Who I Was Before Asher Caine.

Chapter Two.

It's been a few days since my first day and I still have just as much anxiety, however, Ian has been amazing and making everything a little easier. Nova and I have also been texting, I usually sit with her at lunch, and she gives me rides home.

"So, is a few days too early to ask someone on a date?" Ian whispers to me during Ms. Sparks lesson.

"I think so." I giggle as he makes a dramatic pouty face.

It's not that I don't think Ian is insanely good-looking, I have just never been on a date before and I don't want to ruin anything with my awkwardness, this being said, boys still have cooties. He continues talking about taking me on a date but I just tune him out and pay attention to the lesson. After the bell rings, I part ways with Ian and meet Nova at her car, where she stands with a cigarette between her lips. Her Black and pink hair is thrown in a messy bun, revealing a tattoo on the back of her neck.

"Hey Goody-Two shoes. How about you skip the rest of the day with me and meet with some of my friends?" she tosses the cigarette on the floor and crushes it with the bottom of her boot.

"Um, I don't know.. I've never skipped before and the year is still so-"

"Come on! School will be here tomorrow and I'll even buy you a slurpee."

After a few minutes and a long list of pro's and cons I decided that I will go, only she keeps her word on getting me a slurpee. we climb into her truck and the first thing she does is find a song that she is in the mood for. She keeps her word and we stop at the gas station, before I know it, I am bobbing my head to a band called Arctic Monkeys like a little kid in the front seat of their parents car. The whole ride is nothing but laughter and song changes. We pull up to an apartment building and my stomach feels uneasy.

"So, am I allowed to back out?"

"Nope, where are you going to go? Back to the school you just skipped, or your house where your parents are.. that think you're at school." She's right.

"Well I am in quite the pickle then."

"Who the fuck even says that anymore?" She is now hysterically laughing as she grabs a bag from the backseat. "Come on Goody, I wont let anything happen to you."

As we walk up to Apartment complex my phone vibrates.

"Ian: Yo, where are you?"

I ignore the text and Nova pulls out a key from her bag and unlocks the door. I take a deep breath and follow behind her. It's a nice apartment with random plants all over the place. I'm taken back by how nicely taken care of it is. I feel something brush up against my foot, causing me to scream. She laughs and picks up a little black kitten and smothers it with love.

"Relax, this is my lil man. His name is Binx, I found him in an abandoned house."

"Your cat, Binx? Is this your apartment?" There's no way.

"You haven't ever seen hocus pocus? and yes, this is my crib.. Well technically its me and my sister's place but she's never home so I took over." before the conversation has a chance to continue, another girl walks in. She has bright blonde hair and a few piercings.

"What's up bit-" she pauses when she sees me "My bad, I wasn't referring to you, where is nova?"

I look behind me to reveal Nova but she is no longer standing by me, she wandered off to the kitchen. she comes out when she hears the girls voice and calls her a 'slutty bird'. They crack a few jokes and talk about their morning before another girl and guy walk into the apartment. How many people are coming?! They all join in on the conversation and I just stand around awkwardly.

"Oh shit! my bad! Guys this is Kataline! She's new to town." They are all looking at me now and a few moments of silence pass before the blonde girl finally speaks.

"I'm Cameron, and these two dipshits are Isaac and Anastasia." She smiles referring to the two that had previously walked in.

Isaac and Anastasia are obviously together, they are standing hand in hand. They all welcome me into their group and we all sit down and start talking. I tell them about my dream of being a photographer and they all have the same confused look on their faces that Ian had. Speaking of Ian, he has texted me three times asking if I was lost and okay. I finally reply and tell him I suddenly didn't feel good. I don't know why I'm lying to him, I just don't want him to think i'm avoiding him after asking the date question.

"Yo where the hell is Caine. He literally said he was gonna be here this morning." Cameron groans, pulling out her phone.

"I think him and Horse said they were gonna go hit up the smoke shop"

"I'm sorry.. horse? like is that a nickname or..?" I laugh, trying to fit in.

the girls all try not to laugh while analyzing my confused face while Isaac shifts uncomfortably. Was that a bad question to ask?

"We don't remember his real name, but we call-"

"Why horse, like what's funny" I begin to get weirded out.

"Baby we call him horse because his fucking dick is massive, wanna see?" Nova bounces her eyebrows and my face immediately turns red like a tomato.

I quickly decline her offer. Why would they all know something like that? oh my god! They all laugh until they physically can't anymore and change the subject to their plans for Halloween. Halloween is still like two months away but seeing as they are planning now, I see they are going all out. Anastasia and Isaac are going as Hugh Heffner and his playboy bunny while Cameron and Nova are going as sexy cops. pretty basic if you ask me. Their conversation changes a few more times that I no longer tried to keep up. I pull out my phone and text Ian.

"Hey, I lied." No, Kat. You just feel bad. I quickly delete my text but before I close out the messages, he texts me.

Ian: Today sucks without you.

That was sweet. He is honestly such an amazing friend already. I reply with a simple 'you too' and open up the Instagram app. All my friends from back home are posting their brunch and study sessions, as if they don't even realize that I moved away. I find myself getting upset and quickly delete the app.

"So, Goody you're coming and you don't have a choice." Nova sits on my lap and kisses my forehead.

"I'm sorry, where am I going?" Me zoning out caused me to miss an important part of the conversation.

"I would not call it a party, more like a kickback to celebrate the beginning of the school year and our last year in hell!" she laughs.

I don't think school is hell, I actually kind of like it! I guess you can already tell that I feel horrible about skipping. I haven't missed a day of school since third grade and that's because I was puking out of both ends.. I'd rather not go into detail. The point is, if I want to go to a good college, my grades and attendance have to be near perfect.

"So it's settled, you're going It's happening tomorrow night I'll be over around eight. Also; you're not allowed to wear that." she points to my outfit.. which is a zip up hoodie and sweatpants.

There is no talking my way out of this, also, I don't want to look like I'm not fun. They all agree that I can bring anyone that I trust and the only person I see that being, is Ian, considering he is the only other person I know in this town. We all hang out for hours but the whole time, my head is somewhere else. Nova drives me home and as soon as I walk through the door, I receive an incoming facetime call from the man himself. No one is home so I quickly answer.

"Hey beautiful! How are you feeling?"

Our conversation is full of laughter and him telling me about how the rest of the day went, without me. I almost forget to bring up Nova's kickback plan, but when he mentions my plans for this weekend it was hard not to bring it up.

"You're hanging with Nova, are you sure that's a good idea?" his smile suddenly turns into a frown.

"I'm a big girl, I can handle myself Ian. Will you please be my plus one."

He eventually agrees and tells me that if I text him the address, he will be there as long as I promise to not change.. whatever that means.