Flower:

I'm not Rapunzel but I would still let you pull my hair.

Me:

Good morning to you too. I think that's the best one yet.

Flower:

I deserve a price, don't you think?

Me:

What did you have in mind?

Flower:

You sound like a good option.

Me:

I'm done.

Flower:

I'm kidding. I'll see you at school.

I don't respond to that message simply because I'm already running late. Miles has been doing that for the last four days. Ever since the party he found some weird site that gives him daily dirty pick up lines and every morning he sends me one. It's quite charming when you think about it. I almost died when I read the first one. Maggy, our helped was cleaning next to me, but thankfully I don't think she saw the message.

"Good morning." Maggy hands me some coffee and toast. She stays here when my parents are out of town, which is usually almost every week. She's been with us for so many years, ever since I was a little girl. I think of her as my mom.

"Your parents have the party on Sunday. Is your friend coming?"

"Yeah. Is this a new jam?" The sweet taste of sugar runs around my taste buds. It's absolutely delicious. 

"So happy you noticed. Yes. I made it." Maggy has amazing cooking skills. She's always mixing ingredients and coming up with amazing new dishes.

"I'll see you later today. I have some things to do after school." I tell her so she doesn't worry.

"No worries. Be careful, darling."

The drive to school is always boring even as I play music or listen to a podcast. I arrive at school a few minutes before the first bell so I use the time to catch up on the team's group chat. We have one with couch and another just for us, which is mainly for gossip.

I catch Miles getting out of his car from the corner of my eye. Another guy gets out of the passenger seat, I assume it's his brother. Miles isn't that bad once you get past the huge ego and his ability to disagree with me on literally everything. I feel bad for him. Jason is too mean to him. I don't get his problem.

When we were together, Jason was good. He was always so charming and full of life. The Jason I used to know would never make a comment like that. Don't get me started on Alyssa. She follows Jason around like a dog on a leash.

"Question, could you walk me to cooking class?" Miles is standing next to me as I tuck away my books in my locker.

"Why? You don't take that class."

"Last Saturday I spent five minutes reading a message from you. Don't you remember? You said and I quote: 'Cooking class is a bitch. All I do is stare at Alyssa ponytail. I just want to pull on it and make her loose all her hair.' May I add that I was a little scared when I read that part. You sounded almost mentally ill."

"I thought I sent that to Nia. You didn't respond back."

"I was watching a stupid movie with my sister." He grabs my backpack all of a sudden and starts walking. I, of course, walk with him still utterly confused.

"Rude. Now why do you need me to take you to the class?"

"I switched classes." My head snaps towards him. Did I hear that correctly? Did he say he changed classes? Is that even possible?

"What?"

"You said you had no one in cooking class so I switched classes. No Diana, you have me."

"That's even worse than having no one, but really. Why would you do that?" Why would he do that for me. I didn't ask him. That message wasn't even meant for him. Stupid phones.

"I don't mind really. I had free periods whenever you have cooking class. I spoke to the principal and she allowed it. What can I say, I'm a charmer." He gives me his famous smirk along with his stupid wink.

"Oh." I'm completely baffled. I am at lost of words. He traded his free period just to hear Mrs. Roberts talk about recipes and all that. I didn't even realize we were already at the classroom.

Miles sits next to me placing my bag in the back of my chair.

"Thanks flower." I joke. I know how he feels about the nickname. I even have his name like flower on my phone.

"And to think you'd forgotten about that." He rolls his eyes and pushes the sleeves of his sweatshirt up until his elbows.

"I could never."

"Don't call me flower." He begs.

"Shut up."

Roberts walks in in her usual outfit. A long cardigan that wraps tightly against her stomach. Her golden hair is in a low ponytail, her lips a shade of pink.

"Good morning." She does the usual roll call and asks how we are before commencing the class. That's one of the things  I like about her, she always makes sure to ask if we are okay. "I hope you guys did your research on different countries and their foods cause today I'm going to give you the assignment. You will pick any dish from that country. Could be breakfast, lunch, dinner, or desert. Whatever you want. You will recreate it. By next week you should have the dish you want and you should have chosen a partner. Start brainstorming."

Alyssa raises her hand and before she can even ask, Roberts knows the answer. "No Alyssa, I rather you not pick something from United States. I want spice, I want new cultures flying in all directions in this room."

