Before he has the chance to drive off, I open the door and I say something before he can.

"Don't be so stubborn for once in your goddamn life. Show me your hand." I put my hand out gesturing for him to place his hand in mine and he rolls his eyes but does as I ask.

"It's nothing, I'm perfectly fine." He must've trapped all of his fingers because each and every one of them is swollen and appear to be purple. Ouch.

"You should be a lot more careful when closing the door," I say softly, smiling and trying hard not to laugh.

He looks at me unimpressed. "Yeah. Really, really funny," He rolls his eyes but I can see the smile he's trying to fight back. "What were you doing here anyway?"

"Mia thought we should go shopping," I say nonchalantly. I let go of his hand and speak again, "I wanted to say thanks by the way."

He looks a little confused but I answer him before he can even ask the question. "For defending me I guess, I appreciate it." I shrug and look down, feeling nervous all of a sudden.

"I- I uh... Don't know what you're talking about." He rubs the back of his neck looking anxious himself. I roll my eyes at how badly he just denied what I said.

"Sure." I laugh. I look at his hand again, noticing that the bruises have gotten worse in such a small amount of time. "Does it hurt?" I ask, concerned.

"Not really, I guess it stings a little but nothing I can't handle."

"Are you sure?" My frown deepens.

"Yes princess, I'm sure." He chuckles lowly meanwhile I smile sheepishly. A warm feeling grows in my chest all of a sudden and it's weird but... nice?

"Are you okay though?"

"Princess, I said it's fine. Honestly." I shake my head at his reply.

"Not about that, about the fight. About everything. I just want to say sorry for slapping you, it wasn't okay and I know I shouldn't have done it. It's just... a bit of a touchy subject, that's all."

He smiles at me and lightly squeezes my hand, "Don't apologise, I was completely out of line. I shouldn't have said what I said. If I'm being honest, I don't think I was completely over what happened at the party."

What does he mean, 'not completely over it'?

My phone rings before I even get the chance to ask what he meant.

Looking at my phone, I see it's Josh and I give Cole an apologetic smile before answering the phone.

"Hey, what's up?"

"Where are you?" What a nice way to be greeted.

"Aw, no 'Hello Andie'? I think you, my dearest cousin, need to work on your manners."

"Sarcastic as always I see." I just laugh at his response.

"You know it. Right, I'm on my way home now, be there soon." I end the call and look back at Cole who's scraping his foot across the gravel.

"I'm sorry, I've got to go. I'll see you Thursday after your suspension has ended, yeah?"

He smiles brightly, "You got it." I wave goodbye, he does the same, and I get in the car and stare at Cole from the side mirrors as I drive away.

I smile to myself, I don't think that could have gone any better.

******

It's Thursday which means it's the day before my mums birthday. I'd be lying if I said the dread for tomorrow hasn't got worse as the week has progressed.

Last night we decided to book a table for today for dinner. I guess that's a good thing but that also means I have to make my own distraction for tomorrow.

On the bright side, Cole and Josh's suspension has now ended and they both return today. But I think that the bright side is outweighed by the fact I have gym first period today. Ugh, I know. It's not exactly going to be an hour that I'll enjoy.

I change into my shorts and tank top when the gym coach finally comes over. "Unfortunately Mr smith had other matters to attend to today so we are joining with the other group. Start stretching girls because we're doing laps today."

Miss claps her hands enthusiastically and I'm still confused as to why she's excited for an hour of everyone complaining that they can't run any longer.

Everyone, including me, groans but we do it anyway.

"Why are we put through this torture?" Mia says, rolling her eyes and fast walking rather than jogging. "Go ahead and go without me because I'm going to take forever."

"Are you sure? I can stay."

"Seriously, it's fine." I wave and I get up to run, trying to finish the laps as fast as I can so I can rest.

After what feels like a lifetime, I finish and nearly fall to the floor. This is why I don't run.

I look to see who is still running and see Mia is and I laugh because I know that she is groaning, wishing this would be over with already. I sit, waiting for her to finish, but think she was right, I'm going to be waiting a while.

"Hey," I hear someone almost mumble behind me, they sound slightly anxious. I turn around to see who it is and who they're trying to speak to but I'm surprised when I see someone standing right behind me.

They're rubbing the back of their neck and hesitate before sitting beside me. "I'm Lucas."

I smile, "I'm Andie." I never had many people introduce themselves to me when I first moved so it's nice to speak to someone new.

He chuckles nervously, "I know. I mean- It's just you're in my math." I laugh and find it kinda cute how awkward he's being.

We continue to talk, getting to know each other and coach blows her whistle after what must've been twenty minutes or so. Mia did finish her laps but she didn't sit with Lucas and me.

That doesn't mean she didn't keep smirking and teasing me from across the field. I tried to call her over multiple times and she just declined, smirking at me once again.

"Erm... So anyways Andie, I was thinking maybe," I can see he is arguing with himself whether or not to ask whatever he is planning to ask. "we could go out sometime. Maybe tomorrow?"

