The only reason

Chapter 2

A week later

I wake up early today so I can actually get ready. I shower, brush and blow dry my hair, put on foundation, eyeliner and mascara and pinky red lip gloss. I pull on a red tank and black jean shorts before slipping on my black vans and running down stairs.

"Hey" I greet Eli. He is sitting in the living room with a bowl of cereal.

"Even when you wake up early, you're still late" he says with a mouthful. I roll my eyes before grabbing a banana from the kitchen as well as my bag. I meet Eli a the front door and follow him to the Hemming's. I wave to Liz as we climb into her car and head to school. When we reach the school I walk with Eli and Luke before going to the CS class. I drop my bag on a desk before walking outside.

"Hey" I call to the group as I run up to them.

"So how'd you like joining us" Jake, Ashton's friend, says to me. Jake is a senior who is over 6ft, has blonde hair and intense green eyes.

"Yup, Stone thinks it will be 'good' for me" I say, air quotes around good.

"Of course" he says with a smirk, offering me a smoke. I take it and let him light it for me. "Wait, so that's why you haven't been in math" Candy says with a pout. I laugh at her expression and shake my head.

"Nope, guess you'll just need to make Ashton  show up" I say.

"I guess, here take some" she says handing me a stack of suckers. I can't remember a time when Candy didn't have.. candy.

"Thanks" I say, sticking them in my pockets. Jake bumps my shoulder, getting my attention. "Let's go" he says, heading towards the school. I drop my smoke, stepping on it, and wave bye before running after him. Once in class he grabs my bag and drops it on the one beside where he sits, motioning for me to sit.

"Our teacher is cool" I say, sitting down after sticking the suckers in my bag.

"Pretty chill" he says, leaning back and putting his feet up. I smile and offer him a sucker, he waves me off and I shrug before unwrapping it and putting it in my mouth. I feel his eyes on me when I pull it from my mouth. I glance at him and he smirks, he reaches towards me and takes it from my mouth and brings it to his lips.

"Do you mind" he asks. I swallow the lump in my throat and shake my head. He smirks again and puts it in his mouth. The bell ringing causes me to jump and drop my phone. Jake reaches down and grabs it, he does something on it before handing it to me, along with my sucker.

"Thanks" I mutter, putting the sucker back in my mouth and turning to the late arriving teacher.

************

At lunch Jake follows me to the cafe and I don't feel like having Eli freak out so I grab a muffin and sit at a random table. Jake sits across from me and smiles at me.

"How'd you like the class" he asks, taking a bite of my muffin.

"It was alright" I admit, glancing towards Eli's table. Eli offers me a confused look and I shrug slightly.

"It's better than regular classes I find" Jake says.

"I guess" I sigh, beginning to eat my muffin.

"You guess" he asks.

"Yeah, I really liked art" I admit with a shrug.

"Join a club" he jokes. I smile and roll my eyes.

"That's what Stone said" I explain. Jake shakes his head.

"Don't, clubs are lame" he says bluntly. I shrug and finish my muffin in silence. **********************\

After school I meet Eli and Luke outside the school and smile at them.