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Chapter One

Grizz laid back uninterested in Mr Ross' rambling of constitutional history, especially as he probably knew more history than the young teacher in front of him. He nibbled at the end of his pen, as he gazed out of the window. His eyes started to roll, when Mr Ross, attempted to preach his views on the importance of learning about – what he thought' - was the most significant historical dates in their country's history.

"Won't it be wonderful when black history and Native American history and Jewish history and all of U.S. history is taught from one book. Just U.S. history." A smirk graced his lips on hearing the feminine voice behind him. He turned in his seat, his smirk widening, when a sarcastic smile was sent towards the teacher, who was left flabbergasted and in mid rant. 

The girl in question, Tess Beecher, returned to drawing nonchalantly in the corner of her textbook.

"Excuse me Miss Beecher?" the teacher questioned, obvious disbelief ridden in his tone.

Tess, dropped her pen onto her desk and sighed, before looking upward. Grizz turned back in his seat to face the front, eager for her reply.

"Well...no offence sir, but you as our esteemed educator are attempting to cram your own ideologies down our throats. Trying, rather foolishly, to segregate what you think are the most significant parts of our history. Much like the Jim Crow era, which you only briefly touched upon during our module in black history. Were in fact, all history is important, as it has formed the present, wouldn't you agree?" She tilted her head innocently at the final question.

Grizz closed his eyes, nodding in amusement.

Many of the class, had sucked their lips between their mouths in apprehension, awaiting their teacher's response. Mr Ross however, stood perplexed at the front of the class. His stumped expression, only confirmed that he was still processing the onslaught of information that he had received from the blonde student. Before he could reply however, the bell sounded for the end of the period and the class without instruction packed up their belongings and were leaving the class.

Without looking behind him, Grizz stuck out his open palm behind him and smiled full heartedly when he received a small high five in response. Throwing his back pack over his shoulder, he joined the others in leaving the classroom – excitable murmurs echoed the hallway. He lent against the wall beside the doorway, chuckling when his friend Luke emerged. Luke erupted into the hallway, his booming laugh ringing in his ears.

"OMG Tess! That was just brilliant" Luke's arm surrounded the petite blonde at his side, whilst high-fiving his friend in the hall. Tess without looking up from the contents of her bag, shrugged.

"I couldn't handle another lesson of his inaccurate historical ramblings, especially as it's going to be one of my last at this school".

"A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots" Grizz voiced.

Tess, smirked in his direction, making eye contact with him.

"Marcus Garvey?"

Grizz exhaled through his nose in amusement. His lips pulled to on side. 

"Yeah"

Grizz's eyes met hers and he smiled. A loud groan sounded behind them.

"Don't you two start that shit" a large muscled arm, enveloped her upper chest and Tess squealed when her body was pulled to one side "or I am out of here". Her older brother Clark, pulled them down the hallway, with his usual confident persona. 

"It wouldn't hurt you to actually listen on occasion. You might actually learn something". She responded, pushing his arm off her and trapping her long tussling locks behind her ear. Tucking his own hair behind his ears, Grizz's eyes shifted sideways. His eyes lingering longingly. He wouldn't dream of admitting it, especially not to the cohort around him, but he was completely and utterly enamored with Tess Beecher, and as much as he tried to convince himself otherwise, he had been for a while. But, they would both be leaving for college soon and she would be long gone, better off without him. 

"Haha," Clark mocked sarcastically, "sorry we can't all be lame, advanced history nerds". 

"Actually out of the four of us here, you are the odd one out dipshit." Grizz taunted, attempting to appear unconcerned, walking ahead of the group, giving Clark a mocking grin. Tess's lips turned up into a grin and she gave a small chuckle. 

"Oh really?" Clark shouted, earning a few odd glances from the rest of the student body, passing by them in the hallway. He threw his arms out extravagantly and charged head first at his friend with a mighty roar. His arms wrapped around Grizz's shoulders and he stumbled forward from the force, both of the boys tussling in the middle of the hallway, Clark trying to kick Grizz's legs out from under him. To many, a brawl could have been happening in the middle of the packed hallway, although if you listened closely, you could not mistake the childish laughter erupting from the two males. 

Sidestepping the pair, Tess and Luke carried on their path, Luke grabbing the strap of Tess' book bag without a word, ignoring the sound of refute coming from her mouth. His towering figure shadowed her petite frame, as she tried to snatch it back. But, he only smiled down at her, lifting a lone brow. She narrowed her eyes childishly at him. 

"Just let me be a gentleman Tess". 

"Always are Holbrook. Speaking of which, have you asked Helena yet to prom?"

Luke groaned loudly beside her. 

"What? Have I really got to do that? Surely she just knows".  Tess looked aghast at the male, he cringed, feeling her glare burning into the side of his face. Tess grabbed her bag, opening her locker. 

"God, you're useless. It's a good thing you are a gentleman"

"Well...what should I do then?" Luke leaned on the locker beside her, his gaze staring into the abyss, slight panic lacing his voice. Tess stopped what she was doing, shutting her door slightly so that she could see him, her smile dropping at the helpless look on his face. 

"Take her somewhere important to her and just ask her," Luke looked down at her, "she would appreciate that more than some over the top, cringe fest". She just her locker and patted him lightly on the upper arm. "She'll say yes". 

Luke stepped forward and gave her a one armed hug. 

"Thank you".

With an almighty shriek, the two were blindsided as Clark barreled into them, causing them both to stumble to the floor. Tess groaned as she found herself at the bottom of the jock pile, wincing as elbows dug into her ribs and heels scraped against her shin. She smacked her brother repeatedly. "Get the fuck off me!" She narrowed her eyes as a teacher passed, "Language Miss Beecher". All three heads followed the teacher's figure down the hall. 

"Yeah sis, language". Clark mimicked. Luke pushed him off, getting to his knees. Tess breathed a sigh of relief when the weight was lifted off of her. She lent on her elbows, pushing herself off of the floor. She blew the stray hair from her eyes and a hand appeared in her vision. Grizz gazed at her worryingly, he leaned forward, taking the palm of her hand and his own and pulled her up with ease. Underestimating her small frame, she reverberated off of his chest and both of his arms grabbed onto her shoulders to steady her. 

"Shit. Um, I mean, I'm  sorry Tess." Tess, who was encased in his arms, looked up at him, smiling at the boys awkwardness. However, the smile quickly faded from her lips, her expression dropping, on seeing a narrowed eyed gaze atop of Grizz's shoulder.