The Smokers

Four

Friday.
Finally.
It took long enough coming.
I'm not sure about this school but Mia seems to have stayed out of trouble so far, so it's good I suppose. You might be thinking "what can she do in a week?"
Trust me.
Three schools ago, on the second day Mia got herself expelled. By throwing a chair at a boy who had put his hand on her desk, trying to flirt with her. Boy, if ever a girl is protective of her personal bubble, it's Mia. My mother and father were not best pleased, I can tell you.

I drop my books in my bag as my mother yells at me from downstairs. She doesn't work on Fridays, so she was going to take me to school, but according to her, if I don't get my butt down there "right now!!!!" then I "will be walking by myself for the rest of my life!"

Shoving my feet into my school shoes I walk downstairs precariously balancing on my toes, trying not to squash down the backs because I know they are all I will get for as long as we are here. My mum sees me and has another hissy fit, telling me not to ruin my shoes and everything. Blah blah blah. Whatever. Don't care. I just want to get to school, got today over with, finish the first week here, and get to the weekend.

Please. I NEED THE WEEKEND!!!!

Finally trailing out of the door after my mother, with a hot buttery bagel in my hand, I mentally check that I have all the books for today's lessons. Latin - check. Art - check. Chemistry - check. Music - check. Maths - check. Yep, I'm good.

We pull up outside the school and I mentally face palm for not asking my mum to drop me off around the back. My mum has this super embarrassing car, it's baby pink with eyelashes on the headlights. I don't know what possessed her.
I quickly hop out with a "Goodbye!" to mum, and walk through the doors of school with my head down.
Navigating the maze of corridors I find my form room, walk in and pull out my book at my desk.

A few minutes later, I feel a hot breath on my neck. Looking up, I lock eyes with Brin. Suddenly my heart is beating ridiculously fast, my hands are getting clammy and a group of butterflies are taking residence in my stomach. Brin leans forward, brushes my nose with his and then backs away with a teasing smirk on his face.

"Doing anything at lunch, Lemoncake?" He asks, his deep voice snapping me out of my internal fangirling.

"I...uh...no?" Why can I never speak properly when I'm around Brin? What is happening to me?!

Brin smirks again, as if he can hear my internal battle. Oh gosh, did I say it out loud?

"Nope, you didn't say it out loud, don't worry Lemoncake, you're not going crazy."

I open my mouth in shock.

"Your face is just too easy to read Lemoncake." Brin keeps smirking. "So, wanna come hang out with me at lunch?"

"Uh, ok, sure I guess." I reply.

Brin's face lights up, "Great! See you at the cafeteria at the start of lunch break then?"
I nod, and am about to say something when Miss Murray walks in, and tells us all to sit down so she can take the register.

Ali rushes in just as Miss Murray calls her name, and slips into the seat beside me. I smile at her. Can I trust her with my feelings for Brin? I think I can, I mean she seems nice enough.
I decide on yes, I can trust Ali, so I tell her about what I feel.

"Ali... I have something to tell you..."

Her face becomes instantly worried, but she quickly masks it with an encouraging smile. "Y-yes?" Ali looks at me expectantly with those huge bright blue eyes of hers.