. . . . .

WHEN I MADE IT BACK INSIDE the brick building — without almost getting run over this time — that I had been dreading coming back to, I was suddenly swarmed with the vibrant colors of the banners that were taped around the walls; posters of the football seasons that would be coming up, and the sound of cheering kids greeting their friends like they hadn't seen them in years.

Middle school had mascots and bright school jerseys that were sadly ruined by the number of girls' signatures written all over them in an attempt to interest the football boys. We were the Broncos, our signature colors being maroon, grey, and white.

Now, in high school, we were known as the Lions, and our mascot colors were orange, white, and red Apparently our animal mascot had a meaning besides being a lion, but really, it was just an animal to me. I didn't understand the team spirit or anything about football. I only knew the basics since my brother had been playing football here at this school since freshman year.

My stomach clenched and whirled and it was like I was on the brink of being sick and not even 'Young and Beautiful' streaming through my earphones was helping me to calm down. I took in a breath and combed back some hair behind my ears. It was just school. You had been here many times before. You could do this!

But the churn of uncertainty cooking in my stomach made me think otherwise. It must of been fate that that Theo boy had moved to Los Angeles and started at this very school I was at— not saying it had anything to do with me as such, but it was quite strange to me. Seeing him get out of his car, when he nearly ran me over was different to when I saw him outside with his new friends. He seemed more relaxed, less tense and his eyes. Wow, his eyes.

Green orbs like a forest, a wild, tangled and endangered forest. They looked so...so soft, genuine.

It was like it was a different boy lurking there in his mind. Or maybe it was really him, just the him he had hid away.

I rummaged around in my bag for my printed timetable that the school had sent me over the holidays and when I took it out, I navigated in my head which way room H201 was for homeroom.

The bell rang out and I was hurriedly making my way through the hallways before crowds of people were coming in and luckily I was stumbling into the class just before everyone else was. That meant I'd be able to get a seat at the back of the class, not being harrowed by other students whenever they felt like it.

I greeted the teacher, Mr. Stirling, before claiming my seat that I would be sitting in for the rest of this year. I was hidden in a nice nook of a corner where I would be ignored. I disliked pretty much everyone in this school and I was sure that pretty much everyone disliked me too, so that meant being sat back here, out of harms way, I wouldn't be in anyone's way.

Sat back with my earphones plugged in my ears and arms crossed over my chest, I watched as the seats in the room filled up, the sounds of people gossiping echoing around the room. Even Mr. Sinclair was pulled into a conversation between a group of girls. When a couple of more minutes passed, I slid my chair in closer to the table and took out my textbook for English class that I had already gone over late last night. Thought that'd not completing my homework for the first day would seem like a bad impression.

Thankfully for me, I enjoyed English, and that was because it was where I could write and let out my creative juices on the page. But math and science? I was awful at it!

I took out a couple of highlighters out of my pencil case and grabbed myself a snack bar that I had taken with me for lunch this morning.

A couple of minutes passed and the room seemed to die down from any boisterous laughter. There was still chit-chat happening around the room, though. Everyone was getting back into the routine of high school, the last academic year before we have to grow wings and go to college.

I ripped the top of the snack bar and chucked some of it into my mouth, half of my mind consumed by the pastel colors taking over my page of the textbook. I must of gone over the same sentence about ten times because of the chatter that was happening. My pits were starting to sweat just from the idea of seeing Theo again.

Just as I tossed the last bit of the weirdly nice snack bar into my mouth, unusually heavy footsteps were walking up the stairs, clearly making their way to the back where I was; I didn't care, no one would voluntarily sit next to me unless it was for a dare. Instead, I continued to focus on highlighting and writing, though it was undeniably hard considering the whole entire room fell into a pit of silence.

I noticed the footsteps got closer.

I highlighted a word. The same word I had read thrice. The ink was now marking the other side.

The footsteps got closer. A lot closer. Almost like they were right ne— "Is this seat taken?"

