Alice

The next day I was dreading going to Calculus.

Mainly because of Nick but also because I didn't know where to sit. Sounds stupid but anxiety does that to a person.

I walked in and looked for an open seat and sighed with relief as I saw one in the front.

My legs were shaking as I walked past Nick.

I hated sitting in the front of a class, but it was better than sitting by the beast.

I sat down and smiled at the boy next to me. He smiled back but said nothing.

After a few seconds into class, the teacher told us to take out our homework from yesterday so I did. I looked all over my bag and in every pocket for a pencil but I couldn't find one. Then I remembered that it's still on my desk at home.

I tap the guy's shoulder next to me.

He looks over confused and I politely ask for a pencil.

Apparently, I said it so quietly he raises an eyebrow and says quite loudly might I add,

"What?"

I feel my cheeks redden in embarrassment and feel eyes on me. But most certainly a pair of cold eyes from the back of the class.

"May I-I please borrow a pencil?" I ask timidly and scold my self when I stutter. I need to work on that.

"Oh sure." He says and reaches into his bag handing me a sharp pencil.

I thank him and begin my notes.

After a few seconds, the feeling of being watched doesn't leave.

Slowly I turn my head around and catch those cold eyes sending a shiver down my spine. He glares at me.

~~

The bell rings and I stand up. Not even a few seconds pass when I feel his presence behind me. Too closely may I add.

I hand the pencil to the boy next to me. But his eyes didn't meet mine. Rather something behind me.

"Thanks for let-" I start but get interrupted.

"Leave." I hear a voice growl next to me.

I turn around thinking it was directed at me but freeze when I see pencil boy practically sprint out of the room.

I look around trying not to meet his eyes knowing they were glued on me and only me. As they have been this whole time during class.

I lift my backpack onto my shoulders saying nothing.

"Why didn't you come to me yesterday." He demands and only then do I meet his angry blue eyes.

"What do you mean?" I ask innocently.

"To drive you home." He scowls.

"Brodie drove me home."

"Bullshit." He slams his fist onto the desk next to me and I jump.

He sighs and runs a hand through his hair drawing my attention to that.

"You should have found me. I would've driven you home." He managed to say much calmer.

Gold star for you Nick.

He looks down at me annoyed and I take that time to smile up at him.

"Look, Nick. Maybe don't be such a..." say the A' word Ally it will make you look cool!

"A butthole and I would've found you," I say proud of myself for standing up to him. I've never done that before but I love that adrenaline rush! And besides, I have a feeling he wouldn't hurt me. Only with words and I can take that for the most part.

I skip past him with my chin held high and out the classroom door triumphantly.

~~

I go to make my way to the library for lunch like I did yesterday but Tracy grabs my arm just as I pass her locker.

"Hey come with me?" She smiles and I reluctantly nod.

I follow her past the cafeteria and upstairs to the second floor.

She keeps going and I get worried as we get to the third floor where students aren't allowed.

"Are you sure were allowed up here?" I say nervously.

"Trust me, Alice." She laughs and pushes open a huge metal door.

I feel a cold breeze across my face and look out onto the roof.

"Gen and I felt bad about yesterday so we decided to eat lunch with you up here today since there are no other open tables in the cafeteria." She smiles.

I feel tears in my eyes. I've never had friends before but if this is what it's like I love it.

"Tracy! Why is she crying?" Gen yells with a lisp.

"Happy tears," I reassure them with a laugh and walk further out on the school's roof.

Even though it's cold up here it's still worth it to eat lunch with someone. Anyone.

We sit down on a blanket. And Gen and Tracy start to eat. Gen eating a huge slice a pizza and Tracy picking at a salad.

I start to eat my granola bar when Tracy speaks up.

"So are you guys going to the hollows this weekend?" She asks flipping her hair that was being tossed around in the wind.

I watch as Gen rolls her eyes. "Not everyone gets invited like you did Tracer."

Tracy scrunches her nose at the nickname. "Don't call me Tracer." She tells Gen cringing.

"But Lena Oxton- Tracer is practically a fictional role model. And not to mention she appears in 2016 video game Overwatch- a first-person shooter developed by Blizzard Entertainment- and related animations and literary media-" Gen tries to explain but Tracy glares at her.

Gen puts her hands up in surrender when Tracy's ice glare stays locked on Gen. "Never mind then princess."

Tracy laughs and playfully throws a grape at Gen but she dodged it.

"Tracer would never miss!" Gen yells and then Tracy throws a glare her way again and I laugh.

"Well. I just invited you both. So meet at my house tomorrow and I'll dress you guys up in your costumes!" She says excitedly.

Gen stares at Tracy with no emotion. "The last time I was at your house was when you had that huge birthday party in the third grade."

Tracy looks away from her and I see a sad look on her face.

"And I still haven't forgotten when you told Tommy to push me into the pool. I didn't even have my floaters on yet!" Gen says annoyed.

"You know I had a huge crush on him. But besides, It's different now. I won't have someone push my friend into the pool." Tracy mumbles.

"Friend? Tracy, I'm sorry but someone like me can't be your friend." Gen says and I feel a tension grow when I realize she's serious.

I hear a key jingle in the distance and have a bad feeling wash over me.

"What do you mean someone like me!" Tracy asks offended.

"Hey, guys..." I say quietly but it sounded loud to my ears.

"Someone whose popular doesn't fit well in a group with me." Gen snaps back.

"Well, who wears floaters to a third-grade birthday party anyways," Tracy says annoyed. And I hear a gasp from Gen.

"First of all! That was 9.3 years ago! I could've drowned! The death rate in drowning was at 320,000 people making this a major public health problem worldwide! And it's the 3rd leading cause to unintentional injury by death accounting for 7% of all deaths by injury-" Gen yells at Tracy making her lisp more prominent.

"Guys!" I scream at them my heart racing and I point to the door.

We silently watch as someone tries to open it.

"Oh god." Tracy groans.

"Hide! Bitches HIDE!" Gen whisper yells and jumps to her feet.

We all stand up grabbing our stuff and running behind a huge vent atop the school.

"I can't run in wedge heels!" Tracy complains while running awkwardly on a tiptoe.

"Shit my pizza!" Gen yells turning around and spiriting towards the pizza she left on the plate where we were sitting.

"Gen get over here forget your stupid pizza!" Tracy yells rolling her eyes.

A few seconds later Gen returns eating her pizza. And holding the blanket in her arms.

"Hey, I got the blanket too losers. Who saved you from getting caught. Me. Genevieve Kalinda Jaime VonTellaheimer. The most reliable hero-" Gen exclaims puffing our her chest and sticking her chin up but Tracy rolls her eyes again.

"No one cares and Jaime is a boy's name." She says.

"Tracy's a boy's name too dumbass. And at least my middle name isn't Wh-" Gen taunts and my curiosity peaks.

"Don't you dare say my middle name!" Tracy screeches.

I laugh but cover my mouth as we see the janitor walk out onto the roof.

We peak around the side of the vent and watch as the janitor looks around before shrugging and walking away.

"That was close." Gen exhales. "I could've lost her." She says sadly looking at her pizza.