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"Are you okay?"

I looked up from my desk to see Eliki looking at me with a frown. If I weren't in such a bad mood, I would've laughed at her expression.

"I'm fucking ecstatic," I lied, offering her a warm smile which I hope is believable.

She glanced at our chemisty teacher who was busily explaining the topic that my angry mind couldn't seem to grasp.

She turned back to me, satisfied that he didn't notice the two of us talking at his discussion. She bowed her head down before moving closer to me.

"The way you grasp your pen seems to tell me otherwise." She pointed out, lowering her voice.

I glanced at my hand and was surprised to see my hand gripping my pen tightly. My grip was really tight that you could see my knuckles turning white.

I immediately let go of the pen. The loud sound of it hitting the desk harshly made me wince but thankfully, the teacher didn't notice.

I lifted my hand in a signal that says wait. My eyes followed the clock that was ticking.

As the long one hit twelve, The familiar sound of the bell rang. I stood up, turning to Eliki.

"Let's make a short trip at my locker." I said moodily, stuffing all my stuff in my bag.

Eliki knows that I'd tell her there which earned a nod from her before she quietly stood up and followed me out of the door.

The hallway was crowded and almost everyone snapped their attention to me when they noticed me walking by and started talking in hush tones.

Eliki noticed it and grew confused but not before glaring at them that made them withdraw their eyes.

I punched in my locker code completely annoyed before taking my chemistry book and putting it back in my locker.

Eliki's hand touched my hand, making me pause. I turned to her with a heavy sigh and a pissed off face.

"It was Jane Due." I said, my brows furrowing as I was reminded of the events.

*F L A S H B A C K S*

My head bobbed up and down, the beat of the music blasting through the earphones made my mood even more good.

And considering the fact that I ate maltesers for breakfast this morning really really peaked my mood.

Unhealthy?

I think not.

"Kiki, do you love me? Are you riding? Say you'll never ever leave from beside me," I sang softly, fixing my books one more time before closing my locker shut.

I jumped in surprised when I was greeted by the smiling face of Jane Due and her gang.

Jane Due is one of the populars here in our school. She's not your typical cheerleader and instead is the leader of our dance crew.

She was gifted with stunning features, not surprised there since she has latin blood running through her veins.

She's actually not that bitchy since she talks to everyone even from the people on the lower ladder.

One thing that you should watch out is the fact that she's completely infatuated with Tyrone Adler eversince he stepped foot at our school door and when you mess with him, you automatically earned yourself a death wish from her.

She's nice but once you get on her bad side, I'm sorry but you'd be a goner.

"Hi! You're Zoe Smith right?" She asked, a friendly smile on her face.

I didn't hear what she said though since the music blasting in my earphones prevented me from doing so.

I took out one of the earphone bud,"Pardon? I was listening to music." I said, holding up one of the bud.

"You're Zoe Smith right?" She asked again, not once did her smile falter.

I nodded, growing confused on why she'd talk to me. We never really talked before. Just the occasional smiles here and there when our eyes would somehow meet in the hallway.

Before I knew it, one of her goonies looped their arms unto mine before slamming me unto the locker.

It wasn't that strong but it was enough to cause pressure on my still healing bruise making me slightly wince.

"What the hell?" I let out, completely surprised.

She was still smiling but this time, it wasn't friendly anymore. She stepped closer to me, grasping my neck between her long acrylic nails.

"What's your deal with my TyTy?" She asked, applying slight pressure but not enought it would choke me.

"My? Since when did Tyrone become yours?" I wondered out, my eyes staring back at her.

"He's been mine eversince he stepped unto this school bitch." She seethed, her eyes glaring at me.

"Oh really? You should be careful then Jane, I heard one sided relationships could really fuck up your mind. " I said, a mocking smile on my face.

Some of the people that were hanging on their lockers were stiffling their laughter at what I said.

