21 | ᴀ ʟɪꜰᴛ

A/N: Please don't forget to VOTE + her outfit above ^

Sophia's POV

I woke up due to the shrilling of my alarm, but hastily slapped onto my nightstand until I actually hit the stop-button. I do not like the blaring noise it makes every morning, as you may or may not know by now.

I almost forgot the most obvious reason why I didn't want to start the day, it's my birthday. Although, I don't think anyone knows that today is the day. The first time I met Logan, I told him it was in a few days, but I never said the exact date. Hopefully, he'd forgotten all about it.

The clothes that I chose for today were inspired by an outfit I saw on Pinterest. Fortunately for me, I had almost the same clothes than the girl in the picture.

Alright, I guess I'm ready to go, I thought sullenly to myself after eating a quick breakfast. I walked out the door when I greeted my parents and put in my earbuds. I convinced them to not make such a big deal out of it.

Halfway there, I heard a loud 'toot' behind me. I jumped around, surprised. I saw a car slow down next to me and the window rolled down. I paused to examine the dark grey vehicle.

As soon as the person in the driver's seat came into view, I tilted my head to the side, glancing around as if to search for answers.

"Logan?" I said, furrowing my eyebrows in wonder. "What are you doing here?"

"I stopped by the gym here nearby because I forgot my phone there last night, and this is the quickest route to school from there on," he clarified. I nodded, not sure of what to say.

"Well, you need a lift?" he offered.

"To school?" I asked back stupidly. He gave me a look as if to say 'where else?' and smiled, motioning with his head to get in the car. I sheepishly stared the ground as I went over to the passenger's side of his car and opened the door.

I transported myself in the seat next to him and buckled on my seat belt. "Thank you," I spoke shyly, but when I looked at him, that nervousness went away. His expression, face, posture... Everything about him seemed so friendly and gentle. He could be reckless at times - I've seen him with his friends after school - and he likes to take risks, but he would never hurt a fly, and definitely not around me.

He started the engine and the radio automatically began playing. His windows were half-open, so now and then a breeze would enter the car and let my hair fly up, also ruffling his.

We talked all the while, and for the first time with people from this school, I completely felt safe and comfortable. I could laugh around him without having this feeling that he might dislike me. Kind of like my relationship with Natalie and Evie and Bella, although with them I still sense that a time will come where they'll leave me. Like Carrie - she abandoned me because she couldn't take any more of my 'innocent and naive' attitude. Though I didn't know what she meant and probably couldn't help it either, Liv came to my rescue.

-

When Logan locked his car after he parked us near the school entrance, he put the keys in his back pocket and walked around the car, over to me. We marched toward the double doors and he complimented my outfit out of nowhere. At least I think it was a compliment.

"Your outfit," he commenced. "It's different."

"Do you like it?" I asked, hoping I didn't dress too dissimilar for school.

He grinned and nodded, "Yeah, I do. It suits you," he praised my choice of wardrobe, and I instantly felt a warm feeling inside. Everyday I keep getting to know him better and I keep liking him more and more.

We then went our separate ways, I was now on my way to Physics. Sadly, I didn't share this class with anyone I personally knew. I've never even had a conversation with any of these students here. And although I didn't mind it that much, I was still overthinking again, imagining everyone gaping at me, whispering about how I had no friends and was sitting alone.

Come one, Sophia. You got through it last time, you'll get through it this time again. You won't have to say anything to anyone if you do't want to. That calmed me down a teeny bit, however it has never fully relaxed myself.

-

Lunch came right around the corner, and I felt a dispiriting sting in my heart. Why am I feeling like this? My subconscious' voice corrected me."For who am I feeling this?"

I don't know... Although after I caught myself thinking about this question for a while, I think I found the result of my emotions. Why am I feeling like this for him?

"Because he hasn't shown up to school yet. Because he was absent in all the classes you usually had with him," answered my subconscious again. Right, of course it was about Grayson again. Everything involving him has a great influence on me.

"-phia? Sophia!" I brusquely awoke out of my trance and regarded in front of me.

"Huh?" I muttered, my thoughts jumbled and mixed-up.

