diary of a teenage girl

Chapter 4: Group Project (James' POV)

I should leave, I think. "Do you think this guy is coming, James?" The boy sitting next to me named Hikaru says. The three of us are waiting for the last person in our group project, who said to meet at his house. Well, at least that's what they told Aspen, the other guy in our group. I haven't met any of them until today. This person is now forty-five minutes late, and we are still sitting in the apartment building.
A girl runs up the walkway, and I realize it's the Cafe girl. "You live here?" I ask. "Yeah, what are you doing here?" She asks me. "I'm waiting for the last guy in the group project," I say, not putting two and two together. "Think about that for a second, cafe guy. Is it a coincidence that me and your school partner live in the same building?" She says, now sitting down next to me.
"You're the guy?" Hikaru asks, his British accent gliding through my ears. "Yep, I'm the guy. Wait, you're that British guy." She says as he nods. "Come on, let's go. I'm sorry I'm late, I was at school." We head up to her floor. "Here it is. It's not a mansion, but it does the job." She says, laying her things on the kitchen counter and pulling the books out of her bag. We all do the same.
"I think it's lovely." Hikaru says, 'Think' sounding more like 'fink'. After we do some flashcards, it's my turn to test the cafe girl, still not knowing her name. "Okay, what is the hypotenuse?" I ask her, waiting to tell her the answer. "The hypotenuse of a right angle is always the side opposite the right angle. It is the longest side in a right triangle." She answers, not missing a beat.
"Wait, we haven't even learned that yet," Aspen butts in. "The teacher told us that what we would be learning in the next few classes is in the textbooks if we want to study ahead." She speaks so nicely and doesn't trip over her words or speak loudly, she speaks softly but not too quietly, in a calming voice like that of Bob Ross. I take mental notes of her.
"You studied ahead? Why?" Aspen asks although the answer is pretty self-explanatory. "Because if you know the basic summary of what you will be learning it's easier to follow along and understand." The way that she spoke without pausing it was almost as if she had a script.
"Okay everyone, let's get back to our work. Once we finish, we all start to pack up our book bags again. I catch a glimpse of Harry Potter in Iris's bookbag, and smile to myself, laughing inside. "Is that Harry Potter?" I ask her, my smile still there.
"Harry Potter? That book is brilliant." Hikaru remarks, and then pulls out one of his own. "Ta-da," he says, laughing. "Oh boy. I'm surrounded by nerds." Aspen says, sighing and rolling his eyes. "Oh please." Hikaru groans.
"You're biased about Harry Potter because you're British." He says while Hikaru hugs the book to his chest. "Where did you all get your books?" Iris says. "Berry Vines," Hikaru says, and Aspen and I say "Me too." "I work at Berry Vines." Iris says."Really? We should drop by." Hikaru says. "I'll come too," Aspen adds. "What about you, James?" Hikaru asks, his brown puppy dog eyes pleading with me. "Alright, Hikaru," I concluded. "James?" Iris says, a sly grin on her face.
"Ahh man, no more cafe guy?" I groan. "Tsk. Guess not." Her pretty smile is still on her face. "Well, If you get my name I think it's only fair I get yours." I look at her, not daring to look away, almost as if I'm mind-controlling her to answer.
I feel as though I have that effect on everyone, and I know it for the most part. "Iris." She says, and I find it ironic since her eyes are the most noticeable thing about her. "Okay, well I've got to get going." And Hikaru and Aspen were out the door.
"You're the one who's been beating my top spot, aren't you," Iris says, smiling and shaking her head. "You're the one I've been beating?" I counter. "Barely." She corrects. I wonder how she can go to such a nice school but live in this apartment building. I think perhaps her situation is like mine.
My mom pays for my education and tries to give me the best life she can despite being away at work most of the time, but I still have to live with my dad. Since my mom worked so much, and my parents were divorced, they decided to have me stay with my father for most of the year.
My mom is wealthy since she owns a major clothing company. Her company is mostly gym apparel, so she always urges me to stay fit, and I often wear her brand. Because of this, I look older than most high schoolers, since I am so fit and it doesn't help much that I'm so tall. Although Aspen and Hikaru are not much different from me, Hikaru has black hair and a small, soft face, much like his personality.
Hikaru is Asian, and he speaks three languages, English, Korean, and Japanese, since his parents were Korean, but lived in Japan. Hikaru isn't as fit as me or Aspen, but he's taller than us all, and still somewhat toned from playing soccer I assume. I know this all since we waited for Iris for a good amount of time.
Aspen is quite the opposite of Karu, he has brown curly hair that falls in front of his face and slightly covers his brown eyes and dark eyebrows. He has a cute nose that doesn't match his harsh personality and large pink lips that match his strangely rosy tan complexion. Aspen has a very sharp jawline, like Karu and I, despite Karu's small face. Aspen and Karu are like a German Shepherd and golden retriever.
I finish up my conversation with Iris and walk back home, even though I have a car, I can't give up walking with Iris even if it's just two steps. I walk to my apartment, which I realize after going around Iris' apartment that it's right behind hers. When I open the door I notice my dad isn't home, like usual. My dad works at a law firm often late into the night and doesn't come home till midnight most evenings. 
I notice as I sit down to eat, looking through my floor-length dining room window that's across from my neighbor's window in the apartment next door, that their window is open, which it never is. There is a soft pink and white themed bedroom, with an unmade bed, small piles of clothing, and scattered makeup on a vanity.
Then, I see someone come into the room. It's Iris. I watch as she takes off her earmuffs, sets down her school uniform jacket, and takes off her shoes. I suddenly feel awkward, and decide I should stop watching. I go to close my window when Iris catches me closing it. She waves at me, and I wave back, unsure if I should continue closing my blinds.
Then, she pulls out her book and sits down in front of her window, and I catch the cover of the book. I then pull out the same book, Maze Runner. I tap on the window and show her, and she laughs and pulls up her book to show me. I then sat down as she had done, and read.

