VI

After Will said that, I quickly scuttled out of his room and back down the corridor. I found Felix's room and darted in, surprising Felix. Falling backwards onto the bed, I groaned loudly. What the hell just happened? I told Felix what had happened, gushing about it.

"He likes youuu!" Felix teased.

"Does he?" I pouted, looking over at Felix who had the biggest grin on his face.

"I've never seen him act like that." Felix shrugged, planting himself and a plate of food next to me, "He must like you. I'll let you know if he mentions you."

"You're the best." I beamed at Felix, munching on veggie chicken nuggets, "Do you like anyone at the moment?"

"Well... There's this one guy." Felix smiled softly, leaning against the wall, "I don't think he's interested, though. I'll tell you more about him another day, you look tired."

I nodded and put my empty plate on the desk, using the bathroom to change into the jumper. I used a new toothbrush that Felix had spare, emerging from the bathroom in just my boxers and the jumper. Felix wiggled his eyebrows at me.

"Somebody's in loveee." Felix teased.

I hushed Felix and climbed into bed next to him, my eyes feeling heavy. It wasn't long before I drifted to sleep and when I woke up again, it was to sunlight peeking through the curtains. I rolled over and laughed at Felix. He was cuddling into his pillow, drool spilling out of his mouth slightly. I reached over him for my phone and paled at the time. I had approximately ten minutes to get to my first class.

"Felix! I woke up late!" I gasped, leaping out of bed.

I grabbed my skinny jeans off the desk and pulled them on as quickly as I could. I ruffled my bed hair, pulling on socks as I gathered my stuff together. I hopped from foot to foot as I ran around, slipping on my shoes and bundling everything into my backpack simultaneously. Felix- still groggy and half asleep- waved me goodbye from bed and I gave him a quick side hug before running out the room and down the corridor, past several confused Uni students.

If I was late, the school would kill me since I'm already on thin ice right now. Plus, Mum wouldn't let me stay out on a school night again. I jogged across the green towards my car and practically leapt into it, flooring the accelerator. I'm pretty sure I was outside my lines when I parked at school, but I didn't care as I heard final bell ring. I sprinted through the main doors, down several corridors and into my classroom.

"You're late Mr. Williams." My teacher reprimanded me.

"Barely." I gasped, my heart pounding from the adrenaline and running so frantically.

My teacher rolled his eyes, but continued the lesson, making me sigh with relief. I let Felix know I made it by the skin of my teeth and that I would have to set an alarm next time. I relaxed in my chair and tried to flatten my crazy bed hair once again, to no avail. Guess I would be looking awful today.

At lunchtime, I found Angel hanging around outside with her girl group, who giggled when they saw me coming.

"Christ, what happened to you, Andy?" Mary laughed, looking me up and down.

"Rough morning?" Angel laughed, patting the space next to her for me to sit down.

What Angel and Mary didn't notice was how every one of their minions pulled a face when she did that, hoping I didn't sit with them because if I did, it would be social suicide for them. I rolled my eyes.

"Just proving I made it into school. At ease minions." I stalked off, sticking my hands deep in my pockets.

My knuckles looked particularly bad today since I didn't have any makeup to cover them. I was so deep in thought looking at them I hadn't noticed I had strolled off behind the school until it was too late. I glanced behind me and saw around eight goons stalking me, their faces pictures of anger. I gulped, the fear that had infiltrated every pore of my body for the last ten years seeping back in.

I stumbled backwards and they moved quickly, closing in on me. I knew I was about to have the shit kicked out of me for attacking one of their own. My body practically went on auto pilot, turning and sprinting out of there as quickly as possible. I was doing an awful lot of running today.

I sprinted around the edge of the school, feeling as if I had hounds nipping at my heels. I could hear their snarls and my legs moved so fast to get away from them, my heart pounding with fear. My heart skipped a beat when I saw where I was running to came to a dead end; they had put a fence up to separate the carpark from school grounds.

I panicked and spun around, spotting an open window. I ran for it, wasting absolutely no time. I was desperately jumping, trying to get a grip on the concrete ledge. I finally caught it and pulled my body up over it, my arms screaming in pain. I rolled through the window and landed with a thud on the classroom floor, my arm knocking over a stray desk as I fell. I groaned as the air was knocked out of me, but jumped up and closed the window, blocking the goons outside.

I leant against the window, trying to catch my breath again, when I noticed who was in the room. Jimmy Wellot and a girl. Felix would think this was hilarious. I awkwardly looked between Jimmy and the girl before apologising and leaving, sharpish. They both looked beyond shocked to have their make out session interrupted by a boy crashing through a window, all guns blazing.

Felix: Will just texted me asking if you're okay. Said he saw you sprinting across the green this morning while he was waiting for his coffee. I laughed so hard.

I laughed at the text, my tummy exploding in butterflies that Will had spoken to Felix about me. I replied apologising for my rush this morning and that I had something to tell him, the something being the awkward situation I had just found myself in.

Once detention rolled around, I sat in the same seat as the day before. I saw Jimmy Wellot stalk in once again and I stifled a laugh, thinking about earlier. Surprisingly, Jimmy looked mildly amused too. Well he did, before he caught himself slipping and glared at me instead. We happened to be the only two in detention today. What fun.

