❝I may not be a genius, just a girl with some reasons to stay Plain Jane ❞
- Alessia Cara, Girl Next Door.

"What effrontery," was the first I said the moment I stirred and turned to see Kaleb sleeping right beside me. Remembering how he had literally bailed on me last night, I kicked him off the bed.

Expecting him to yell or do something, I waited for it, but when he didn't do anything, I moved to the edge of the bed and peeked at him to see that he was still asleep.

Wow.

I rubbed my eyes immediately, bit my lip and then got off the bed as I walked quietly to the kitchen and grabbed a cup of icy cold water, going back to the room. I stood above him, a light smile on my face as I dumped it all over him.

"What the hell, Rae!" He yelled after he opened his eyes, "What was that for?"

"What was that for?" I mimicked. "I called and texted you last night!"

He ran a hand through his hair, "Jeez, I'm so sorry. I came really late and you had slept at that time."

"Whatever. You saved yourself stress. With your help or not, I'll be failing anyway," I shrugged

"I'm sorry," he countered.

I grabbed my pillow and threw it at him.
"Stop saying you're sorry. It's okay. I did read my text yesterday. Didn't understand, but at least I tried and—"

There was a knock on the door before Tanner called out, "Renée, its time to wake up or you'll be late for school."

"I'm up!" I called back while Kaleb shouted, "What's up Tanner?!"

"Yo, what's up Kaleb," Tanner greeted back.

Really, the way these two greeted each other amused me.

"What time did you get here?" I turned to look at Kaleb who had taken off his shirt and was wiping his body with it."

"At about 10. Tanner was still awake then," he answered. "And, really, what got into you? You know I hate water sticking to my clothes."

I giggled annoyingly, "Do you really? Because last time I checked, sweat sticks to your clothes after all the basketball you play. Seems to me like you're already used to it."

He rolled his eyes.

*****

After I'd gotten dressed for school, me and Kaleb said bye to Tanner, and he drove to his house so he could freshen up.

While Kaleb sang rather loudly and quite horribly in the shower, I sat in the kitchen with Phoebe as she cleaned the counter.

"What's funny is, this guy can actually sing. He just chooses to sound like that," I shook my head, referring to Kaleb.

Phoebe laughed, "Tell me about it. He has me worried sometimes," we laughed.
"But I could never trade him for anything," she added.

"Never," I shook my head.

"How are you, Renée? It's been a while since we actually talked. Is everything okay?"

"Yes, everything's fine. Except I have a test today, and well, you know how bad I do in my tests," I bit my lip.

"Hey, I really think you should keep pushing. Or, maybe find new methods to study?" She looked at me with concern.

"Yeah, I guess. I mean, I'm only used to one method of studying."

"Discovering new and other ways is important," she set the napkin she held, aside. "And how are your parents? And Tanner?"

"I spoke to mom and dad last week and they're fine. So is Tanner."

"Still seeing his girlfriend?"

"Yep," I nodded. "I find myself thinking about what could have gone wrong between he and his ex a lot these days, though."

"Honey, a lot of couples break up due to so many reasons," she said sweetly.

"I wonder what their reason was," I shrugged.

Phoebe and I talked more and deeper and I found myself being so grateful for her. Not only was she the mother of my best friend who I loved to pieces, but she was my second mom, literally. Always there to give me advice when I needed it. She didn't just give advice, but she usually gave me lots of things, one time, she had brought two perfumes, taking one for lotion, she realized her mistake when she got home and immediately gave one of them to me. She was pretty hilarious, and Hudson got that from her totally. Not Kaleb, because well, the doofus usually begged me to laugh to his jokes.

He came down shortly and kissed Phoebe's cheek, "We have to go now, mom."

"Aren't you two going to eat? I was thinking of making waffles," she said, her eyebrows furrowed as she looked at me.

"It's okay, mom. Rae and I will get coffee and donuts on our way," Kaleb told her.

"Alright, then. And make sure you do. Have a great day, my loves. Good luck in your tests," she kissed our cheeks, "I love you both. Kaleb make sure you brush your hair."

"Yes mom, I will," he said rolling his eyes as I chuckled.

*****

"I believe everyone studied the chapter in the evolution of man. Put your texts away. We're having our short test now," Mrs Colton said, looking around the class with test sheets in her hand.