My body tingled upon hearing such a deep vocal voice of a guy who was stood right beside me. I froze. My whole entire body sized up and a wave of discomfort courses through my body. It was as if I could only move my eyes and even that made me more anxious. He was standing tall, one hand touching the seat that was vacant whilst the other was shoved aimlessly into his trouser pocket.

My mouth twitched as I tried to pry my mouth open, but again, I felt like I had been frozen. This had got to be a dare.

Why was he absolutely everywhere now?

Why couldn't these popular annoying kids just leave me alone? It wasn't funny.

I gave them a shrug, still unsure on who this person was. It was probably Josh. He was a dickhead sometimes. Or maybe it was Marcus! He often did this sort of stuff. Or Sam. Sam seemed less of a shithead but he was in that group, I would take anything from them with a pinch of salt. Clearing my throat and shifting away from them on my seat, I re-applied my focus back to my textbook. This page that I had read many times was becoming too familiar. I could almost recite the words like it was one of my favorite songs.

The person stepped closer, a finger prodding my arm; I froze. Again.

Okay, so they were definitely talking to me, that was for sure. I tried to blur out the fact everyone in the room was watching — they had completely stopped what they were doing and thought staring at whatever commotion this was was more thrilling.

The same, familiar scent hit me, the same scent from outside with Mr. Trouble Maker. Just my luck that this was him, and I certainly wouldn't be surprised.

Gulping, I could smell his prominent senr if aftershave. It was like a mix of Spearmint and sandalwood. As well as his clothes that he made work, it was also his aftershave. I would've never guessed Spearmint and sandalwood would make a good match.

Just as I found the courage to reply, this unfamiliar body — though it felt more familiar than necessary — sunk into the chair he was wanting so bad, his legs stretching out under the table and his knee nonchalantly bumping into mine.

"They Both Die In The End." The guy said from beside me.

"Excuse me?" I asked, the shyness completely flooding my body and instead, rage filled my body once again. That was all he gifted me with his presence: Rage!

My eyes were in very narrowed slits when I took in his appearance up close. But then the small, very tiny, smile ok his face made it so hard for me to keep the expression ok my face.

"The book." He said, closing my book and tapping the cover, "They Both Die In The End."

Oh. He was talking about the book's name.

I looked back up at him, almost in a daze.

No wonder the whole class went quiet, Theo was sitting right at the back with me.

I looked around the room, breath hitched and body still. Even the teacher was staring— and grinning?

"Did someone put you up to this?" I whispered, my hands coming to yank my book from his softened grasp. Then I turned back in my seat, my legs simultaneously coming to wrap around the chair legs.

From the corner of my eye, I could see his eyes scanning my flushed face, and his face contorted into realisation as if he just realised what predicament we were both in— the predicament he had gotten us in without even soaring a second thought at.

"If you count Mr. Stirling asking me to sit up here, then I think I should say yes?" Theo quipped, his voice husky and definitely below the average male's deep voice.

Was this guy still asleep? That would make up for it.

Shuffling in my seat again, I gestured to the book in my hand, not smiling. "Have you read this book?" I dragged my hand along the cover and dug my fingers into my palms. My legs were starting to shake.

"I have."

I could feel his eyes burning holes through my skin, as if he wasn't paying attention to anyone else around the room and it was all just about me — which was exactly how I hated it. Maybe I should chuck my book at his face and run for the hills?

I cleared my throat and gave in to his stare, "What are you doing back here?" Like, seriously!

"Like I just told you, this was all Mr. Stirling's idea. Not mine." He held up his hands as if I was pointing a gun at his head. I looked down the row we were sat on. There were free seats he could've decided to sit on no bother listening to what Mr. Stirling had said. He never made seating plans so what was he up to? He was against seating plans, said that they are unethical because it meant you could be sat next to someone who is the complete opposite in personality to you and meant you'd have to endure extremely awkward conversations. Or maybe no conversations.

