Renting a Personality

Chapter 4

Flashback: First day of school.

Alice's POV

I'm not really sure I like the whole idea of being in highschool. Or maybe it's just the dislike of people in general, I'm not really sure which one it is at the moment. In all reality it beats being at home with my mother, As I'm making my way to the library some idiot bumps into me not paying attention to anything going on around him.

DUMBASS.

What a great way to start of junior year. Not even 10 minutes in and I'm being humiliated. Could this possibly get any worse. I sit down at an empty table and look at my schedule, which isn't anything to exciting. My first period is chemistry, second is english, third is civics, fourth is study hall, fifth is algebra, sixth is photography, and my last class of the day is drawing and painting. Nothing too interesting except for my art classes.

I glance up at the clock and realize that class is about to start, I throw my backpack over my shoulder and head to the chemistry room. Once I get through the crowded hallways to the science room I open the door, I see a few familiar faces from my classes last year. One of them sticks out mostly because he is from my brothers band. I sit in the empty seat that is in the back of the room, next to algebra this class has to be one of the hardest classes ever.

During my next class I find my seat in the back of the room, I must avoid getting called on. Our english teachers goes on about how exciting this year is going to be and proceeds to explain the classroom rules, It's the same rules as last year so I just go off into my own little world. The bell rings and scares the shit out of me, I get up and throw my bag over my shoulder proceeding to my next class.

I bump into Luke knowing I'm going to need his help with math already before even having math.

"Hey Luke??" I ask him before he gets the chance to leave.

"Hey, what's up Alice?" he asks before looking me in the eyes.

"Can you help me with math again this year?"

"Yeah not a problem I'll catch you later Alice."

" Thanks Luke you're the best.

" Yeah, see you later." He smiles at me before leaving.

After my encounter with Luke I head to fourth period where we are assigned a paper on a current event due at the end of the week and has to be okayed by our teacher. I work on it and ok everything I need to to get it done and out of the way, I hate teachers who assign homework on the first day of school.

Fifth hour is finally here. I take this period as an opportunity to pray that this year's math will be easy. Once I finish doing this I went to class and got a lot of homework that I couldn't understand and Luke was nowhere in sight, I sighed and left to go in search of Luke so I could attack him for lying about helping me with math.

With no luck of finding Luke I head to my next class. I personally don't mind because its drawing and painting. I clear my mind and come up with a drawing to start. As I start to draw I hear a familiar voice, I look up and it's Luke and standing behind him was Calum.

"What are you two doing here?" I ask a bit confused as to why they are in art. They sit down before replying.

"Oh you know just for the credit I guess or I'll never get out of this hell hole." Calum replies.

"Oh shut up Calum it's not that bad here it could always be worse." Luke says.

"Would you two please stop your bickering. I'm trying to draw." I look at both of them and they both grin.

"Why Alice? Your work is amazing without even trying so why don't you stop worrying so much love." Luke says as he watches me draw effortlessly.

The bell rings and I put my stuff away. Luke and Calum are already out the door. I run to catch up to Luke. I had forgot that I need help on my homework.

"Luke?" I ask shyly.

"Yes, Love?" Luke asks.

"I have math homework that I need help on. Are you free?" I look at him waiting for an answer.

" I'm free after band practice. I'll be at your house anyways so does that work for you?" he grins at me knowing that anything would work for me.

"Anything works as long as I get help." I say grinning. As we walk to my locker I notice that there is a new kid in the office. I'm suddenly pulled out of my gaze by Luke.

"Someone has a crush on the new kid already." He says giggling.

"Do not." I protest trying to pull off the I don't know what your talking about card.

"You know he doesn't live far from you and Ash."

"Really?"

"Yup and he has guitars. Should see if he wants to hangout with you. He is going to need more friends than just me and the boys."

"So you're telling the shyest girl you know to go talk to some guy?"

"Yup indeed, I talked to him before last hour and he is going to come check out the band tonight."

Me and Luke start walking to my house across town. It's a beautiful day out but I still keep my hoodie on due to the fact that I have some new scratches on my wrist and I don't want to worry Luke, However I think he already knows after catching a glance of my wrist earlier.

"Hey Luke, Wait up." I hear an unfamiliar voice holler after us. I turn around to see who it is.

"Hey Michael." Luke glance at me and then back at Michael. We continue walking as I listen in to their conversation. When I realize that I got brought into the conversation I turn to Luke.

"What are you doing?" I whisper

"Well you weren't going to introduce yourself so I brought you into the conversation." He claims.

Michael stares at us as we converse about the situation and I feel my cheeks start to get warm. I look at Luke then back at Michael.

"Hey. I'm Michael." his thick accent making him slightly more attractive. I smile and forget what I'm doing. Not paying attention to where I'm going I trip over a little crack in the sidewalk.

"Alice are you ok?" Luke asks a bit concerned.

"Yeah,um, I'm fine." I say looking to make sure nothing was to badly scraped.

Michael reaches his hand out to help me up and take the offer with no hesitation.

"Um, thanks." I smile shyly.

"You're welcome."

I turn to Luke hoping he would help take the awkwardness away but instead he sits and stares at me with a smirk.

"I'll see you two later." He smiles at both of us and heads to the house.