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12| Familar Faces

Wednesday | November 2nd, 2016 | 7:00 AM | Katerina

I yawned as rubbed my eyes as Mom sat a plate of eggs, bacon, and toast in front of me.

"Someone's tired," she commented as she sat down.

"I was up late," I said, squirting ketchup on my eggs.

"Doing what exactly?" Dad asked.

"Texting Eliana."

Ever since the two of us went to The Tree of Time two weeks ago, we'd practically been inseparable. We were constantly over each other's houses doing homework, studying, or just relaxing. There were nights like last night where we'd just text each other until we fell asleep or sometimes, we'd FaceTime each other and fall asleep without ending the call.

I was always a little hesitant to go over to her house when I knew her parents would be home. I got the feeling they still didn't like me but were somewhat warming up to me. With me and Eliana always studying together, her grades were phenomenal, which is what they wanted them to be. That's probably why they tolerated my presence.

I still didn't like them either and only tolerated them for Eliana's sake. I still wasn't over the fact that they never apologized for how they acted on her birthday.

The twins were constantly teasing me, saying how 'whipped' I was for Eliana. I wasn't whipped. At least I didn't think I was.

"Maybe next time you'll prioritize your rest over texting. We better not receive a single phone call home about you sleeping in class," Mom said sternly.

"Don't worry. I won't sleep in class." I shoveled a forkful of eggs into my mouth. "I have three tests today anyway and I can't afford to get an F because I decided to sleep."

"You could probably do those tests in your sleep and still get an A. You're a brainiac after all," Dad joked.

"I bet I could. Maybe I should try it." Mom sent a scathing glare my way. "I'm just kidding."

I finished the rest of my breakfast and went up to my room and grabbed my things. I let my parents know I was leaving, and they wished me luck on my tests. I stepped outside just to be met with the sight of a half-sleep Eliana sitting on the steps in front of my house. I smirked and crept over to her. I crouched down and poked her cheek. I laughed when she jumped and almost fell off the steps.

She clutched her chest and glared at me. "You asshole. I almost fell."

I wiped a tear from my eye. "I saw an opportunity and I took it."

She continued to glare at me, but I could see the hint of a smile on her lips. The conversation during our short walk to school consisted of me quizzing Eliana in preparation for our three tests today. She was a little worried about our chemistry test since she had been struggling with some of the new material we'd learned. I told her that we could do a quick run through of the study guide I made for her.

Yes. I made her a study guide but that doesn't mean I'm whipped.

"It's weird that I feel more prepared for our pre-calculus test than our chemistry test," she said as we walked to our English class.

"Probably because you feel a lot more comfortable with math than science now. You barely need my help with math homework anymore," I replied.

"That's only because I have the best tutor ever." The smile she flashed my way made butterflies flutter in my stomach. I could never get tired of her smile, especially when it's because of me. "I'm honestly getting to the point where I might have Hunter help me with chemistry too."