeah?"

"I don't usually study with people, because my friends are stupid as fuck, but her quizzes are suppose to be like super hard, so want to study together?" Matt looks a little awkward, rubbing his neck the entire time he asks me.

"Yeah totally, we can work out the when and where in Home Ec, cool?" He nods and quickly walks off without replying. Okayyy. I go to class and ignore everyone hounding me for two periods about Matt switching his seat again.

When we walk into class, Matt is already there, so they instantly get quiet. I guess I am the only one not scared of Matt still, despite all of them saying they were gonna ask him why he moved. "Satan."

"Barbie." I put my stuff down at our table before going to get our Baklava for the presentation. We opted to go first, because everyone knows the first group gets graded the easiest.

We present, well actually Matt presents almost all of it, Julia and I explain how it was made, and Kyle reads the title slide. Then we head back to our seats to enjoy everyone's food the rest of class and mildly pay attention.

"So studying?" I ask Matt while the last group is setting up.

"Yeah, I have off from work today, pretty sure Rodney still feels bad about my head, so I figured we can study right after this class." At the mention of the gym I flash back to my dream. Dear God, if this dream doesn't stop resurfacing I will hand deliver myself to that guy from Saturday. The sweet release of death has to be better than the constant image of Matt about to go down on me.

"Sure, where do you want to study?" I want to ask if we can study at his place because I want to play with Malcolm some more but I don't want to push.

"Can we study at your place? My mom has some book club over every Monday and I am not trying to get fondled by some more housewives again." He shutters a little thinking about the housewives and I try not to gag. "Also I would love to see Barbie's dream home."

"Yeah totally, but warning, my dad is going to question you like it is his job." I mentally start preparing for the embarrassment my dad is about to inflict on me. He will be the only one home since my mom will be at work, which is worse. At least if my mom was home she would control him.

"Psh, I can handle a dad." He brushes it off and takes a sip of his water.

"My dad is former special forces and recently retired from the Defense Department after working at the Pentagon for 10 years." Matts eyes bulge a little as his chokes on his water, spitting some on the table.

"Ok wait, back the fuck up, what? I didn't think I could possibly find something worse than handsy bored suburban housemoms, but I guess I could." I laugh a little, he actually looks scared. I decide to really scare him.

"Yeah my dad has been shot, stabbed, kidnapped by the Taliban, and blown up. And don't even get me started on his confirmed kills; he doesn't talk about it but we've been to the range together. He doesn't miss." All of this is true but honestly meeting my dad you'd never know all this. The man is a giant teddy bear, he's the man I call when there is a bug in my room or I have a flat tire, not some crazy super soldier.

"Wooowwwww, that makes so much sense, no wonder you're so tough. I actually really want to be friends with your dad now." Poor boy, lets see if he is saying that in an hour when Dennis is literally drilling him with questions,

"That's weird, but then again I think your parents are awesome, so maybe I will hang with them while you can hang with mine. But seriously, do you want to just follow me to my house? I have to drop Julia off first." I start packing up as the last group finishes and Mrs. Wright begins talking.

"Tomorrow we start our family unit. This is a long one but it ends with the baby doll project which most people either totally love or totally hate. More on all of that when it gets closer though." The entire class including Matt and I are barely listening. Oh well, I will figure out what she's saying another time.

"Yeah sure, but your dad isn't going to get weird about my motorcycle right? I don't want him to, you know...kill me!" I laugh as the bell rings and everyone walks over to our table.

"Did you miss the shot ,stabbed, kidnapped, and blown up thing? No, he won't give a shit about your little motorcycle." Ok, that is a lie, he might but only if he thinks I am riding it, which I am not. But then again my mom used to ride with him on his before Aaron and I were born.

"Talking about Uncle Den? Man is a badass! Ask him to show you his scar on his chest, it is one of his few stories that isn't classified that he can tell." Matt nods and I try to hide my smile as we all walk to our lockers. I think if everyone got to know Matt he would be a really cool addition to our little group.

"Wait, your dad has been shot, stabbed, kidnapped, and blown up? Why have you never mentioned this before?" Tyler and Kyle are on either side of me questioning me about my dad.

"Honestly he is not that cool. You can all come meet Dennis another day. He loves telling his old war stories but honestly he is not as cool as he sounds, he is a pretty normal dad." I open my locker and switch my books while the three guys stare at me like I am insane.

"He's a pretty normal dad." Matt mocks rolling his eyes. "My dad must be so boring then if you think your dad is normal."

"Noooo be nice to Nick! He is awesome! He owes me cooking lessons." I swat at Matt, which he dodges as we walk to everyone else's lockers which are near each other. I walk to Matt's and see a group of guys standing around it. I hide a little behind Matt and he steps a little in front of me. Clearly neither of us want me meeting his friends.

He opens his locker as they all talk to him but he mostly ignores them. The Matt I met the first week of school is back. I move more toward Tyler's locker so they don't notice me. It is clear that Matt doesn't want them to know about me, which is fine. "Nah sorry guys, I have to bail again. I am grounded and Nick isn't fucking around. Also Blake, you owe my mom a new rug you nasty fuck so get on that."

"Or what? What's your mommy gonna do." Matt raises an eyebrow before grabbing Blake by the neck of his shirt and slamming him against the lockers. Blake yelps a little as his back is slammed into the lockers the rest of their friends trying to pull Matt away.

"Wanna repeat that?" Blake doesn't respond just shaking his head "No" really fast. Matt lets go and Blake moves far away whispering what I assume is an apology before leaving. The rest of the group also leaves while Matt stands at his locker still fuming. I decide to walk over to him and hopefully help him calm down.

"If you tuck your elbows down toward your belly button instead of out like bird wings you'll get more force behind you." Matt looks at me surprised by my comment before smiling a little and finally releasing from tension from his shoulders.

"Duly noted, thanks Barbie. Ready?" We both head out the building after Julia tells me Tyler lives close to her and offered to drive her home.

"Alright just follow me, my house isn't too far." I say as Matt pulls his bike next to my car.

"Can you try not to be a shit driver and get me killed?" I flip him off and pull out of the parking lot. Fingers crossed my dad doesn't ruin the friendship I have built with Matt.