"Are you okay?" Bella asked me, a concerned impression covering her and Evie's faces.

"Yeah no, I'm fine. Sorry," I replied dismissively, despite appreciating their worry. They gave each other a look and then heaved their shoulders at the same time, resuming their chatter.

The canteen was again, like before Josephine's...you know, full of laughter and people standing up, sitting down, occasionally two kids chasing each other, even though I'm pretty sure the teachers don't allow it. But a few tables are still less talkative and joyous, mostly friends of Josephine.

Now that I think about it, not only Grayson isn't here, but I haven't seen Kyle, Anderson or Jake here either. Maybe I should ask Logan about it. No, then he'll know that I think about them. He'll probably tease me about how I have a crush on him... But...do I?

-

When Lunch was over, I excused myself from our table and found the courage to go to Logan and ask him about Grayson. I opened my mouth to get Logan's attention, but one of his friends beat me to it. "Hey bro, your girlfriend's here."

My eyes unwittingly widened and I blushed furiously. Logan turned around, and when he saw me standing there, a grin overcame his confused expression. It made me blush even harder than before when he didn't precise his 'bro's words. I knew he was joking, so I kept my mouth shut.

"Hey, Sophia, what's up?" Logan asked, turning his back to his buds.

"Hi, uh..." I cleared my throat and avoided eye contact as much as I could. "Do-Do you know where, uh, Grayson is?" I stuttered and face-palmed myself internally for it.

I fortuitously looked at his face to see his reaction, and regretted it fully. A smirk played on his face. "I was just asking for...a friend," I lied, even though there was no point in doing it, his face said it all.

"For a friend, huh?" he said, amusement evident in his tone.

"Yup." Again, I lied.

Then his face twisted from an exuberant one to a way more drastic and discomfited one. Wow, what's that about? Are they in a fight or something?

"No," he responded curtly and quite harshly. "I don't know where he is." I was the only one who witnessed this, his friends too busy shoving each other around.

"Oh...okay. Thanks anyway," I said, kind of ill at ease because of his sudden change in demeanor.

"You should stay away from them," he said, or more like commanded. I didn't know why he was being like this or what he was thinking about, but there was a disturbed look on his face. As if he had this torturing thought in his mind.

"Why-" I started but got interrupted by one of Logan's buddies throwing his arm around Logan's shoulder.

"Just don't go near them. Ever." His voice was dangerously low and and there was a threatening tone to it. He then, without another glance at me, strolled out of the cafeteria, leaving me behind with his friend.

"What was all that about?" he asked me, looking to where Logan dissipated to. I have no clue, I thought. "Did you turn him down or something?"

What?  "Uh...no," I muttered, more to myself.

-

The day soon ended, and I haven't heard or seen anything anymore from either Grayson nor Logan. Has he just gone of like that? Because of me? I immediately felt bad, despite not even exactly knowing for what.

I exited the school after saying goodbye to Natalie and Leslie when I passed by them at the double doors.

On my way back home, just when I left the school's parking lot, my phone started playing my ringtone for when Liv is calling. It played the song 'Stomp Me Out'. One of her favourite songs that I came to love because of her.

I picked up the phone and put it to my ear, but almost dropped it when Liv's squeals came through. "You're seventeen! You're seventeen!" she cheered, being happier than even I am about it. To be honest, I haven't really thought about it today with everything that has been going on.

"I know!" I giggled, cherishing the fact that she called me. Her being happy automatically made me happy, too. I couldn't listen to her laughs and not smile myself. It was contagious.

"Did you find the little present I left you in your room before I went back?" I halted in my steps, wondering what she was on about. "The Polaroids and your favourite sweets?" she continued when I didn't say anything.

"No...?" I murmured, not remembering seeing any candy or photos in my bedroom.

"What? Didn't you look under your mattress when you went to bed?" she asked. I made a face.

"Why on Earth would I look under my mattress at night?" I let out a chortle.

"That's where you always hid your diary, isn't it?" Oh my God, yes! My diary! When I was bored or before I went to bed, I always wrote in my diary. Mostly not about what happened that day to me, only whenever something big or important took place, but I wrote about the fantasy worlds I'd rather live in. I sometimes even made short stories, just for myself.

