The next morning I felt like a whole new person.

It’s amazing how Leo has that affect on me.

I quickly took a shower and got dressed, making sure to look my best today, then went down stairs.

Mom was already packing my lunch when I walked in. “Morning!” I said happily.

“What’s got you so happy and looking so nice? Picture day already?” my mom asked as I sat down.

“No…Leo,” I said smiling.

“Oh,” she smiled a knowing smile. “Someone is smitten,” she said putting our lunches on the table.

I smiled as I eat and tried to hind my blushing face.

“When is picture day? It’s almost October,” my mom said.

“It’s sometime next week,” Chelsea said. “Stay on top of it mom”.

“I can only do my best,” she said sitting down with her coffee and paper.

“Hey!” Blake said walking in with Marcus not far behind.

“Hey,” I said looking over at them smiling.

“Ms. Allen,” Marcus said smirking. “Looking good!” Blake winked at her before they looked over at me.

“Ready?”

“Hold on,” I said getting up with my dirty plate and fork.

“Damn girl, who are you looking all hot for?” Marcus asked.

“Do tell,” Blake said.

“Leo,” I said sheepishly.

“What?” they asked surprised.

“Long story, I’ll tell you on the way,” I said as Tyler walked in.

Our eyes meet each others for a moment before he speed pasted me and told my mom how hot she was.

I quickly headed up stairs to do any last minute things before the guys and I left.

“Tell me everything,” Blake said as soon as we got in the car.

“There’s nothing to tell. He told me that he was sorry and he loves me. A second chance is in order,”

“Ryan, I don’t think-” Marcus started but I stopped him.

“Stop it! You guys are my friends be happy for me. I love him and love makes people do some weird things. Leo isn’t a mistake. If he really doesn’t love me, I still want him in my life. I know he cares about me and that’s all I really need. I like knowing that he’s there. Please save the lecture and just be happy that I’m happy,”

The guys looked at each other and smiled. “We’re happy for you, babe,” Blake said.

“We just care too much,” Marcus said.

“I know. Thanks guys,” I said as Blake turned up the radio.

“How many more detentions do you have?” Marcus asked after a while.

“Two more weeks,” I said smiling.

“Nice,” he said as he pulling into the student parking lot.

After looking for a good parking spot Marcus parked the car then we walked toward the school together.

I made a beeline for Leo’s locker once we entered the school.

He saw me walking over and he met me in the middle.

He smiled and wrapped his arms around me.

I hugged him back and smiled. “I missed you,” I whispered to him.

“I missed you too, maybe more,” he said pulling away. “I was stupid and I’m so sorry,”

I smiled at him. “I know you were…just don’t do it again,”

“Promise,” he said before kissing me.

I smiled and headed to my locker.

I put my lunch and anything else that I didn’t need away before heading to homeroom.

“Hey,” Anna said as I walked passed.

I raised my middle finger as I walked to my seat. I placed my book bag down before I left the classroom again.

As I walked over to Leo I spotted Tyler making out with a freshman. Bella, I think her name was.

I rolled my eyes and continued walking.

At least he had his title, I thought once I reached Leo.

He took my hand and we walked over to Blake and Mitch.

We hung out and talked for a while before the bell rang.

*****

After detention I caught the late bus and headed home.

Chelsea and Tyler were there along with Dad.

“Hey,” I said hugging him.

“How’s my princess?” he asked kissing my forehead.

“She’s doing well,” I said smiling.

“Dad’s taking all of us out to dinner. Mom’s going home late and Dad wants to hang out with us,”

“Sounds like fun. Let’s go!”

“Don’t you have homework?” he asked before standing up.

“I’ll do it later,” I promised.

“Deal,” he said wrapping his arm around me.

We walked to the car and I had shotgun.

The four of us jammed out to the oldies as Dad drove us to T.G.I.Fridays.

At the restaurant I sat across from Dad and Tyler and Chelsea was next to me.

We made easy conversation as we looked through our menus.

I was in the mood for a chicken sandwich.

When our waiter returned with our drinks Dad ordered for everyone as my phone buzzed twice.

The text was from Leo asking if he could come over later and the other was from Tyler.

‘Why are you dating him again?’ he asked.

I rolled my eyes and closed my phone.

As dad told us a funny story about what happened at work Tyler took out his phone.

Dad is the guy that draws the bad guy so the police know who they’re looking for.

My phone buzzed and I read the text.

‘Answer me, please’. I rolled my eyes and wrote back.

‘What’s to you?’

After the story we all chuckled. “So, what happened?” I asked.

“Well, we had to use all three pictures. It turns out that there was more than one robber at the scene,”

“Oh,” I said opening my phone.

‘I don’t want that ass hurting you again’.

‘I’ll be okay’. I wrote back.

Moments later my phone went off again. I kicked Tyler from under the table and opened my phone.

‘Tell me why?’

‘Love makes a person do crazy things’. I said as our food came.

The table was mostly quite as we all eat.

I didn’t realize how hungry I was.

Afterwards, Dad paid and dropped us home.

I made a beeline to my room and got started on my homework.

Leo was coming over soon and I need to get it out of the way.

There was a knock on my door as I closed my textbook.

“What?” I snapped.

“I don’t get why you’re dating that boy,”

“There is nothing to get. We love each other,”

“He cheated on you!” he snapped.

“I’ve forgiven him for that,”

“You deserve so much more,” he said looking me in the eyes.

“Like who? Your man-whore ass?”

“Actually…yes,”

I laughed. “Please,”

“Ryan, he doesn’t care about you,”

“And you do?”