[ C h a p t e r - O n e ]

Chapter 1

The classroom was quiet as Mr. Gonzales walked around collecting our reports. I managed to do my report last night; I was up until 3 in the morning. The teacher made his way to my desk in the last row; I sat alone by choice. “Ms. Harp?” he spoke as he looked at me.

His voice was questioning as he saw my neatly typed paper in the corner of my desk. Grinning, I picked it up and placed it into his hands, on top of the other papers. “Here you go, Mr. Gonzales.”

It wasn’t often that I didn’t do my work; I do it, I just don't hand it in on time. I did about eighty-five percent of my homework and projects, and I somehow manage to maintain a B+ average. A few gasps sounded throughout the classroom and I gave them flat looks. Can they be any more dramatic?

Mr. Gonzales continued teaching and a few moments into his lesson, the door was opened slowly. “Mr. Gonzales?” Where did I recognize his voice?

“Ah, Mr. Davis, come in. Take a seat,” Mr. Gonzales greeted as he opened the door for the mystery guy. The boy walked in and I instantly recognized him- the guy from the library yesterday.

His eyes gazed over the classroom and I tried to duck my head but I wasn’t fast enough. I heard girls gasp at his appearance and the once quiet classroom turned into a lunchroom, minus the food of course. Mr. G would never allow food in his classroom, aside from his own. The gasps grew louder as his feet walked along the aisle. I couldn’t help but look up and he noticed me. If I didn’t look up, he wouldn’t have noticed me!

“Is this seat taken?” 'Mr. Davis' asked as he held the back of the seat. I had the urge to say ‘yes’ and watch in victory as he walked away defeated, however, Francis Martin beat me to it. The idiot turned around in his chair and gave a large grin.

“Nope and it never is, not like it's surprising. Sitting there is social suicide,” he snorted, laughing along with his friends. Francis never was a big fan of me and vice versa.

“Nobody likes you, Franny,” I hissed rather childishly. He glared at me and gave me the one finger salute. I rolled my eyes while Mr. Gonzales practically had a near death experience. His hand went to his heart and he stared at us.

“Mr. Martin! Ms. Harp! Another interruption and I’m sending you both to detention for a week. That seat happens to be available, Mr. Davis,” Mr. Gonzales nodded at ‘Mr. Davis.’

‘Mr. Davis’ sat down with a smirk. He pulled the seat from under the desk and flopped down comfortably. His books sat on the table as he yanked his chair closer to the desk and rested his head on his entwined hands.

Mr. Gonzales got on with his lesson and I felt the new boy's eyes on me. “What?” I asked as I turned to glare at him.

“You know, I didn’t catch your name yesterday," he replied, a sly smirk spreading across his lips.

“That’s because I didn’t toss it," I bit back, watching as Mr. G scribbled along the board; my eyes made out a timeline. My glasses wouldn’t help in this case; Mr. G happens to be a terrible artist.

“Well, can you toss it? I’m open,” I glowered at him before rolling my eyes with a sigh.

“Savannah,” I announced. “What about you, Mr. Davis?”

“Jonah," he simply introduced.

The rest of the class went by smoothly aside from the not-so-subtle elbowing or chair kicking on my part; it serves him right for sitting beside me, especially after his daring acts yesterday. When the bell rang, I was up and nearly sprinting out of the classroom before someone grabbed my shoulder, causing me to jerk backwards. I ripped my arm out of his grip, my face contorting into one of disgust. “What?” I groaned.

“Can you please bring me to my next class?” Jonah inquired. I realized that we were the only ones left in classroom and Mr. Gonzales was watching us intently. He's probably expecting me to be a good citizen. Well, you're in for a surprise, Mr. G. Right as I was about to stomp on Jonah's request and bury it six feet under the ground, Mr. G cut me off.

“You’d love to, right Ms. Harp?” he asked me, sending me a threatening look that practically screamed detention; I forced a smile before nodding and grabbing Jonah’s forearm in a death grip.

When we got out of the classroom and out of Mr. G’s hearing range, I let go of his forearm, wiping my palm on my jeans. “Find your next class yourself," I muttered.

“That’s not nice, Savannah,” Jonah mocked as I turned and started walking towards my own class.

“I never said I was nice,” I snapped over my shoulder.

***

I was thankful when it was lunch time; I could finally be away from students and an aggravating teacher for 30 whole minutes. When I got into the lunch line, I quickly bought my food and made my way through the cafeteria.

