❝ My paradigm is to feel alive❞

- Bazzi, Somebody.

"The mail says to resume Saturday," I looked up from my phone to Tanner who sat on the counter.

"That's great, cutie pants. What did you say the name of the place is again?" He looked back at me, taking a bite of his waffles.

"I told you yesterday, old man," I chuckled. "It's Layers."

"Layers," he mused.

"Stupid name, I know," Kaleb spoke from where he sat on the island table, his eyes glued to his phone and I pushed his head forward, "Shut up."

He had come over minutes ago while I was still getting dressed for school.

"Renée seems more violent as the days go by," Tanner said jokingly and Kaleb burst out laughing, "You raised a tiger."

I tried to keep from chuckling, so I pushed a waffle into my mouth before taking a sip of my orange juice.

Kaleb's phone vibrated on the table and he picked it up as his eyes scanned the screen. I turned to Tanner, about to say something when Kaleb said, "Hey, we might have to leave now. Sydney's car is down."

"I bet nothing's wrong with her car," I said, looking out the window as Kaleb drove to her house.

"What?" I heard Kaleb say and I shook my head, "Nothing."

"I heard you, Rae," he sighed.

"So why'd you ask?" I grinned at him. "I was only saying. I think there's nothing wrong with her car. She just doesn't want you picking me up, but too bad because I'm here."

"Sydney can't possibly be lying about her car."

I nodded, "Alright."

He threw a quick glance at me as he pulled up to Sydney's house.

I watched her facial expression change the moment she saw me seated in the car.

"I can't believe you brought her, Kaleb," she said, not minding that I could hear her as she looked directly at Kaleb.

"Come on Sydney, I already got Rae before you texted me," Kaleb explained.

She rolled her eyes, "Whatever. She can move to the back now."

"What?" I raised an eyebrow at her.

Okay, I wasn't unreasonable. I knew what was right and appropriate, but I wanted to annoy her a bit before moving to the back.

"You heard me," she spat. "Move to the back."

"Why?" I didn't look at her.

"Why not? I'm his girlfriend."

"Miss me with that bullcrap," I fired and almost laughed at the expression on her face. Beside me, I saw Kaleb look tired and I instantly felt bad. I knew he didn't like that Sydney and I weren't friends and it stressed him out when we argued, so I opened the door and got out, looking straight at Sydney.

"Oh, look who came down," she had a smirk on her face.

"Shut the hell up, you," I opened the door to the back seat and got in.

I was irritated throughout the ride. Not only was Sydney trying to rub it in my face that she got the front seat— which was really immature, but she was also making indirect comments about my total dependence on Kaleb.

At a point I felt like I was going to take off my shoes and throw it on that head of hers, but I remembered that my mom had gotten them for me and they did cost a lot.

Immediately Kaleb pulled up to the school's parking lot, I opened the door to get down but not before hearing her remind Kaleb that they had plans for Saturday.

For crying out loud, it was only Tuesday. I knew she only said it as a dig and I shook my head, making my way into the school building.

Algebra was to start in ten minutes and I looked around the class for an empty seat and I saw two seats in the middle of the class and walked to one, dropping my texts on the table, looking around and waving to a few people who sat on their seats.

"Hi Renée, can I seat with you?" I saw a smiling Harper and I smiled back, "Hey Harper, yeah, sure you can."

She let her books on the table and I watched her.

I needed friendship, and she was exactly who I needed.

Lunch time came and I honestly couldn't be any happier because I was so hungry. On the other hand, the thought of the amount of assignments I already had to do nearly choked me, especially when I didn't fully understand how to go about it. I made a mental note to ask Kaleb to go over it with me.

Speaking of that dork, I looked around the cafeteria and saw him seated with Sydney along with two of her friends who in mine and Kaleb's opinion were a bit too talkative.

Glad that I didn't have to sit alone for lunch, I picked happily at my spaghetti then turned to look at Harper who had been chewing silently, and my eyebrows furrowed when I saw her chewing and staring in a particular direction. I followed her gaze and it landed right on the table where the basketball players sat sometimes with their girlfriends, and sometimes, just alone.

Logan sat with the other guys, laughing about something.

"You're one of the million girls in this school crushing on Logan Carter, aren't you?"

"What? No," she laughed lightly. "I mean, he's cute, but I wasn't staring at him."

"Then who?" I asked.

"Jace," pink rose to her cheeks as she looked down, tucking some strands of hair behind her ear.

No doubt. The dudes who played basketball were really cute. It was almost like you had to be good looking or hot to play basketball. I knew for a fact that Kaleb had admirers, but it was less noticeable because he had Sydney. Jace on the other hand, did look really good.

"Do you talk on a regular?" I asked her, chewing on my spaghetti.

"No," she shook her head.

Harper was pretty. She had short brown hair that carved out her face, dimples that popped out once in a while.

"No? You should talk to him, it's no big deal!"

She looked at me in surprise, "Did you just say it's no big deal? Renée, you know that feeling when you have a crush on a guy and it feels like your confidence is on zero? And even if you do get the chance to talk to him, it's like you're mute?"

I sank in my seat.

No. Unfortunately, I didn't know how it felt and I started to feel disturbed all over again, but I shrugged the feeling off.

'There is nothing wrong with me. I'm just a unique being. Or, is it because I'm already more than used to Tanner? No, that is ridiculous. Because he brought me up didn't mean he is responsible for my inability have a crush.'

I shrugged, looking at Harper, "Okay... Well, then maybe you might just have to muster up the courage to talk to him. I mean, except he one day walks up to you and he talks to you, it's you who's going to have to put in the effort," I looked back at the guy who was saying something to a teammate.

I heard Harper sigh, "Having a crush could be exhausting. By the way, why aren't you with Kaleb?"

"Because he's with his girlfriend," I chuckled.

"Right," she closed her eyes before opening it, "I forgot he does have a girlfriend."

I was going to say something but was cut short when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket indicating I had a text. I got out my phone and looked at the screen. It was a text from Kaleb.

I rolled my eyes playfully as I replied,

*You shouldn't. Sydney's your girlfriend. It's okay.*

*.*

*It's fine. I can handle her.*

*?*

*Okay, I will. IF it means I'm getting a milkshake after.*

*?*

*Milkshake or not?*

*.*

I looked across the cafeteria where he say with Sydney who was listening to her friend, and he grinned maniacally.

I smiled.

I just got myself a milkshake.

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