~

"Thank you, Zyair for that warm welcome but please take your seat," Mr. Ben announces dryly, and Zyair drags Gray over to where he was seated.

"Scram," he says to the guy who had been sitting next to him, making me roll my eyes in disgust.

"Welcome kiddo," Ashley grins in Gray's direction and he ruffles her hair.

"Don't call me that," he replied.

I was kinda hurt Gray hadn't even noticed I was in the class, but what was I expecting. I look away from them and looked at the other student, Luca.

He was seated directly in front of me. His hair smelled so nice, intoxicating me and I imagine myself touch it.

To my surprise, he turns and looks at me with an amused expression. "Trying to drilling a hole through my head?" he chuckles.

"Why'd you have to turn. I was almost done," I nod, matching his sarcasm.

He just chuckles under his breath. "Luca," he smiles.

"I know I heard you the first time," I laugh. "Dove"

"Dove like the bird or Dove like Dove Cameron," he narrows his eyes playfully.

"You know of Dove Cameron," I ask amused.

"Yeah. My younger sister is obsessed with the Descendants series,"

"Oh. I don't have a younger sister so I can't relate,"

"Only child?"

"For now," I chuckle.

"Miss Kelch and Mr. Russo, care to share with the class your conversation," Mr. David says in a low tone, as he stared at us. The entire class turns to stare at us and I immediately cringe from the attention.

"No sir. We'd rather not, we don't want to bore you," Luca replies cheekily.

"No, please let us know," Gray's deep voice comes from across the room, his eyes glittering with amusement.

I glare at him then turn back to Luca and shake my head.

The bell rings just then and Mr. David leaves the class. Most people get up from their seats to go to their next class while some stayed and talked to their friends. Gray's eyes were now focused on me and I fight the urge not to squirm under his intense gaze.

"What class do you have next," the girl next to me ask, and I noticed I haven't seen her before.

"Hey, you must be new. I'm Dove," I say cheerfully. I wasn't looking to make new friends but I decided to be friendly since she saved my ass a few moments ago.

Before she could reply, a loud bang is heard from the door and most of us turn to see who made such noise. I roll my eyes when I see Lily leaning on the door. Lily was what you'd call your stereotypical cheerleader. She had blond hair and a petite frame with bright blue eyes.

Lily was my rival back in the days. I say 'back in the days', because two years ago is such a long time. I feel like I've grown so much or maybe I haven't but that doesn't matter because I'm telling the story from my side.

Lily wasn't so bad now but I still didn't like her much. Nothing personal, we just didn't vibe well. "I heard the king was back so I came to take a look," she giggles in Gray's direction

King? Oh please, give me a break.

She walks over to Gray and gives him a hug. "Wow, is it just me or did you become like extremely hotter," she says in a flirty tone and Gray just stares back at her, a bored expression on his face.

Her eyes scan the classroom and lands on me. She was about to say something but then stops in her tracks when she sees Luca.

"Oh wow," she sighs. "Where have you been all my life," she starts to sing.

I roll my eyes, tired of her shenanigans. "Close your mouth, Lily. You're drooling everywhere," I snap with disgust.

"Why are you here, anyway. Shouldn't you be in your next class," Ashley rolls her eyes as she grabs her bag and leaves the class with both Zoe and Elliot on her trail.

I figured I should probably get to my Economics class too so I grab my bag and head out before Lily could say another word.

I walked over to my locker as quickly as I could and grabbed my books. I was late for my first period and didn't want to be late for second.

"Hey," I hear a voice say from behind me.

I close my locker and turn to face Luca. "Hey," I smile back.

"I kinda need help with getting to my Econs class,"

"I'm headed there right now," I reply and nod my head in the right direction.

"So, Is this your first time in America," I ask, trying to start up a conversation.

"Is it that obvious?"

"Yeah, your Australian accent kinda gives it away" I laugh. "But you don't look Australian. I'm sorry if that offended you," I add

"I've lived in Australia for the most part of my life but I'm actually Italian," he explains.

"Oh," I nod my head in understanding. "For the most part of your life?"

"I move a lot. Actually, My dad's job moves him a lot and I always get to go with him," he explains.

"What about your sister?"

"My parents are divorced. My mum got to keep my sister while I stayed with my dad but I still see them occasionally," he shrugs and I nod my head in agreement.

We walk into class and I go straight and plop myself into a seat in the far back. I frown a little bit when I noticed Luca sit in the chair, two seats in front of me. Why didn't he just seat next to me? I thought we were hitting it off.

I sigh and rest my head on the table, looking out the window. Must be nice to be a tree. They don't have school or boys. They just sway around enjoy the wind. But then again, they need to fight against terrible humans who cut them up for their own personal interest. Selfish.

