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- We all have that one song that awakens the stripper in us! What's yours?
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Something's different today!
I don't know what it is but everyone in the school is extra excited today. Everyone outside the school building is standing in groups, talking excitedly about something or someone. Like, someone new has come. Another high school drama, maybe? Whatever it is, why am I so worried about this? Shaking my head, I head inside the school where everyone is already waiting for me.
Ridge smiles at me when he sees me. "Hey sweetheart."
I chuckle, wrapping my arms around his waist from the side. "When will you stop calling me that?" From the past few days, Ridge has been calling me sweetheart instead of just saying my name and although it's a mouthful, I feel warm on the inside when he calls me that.
"Never." He laughs, flicking my forehead, softly so that it doesn't really hurt.
I ignore him and turn to everyone who are busy staring at us with an amused expression. "Adios bitchachos."
"You remember us?" Eric gasps, arching an eyebrow.
"Everyone except for you," I retort, rolling my eyes at him. Everyone laughs at him when he glares at me.
Before anyone else can say anything else, I ask the question that's been bothering me ever since I've stepped in school today. "Is someone new coming to school today? Why's everyone in school so excited today?"
"You remember Shay? The one I was telling you about a few days back?" Ridge says, looking at me.
I recall the incident. He said something along the lines of the girl who thinks she's the queen bee of the school but no one really likes her. Shay, that's her name. "Yeah, faintly." I shrug my shoulders.
"Well, she's back from her trip to France and her friends have spread the news of her arrival, that's why everyone's talking about her," Erica answers.
"Sounds like a nice person to mess with," I grin mischievously, rubbing my hands together.
"You do that. We are going to class, you know to gain education and shit," Bruce announces, dragging Trish and Erica away with him. Same class, I guess.
Now, it's only Eric, Ridge and I. "So, what do you have right now?"
"AP calculus." Eric mutters, making a sad face.
"Chemistry." Ridge answers.
"Aww, that's so unfortunate Eric," I remark, looping my arm through Ridge's.
"I'm going, don't wanna be late. Bye lovebirds." He waves, then runs in the opposite direction.
"So, what do you have?" Ridge raises an eyebrow, looking down at me.
"Same as you." I reply as we begin walking towards our class.
"Oh, would you look at that. We have chemistry together."
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I run out of history as soon as the bell rings, not even waiting for the teacher to dismiss us. God, I love history, but the teacher? I HATE HER. Who the hell does she think she is asking me to submit an assignment that is due tomorrow! Tomorrow! Like, have you gone nuts miss? I am a new student for god's sake. I got to know about the assignment today, and then she fucking says that tomorrow is the due date.
Glaring at the floor, I walk towards the cafeteria in quick strides. All of a sudden, I bump into someone, the books falling from my hands, spilling on the floor.
"Motherfucker." I crouch down to pick them up, taking my time. When I'm done, I look up to see a girl staring down at me, her hands on her waist, her heels tapping on the floor in a rhythm. She is wearing a blue denim skirt under a black balloon top paired with a denim jacket. At least she has a good dressing sense. Gotta give her that.
"So, you're the new girl everyone's talking about?" She raises an eyebrow at me, giving me a once over. I stand up to my full height, smiling at her sarcastically. Who the hell does she think she is, talking about me like that?! "Not really matching the 'hot girl' rumors I heard about you. And here I thought I had some kind of competition."
"No, I'm not new. You've just been blind all these years," I retort, then continue, "I sit behind you in English."
"What?" She gives me a confused look, then shakes her head when she realises that the language I spoke was sarcasm. "You think I'm dumb?"
"Good, now that we've established the fact, how about you get the hell out of my way and go back to France?" I suggest in a civilized manner, before adding, "also, look, queen bee, you may think you're better than me but you're highly mistaken. I am not the one to tolerate your disrespect and bullshit like that. So, do me a favor and stay the hell away from me."
With that I walk away, leaving a baffled Shay behind. I head straight to the cafeteria, taking deep breaths to calm myself before I explode. First History, now the Queen bee. Am a I trouble magnet or something? When I reach our regular table, I drop my bag on the floor with a thud and plop on the chair next to Ridge angrily, resting my head on the table. I notice that it's only Ridge on the table, no one else is here yet.
"Hey, you alright?" Ridge asks softly, putting his hand on my shoulder.
"No," I mutter, but it comes out muffled due to my sitting position. "I'm dead. Stop bothering me."
He chuckles. "And what caused your death?"
I sit up straight, frowning at him. "I have a history assignment due tomorrow and I got to know about it today. Also, on top of that I had a not-so-friendly encounter with Shay."
"Hmm, that's unfortunate. Did she say anything to you?" He questions, raising an eyebrow at me. I notice that his hand is still on my shoulder, running circles. But it feels good, so who am I to complain?
I shake my head. "I can handle her bullshit."
"Why do you look so depressed, Lydia?" Ashton's voice asks as he throws his tray on the table and takes a seat in front of me. Everyone else follows him and take their seats.
"Hey Lydia, turn that frown upside down." Bruce mutters, ruffling my hair from my side, plopping down beside me.
Bruce's comment causes me to smile. "I'm not depressed Ashton, I'm just stressed out."