"What are you laughing at?" He hissed at me, kicking my bag as he walked past.

"Nothing... Your moans just sound a bit forced, that's all." I don't know what came over me but I was feeling overly confident and I thought Felix would be proud of that comment.

"Look." Jimmy spat, slamming his hand down on my desk. It made me jump internally, but I refused to show it, "Stop acting as if you have something over me. Whatever you think you know, you've got it wrong."

"Sure I have." I deadpanned, looking past him. I'm over Jimmy's act.

"Who was that guy yesterday?" Jimmy demanded to know, "Is that his jumper? Did you stay at his last night?"

My mouth dropped open and I looked up at Jimmy incredulously. Did he seriously just ask that?

"Is it any of your business? Careful, Jimmy, that sounds rather homosexual of you."

"So you did stay with him." Jimmy spat and dropped into his chair, angrily crossing his arms.

The teacher chose that moment to walk in, glancing at Jimmy and I. You could probably sense the tense and angry atmosphere in the room. He furrowed his eyebrows at us, before walking over to the front of the classroom and clearing his throat.

"Both of you have been put in detention for the next two weeks. I just got out of a meeting with the principle, deciding what to do with you. I saw that you were basically asleep yesterday, Andy, and Jimmy, you would not stop texting. We don't think detention is a productive enough punishment." The teacher began, making Jimmy and I both frown, "Since Jimmy's one of the worst in your year group and you're one of the brightest, Andy, we've decided you need to use these after school hours for tutoring. We expect to see improvements in your grades in order for it to stop so don't get any bright ideas about lying. Have fun."

With that, he was gone. I blinked once. Twice. Did that really just happen?

"Bye then." Jimmy shrugged, getting up to leave.

"Wait. He said if you don't improve we have to keep doing it. Let's be real, you're thick as shit so they're going to realise we haven't been doing it." I exclaimed, angry at the situation.

"So?" Jimmy rolled his eyes.

"So you have to study. If you do that, I don't have to teach you." I explained, glaring at him.

"Not happening."

"Then we're both screwed." I frowned, exasperated.

"Do you think if I improve quickly, they'll end the punishment sooner? I want my hour after school back."

"I guess so?"

"Let's study then. Just so I can get away from you as soon as possible. Don't get any funny ideas." Jimmy stated defensively, probably irked by my homosexual comment earlier.

I turned my chair to face him, realising what a challenge lay ahead of me. Getting this delinquent to improve his grades will never work. I may as well give up now. The awkward silence between us is unbearable- he doesn't even have any books, where am I supposed to start? My phone ringtone cut through the silence and I looked towards it, seeing an unknown number flash across the screen. I frowned, but picked it up anyway.

"Hello?" I asked hesitantly into the phone, expecting a telemarketer.

"Hi, Andy?" A smooth voice came through the receiver, making my breath hitch.

I immediately turned blush pink and stood up, stepping away from Jimmy- who was scowling at me. I had to compose myself before I answered yes, I was Andy. A chuckle came through the receiver and I felt it wrap itself around my heart and squeeze.

"It's Will. I got your number from Felix... Look, I'm sorry for just ringing you like this, but do you wanna go to a party this weekend? Felix said he's down to go too, if you want. No pressure."

My stomach flipped. A party? That's my idea of hell. The party at Jimmy's last weekend looked like it was full of drunken teens who would kick the shit out of me for even considering going. Would I really pass up an opportunity to hang out with a greek God and my best friend? I bit my lip and considered it, a burst of confidence coming through.

"I'd love to." I smiled, running my fingers through my hair.

"Great. Cool. I'm looking forward to it. I'll see you then."

I hung up and breathed a sigh of relief. I felt like squealing. That was absolutely, undeniably a request from Will for me to hang out with him. I felt like I was on top of the world. I have to ring Felix asap and thank him for being the best wingman ever.

"I'd love to!" A high-pitched, mocking voice squealed from across the room, Jimmy pretending to twirl nonexistent hair and puckering up to the air in a gross mockery of my phone conversation, "Could you sound any more pathetic? I don't wanna hear two guys flirting."

"Then don't listen." I spat, dropping back into my seat, "Now take out your damn textbook so we can get this over with."

Jimmy glared at me, but did as I said. I picked a random page and set him some questions.

"Is that the guy from yesterday?" He mumbled, half way through some maths equations.

"It's none of your business!" I snapped, glaring right at him, "Besides, no it's not."

"Since when were you Mr. Popular?" He frowned, "What's his name?"

"Jimmy, what's your problem? Why do you care so damn much? I thought you 'hated' me?"

Jimmy went quiet at that, dropping his head to do maths equations. I rolled my eyes at him- this is why I avoided him like the plague. He has a serious attitude problem and he's incredibly invasive; probably the result of some kind of egotistical complex problem.

The rest of the hour went past in relative silence and I sighed in relief when it was done. I didn't bother saying goodbye to Jimmy, dashing out of the classroom and out to the carpark. I slid into my vehicle and saw Jimmy do the same. Mum and Angel were at Daxx's right now, having a family dinner so I set off to meet them there.

The most awkward journey proceeded to take place as Jimmy drove behind me the entire way home, due to him living on the same street as Daxx. I parked up and I could see Jimmy staring at me from the bottom of the hill.

What's wrong with that boy?