Word of the new boy had spread rather quickly. Instead being elated by his presence, I was irritated. Another thing spread rather quickly too; the fact that he actually sat next to me by choice. We rarely get new kids in our school, probably because no one wants to move into our town because it's a scientifically proven fact that once you're here- you're here to stay. People rarely get out of this town. But I can assure you that I will be among the few that do make it out.

I heard footsteps behind me and I prayed it wasn’t him. The stares I was getting intensified and I knew it was him. “Hi, Savannah," Jonah greeted as if we were long time friends.

“What?” I growled, not bothering to hide my annoyance. I exited the cafeteria and walked out into the courtyard, not bothering to hold the door if he was following me.

“Somebody left their manners at home,” Jonah smirked as he followed me to the picnic table that I ate at every day.

I sat down and stared up at him; he involuntarily shivered. Despite his obvious lack of heat, he sat down across from me. “How do you eat out here? It’s f-freezing.”

I motioned to the jacket I had on and he nodded. “You can always go inside and eat. Nobody said that you had to follow me out here like a lost puppy,” I told him as I rolled the sleeves of my jacket up in order to eat.

“I don’t know anybody else," he managed to control his chattering teeth.

“You could always try talking to people. I’m sure they’d like you,” I retorted, biting into my sandwich.

“And you don’t?” he questioned me with a smile. I narrowed my eyes at him.

“Am I that see through?” I told him with a flat look.

“Who is that?” his eyes were fixated on something behind me. I turned around and saw Jeffrey Shaw walking into the cafeteria. The guy was a walking train; it’s a safety hazard just being in the vicinity of the boy. I'm actually scared for my life at this very moment.

“Why? Are you gay?” I asked, looking back at him. He shook his head as he watched the guy.

“He’s a walking rock. Wonder what he’s having for lunch, steroids maybe?” he snorted.

“He’s a football player,” I explained.

“That explains absolutely nothing. You don’t have to look like a rock to be a football player,” he replied, watching as Jeffrey entered the cafeteria. "I wonder if Patrick Star lives under him."

“You also don’t have to be a wimp,” I snorted, looking at Jonah. I ignored his remark about Spongebob Squarepants. How old is this kid? Seven?

“Who are you talking about?” he asked, looking around him.

“You, your arms are spaghetti,” I told him and he rolled his eyes.

“I am not. I go to the gym 6 times a week,” he replied and I shook my head, rolling my eyes.

“I’ll believe it when I see it,” I responded on instinct.

“You want to see me sweating and shirtless?” he asked, eyebrows furrowed together.

“I see naked spaghetti boil all the time,” I replied and he smirked even wider.

“You want to see me naked and in a hot tub?” he asked as his eyebrows shot up.

“No, that’s disgusting,” I shuddered. He smirked before frowning.

“So when are you going to give me a real phone number?” he asked, raising an eyebrow.

“That was a real phone number- my brother's,” I told him and he nodded.

“Your brother has a colorful vocabulary; I don’t think he likes me much,” he bit his lip. I just shrugged.

“He was probably just cranky," I suggested.

“At 10 at night?” he raised an eyebrow.

“He goes to college and work, so he has to go to sleep early and wake up early,” I replied, biting into my apple.

“He’s not going to beat me up for talking to you, right?” he asked, one eyebrow higher than the other.

“No, but no promises with me,” I told him.

“You’re going to beat me up?” he snorted.

“You’d be surprised,” I told him. He shook his head, a smile on his lips.

“You’re so beautiful that you give the sun a reason to shine,” he sighed.

“The sun isn’t out,” I glared at him and he smirked.

“Exactly,” he rejoined. I kicked him under the table. He groaned as I stood up and walked into the cafeteria, tossing my trash into the nearest can. I began walking towards the exit when I saw Jonah walking in, his books under his arm. He smirked at me, something he seems to do very often.

“Jeffrey Shaw!” I called out and the guy looked at me, confusion clear on his face. “He said you’re a walking rock who takes steroids!” I called out whilst pointing in Jonah's direction and Jeffrey turned to look at the new boy who was now walking towards me at an alarming speed.

“I don’t take steroids!” Jeffrey called, starting to run after Jonah. I'm guessing that's something the jock gets often.

“Help!” Jonah nearly screeched, grabbing my arm as he ran past me.

Okay, so maybe my plan backfired.

Okay, it did backfire.

A steroid obsessed senior is now chasing me and Jonah through the hallways. In the words of Jonah: help.

+++

A large thanks to Shalaylabayla for the amazing graphic to the side. She makes amazing covers!