While everyone put their tests away, Mrs Colton moved around the class from table to table, dropping tests on them, "Eric, you heard me. I said put your text away," she looked at one of my classmates sternly before getting back to putting the sheets on the tables, "And do not open your sheets until I say so."

I locked gazes with Kaleb who looked at me apologetically.

"Start," Mrs Colton announced.

I bit my lip, turning my paper to run my eyes through the page.

I was probably going to fail. I put my hands in my head, going over the questions carefully when one of the questions caught my attention.

When did human ancestors separate from the ancestors of chimpanzees?

It then hit me that I'd read something like that, but I couldn't remember what it was. I closed my eyes, struggling so hard to remember. All of a sudden, I remembered reading to River that the ancestors separated from that of chimpanzees 6 million years and I was excited when I saw it as part of the options.

I'd never been eager to answer questions in tests but eagerly, I took a look at the next question.

Which member of the human lineage appears to have lasted the longest?

I tried hard to remember again and I did. I'd read it out to River that it was homo erectus. I remembered River saying 'ew' and I'd accused him of being a pervert and we laughed.

I smiled at the memory.

The spread of what type of landscape is thought to have played a role in the evolution of distinctively human traits?

I looked at the options, clueless, but I picked the option that said 'Rivers systems'.

Only because it had River in it.

*****

I frowned when I looked around and didn't see River in the bakery. He was super late today which was quite unlike him. I frowned even harder when he walked in and three girls were eyeing him like he was some piece of candy, but I felt better when I saw that he wasn't paying any attention to them. I was caught off guard when I saw him looking at me, giving me a small wave with a small smile on his face, and it was then I noticed he hadn't come in with anything.

My eyebrows furrowed and I didn't know when those three girls came to me, smiling, "Hi! Do you know the guy seated over there?" Girl 1 asked, looking quickly to River.

I nodded, "Yeah."

"Really? What are you to him?" Girl 2 asked, and I raised an eyebrow at her, "Just friends?"

"Of course," girl 3 said. "Would someone like him date some girl who works behind the counter?"

I looked at her in annoyance, "Uh, excuse you—"

"Anyway, can you tell him about me? I'm Sam," Girl 2 interrupted.

"Is he on Instagram? Can I give you my username to give him?" The absolutely rude one, Girl 3 said.

"Hey girls, are you here to get something or what?"

I was grateful when I heard Sky say beside me. They all shook their heads and walked away in embarrassment.

"Thank you," I breathed.

"Of course. They're so unbelievable," she shook her head. "Its past five. You can close for the day. Plus, it seems like someone's waiting for you," she smiled slyly and I flushed when I threw a glance at River who was looking down at his phone.

"Thank you," I told her again and then went in to grab my backpack. I came back out to see that River wasn't sitting there anymore.

I frowned and looked around for him. "Looking for me?" I heard his voice and I felt relief wash over me in an unexplainable way and I smiled, "Where'd you go?"

"I had to go speak to the manager," he answered.

"Because you came late?" I teased.

He chuckled, "No. I've never exactly met the manager before. I'm only really familiar with Skylar," he said and I figured that was Sky.

"I see. I've never even met the manager myself. I heard she's quite a busy woman. Besides, why'd you come late and why didn't you even come with your materials?"

"I already did all I had to do back at home."

"Why'd you come then?"

He shrugged and smiled, "Well, I remembered there was a girl called Renée at the bakery."

I smiled, "So... you just wanted to see me?"

"That's pretty much what I meant. Yeah," he answered and I flushed.

"Hey, how did your test go?"

My face lit up in a wide smile, "It was the first time I could actually answer questions in a test. I can't even explain it."

He smiled, his eyes on me, "That's great."

I looked back at him and after a while, I spoke up, "That's what reading out to you did, right? Because I didn't exactly understand what she read, but when writing the test, I could remember reading to you the answers I saw questions to. So, that was the point, right?"

He was quiet, and then he ruffled my hair, "You're smart."

"No, I'm really not," I shook my head.

"You are," he told me. "You just don't know," he paused. "We need to go."

I looked at him, "Where?"

His eyes sparkled as he replied, "To get fro-yo."

●

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