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Dove's POV

"Dad!" I yell, tapping my perfectly manicured fingers on the table impatiently. It's been fifteen minutes. But my patience was very thick due to enough practice. It's always been this way as it's been going on forever. My dad literally takes way more time than the average female getting ready every morning.

"Dad! I'm really going to be late!" I yell again, glancing at my watch. I honestly don't blame him. I blame my inability to drive and lack of friends.

I didn't really care to be late, I just didn't like the stares when I walk in halfway through the class.

I had flunked my driver's license test twice this year. It wasn't my fault my evaluator was a cranky person who enjoyed giving innocent people a harsh time. And yes, I got the same evaluator both times.

She was the Mrs. Puff to my Spongebob.

Dad wouldn't hear any of it though. He's convinced that I'm the one who needs more lessons.

I used to have friends who drove me to school, but I lost everyone two years ago. Actually, I cut everyone off because I realized that everyone around me was fake and was mooching off my popularity.

That year was the worst out of all years I've spent on earth. Dad had said I was going through a phase, but I wasn't. Since cutting everyone off, I've been way happier this way. Just me and my dad. I couldn't wait to be done with high school and head to college.

"I'm sorry. I'm ready now," Dad apologizes, striding down the stairs. He was dressed in his favorite mahogany suit, his hair slicked back- combed to perfection.

"Big day at work?" I raise a brow and hand him his car keys.

"You could say that," he replies.

I could say that?

"Today is Shelia's first day since being transferred back," he grins excitedly.

Shelia is my dad's girlfriend. They have been dating for two years now. At first, it was just an office fling, but after Shelia was transferred to London, my dad realized how much he liked her. He took two weeks off from work last year to go visit her.

"Hmmm, Shelia," I teased, getting into the car. "No wonder you took thirty more minutes than usual."

I was really happy for my dad. My mum had died while giving birth to me, and my dad had to raise me alone.

I was his entire world, and he had no time for himself or love. He once brought someone he liked home when I was thirteen, but I thought she was trying to steal my dad away from me and ran away from home.

Well, I didn't really run away. I just packed some clothes and went over to a friend's house, but you get my point. Ever since my dad refused to date anyone. I had to convince him to give love a chance again because more than anything, I would love to see my dad happy with someone he loves.

I felt bad enough for taking up all of his youth.

"I didn't take that long, you were thirty minutes earlier than usual," he retorts, his eyes fixated on the road. "Ready for your senior year?"

I give a small smile and nod. Although, I had no friends and was somewhat a lone wolf. I was still very popular in my school and was also the captain of the cheer squad.

Everyone knew me, but not everyone knew me.

"Yeah. I was made cheer captain last year so it should be fun."

"What about Ash? Is she still in the squad?" dad asks, and I mentally roll my eyes far back into my skull.

Ash was my best friend. She and I were basically inseparable but not anymore. We had a huge fallout two years ago, but that's a story for another time. My dad knew about our fallout, but he always said it shall pass, and we would be best friends again.

But, chances of that happening are zero to none. Too much has happened, and I don't think I can ever forgive her. I never told my dad what really happened I just told him we decided to take a friendship break.

"Yes, dad. By the way, when will Shelia be moving in?" I ask, trying to change to subject.

Last night, my dad told me about Shelia moving in. When she had to leave for London two years ago, she sold her house and everything else so she could have enough money for her kids' education and basic expenses.

Unlike dad, Shelia had three kids. Two boys and a cute little girl. I've seen pictures of her baby girl, Chloe. But I haven't seen her boys yet.

"Friday night. So they can have enough time to settle down before Monday," he replies.

I just nod my head and grabbed my bag back from the back seat as we were already in my school's parking lot.

"Dove?" dad calls as I get down from the car.

"Yeah?"

"It means so much to me that you support Shelia and me," he says, his eyes full of what I would call fatherly love.

My dad means the world to me, and his happiness means much more. "I'm just happy you're happy," I smile honestly and close the door.

I walk into the familiar hallway, a scowl on my face. I purposely put up a wall so no one would approach me or try to talk to me.

I scan through my phone, pretending to be busy as I walk towards my locker.

I drop some books and hang up some pictures at the side of my locker before heading to class. I knew I was late but I still took my time walking, I was going to get scolded anyways.

"Miss Kelch, nice of you to join us this fine morning," the teacher says sarcastically as soon as I walk into class, earning me a few snickers from the students.

I could swear it was like he was waiting for me to come in just so he could say that.

I turn to face him with the fakest smile plastered on my face. "I also think it's nice that I can join you this fine morning," I respond with equal sarcasm and Mr. David narrows his eyes.

