- Mia White -

12 years later

"Mia! Are you ready to leave? Ace is waiting for you outside!" my mom called from downstairs. Setting my brush down, I rushed downstairs to see my mom with a small smile on her face. "So you have everything? Your books? Paper? Binders?"

"Yes mom," I chuckled. "I have everything."

After giving her a small kiss on her cheek, I slipped into my runners and walked outside to see Ace's car.

It was the first day back to school, and honestly I was ready for my junior year. The last two weeks, I was preparing for this day. The only thing I'm not ready for is the waking up part. I am not a morning person at all. I'm going to miss sleeping in every day.

There were only a few days during summer I had to wake up early, but that was because Ace would take me somewhere to hang out. Most of the summer was me being with Ace, and it was fine with our parents because we've been close best friends since children.

"Morning," Ace greeted with his usual grin. "Ready for the first day back?"

I raised a brow. "Are you?"

"Nope," he said, popping the 'p.'

Ace hates school, but he had to go because of his father. Ace's future was going to be him taking over his father's company. A very large and important company that is.

This year was the last year Ace is going to be in ClearHills Academy before he graduates and goes to college. Meaning, that if Ace didn't get his high school diploma this year, his father would be furious.

However, I doubt Ace is going to fail. Despite the fact that Ace never pays attention during class, he's naturally intelligent, and has always had the top grades every year. He's that kind of person who likes to do the work and learning at home by himself rather than in class.

As Ace drove to school, we chatted for a bit. He saw more than thrilled when our first day back was on a Friday.

Once the car was parked, we got out and walked to the main entrance. I couldn't wait to see Sarah after such a long time. She left to vacation in Hawaii for a family trip. She traveled a lot during the entire summer, so I didn't get to hang out with her at all. Sarah has been my friend ever since kindergarten when we accidentally grabbed each other's lunchbox.

"I missed you so much!" I exclaimed when I saw her. I ran up to her and gave her a hug. "How was Hawaii?"

"Hot," she replied, slightly laughing. She looked behind me, and when she saw Ace, she smiled. Ace just have he a nod, his face as blank as ever.

"Still emotionless I see," Sarah joked.

Much to out relief, we all had a few classes together. I didn't want to be in a class where I didn't know anyone. Especially when the teacher announces that we have to work in groups.

My first class was with Sarah while Ace's class was on the other side of the building. The next class I had was with Ace. He's a senior, but our school allows us to have advanced classes if you were part of IB.

For example, I took ninth grade math in the summer, so when I was a freshman, I was taking sophomore math for half the year. For second semester of ninth grade, I took grade eleven calculus. Durning my sophomore year, I did essentials math and started grade twelve calculus. Since I'm a junior, done all maths and and now taking free university studies for the other.

It's complicated, but it's not that bad. Ace sometimes helps me when I'm struggling on a certain part, and I'm grateful for that. If it wasn't for him tutoring me, I'm sure I'd be failing.

When Sarah and I reached our class, we were greeted by a few people. When it was first year at ClearHills Acadamy, I was practically invisible to everyone besides the person who bullied me. I don't know what I didn't wrong, but that person just really seemed to have this full on hatred towards me.

However. People started to notice me when they found out I was best friends with Ace. They were acting nice towards me, and honestly, it scared me. I'd rather be invisible then have people to pretend to be friendly to me just because I was Ace's friend.

Mindy was the opposite though. She made sure I knew how she felt towards me. She's the only one who didn't even try to be nice. Yup, she was my bully. But she doesn't hurt me physically.

She liked to punish me with hateful words than actually get her hands dirty. Besides that, she likes to flirt with Ace even when she knows he doesn't like her. He has shown no interest in her at all, yet she's still trying.

"Did you hear?" Marissa, a girl in our class asked. "There's a hot new guy in our grade. He moved here from New York."

Sarah's eyes lit up, and she asked who he was. I, on the other hand, wasn't paying attention because my phone kept vibrating in my pocket. Sighing, I took out my phone. As expected, Ace was texting me,

I rolled my eyes and told him that class was about to start before putting my phone away. I could still feel my phone vibrate, but eventually it stopped. I love Ace and all, but he can he so annoying.

The chatter in the room was suddenly killed when the teacher walked in. She didn't even ask how are summer was like most teacher, but instead ordered us to open out binders and jot down notes as she started the lesson.

This was going to be a long day.

When the lunch bell rang, I shoved everything into my bag and waited for everyone to leave class. Since everyone was rushing to get to the cafeteria and buy their lunch, the hallways were crowded. It was worse for me because I'm small, and people would crush me if I went into the sea of people. Luckily, Ace would take me out somewhere to eat when Sarah was at dance.

Once everyone was out, I walked through the door to see Ace leaning against a locker, scrolling through his phone. He looked up and when he saw me, he smiled.

"Ready to go?" he asked.

I nodded. "I just need to put my books away."

Once I put my unnecessary books in my locker, Ace and I made out way outside to the parking lot.

"Where are we going today?" I asked as Ace turned the engine on. Since Ace said he didn't really care, I decided to go to Sandy's Pizza Place. Years ago, it was a popular place, but as the years passed, not as much people went there anymore. Ace and I however love the pizza.

When we arrived there, Ace told me to find an empty booth while he ordered our regular; half cheese for me and half pepperoni for him. Once finding an empty booth, I was about to make my way over there when someone gently tapped my shoulder. Turning around, I saw a guy that looked around my age smiling at me with hopeful eyes.

"Um, Hi. I'm Jacob," he introduced.

"Mia," I replied, offering a smile.

Jacob scratched the nape of his neck and looked at me nervously. "I was wondering if you'd like you have lunch with me. I'm new in town so I thought I could make a friends."

"I'm sorry. I'm here with someone, but–"

"Are you ready to go?" Ace asked, cutting me off midsentence.

I looked at him, confused. But, we just got here. We haven't even eaten the pizza!

Jacob looked at Ace before looking at me. He must've realized something because he apologized and walked away. I looked at Ace to see he was already looking at me. I grabbed the pizza from him and walked to the empty booth I spotted earlier.

I sat down as Ace sat across from me. I knew he was annoyed with something by the way he was muttering, but it didn't bother me. Almost everything bothers him so his muttering was something I've grown used to.

"What's got your panties in a twist?" I asked, causing him to stop.

Ace narrowed his eyes at me, but I didn't miss how the side of his lips curved upwards.

Soon enough, everything went back to normal, and after I devoured tree whole slices of pizza, I was finished. Ace finished the rest though. I don't know how this guy can be so fit yet eat so much at the same time.

I guess working out at the gym daily pays off. Gymnastics is how I keep my body tone and flexible.

Once we finished eating, we had enough time to head back to school before classes started. When we reached the school, I went back to my locker and grabbed my bag and binder before Ace and I went to class. The classroom was empty when we arrived, but as the minutes flew by, more people started to file in.

I turned around and glared at Ace when he started to play with my hair. I hate it when he does it because my hair gets tangled easily. It's a pain in the neck trying to brush out long hair.

"Alight class, settle down," the teacher said, and everyone turned silent. "Now, we have a new student joining us today."

My eyes widened when I saw the same guy with brown hair and brown eyes at Sandy's Pizza Place.

"Everyone, please welcome, Jacob Daniels."

For the last two weeks of summer, I prepared for my junior year of high school. But I never prepared for the things that were about to happen to me.

All I knew before that was this school year, was going to be a year I'd never forget.

••• - ••• - •••