I walk down the lawn, after telling my mum goodbye for the second time, to the boys who stayed in the same spot waiting for me.
"One AP government, math and-", Asher cuts me off.
"English for you", he says and not that I had a comeback but before I could say anything Noah and Hernandez butt in.
"Shut up", Noah says just the same time Hernandez says, "Stop it".
Asher scoffs walking away to his car.
I look at Hernandez, "What restaurant did you decide on?", I ask him.
"Oh I picked a cafe but since they're joining us..", he trails narrowing his eyes at the idea, "We'll have to go somewhere else".
"I'll pick the place she'll text you, let's go", Noah says taking my hand but I let go. "I'm taking you there", he states, his tone demanding.
"I'm sorry but I'm going with Hernandez.. he's the reason we're going anyway", I say and he slowly nods giving Hernandez one last look before walking to his car.
"Seaside shack", he calls out not looking back.
I take my eyes away from his retreating figure and to Hernan. "So..".
"Let's go pretty", he says then hands me a helmet. I smile at his comment.
"Okay green eyes", I say and he chuckles getting into his bike. I put on the helmet then with a hold on his shoulders I help myself into the bike.
"Hold on tight", his deep voice flies pass the helmet and into my ear. I wrap my arms around him feeling like those Wattpad girls in romance gangster genres. Will my delusions ever end? No.
**
Hernandez gets there before Noah and Asher, so we pick a table before they come.
Hernandez sits next to me and we watch as two boys walk in and right to us. It wasn't hard to locate our seats cause the place isn't too busy today.
Noah and Asher sit In front of us with Noah sitting right across from me and Asher sitting across Hernan. So I pull out the textbooks. Won't wanna waste any time.
"So..
"Aren't we gonna order something first?", Asher asks making it sound like a whine.
"Okay", I say, putting my lips in a straight line.
Asher calls a waiter over and he starts placing his order. Noah looks up to me, "What do you want?".
"I'm.. already ordering for her", Hernandez says giving me the menu. "And don't say anything", he tells me with a warning look.
Noah scoffs, "Don't tell her what to do". If I could borrow someone else's eyes I'd roll them including mine cause he always thinks he can tell me what to do and never listens to me so he has no right to say that.
"I'm not.. I'm just watching out for her, something you wouldn't know", Hernan fires back calmly then looks back at me with a smile like he didn't just roast Noah. "Picked anything yet?".
"Uh..", I trail watching Noah's angered but yet solemn expression before looking down at the menu. I search the menu for something light but, they're all weight gainers. If I say nothing Hernandez won't even have it this time.
I look up, "I'll take the lobster rolls", I say and he raises a brow.
"Just that?", he asks and I nod.
"Finally trying to loose weight", Asher snickers.
"Keep your opinions to yourself", Hernandez says, a bit faster than Noah this time.
"Shut the fuck up", Asher says with an angry face.
"Exactly.. that's what you're meant to do, picking up faster than the rest of us I see", Hernandez says and I snort at the look on Asher's face.
"Stop talking in my business", Asher retaliates.
"Which is Abby's business? What? You work for her now?", Hernan asks following right back.
"Okay chill..", Noah interjects shutting down the comment that Asher was going to spill out. "Pipe down, take the floor Abby".
"Um okay so.. I think we should probably eat first", I say as I notice the waiter coming with our orders.
"Sure",
"Okay",
The waiter gives us our food and I'm ashamed when only Hernandez says thank you. Talk about manners..
"Seems like you're into these onion rings?", I question as I look at his plate.
"Oh, ah.. I guess I've got a little thing for them", he says then pushes a lock of hair away from my face.
I blush, "Thanks".
"No problem.. another mosquito bite?", he asks mid sentence and I mentally face palm.
Noah's head shoots up and his attention settles on us.
"Uh yeah, I itched it a lot", I say watching the corner of Noah's lip curve up.
"Where do they even bite you? Is it at home or..", Hernandez trails.
"Probably on my way back from school", I say using my hair to cover it up.
"I could start taking you home", he offers.
"Oh no it's fine", I kindly decline.
"Yeah it's fine and I'm sure she's comfortable being my passenger princess.. something you wouldn't know", Noah says as calm as Hernandez earlier and my eyes widen while Asher coughs.
"Woah that was hot", he says, fanning himself and I wonder if he was referring to the comment Noah just dropped or the rippers he was eating.
Hernandez glares at Noah and Noah looks away not holding the gaze this time. He sips on his soda ever so innocently.
We eat our food silently for the next few minutes until I'm the only one still eating.
"For someone who's smart you're slow", Asher says.
"At least I'm not slow in math", I say and it's like Deja Vu. Hernandez laughs while Noah holds a chuckle.
"Fairly played".
**
After teaching them on the areas they aren't familiar with I give them exercises. I watch each of them carefully..
Hernandez seems really serious, the way his brows are bent in confusion and tightened up in frustration at the trig questions I gave him.. he actually wants to do better.
Asher on the other hand looks unfazed.. surprising and not so surprising, surprising because he was the one who wanted to come and not so surprising because he never shows enthusiasm for learning. I'd rather teach a thousand babies than teach him.
Noah doesn't really have much problem in his academics.. he just wants to be here. He got a C in AP Government last year.. see, not that bad.
He looks up from his paper and our eyes meet. My heart starts beating fast against my chest and I try to steady it. It's just a sudden glance get over it.
"I'm not focused", he says sliding the paper to me. "You know it's just the two of us all the time so this doesn't work".
I nod, ignoring how the 'two of us' he said put goosebumps on me.
"So you'll come over?", he asks and before I can answer Hernandez interrupts.
"Hey can you elaborate on this?", he asks, showing me something on his paper. Noah rolls his eyes slouching back on his seat.
"Bro.. these are totally different from the examples you gave.. the fuck?", Asher complains like the little toddler he is.
"Not everything in life is easy", I state and he rolls his eyes.
"I hate math", he mutters under his breath.
"Me too", Hernandez groans putting his head over his paper. I chuckle at their despair.
**
We walk out of the place with Noah yawning, Asher stretching and Hernandez pulling the strap of my bag around his back.
"Please make sure you go through the take homes I gave cause learning math without revision is a waste", I say and only Hernandez nods not that I was expecting airhead to.
"Catch you later man", Asher says giving Noah a bro hug before sauntering to his car.
"So..", I awkwardly stretch as it's just the three of us left.
"What's he waiting for?", Noah asks gesturing at Hernandez.
"I could ask the same", he says and I sigh.
"It's fine Hernandez. I don't want to stress you any further besides Noah and I live next to each other so..", I trail nervously clutching on to my elbow and he nods.
"Okay..", he says taking my bag off then handing it to me. Noah takes it instead.
"Thank you", he says feigning a smile and Hernandez rolls his eyes at him.
"So um.. I'll see you at school tomorrow?", Hernandez asks and I nod. "Okay.. bye Ginger", he says and I wave him goodbye.
We watch as he gets into his bike and rides out of the beach. I turn to Noah and he takes my hand with a small smile playing on his lips.
"Finally, it's just the two of us again".
AUTHOR'S NOTE
I'm happy to announce that I submitted my book for the 2024 Wattys Award. This wouldn't have been possible without the love and support you guys have shown me so I just want to thank you all. I'll keep updating faster and making sure you guys enjoy Abby's journey.. bye, oh and please don't forget to vote and comment. Thank you once more, love you guys.