I just have the biggest hunch that this was being back memories from his childhood. He seemed the type of guy to be troubled. Maybe that was why he loved shouting at naughty students and sending them to detention. But I have never had an issue with him— until now.

I had a bone to pick with him.

A rather, LARGE bone.

"Oh, right," I said, instead. Why weren't any words forming? Where had my hatred gone?

My eyes flickered down to a smirking Mr. Stirling before his eyes caught mine and he saw the way I was scowling. He immediately clapped his hands and gained the attention from the class. At least I was thankful for that

Minutes went by in silence and I tried to get myself back on task: Focus on my English textbook — not him who was still sat beside me, his legs stretched out even further apart now and his hands which were placed behind his head, as if he was at home chilling. My eyes had coincidentally made its way to the skin exposed from whenever he would raise his arms and his shirt would life up, but it was just something that couldn't be helped. He had caught me in the act a few times and whenever he would point it out I'd pretend I couldn't hear him or that I was partially blind and didn't know what I want looking at. But seeing that every time a stupid excuse would coke out of my mouth he'd just laugh it off, shaking his head and look away back to the front of class where a few of what I could only describe were wild inbred guys were talking.

They weren't obviously inbred but these popular guys always seemed the same. Sporty, loud, condescending, selfish, and rich. I could write a whole book based on them with only one sentence in it to sum them all up. It would sell copies after copies, and I'd be rich just for talking about their crappy, but extremely embarrassing behaviours.

"You're Willow, right? You're Callum's younger sister." Theo spoke for the first time in minutes, one of his feet coming to kick one of my chair legs to grab my withering attention — which was already on him for a matter of fact.

"That's right." I said, biting on the inside of my cheek. It was taking everything in me not to shout at him to not call me "Callum's younger sister." I heard it soo the time whenever someone was looking for Callum, for asking about him or whatever. It was like he was famous. How sick was that? He was only eighteen, one month older than me— and yes, my birthday was next month and I will be an adult. Finally.

"If everybody knows him how come you're not down there with those guys?" Theo asked, his arms coming to cross over his rippling chest. I could practically see the outline of his pecks through his shirt. Don't even get me started on his tattoo's.

"Those are your friends, right?" I asked, not wanting to overstep when talking to him about those type of people. But he nodded, certainly not giving me the heads up I wanted. I just wanted to rant to someone different for a change. I just wanted to get a second opinion.

"You have to be a certain type to fit in with those guys. You're either one of them who is popular and loud or someone who is seen as unimportant." I told him and he stayed quiet, attentively taking in everything I had to say. "That's why I like sitting up here."

"Because you're away from them?" Theo asked, his eyes appearing a lot softer now. He didn't take his eyes off mien.

I nodded, "Now you're getting it." I said. "It probably sounds stupid."

"It's not stupid. It's logical thinking, if anything." He shrugged.

"Logical?" I asked, turning my head to him who was staring down at everyone. Mr. Stirling was still holding the classes' attention as he welcomed everyone back.

"Yeah. It just makes sense." Theo retorted.

I seemed to notice some girls were looking and waving up, gawking at him from their seats. Not knowing why, I looked back to Theo and he seemed to notice them too. He glanced down at the two pretty girls and nodded his head as if to say hi; the girls all squealed.

"Seems like you've caught their eye." I didn't know why I said it, but I did. Theo seemed to just chuckle, making his chest go up and down — for his big pecs to press teasingly against his shirt. Then he leaned back in his seat and raked a hand in his fluffy hair. He didn't seem to give as much attention to them as I thought he would.

Just as I thought Theo would be happy his new friends — the bane of my existence — were coming over, his face looked anything but. His mouth opened and closed and his eyes seemed a little wide-eyed.

"Hey, man." Marcus patted Theo's back. Of course they had already met. Theo was already the talk of the school.