"Yeah...that's right. You remember," I whispered, still deep in thought, wondering where I had put it when we moved to this town. "But I stopped writing in it when we came here," I explained to her.

She made a humming sound. "But when did you put it there?" I requested her.

"Well, you recall when I went back up to your room because I forgot something?" she said, emphasizing the word 'forgot'. "Well, I didn't actually. It was just so that I could cache it there."

"Ohh," I made an 'o' form with my lips, now understanding. "I'll search for it when I get home. But thanks already. You know you didn't-"

"I'm stopping you right there, okay?" she said. "You also bought us matching rings. I'm wearing mine right now, by the way. I have ever since I found it."

I scanned my own hand, seeing the ring on my finger. I smiled, "Yeah, me too."

"I love it, thank you." I could hear the sincerity in her voice. "But okay, let me sing you a happy birthday song!" She laughed.

"Oh nooo!" I sighed. "Here we go again." I faked being exasperated.

As I listened to Liv singing 'Happy Birthday' to me, I couldn't help but snort and shake my head. Her vocals hitting all the incorrect notes, making it sound utterly horrid. Though if Liv actually tried to hit the right notes, she'd sound amazing with her natural melodic voice.

"No, no, no! Please stop!" I joked, the cheerful beam not waning from my face. "My ears are gonna bleed. I can't endure this pain anymore," I spoke in a dramatic, fake and appalling English accent. She forged a gasp and performed to be hurt. "How can you affront my talents like that?"

"Talents?" I said, raising my brows. "Sure, Liv, maybe one day..." I chuckled.

We nattered on like that for a while, we ended the call when I was only a few blocks away from home. Just as I was about to push the play-button on Spotify, I heard a car next to me, not so far away. I looked up, the black, five-seat car slowing down beside me, the windows rolling down.

Initially, Logan's head occupied my mind, but his car wasn't this dark. So, who is it? I wondered, peering through my eyelashes at the shadowy figure through the now open window. Only when the sunlight filled the car's interior could I see the individual clearly.

Being staggered was an underestimation. What's he doing? I've never seen him drive here before.

At the start he didn't say anything, just kind of stared at me. Not in a creepy way though, but as if he were wondering what to do.

"Can I have my jacket back," was what left his lips first.

Oh...his jacket. He lent me his jacket; I never got the chance to give it back—I didn't see him that same day again. So I took it home with me, now it's in my backpack. Right! My backpack!

I snapped out of it and blinked, administering what he said and shrugged the bag from my back. I unzipped it and quickly fished the black material from it.

I took a few steps closer to the open window, feeling my stomach turn from nervousness for absolutely no reason. I held it up, crossing his eyesight. While keeping the contact, he took it from me and nodded subtly.

It seemed as if he wanted to tell me something else but didn't, in the beginning. Then, when the words left his mouth, my eyes almost popped out of my eye sockets. "Sorry?" I asked diffidently.

He repeated himself, despite looking very hesitant and unsure. "Do you want me to drop you off?"

I stood there, flabbergasted, and however I didn't want to show it, I was convinced he could see it overly bare. I didn't want him to do something he didn't want to, just to be nice, so after sulking to myself for passing on an opportunity like this, I opened my mouth to answer. How can I think like this? He was a couple with Josephine. Just because she's not around anymore, doesn't mean that I can make a move on her boyf—ex-boyfriend.

"Thank you...but no. My house is just a few streets on," I told him, giving him a minor and appreciative smile instead.

"It really isn't a problem for me," he stood his ground. Everyone really was acting weird around here. Weirder than normal.

I thought about it for a second, pulling a face I always made when I think. I guess, it couldn't hurt, right?

I convinced myself and shrugged my shoulders. "Okay, sure. Thank you." I couldn't help but feel honored when he smiled. I made Grayson smile. He smiled because I said yes. Because I am now going to sit next to him in his car...

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A/N: Thank you for the people supporting this story and for the all the VOTES!

Hope you enjoyed, byeee!