I wasn't jealous. Oh hell no, its far from it actually. I was seething in anger at the fact that this girl actually think that she could walk in here and say that to me.

She painfully dug her nails unto my neck,"What did you say?" She dared, her eyes staring at mine daringly.

I smirked,"One sided relationship fucks you up really badly especially on the head." I repeated, this time slowing down as if I were talking to a child.

She raised her hand and was about to slap me when I beat her to it and ducked. Goonie #1 immediately let me go when I stomped my feat painfully unto hers.

I pushed Goonie #2 taking her off guard making her fall on the ground. I took a hold of Jane and twisted her around to slam her unto the locker.

This time, it was my hand that was wrapped around her neck. Sadly, I didn't have acrylic nails and didn't have anything to dig into her neck instead, I added pressure on her neck.

"Who gave you the right to raise your hand at me? Try to hit me again and I'd make sure to really fucked up that brain of yours with a concussion." I seethed, my anger spiking in dangerous levels.

She looked at me with slight fear before one of her goonie pulled me away from her.

"You want war? I'll give you war." Jane said darkly, her minions now standing behind her back.

I picked up my phone and earphones that somehow fell before turning to her.

"I'll be waiting then," I spat back, walking away with my head help up high.

A satisfied smile forming on my lips when I saw Jane and her minions shocked expression along with the crowd.

*E N D OF F L A S H B A C K*

By the time I finished telling Eliki the events that happened. The warning bell rang, indicating that we were already late to our next class.

"What the hell? Where the fuck was I when this was all happening?" She cursed out, disbelief on her face.

"I don't know. Maybe on your bed and still daydreaming about those guys you'd masturbated with?" I joked, my mood somehow lighting up now that I told Eliki about it.

"Correction, that was last night." She grinned playfully, wagging her eyebrows im a suggestive manner.

My face contorted in disgust,"Eliki, that's TMI!" I exclaimed, laughing slightly.

"Let me guess, you're gonna skip for the rest of the day?" She asked, suddenly turning serious.

I bit my lip,"Yes. I can't face Tyrone since its obvious everybody knows what happened and I'm pretty sure someone took a video earlier." I replied, a pout on my lips.

I wasn't mad at Tyrone if that's what you're thinking. This is not his fault and I'm kinda embarrassed to face him knowing that people were assuming that there was something going on between us.

"That's totally a valid reason to skip." Eliki grinned, both knowing that it was the complete opposite.

I shake my head in amusement and nodded her goodbye before turning to walk to the entrance.

I didn't even take a few steps yet before she called my name. I turned around to see her with a warm smile on her face.

"I'm automatically your second command okay? So, text me if ever something happens and I'll be there." She blew me a playful kiss before we both bursted out laughing and walked away in different directions.

};/

"Young lady! You better tell my why the stick man are you here when you're supposed to be at school."

I grinned innocently at Uncle Ben. Delilah stiffling her laugh at the fact that despite us being adults, Uncle Ben still censors his curse word around us and acts as if we were four years old.

"Well?" Uncle Ben raised his brow, crossing his arm on his chest.

Uncle Ben is the complete definition of Santa Claus. He was a few inches taller than us and had a few weight gained over the years, he has a mustache and a warm fatherly smile.

"Some girl was trying to fight with me and I didn't want to go to the principal if ever I was fed up with her." I shrugged, wiping the counter with a wet cloth.

Instead of going home, I decided to go here at Ben's Diner since I'm sure I'd only be bored at home.

Uncle Ben's smile immediately turned into a frown before he pulled my arm to gently face him.

"Are you okay Zoe? Are you hurt? Any broken bones?" He bombarded me with questions that brought a deep ache in my chest.

"Calm down Uncle Benny, I'm completely fine and you know I wouldn't let anyone hit me." I pointed out, grinning at him.

Delilah stepped in, slapping softly unto his father's arm when he still wouldn't let me go and checked my arms or face of a bruise or mark.