September 30th, Thursday

Suddenly, I hear a tapping, and to my surprise, as I look out the window I see that it's morning. I look at the clock that reads: 6:00 a.m. Iris is already putting on her jacket and backpack and motions her head, signaling we have to leave for school.
I get dressed quickly, and as I walk my way to school, I see Iris on the other side of the buildings. I run over to her, not planning what I'm going to do next. "Hi, James." I suddenly like my name better now that she said it. "Hi, do you have a ride?" I ask, hoping not. "No, I walk to school. We only have one car that my dad uses." She tells me, the golden sunlight shining on her face, like a glaze of honey on her green eyes. "If you don't mind my asking, are they divorced?" I ask, suddenly feel ashamed of myself for forgetting my manners.
I'm usually always respectful. "No, my mom is gone. It's just me and my dad now." I suddenly feel horrible for asking, this is not going how I had hoped. "It gets better, I promise," I tell her, wanting to make up for my bad manners. She thanks me with a soft smile. "How about yours?" "Divorced. I stay with my dad, he does his best while my mom is away working."
I don't usually tell people that, but I feel comfortable with Iris. "Same for my Dad. I know he works hard, and I wish I could help him, I wish I could provide for him like he has for me all these years." Iris says. "Me too. Once I go to college I'm getting an internship at a law firm. It's what my dad wants for me." I confess.
"What do you want for yourself?" Iris asks me. I'm caught off guard by her question and have to think about it. I know the answer, though. But I'm too embarrassed to say it. "I want to work at my mom's company." I lie. Iris seems to be able to tell I'm lying. "I want to be a billionaire," Hikaru says gloatingly, popping out of nowhere and startling us both.
"Hikaru!" Iris shouts at him, smacking his arm with her history book. He lets out a devious laugh. "Hehe. So you guys were just going to walk to school without me?" He says jokingly. "Well, I don't have your number, Hikaru," I say, emphasis on Hikaru. "Okay, James, well you didn't ask. You should have tested my DNA and tracked me back to my house to ask for my number, it's the bare minimum." He tells us sarcastically.
"I've got it," Aspen says, joining us in our walk, the sidewalks now filled with students. He holds up a paper in between his fingers and puts his hand out. "Phones." He does a 'gimme your phones' motion with his hand and raises his brows underneath his curly hair. "Just give me the paper and I'll do it," I tell him.
"You don't trust me? Come on, reliable is my middle name." He jokes. We hand over our phones, and he punches it in. "Teddy? Why is it called Teddy?" Iris asks him, looking at the contact in her phone. "Look at him. Does he not look like a teddy bear to you?" Aspen says, holding his hands up to Hikaru's face. Hikaru puts on a cheesy smile.
"I better at least be one of those expensive teddy bears." He tells Aspen, waving a finger at him tauntingly. We walk to school, and in the first period, the announcements come on, although we already had them, so what could this be? "Iris Blanc, will you report to the office?" I look over, watching as Iris gets up out of her chair and walks to the office.