HEARTBREAK HIGH; •Spencer White•

five - fried rice

Daisy walked towards school with music blasting through her headphones, her mood lighter than usual for once. The morning air was cool against her skin and she found herself walking with a slight skip in her step, lazily mouthing along to the lyrics as she passed through the school gates. That mood disappeared quickly when she noticed a familiar bag being emptied across the pavement.

Amerie stood frozen while some random boy laughed with his mates, her books and papers scattered everywhere. Daisy immediately pulled one side of her headphones off. "Here," she sighed, crouching down beside her. "I'll help."

Amerie looked genuinely relieved. "Cheers, Daisy." Dusty wandered over a second later to help gather the rest of her things, leaving Daisy to eventually continue towards the buildings alone. Or at least that had been the plan.

A familiar arm suddenly slung itself across her shoulders. "Get your grubby hands off me, Spider," Daisy groaned instantly, ducking out from beneath his arm before he could lean his full weight on her.

Spider only grinned lazily beside her. "Relax, baby. No harm done." Daisy narrowed her eyes suspiciously when he continued walking beside her instead of disappearing back towards his friends.

"What do you want?" she sighed, clutching her books tighter against her chest.

"Hang on." Spider started digging through his pockets dramatically while still somehow keeping pace beside her. "Got something for you." Before Daisy could react properly, Spider grabbed her wrist and slapped something around it.

"What the fuck?" She yanked her hand back immediately, staring down at the bright band now wrapped around her wrist. It was some sort of invitation bracelet with handwritten details scrawled across it.

"Calm down, Coopers," Spider laughed. "It's just an invite."

Daisy looked back up at him flatly. "To what, exactly?"

"A gig at Dusty's on Friday." Spider leaned slightly closer, smirking when she instinctively leaned back. "You're coming, yeah?"

Daisy glanced down at the band again before snorting. "To watch a band called Cate Blanchett? Absolutely not." Spider moved in front of her before she could walk away properly, blocking her path completely.

"C'mon, Daisy," he dragged out dramatically. "Do it for me."

Disgust flashed across Daisy's face instantly. "God, you're embarrassing."

"But charming."

"You're neither."

Spider pressed a hand dramatically to his chest like she'd wounded him. "That's harsh."

Daisy sighed loudly. "If I say yes, will you finally leave me alone?" A victorious grin spread instantly across Spider's face.

"Absolutely—"

"Shove off her, ya gronk." Cash suddenly appeared out of nowhere, throwing an arm around Daisy's shoulders while blowing cigarette smoke directly towards Spider. Spider scoffed in annoyance while Cash steered Daisy in the opposite direction.

"He wasn't trying to touch ya or anything, was he?" Cash muttered darkly once they were out of earshot, glaring back towards Spider and his friends.

Daisy rolled her eyes immediately, shrugging his arm off her shoulders. "Of course not, Cashy. I had it handled."

"I know you did, Daisy mae." Cash gave her a guilty little smile as he flicked ash onto the ground. "Sorry... Chook's been breathing down my fuckin' neck lately." The change in his tone made Daisy glance over properly. He looked exhausted.