"So, there's nothing an ice cream can't fix," Trish says, smiling at me.
"Yep, she's right." Erica nods in agreement, taking a bite of her burger.
"Why do you girls think that an ice cream can magically solve your problems?" Eric asks, resting his elbows on the table, looking at Trish and Eric.
"Exactly." Neil pipes in. "Girls are dumb."
"Excuse me! What the hell?"
And that's when I tune out their conversations because my brain cannot handle it. Ridge nudges me on my side to get my attention. "Hey, you wanna get some ice cream after school?
I smile at his offer, nodding at him. "If you have nothing better to do, then it's fine."
"It's fine. Meet me in the parking lot after school ends." He smiles, putting his arm around my shoulder, bringing me a little closer to his side.
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"I have to inform someone at home first, so why don't we drive to my house separately and then go from there?" I ask Ridge as we walk towards our cars.
"Fine by me." He nods. "I'll follow you."
Both of us get in our cars and leave the school with Ridge's car following me. It takes us five minutes to reach my house. I park my car in the garage, and Ridge parks his beside mine. I get out of the car, picking up my bag waiting for Ridge to step out. When he gets out, he comes towards me. His eyes snap towards my house, taking in everything. "You have a beautiful home."
"Thank you. Let's go." I grab his wrist and drag him inside.
Opening the door, I step inside and yell. "Is anyone home?" Ridge follows me silently.
"In the kitchen sweetie." Martha's voice comes from inside. I hear thumping of steps coming towards us. Whis runs down the staircase eagerly, jumping on me as soon as he lands down.
"Hey you." I exclaim, running my hands across his fur. He licks my face in return, wagging his tail in excitement. I giggle at his antics.
"Hey little creature. What's your name?" Ridge says to Whis, capturing his attention.
"His name is Whiskey."
Whis runs towards him, tackling him to the ground licking all over his face. Ridge chuckles loudly, playing with him while I leave them alone and head to the kitchen.
In the kitchen, Martha is busy making something. "Hey Martha."
"Hey sweetie. Did you bring someone with you?" She asks, raising an eyebrow at me. "A male friend, I presume?"
I roll my eyes at her. "Yes, a male friend."
"Hey, I'm Ridge, Lydia's boyfriend." Ridge pipes up from behind me with Whis by his side. He gives her a big smile, dimples showing.
Martha's eyes twinkle in excitement, her lips curling up in a big grin. "Hey, I'm Martha. I'm so happy to meet you."
He just smiles sweetly in return. I intervene in their moment and say, "Martha, we are going out for a while and I'm taking Whis with me. Do you mind?"
She waves her hands in the air. "Oh no, no. You kids go have fun on your date. I'll talk to your father if he calls or anything and inform him."
I roll my eyes. Yet again. "It's not a date."
"Whatever you say," She says in a sing song voice, grinning mischievously, then turns to Ridge. "Next time, make sure you stay for dinner, boy. And you better treat her well."
"Always." He winks at her, throwing his arm around my shoulder. They start talking some more and complete ignore us. I just stand there, looking at both of them interacting, just like Whis.
I make eye contact with Whis and nod. I feel you, bro. They are best friends now. They don't need us anymore.
"Let's go, or we'll be late. I have a history assignment to complete after this," I say, dragging their attention to me. I remove Ridge's arm from around me and say bye to Martha and drag him outside. He yells a 'see you soon' and then we get going, Whis trailing behind us. I take hold of his collar and attach his leash to it. "We are going for a drive, buddy!"
We waste no time and walk to the garage, Whis tugging at his leash so he can be set free. Ridge opes the back door and Whis happily jumps inside. Closing it, he then opens the door to the passenger side and gestures me to get inside.
"Why, thank you." I grin at him and slide in, buckling up. He walks across the car and gets inside too and peels out of the garage, straight to the road. Whis' head comes in between our seats as he takes in his surroundings, since he's never been in this car before. I grab his face and give it a little squeeze. "I love you so much!" And he licks my face in return then skips to the window, enjoying the view.
I feel Ridge's gaze on me, so I turn to look at him. "What?"
"Nothing." He shake his head, smiling softly.
"I'll say it one last time. What?"
He chuckles, grabbing my hand with his free one, resting it between us. I do not pay any attention to the gesture because it's just hand holding, right? Nothing big. People do it all the time. "You're so demanding."
"The way you act with Whiskey shows that you'll be a great mother one day." He says, taking a left on the road. "A great dog mom, that is."
"Seriously?" I hit him on the shoulder, rolling my eyes. "Thanks though."
"Seriously, I cannot imagine you with a baby in your arms you know. Because, If they poop on you, god knows what will happen to them." He breaks into fits of laughter, rubbing his other hand across his face before putting it back on the wheel. "God, now I feel bad for your unborn kids."
"Shut the fuck up. I don't necessarily like kids but I won't kill them if they poop on me, okay?" I remark. "Also, I have Whis so I don't need a kid in my life. I'll hold on to him forever."
"You are something else, I swear," He mutters, a secretive smile dancing on his face, his eyes focused on the road ahead.
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Favourite ice cream flavour?