I've seen him around a few times but this would be the first time he would be teaching me.

"Take a seat," he says finally.

I quickly take a seat at the back of the class next to a girl I couldn't recognize. The back of the class was my favorite spot, I could sleep the entire day and no teacher would pay attention because the super-smart kids like Reed and Theo were seated in front answering all the questions.

I took my time and looked at all my classmates. They were some new faces and a lot of old faces.

Both Reed and Theo were in my class. I mentally thanked God for putting them in the same classes with me because the teachers never really notice anyone when Reed and Theo are around.

Reed and Theo were the smartest kids in my grade. They had always battled for the first place for as long as I could remember.

They were also quite opposite. While Theo was a tall, thin, dark-haired boy. Reed was a short, chubby, blond-haired girl with the prettiest eyes.

"Miss Kelch!" I hear my name being called, snapping me out of my thoughts. I look up to see Mr. David and smile sweetly at his annoyed expression.

"Hmm. Yes, Mr. David?"

"Do you care to answer my question?"

"Hmm yes," I reply as I squint my eyes, looking at the board for clues as to what the question was.

I felt a tug on my jeans and I look at the girl beside me who was pointing to a word on her book. "In 2014?" I say the words in her book with uncertainty.

"Are you asking me or are you telling me?" He asks, his voice is stern and harsh.

"Telling," the girl mutters under her breath.

"No. I'm telling you. The answer is 2014," I say with more confidence.

"What's 2014?"

"The answer to the question you asked," I nod my head, my hands intertwined.

"What's the question I asked?"

"You should know. You asked it."

Mr. David's frown deepens and almost clashes with the rim of his glasses.

The girl next to me quickly scribbles something on her book and I read it. "The 200th birthday of the Smithsonian institution".

Mr. David studied me for a while through his glasses before replying. "Sit down and pay attention,"

"Yes sir," I mutter and sit down. I turn to my left to mummer a low thank you to the girl next to me.

She smiles. "You're welcome"

I decide to focus but soon drift off again when I spot Ashley seating next to Zoe. I disliked Ashley but I hated Zoe more.

Zoe had always tried to come in between us when we were best friends and she eventually succeeded because she, Ashley, and Elliot are inseparable now.

Elliot was a guy that was transferred to our school last year. I don't talk to him much but I hear he is fun to hang around.

"Good morning, class," I hear a familiar voice say but it wasn't Mr.David this time.

I look up from my table to see a different teacher standing in front of the class next to Mr. David. I already knew what he was doing here. We probably had late students that needed introductions.

"We have two new additions to this class," Mr. Ben begins.

"Yeah, dumb 1 and dumb 2," Zyair says and the entire class, including me, burst into laughter.

Zyair had to be the funniest guy I knew. He had short brown and deep dimples that showed every time he talked.

Our school has a way of sharing students in the classroom. They would put the smartest kids and the dumbest kids in the same class. Everyone else, apart from Reed and Theo, was pretty average so that could only mean the next students coming in had to be dumb.

At least, that's what we all think.

"You first Russo," Mr. Ben says, and the most handsome guy I've ever seen walks into the class.

He had the kind of face that would stop you in your tracks, with tousled dark hair and mesmerizing green eyes. He was wearing a slightly fitted shirt that showed off his muscles.

"Hmmm, hey I'm Luca Russo and Uhh.. yeah that's about it," he grins brightly and a little smile plays on my lips.

"Mama, likely," Ursula, a classmate says, earning her a few looks from people in the class. My eyes were focused on him and Yes, mama did like. But I wasn't gonna say that out loud.

"I don't think the next guy needs an introduction but he'll introduce himself just for the sake of formality," Mr. Ben says dryly, and I could tell he was tired of the constant introduction he had to do every time a new student came in.

The next guy walks in and my breath hitches. I recognize his familiar stride and body frame. He had grown taller and was probably like 6'2. He turns to look at the class with a scowl, his dark brown hair falls over his sea-blue eyes, perfectly framing his face.

Two years ago I thought he couldn't get hotter but I was dead-ass wrong because he certainly did.

My heartbreaker.

"Gray!" Zyair calls from his seat as he jumps up and jogs to give him a hug.

Gray's scowl turns into a little smile as he embraces Zyair.

"More like hot 1 and hot 2," the girl next to me mutters under her breath and I rest my head on the table with only one thought in mind.

This was gonna be one hell of a senior year.

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OOTD- What's your favorite movie?

Mine is definitely, Call me by your name ❤️

The ending made me sad🥺👉👈