fifteen

Luca

~

"I got an eighty percent on the pop quiz."

Cassie praises as she meets me at the lockers.

It's been two weeks since our little deal and so far, I think things are going pretty great. We hold hands like a couple, sit at lunch together, I bring her to school and take her home. She comes over to study, I go to the football games to watch her cheer, and she comes to my track meets.

Eyes are on us every single day. Especially Marcus. He doesn't like it one bit.

"That's awesome." I give her a high-five before shutting my locker.

"My parents were shocked as well."

"I told you, you could do it."

"Hey, we still have to study for the biggest exam of our lives."

"You will graduate, Cassie." I tell her confidently.

"I'm afraid you'll get annoyed at how negative I am. If you want to call off our little deal, then it's fine by me. Okay? I'll be ok—"

"Cassie," I interrupt in laughter. "I started this deal; I'm just surprised that you agreed to it."

She nods before I speak again. "Also, you're not annoying. It's cute, really."

She bites her bottom lip. "Really?"

Before I can respond, I see Anderson walk over in the worst sulk I have ever seen.

"Someone didn't sleep well last night."

He rests his back against his locker before setting his backpack on the ground. Dark bags are under his blue eyes. I don't think he even had time to brush his shaggy blonde hair.

"Mom and her boyfriend got into a fight again."

I squeeze my first. "She's back with that jerk?"

Anderson releases a deep breath, tilting his head up toward the ceiling.

"Unfortunately."

"What's wrong?" Cassie chimes in.

He looks at her. "He's bad with drugs and my mom keeps going back to him."

"I'm so sorry, Anderson," her voice is soft and sincere. "Is she still sober?"

He nods. "Yes, that's what they fought about. If he sabotages her sobriety, I'm going to kill him."

"Count me in." I replied.

Cassie quickly follows. "Me too."

︵‿︵‿︵‿︵

The weather lately has gotten pretty windy. I can't seem to keep my hair out of my eyes every time the wind blows it in the opposite direction. A few papers slipped away from Cassie's hands earlier, and I ran after them like a lunatic through the entire parking lot.

She and Anderson laughed their ass off as I almost ran into a light pole. I quickly flipped them off the minute I grabbed her papers from the rose bush. That evening right after the final bell rang, I walked over to my truck to meet Cassie, but I didn't see her anywhere.

Instead, I feel long fingernails tap the top of my shoulder making me turn around. It was a few girls that were on the cheer team with Cassie.

"Hi Luca." They all giggle, making me raise a brow.

"H-hey." I stutter.

Why are they talking to me?

They never talk to me.

"What are you doing this weekend?"

One of them says while twirling her hair. I adjust my stance, shifting from one foot to the other and scratch my head. "Nothing that I know of."

"We're having a party, you should come."

"You want me to come?"

"Of course." The main one talking answers. I believe her name is Reagan?

"If I come, I'll bring my girlfriend."

Saying it never gets old.

They roll their eyes. "Fine."

"Aren't you, her friends?"

"Friends with Cassie Harlow?" She huffs while crossing her arms. "She did Marcus dirty."

"Excuse me?"

"Last time I checked, she cheated on him with you."

Is she serious right now?

"Woah, what?" I shake my head. "That's not what happened. Marcus doesn't deserve someone as amazing as Cassie and the fact that you believe that tells me how clueless you are."

"I'm clueless?" she bites back. "We all know how that whore is."

The blood rushed to my face the minute she accused Cassie of cheating but now she wants to call her a whore? She's not getting away with that bullshit.

"You can think whatever you want about her, but she has twice as much class as you and your little posse have combined." I shouted and pointed to the two girls behind her. "You're shallow and pathetic and the fact that you tried to invite me without my girlfriend tells me a lot about who you are."

Her mouth drops almost hitting the floor. "Did you just call me a whore?"

I raise my hands up. "Hey, if the shoe fits. Might want to think before you speak. Especially about Cassie Harlow."

By this time Cassie finally walks up, leaving the girls to slowly turn their heels and walk away. I notice her holding a tight grip on her backpack.

"How much did you hear?"

She shrugs. "Oh, you know, just the part about me cheating and the fact that I'm a skank."

I reach out to brush her arm softly, leaving goosebumps on her skin. "Don't listen to them. You're not what they say you are."

"I know." She smiles. "And thank you, for having my back."

"Anytime."

We walk on over and step inside my truck. She quickly buckles and presses play on the CD that's ready to blare through the speakers.

"I love that you love them as much as I do."

"Who?"

"Arcade Fire."

"Oh, right... Well, maybe we can go see them one day?"

Her eyes widened. "Seriously?"

"Their next concert is coming up soon, if you wanna go?"

"Oh my gosh, Luca!" she basically screams. "Yes, I would love to."

I flinch and cover my right ear. "Just please don't burst my eardrum."

"I'm so sorry."

The ride to her house was quiet, we didn't say much after that. The only thing we listened to was the same song on repeat.

My Body Is a Cage just never gets old.

"Do you want to go?" Cassie breaks the silence in my truck as I park in her driveway.

I turn down the volume to respond. "Go where, the concert?"

"No, the party Reagan invited you to?"

I shrug. "Not without you of course."

"They like you."

I turn my head slowly. "No, they don't."

"Then why were they talking to you?"

Wow.

"Is someone jealous?"

She sarcastically laughs, sending a ringing to my ear—the one that's basically busted already.

"I am not jealous, but it seems like they only noticed you because you're dating me." She air quotes dating and rolls her eyes.

"And someone doesn't like that?" I smirk, crossing my arms across my chest.

"I know what you're doing Luca. I am not jealous," she motions between me and her. "This is fake."

This is fake

Three bitter words that sit uneasy in my chest.

• • •

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