The Way We Get By

17 // Angel

hi! i know i usually update on fridays, but my updates were a little wack these past few weeks so im treating y'all because i love you and you deserve it < 3 enjoyy

also what do ya think about the new cover ;) idk how i feel about it yet ?¿

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I slam my locker shut and listen to the warning bell ring in my head as I look up and down the crowded hallway. It's a normal, Wednesday morning here at school, although none of these students know I'm about to disrupt the peace.

Sean's been gone since Friday, as his rich and privileged family took an impromptu vacation down to Florida for the weekend. But he's back today, and ever since Alex told me about him kissing Eliza, I've been waiting for my opportunity to pounce on that motherfucker.

I sling my bag over my shoulder and stalk towards Sean's second period class before taking out my phone to check the time. Sean should be here any minute, but as I approach the door to his history class I suddenly hear someone call my name from behind me.

"Hey, Angel!"

I stop in my tracks and turn to see Madelyn about five paces behind me, strutting swiftly to reach me.

"Hey," she beams breathlessly once she's caught up, offering me a bright, warm smile.

She's got a light amount of makeup on, although she hasn't bothered to cover up that stupid birthmark on the right side of her jaw. She's also wearing this yellow top with roses on it, which is complimented by high-waisted jeans that give her hips more volume than I thought she had. She clearly tried today, more so than usual.

"You already said hey."

I glance behind my shoulder towards Sean's classroom as I wait for him to make an appearance.

"Right." She nervously adjusts the strap of her light blue backpack over her shoulder and glances down at her brown boots. "So umm, I just wanted to ask, but, like—where's Alex?"

I look back to her and raise a surprised eyebrow, bringing my strong arms across my chest as I stare down at her in amusement. I'm willing to bet that her blushing, nervous composure has nothing to do with me, seeing as she practically ditched me last week when she came over to study.

She's uneasy because of Alex, and my player boy senses are telling me that she's harboring some unspoken feelings for him.

"Since when do you keep tabs on my brother?"

"Since you made him my lab partner," she bites back. I'm taken aback by her sudden confidence.

I'll admit that I've accidentally mistaken her for another one of those giggly girls that always tries to flirt with me. They're the kind that have fake acrylics and expensive iPhones, and they're the ones that spend their entire day sipping Starbucks and posting endless selfies on their Snapchat stories. You know the kind.

"Well, he'll be out for a while, so get used to doing labs by yourself."

Again, I look back towards Sean's classroom only to see Sean appear at the end of the hall.

Showtime.

I don't bother saying goodbye to Madelyn, I simply turn around and begin striding towards Sean.

"Is he sick?"

Madelyn appears at my side, hardly fazed by my quick movements around the thick crowd of students.

"He's got Ebola," I dismiss as Sean gets closer and closer to me. He's still a good thirty paces away, and Madelyn's still right by my side.

"Well, can you tell him to text me, because—"