"Dad stop that! Zoe's a big girl and you know she'd tell us if ever she's hurt and besides, she learned how to defend herself from yours truly so stop pestering her and let us continue doing our jobs." She said, playfully rolling her eyes at her dad.

Believe it or not, Uncle Ben is a retired boxer. He used to travel the world because of it, hence the reason why she met Delilah's mother.

Uncle Ben pouted,"Hey! You can't blame me. I love you both and you know I can't stand seeing you hurt." He said, which made Delilah and I look at each other before we pulled him in a group huh.

"We love you tooo!" We both sang, which earned both of us a kiss on the head.

"I know, now back to work ladies! Customers are coming in." Uncle Ben said, before going back to the kitchen area.

For the next hour, customers came in and out. When the clock strike twelve, the diner was buzzing with hungry customers.

I could see familiar people that were from school but thankfully, they didn't look at me and spoke in hush tone unlike other students earlier at school probably because of their hunger.

Despite the cold air that the aircon offered, I could still feel the sweat forming on my forehead. I pulled my hair in a messy bun and wiped some of my sweat with a tissue.

"Good afternoon, May I take your order?" I asked, my eyes focused on the receipt of the previous order to check if I punched in the price properly.

"Actually, Can I order something that is out of the menu?"

My eyes snapped up, widening at the sight of Tyrone Adler standing infront of me.

He looked good with his black skinny jeans, white shirt and his usual leather jacket and converse.

"What are you doing here?" I asked, not realizing how rude it is.

"I'm here to order something although its off the menu, I'm sure there would be no problem." He answered, a twinkle in his brown eyes.

I gulped, growing uncomfortable at his stare,"We don't take orders that is out of the menu. I'm sorry sir," I politely said, glancing around to find Delilah.

Sadly, she was still busy serving another table and I didn't have the conscience to disturb her.

My eyes turned back to Tyrone who was already staring at me, amusedly might I add. I gulped, growing uncomfortable in his stare and started to fidget.

"You're holding up the line," I pointed out, referring to the people behind him.

His eyes wiped out of expression,"I don't care. I won't leave here until you give me my order." He announced, not once looking behind him.

My annoyance spiked before I started to panicked. I couldn't afford to lose some customers considering I'd be guilty about it since Uncle Benny and Delilah

deserve every penny for their hard work.

"What's your order?" I asked, glaring at him in annoyance.

A gorgeous smile graced on his lips showing his dimples and I had to discreetly grip the counter to steady my weakening knees.

Peanut butter, marshmallow, oreo!

"Tyrone! What the toasted cream do you think you're doing? Smiling like that with your seducing dimples! How about we switch roles and I'd order you instead?"

My eyes widened at my words before I realized it was all in my head and hadn't actually said it loud.

"You," He answered simply.

I couldn't stop the gape that formed in my mouth.

"Your order will be coming up right now sir!" I looked to my side to see a grinning Delilah coming to me.

She untied the apron that had the diner's logo before whispering in my ear,"It's your lunch break so stop avoiding him and just talk to him." She said before pushing me off of the counter.

"That would be free sir. You just have to make sure to bring her back safetly or else I would gladly show you the different kinds of chopping." Delilah politely said but you could hear the threat on her voice.

Tyrone didn't seem faze at her threat and instead gave her a small thankful smile and nodded firmly.

I let out a sigh before walking out of the counter. Tyrone took a hold of my hand, before pulling me out of the diner.

I couldn't help but turn red when I saw Delilah winking at me suggestively and how some of the students at our school gaped at our adjoined hands.

I almost groaned at the fact that rumors would start roaming around but you know what?

Fuck rumors.

We both know the truth and I think that's the most important.

I looked down at our hands before tightening my hold and I couldn't stop the genuine smile forming on my lips.

Because at that moment, I knew I could live through all the rumors as long as he would hold my hand and squeeze it in reassurance like he is doing now.

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3 2018

2018 3

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