I stare down at my book and gasp. I'm one of those terrible humans. I look back out and say a little apology to the little tree outside.

"What are you doing," someone chuckles from beside me. I was too wrapped up with my thoughts and didn't notice someone had sat down next to me.

"I was apologizing to the tree," I turn to say but stop halfway when my eyes met with his piercing deep blue ones. My heart, beating fast at his close proximity.

He raises his perfectly arched eyebrow and stares at me. "Dove?" He says softly and I immediately look away. All I had to do was ignore him.

"Look at me," he says, his voice laced with authority.

I stare outside refusing to bulge. He leans on the table and looks at me from underneath and I instinctively put my hands over his eyes to prevent him from seeing my double chin.

He chuckles softly and pulls my hand away from his eyes as he sat back up. "Got your attention now,"

"What do you want," I say angrily.

"Nothing much. I'm just trying to be your friend," he says, his hands were still holding mine. I wanted to pull away but couldn't because I really didn't want to.

"Friends? Really?" I scoff.

"Do you still have feelings for me then?"

Was this guy being serious? Of course, I didn't. I remove my hands from his grip and hear him wince a little or maybe it was just my imagination.

"No, I don't," I deadpan.

"Good," he leans on his chair and folds his arms. "Then you'll have no problem being my friend right?"

The nerve of this guy. After our break up he literally disappeared off the face of the earth, disabling all his social media. I know that because I tried to stalk him.

I turn to look at him a fake smile plastered on my face. "Of course not. But I just don't want to be your friend,"

"Oh. You want to be more than a friend?"

"No," I sigh at the twist of my words. "What I'm saying is that I just want nothing to do with you,"

"Why?"

"You're bad news"

"How?"

"God, you're annoying!" I yell out of frustration.

Most of the people settled in class turn to look at me and whisper stuff to each other. The students at this school enjoyed gossip and just now I can already myself being their gossip of the day.

I looked at Gray who had a full-on smirk as he leaned on his chair. I felt like punching him but that would just lead to another drama. So, I grabbed my bag angrily and moved towards the girl that was seated next to me in my previous class.

I flopped on the chair next to her, crossing my arms furiously. "Are you okay?"

I released my facial muscles and sighed. "Yeah. I'm good". I realized I didn't even know her name.

"What's your name again?"

"Fawn"

~~~~~~~~~~

"Party at my house tonight," Lily says as she hands me a piece of handwritten information.

It was lunchtime and as usual, the cafeteria was demarcated into three sectors with invisible lines. The popular, the not so popular and the unpopular.

A cliche, I know. But that's how it's always been. As long as you were pretty and rich, you belonged in the popular section. It's not like people were prevented from sitting anywhere, everyone just sort of fell into place.

"Who gives out handwritten party invitations these days," I hear Ashley say from her table.

"Just did," Lily replies, waving the bunch of papers in her hands.

I stab my salad as I stare at Gray through the corner of my eyes. He was seated with Ashley, Zyair, Elliot, Zoe, and Aaron.

I haven't introduced Aron yet, right?

Well, Aaron, Gray, and Zyair are best friends. They were inseparable during Freshman year, being ' that every girl loved and every guy wanted to be.

"Are you gonna eat that?" Fawn asks.

"Huh?" I look down at my brutally murdered salad. "Uh no".

"Are you bothered by Gray?" She asks, eyeing my lunch.

I raise an eyebrow and look at her. "Aren't you new?"

"No, I transferred here earlier this year," She laughs. "We just haven't been in the same class but I do see you around"

I place my arms on the table and lean in. "So what have you heard about me?"

"Hmmm, nothing really,"

"Then how did you know about me and Gray?"

"Know what?" She asks in confusion. "I just asked if you were bothered by him because you seemed pretty mad at him back in class and now you can't stop staring,"

I wondered if that was how I looked to everyone else. I swear I don't do like him anymore. I don't know why I'm so bothered. "Was I staring that much," I whisper, feeling my face burn with embarrassment.

Fawn laughs. "Yeah, you looked like you wanted to kill him a few moments ago."

"Wow," I laugh. "I swear I'm not like that on a normal day."

I honestly have no feelings for Gray. I'm just mad he dumped me for no reason and worse, in front of the entire school. I know what you are thinking.

It's been two years, Dove. Let it go. I want to let it go but I just couldn't. I need closure as to why he did what he did.

"Are you going to that?" I hear a voice say and look up to see Luca, staring down at me, pointing at the party invitation card on my table.

"I don't know. Are you?"

"I'll go if you do"

••••••••••••••••••

OTTD: what's your favorite movie series?

Mine is Money heist, obviously 👁👄👁

💕