[|]

I held the smooth body of the phone tighter at the voice on the other end. My mouth went dry at the fact that Lucas Hamilton had answered my call directly made to my phone. I shook my head in disbelief then hissed.

"What are you doing with my phone?" I asked, angry that he had it all this while but didn't bother to find me and give it to me. He was such an annoying prick.

"How are you?" He asked.

I hissed at the cockiness in his tone and rolled my eyes. I was not in the mood for his games. All I needed was my phone.

"Can I have my phone, please?"

Lucas chuckled. "You call this thing a phone?"

I felt embarrassed at his words. My phone was not like the perfect and trending devices students at our school used. I was stuck with a cracked screen phone that had a weak battery and faded parts. I hated that someone like him was with it.

"How did you get my phone?" I asked.

"If I tell you, will you let me talk to you once again? Maybe, we could spend some time together. Who knows?"

I could understand what he was saying very well. He wanted me to be one of his girls who he slept with. I was sure it was also because he saw me in that locker room. He was a disgusting playboy.

"Why would we do that?" I asked and sat on my bed.

"Because you look a fun girl to be around with. Is there a problem with me wanting you around now?"

"Lucas, please. I'm not interested in all of these. All I need is my phone. So, kindly return the phone tomorrow to me at school," I said and ended the call.

Even though he was annoying, I could not deny the fact that he was charming in the sense that he could get whoever he wanted from his looks. Lucas Hamilton was a good-looking guy and that left me flustered to some point. Now, he was with my phone and things might not go so well with the idea he has in that head of his.

"Argh! Why couldn't it be someone else?" I scoffed and lay on my back. "All you have to do is meet him tomorrow and get your phone, that's all."

[|]

As early as possible, I arrived at school with the first mission at hand; getting my phone back. I made my way to my locker while looking around for Lucas Hamilton. I wanted to be the one to see him first not the other way around. I didn't want people to know I hung out with him. It would bring unnecessary attention to me which I've avoided since I've been in this school. I hated getting attention from people, it was a huge distraction.

I put in my combination and opened my locker then picked out my books for my first class. As I dropped my backpack into the locker, I spotted Lucas from my peripheral. I turned my head and saw that he had seen me. From the way he was walking fast, I knew he was heading my way. But before I could think of planning on walking in the other direction, one of his teammates blocked his path. I could see the irritation on his face as he glared at the person standing in front of him while looking my way.

I smiled and closed my locker then walked away.

[|]

I facepalmed when I realized I left my calculator in my locker so I turned around before reaching the front doors of the school entrance. I jogged back to my locker and took out the calculator. I closed it back and started walking away only to stop when I felt a grip around my wrist. I looked down at the hand and up at their face. It was Lucas Hamilton, smiling at me.

I looked around, hoping no one was seeing us but everyone in the hallway was occupied with their business. I sighed in relief and allowed him to pull me to the other side of the hallway.

"Good morning," he said after releasing my wrist.

"Where's my phone? I don't have the time to talk to you," I said with annoyance heavy in my tone.

Lucas raised his index finger, signaling me to hold on before pulling his backpack off his shoulder. I watched as he searched through the bag and heard the familiar sounds of a plastic bag, crinkling. Soon, he pulled out a small white plastic bag and then hung his bag on his shoulder. He stretched out his hand that held the bag then I hesitantly took it.

Why did he have my phone wrapped in a bag?

I eyed him suspiciously when I felt a box-shaped item inside the bag then I turned it over and my eyes widened. The logo of the phone was on the body and wrapped with transparent plastic. I took the box out and saw it was a brand new phone in a box. My eyes darted to Lucas who was looking smug.

"What is this?" I asked.

"Your new phone," he said with a deadpanned tone.

"Excuse me?" I was stunned. "Did you just say a new phone?"

"Yes. I saw your old phone on the floor of our locker room. The wallpaper was a picture of you so I knew it was yours. It was too old-fashioned and almost on its last string of survival. So, I decided to get you a new one. You're welcome."

I wanted to wipe that smug look off his face with my nails. He had no right to do such. All I wanted was my phone, not an expensive phone that could change the whole of my wardrobe.

"I'm sorry but I can't accept this," I said and shoved the plastic bag that held the phone to his chest. He caught it before it fell then glared at me.

"Seriously? The one time that I do something for a girl, she rejects it? Your phone could pass as a fossil fuel, Janette."

"It's Jackie, dummy," I retorted, getting more angrier than before. "Give me my old phone, Hamilton. I don't have all day to mess with you."

When some seconds passed and he didn't do anything, I rolled my eyes and turned to leave but flinched when he grabbed my hand and turned me around to face him. He lifted the bag to his head and sighed.

"If you're not going to take this then come to my party," he said and I yanked my hand out of his.

"Are you crazy?!"

This guy has to have lost his senses. Has he ever seen me at any party? My parents would kill me if I went out when I wasn't supposed to and now he expects me to go to a party filled with popular people.

"No," I said.

"What?"

"I am not going to your party, Hamilton," I said.

Lucas frowned. "Well, if you're not going to come. I will make sure that I keep bothering you until you take this phone. You already rejected it and I will make you pay for it by making everyone know about this."

I glanced at the bag and thought about how I'll be walking around with a phone that cost more than our rent. My parents would kill me if I did and the fact that it came from a boy would worsen things. This left me with one conclusion, I could go to the party by lying to them that I was staying over at a classmate's place. They might believe me because I've had some students come over for tutorials and that would be believable in their eyes.

I sighed. "Fine. I'll go to your party."

"Good girl," Lucas said and smirked. "It's a cosplay party. Dress up as your favorite movie or cartoon character. It's free so you don't have to worry about any invitation. Be there or remember what I'll do. Oh, and if you come to the party, you can take your old phone."

Once he walked away, I leaned on the locker beside me and calmed my beating heart.

"Why didn't I just let those guys bully me? Now, Lucas is only going to leave me looking over my shoulders," I said and pushed myself off the locker.