Lucas is cute and really sweet but I know already that I'm not interested in him that way. However, getting out of the house tomorrow night does sound like a good idea.

It's either that or stay in the house all afternoon being consumed by more grief than I can handle. I need this, a distraction.

"Look, Lucas... You seem really nice but-" He face holds a sad expression and I feel guilty.

"No it's fine honestly, just forget I-I- even said-" I cut him off before he can stammer even more,

"That doesn't mean I don't want to go out with you, as friends. But just as friends."

"Really?" his smile appears back onto his face.

We exchange numbers and agree to meet at the movies in town at 6 tomorrow.

"I guess I'll see you tomorrow then?" We both say goodbye and I head over to Mia who is waiting for me so we can head to the locker rooms.

"Don't even start," I say, laughing lightly. She gasps and dramatically puts a hand over her heart.

"I don't know what you're even talking about. But seeing as you were the one who brought it up, who was that?" She wiggles her eyebrows and I can't help but laugh once again.

"It's Lucas, and he is just a friend if you must know," I emphasise the word friend. The thing with Mia is she loves to think of everything from a romantic perspective when it comes to guys.

"Fine, I'll be quiet about it." Thank the lords. "So, do you wanna hang out tomorrow?"

"Ugh, I can't..."

She frowns slightly, "Why not?"

"I'm going out with Lucas." The frown is gone almost immediately and replaced with a grin which is accompanied by a squeal. I give her a look which is a mixture of 'are-you-being-serious-right-now?' and 'can-you-stop-please'

She puts her hands up in surrender. "Okay, I'll shut up about it, for real this time." She speed walks ahead of me, turning round to add one final comment. "Just friends." She winks and turns back around.

Shaking my head while smiling, I jog to catch up with her.

******

We get into the canteen and Josh appears, "Hey baby." He kisses Mia on the cheek and I scrunch up my face.

"The pet names are too much PDA, let's keep it to a minimum guys." I joke. Okay... maybe not joking.

"Someone's jealous because they're single." Mia teases back. "Maybe not for too much longer because someone has a date." She wiggles her eyebrows and I groan, glaring at her.

"Seriously Mee." I shake my head putting my head in my hands.

"Why don't I know anything about this and who is it? I'm not letting some dick take you out." Talk about being OTT.

"Not that it is even a date, we're going out as friends, but who said you would get a say on who I date anyways? I don't have a problem with you dating my best friend." The lack of response from Josh definitely means I won and I smile in victory.

"Okay topic changer, how are you feeling about today and tomorrow?" Oh shit... I haven't told Mia about my mother yet and that's because we've never got onto that topic so it wasn't necessary to bring it up.

"Perfectly fine thanks," I say, straining my voice. Maybe the look on my face will be enough for him to stop there but knowing my luck, that wasn't how it was heading.

"She was your mum, it's okay to still be upset about it." Great. Of course, Josh decided to go all shrink on me while we're at school.

"Wait what?" Mia cuts in. "What happened to your mum?" A panicked look appears on his face as he must suddenly realise Mia didn't know. Well done, dumbass.

I shouldn't be angry at him for saying anything. If I told Mia already this situation would have been avoided completely.

"It's my mothers birthday tomorrow and it will be her first birthday erm... without her. She died um... not even a year ago."

Mia's gaze softens and holds sympathy, I hate that but I know she means well. "I'm so sorry Andie, I-I didn't know."

"It's fine," I say softly. "I didn't tell you, so how were you?" Mia gets up from where she is sitting and then hugs me.

I lean into the hug and smile, I think I kind of needed this. She pulls away and I smile again but it drops quickly when I see Cole and those stupid friends of his are heading for our direction.

I wouldn't usually be bothered but by the look of Cole's face, he doesn't look happy at all.

"What's wrong?" Mia asks and I think she notices that I'm not actually looking at her but behind her instead. She turns and says something I probably would've laughed at if I didn't feel so god damn nervous.

"Oh, shit, who pissed in his cereal?"

I've never properly seen what Cole's friends look like until now. The previous times I've come across them was when I was too far away to see their faces properly. As much as it kills me to say, as they seem like complete jerks, I can't lie and say they are not all attractive.

The one to the left of Cole has black hair and green eyes that's accompanied with a massive smile. His dimples make him look cuter and hotter at the same time—if that's possible.

On the right, there are two others. The guy walking closest to Cole has blonde hair and blue eyes. He appears to have the same style as Cole as well as he's wearing a plain top and jeans, just like him.

The last one isn't really paying attention and is just looking around the canteen until his foot gets caught by the chair leg.

He stumbles and the loud noise causes everyone to stop and stare if they weren't already. Mia, Josh and I all snigger but I stop as I realise how close to us they actually are now.

I wouldn't feel so nervous if one thing wasn't so clear.

He's pissed. Extremely pissed and not just at one. At me.

He was pissed at me.

>>>>>>>

AUTHOR'S NOTE:

What do you think Cole is going to say? Sorry, it's been a month since my last update!! But thank you sooo much for 6k reads😭 I love and appreciate every single one of you!!

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