Theo nodded his head and here I was just sat here as they all talked. I considered moving into another seat seeing as there were quite a few vacant, but it would be mean. I glanced down at my phone and saw that the bell was due to ring any minute now, so I did what was best. I collected my stuff, stood up along with everyone else and escaped from my seat. Was he going to be sitting here all the time now?

"Have a good day and see you tomorrow everyone!" Mr. Stirling called and I awkwardly stepped passed Theo and his new friends. As I left through the door, not forgetting a parting gift to Mr. Stirling (glaring whilst he was grinning), I didn't miss the way Theo looked down at me from where he was stood. He nodded, as if to say goodbye. I did the same before turning away and walking down the corridor.

Fumbling to properly read my timetable and to see what other lessons I had today, I collided with someone.

"I'm so sorry!" I slapped my hand over my mouth, my eyes wide. "I didn't mean to knock you! I'm sorry!"

I freaked out as I saw a girl who looked about my age with brown hair, lying on the floor, her books all about her. She had very vague light freckles dusting her cheeks along with a rosy pink lipgloss coating her plump lips. It took me a couple of seconds to realise she was getting up.

She dusted herself off and set about picking her books up. She gave me a brief smile. "It's fine, I should've been looking where I was going." She reassured me - (although I couldn't help but feel that it was my fault).

I bent down and grabbed the rest of the books and passed them to her as she stood up, brushing her hands on her cargos. Thank you." She took ahold of them gently.

"I'd shake your hand but they are pretty occupied." She giggled and my lips stretched into a genuine smile. "I'm Angel, and you are?"

I flicked one of my plaits over my shoulder. "I'm Willow. Callum Anderson's sister." Seeing as everybody seemed to know my brother, I'd thought I'd give it a shot.

A brief cross of recognition surfaced in the air for a second before she picked up her last book off the shiny school floor and nodded with a small smile. "Well it's nice to meet you, Willow. Do you know where you're headed to?"

I pointed to the class that was right in front of us and she nodded slowly. She turned back to me with her back slouched by the number of books she had in her hands. I took a couple from her and she immediately stood upright. "Thank you so much, my back was starting to kill." She breathed slowly. "Anyway, I'm in this class too."

A sudden relief washed over me and all I could do was send her a big wide smile.

Thankfully, I now (sort of) knew someone in this class who was nice and who was willing to talk to me!

Last year I was in a different class but this year they had changed me again. Luckily it was my last year here, ever until I was free.

Suddenly, the door swung open revealing Mrs. Cleveland in her frumpy, frilly dress. She had a wide smile on her face. "Welcome back!" She said, ushering us in along with some other early students.

"Hi Mrs, it's good to see you! This is-" Angel pointed to me with a glint in her eye. "-Willow." I finished her sentence and Angel smiled.

Mrs. Cleveland nodded her head, handing out sheets to the tables. More kids piled in and headed to their assigned seats.

"I haven't taught you before have I, Willow?" Mrs turned her head to me as she handed out the last worksheet. I shook my head. "Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm your teacher for this year. I'm expecting you to love English by the end of it." She grinned and Angel nudged my arm, leaning to whisper something in my ear.

"I want to warn you there are some annoying kids in this class so Mrs tends to get a bit cranky." She backed away and I sent her a firm nod which she approved of before sitting down in her seat.

"Well since you're new to this class Willow, you can sit next to Angel." Mrs pointed to the empty seat and my eyes flicked to a very happy Angel sitting next to it.

"Thank you," I replied, Mrs Cleveland shot me a quick smile before sitting down at her desk to start up the projector.

"This is so cool," Angel whispered to me as I took my seat next to her. As the bell chimed for the second time, a few stragglers strolled in, greeting Mrs.

Angel nudged my arm and I turned to face her. "How come I haven't seen you before?" She asked. Her words dawned on me.

"I haven't been the most social person," I confessed. "My friend who used to be at this school, moved to England not that long ago so it's kind of a challenge for me to be by myself." I twirled the pen in my