I feel Miles lean over, his hot breathe against my neck. "Partners, hermosa?"

"Wouldn't want it any other way." I scrunch my nose and push him away from me.

"I vote for Puerto Rico. Even if its a United States colony, they still have their own flag, own anthem, and their culture."

"Okay. Lets do it. What dish?" Don't tell Miles, but even before he was in the class, I was planning on doing something from Puerto Rico. He's always talking about the small island and I'm honestly intrigued to learn more about it's history and culture.

"I say tembleque. I love it. It has cinnamon on top which gives it this whole new flavor when it mixes with the coco." His latin accent is thick when he speaks in Spanish and English.

"Temble-ke? Sorry, I can't say it." He grabs a piece of paper and writes the word down. "It has a u. You didn't pronounce it."

"Its silent. Repeat after me. Tembleque." I try to sound like him but it comes out like gibberish. I get the first part being tem but the rest sounds like blee kua.

"We can work on the name later. If we really want to go all out, we can add some coquito."

"Come again?" He writes the word down again. "What is it with the u being silent."

"You know I've spoken with my ancestors and asked them to change it. They haven't." Miles responds. He's mocking me and enjoying it.

"You are so stupid."

"Stupid? Shut up? Damn Diana, you really need to work on the comebacks." I roll my eyes at him cause he's right. I do need to work on them. "Coquito is a drink. More like a liquor actually, but we can just take the rum out."

"Is it good?"

"The best. My mom usually makes it around Christmas. It goes well with the tembleque, just don't drink much of it if you don't plan on getting drunk."

Roberts gave us around fifteen minutes of brainstorming before she went on with her class. She spent the rest of the class talking about nutrition and the importance of balance in our daily foods.

~~~

"So are we getting ready at your house on Friday or mine?" Nia takes a bite out of her sandwich. We just got down with practice and I am in need of sugar. I know I have a chocolate bar in my bag somewhere.

"Yours. Parents are back by Friday." Nia is the only one that really knows what goes behind the walls of my house. Even though I adored Alyssa back then, I could never really talk about important things with her, much less about my parents.

"That sucks. You could always stay at my house." She offers.

"Can't. They're hosting a stupid party on Sunday. I need to be on my best behavior. Also you don't have an option. You must come."

"My parents are probably dragging my anyway."

Nia and I are completely opposite from each other. But you know they say opposites attracts. She's more loose and fun and doesn't really care about the consequences. Then there's me. I analyze every possible outcome before it occurs. You can never be too careful. That's one of the things I love about her.

Nia and I rant about the latest Gossip girl news before I have to leave for my afternoon tutory. I help this freshman twice a week, three times if the topic is a bit harder. Her mom found my ad on Facebook two years ago, so over the time I've become close to her.

Lilly was really shy at first. She concealed herself behind her thick brown glasses and blond hair, but once you break the walls she's fun to be around.

"Diana wait up." Miles is jogging to my car. His hair bouncing up and down.

"What's up"? I ask once he catches his breathe.

"The sky."

"I'm leaving." I go to close my door but his grip is harder and pulls it back open. "Why are you here so late?" I ask him.

"Little bro had to take a test. I'm his ride." I nod in agreement. I'm not sure what grade his brother is in. "Where are you going?"

"The club. Haven't I told you all about my exotic dancing? Hoping to get there by five so I can get the five o'clock rush hour."

"I wouldn't pay to see you dance."

"Funny. Your eyes tracing my uniform say otherwise." I snap back.

"Where are you actually going?" He changes the subject, the hint of pink in his cheeks revealing his embarrassment.

"Tutory. Do you have a shift today?"

"At seven. Its a little later than usual but that's only cause today is bingo night down at the nursing home and they bring them by for a late dinner."

"I'll try and fit you in."

"You mean you'll come see me dressed in my cute little diner uniform?"

"You don't look that cute."

"I'll see you tonight little miss perfect?"

"We'll see." He closes my door and smiles at me before I back away and head to my next meeting.

I feel like I haven't spoken to you guys in forever, but it's only been five days. Tell me a dirty pick up line. Go!

Honestly that whole text convo was so cute, bye. Also, Miles changed his free period for her?!? *cries*

The Summer of 21 was long-listed in the young adults romance awards!!! I couldn't believe I made it into the top 150 out of 900!

Hope you guys liked it! Vote and commet.

See you on Friday.