"Did you do it?" Kaden asked as he slumped down in a chair next to me. "Please tell me you forgot."

I turned to him to see he was looking at me with a hopeful look. His question had me tilting my head in confusion.

"The assignment that Ms. Kendrick gave us last week," Kaden clarified once he realized I was lost in thought.

I actually knew what he was agitated about. My English teacher, indeed, had assigned each one of us to write about where we wanted to be in five years and we were required to present it to the class.

I nodded. "Yes, I did. Did you?"

Kaden's eyes got wide like saucers and his legs started to shuffle. "I'm screwed. Everybody in this class has already completed their essays."

"Kade, calm down." I reached for his shoulder to make him stop being antsy. "Why are you being so dramatic?"

"I lost it, Andrew. I've been going through my backpack for the millionth time just now and yet I can't find it," he told me shortly.

I felt bad for not knowing what to do rather than asking him, "When was the last time you saw it?"

Before he could reply, Steve walked up to us. His eyebrows were lowered while he was squinting hard, and his upper lip was raised making his disapproval clear but Kaden paid him no mind.

"Is this bum bothering you again?" Steve asked thoughtfully and switched his gaze to glare down at Kaden.

Kaden only rolled his eyes. "Nobody's bothering anyone, dumbass."

I gave Steve a look telling him not to worry. "Kade lost his assignment," I said which resulted in him chuckling.

Kaden scowled at Steve before getting up to his feet, slinging his backpack on his shoulders. "I'm gonna skip this class. If any of you guys need me I'll be hiding in the bathroom."

"You must be joking," I laughed out.

Just as Kaden was about to leave, Steve grabbed him by the arm. "Have you ever thought of asking me?"

"You have a spare two pages essay I could borrow?" he retorted, sarcasm clear in his voice.

"I don't, dipshit, but I have yours," Steve said and unzipped his own backpack. He pulled out some papers and held them out to Kaden. "Here."

Kaden stretched his smile from ear to ear after he saw the papers. "Steve, I could kiss you for real man. I completely forgot I lent it to you."

"You're welcome," Steve muttered, probably annoyed by his lack of gratitude.

I heaved a sigh of relief for Kaden and looked over at Steve. "Why'd you need his essay, anyway?"

"Oh, we plan to go to the same college and rent an apartment together. I'm just curious to read what he'd planned in the future," he told me.

"Cool," I said, nodding slowly.

Deep down, I wished I could also have done the same future planning as them with Ethan but that appeared to be impossible after what I had witnessed in the cafeteria. I felt used and frustrated, and I allowed it.

"Steve, do you mind driving me home?" I could tell Steve was a bit taken aback when he heard that.

"Um, sorry man, but I'm staying late for play rehearsal," he told me solemnly.

I shifted my eyes to the guy beside me. "Kade, can I get a ride from you?"

"I kinda have a date, bro," he announced while scratching the back of his neck.

"Man whore," Steve muttered outright compelling Kaden to glare at him.

He shoved his friend's shoulder a little. "What did you say?"

"Guys, it's okay." I stopped Steve from retaliating and bowed my head in defeat. "I'll ask Olivia then."

"Why are you asking us for a lift?" Kaden asked, looking confused. "Ethan can't drive you?"

I was speechless and Steve must have seen the distress on my face, for he said, "C'mon, Kade. You got your essay back now let's go sit."

Kaden groaned in protest but he followed his friend, trudging behind Steve as he dragged him to their usual desks at the back. I sank in my chair and began planning as to how I was going to make Olivia agree to drive me home.

It was a few minutes later that Ethan and Elle entered the classroom and the sight of them clasping hands together ignited the jealousy inside me. Frustration really took a toll on me to be jealous of someone who was never mine in the first place.

Ethan's eyes zeroed in on my face and he released his girlfriend's hand straight away. I pretended to be flipping through my essay which I had read numerous times when Ethan took two long strides over.

"Are you mad at me?" he asked, worry filling his voice.

I huffed, crossing my arms. "What d'you think?"

"This isn't what you think it is," he asserted then, glancing over at his approaching girlfriend. "We'll sort it out on the way home."

"Whatever, bro," I replied mockingly and it was enough to make Ethan lay his hand on top of mine.

I pulled my hand away and glared at him. On the contrary, he had a pleading look on his face. "Andy, please."

"Oh, so here you are hiding," Elle broke our tension with her cheerful voice. She was quick to take in my expression of aggravation before turning to Ethan. "Does Andy look grumpy to you, baby?"

I narrowed my eyes at her. "Time to change the contact lenses, girl."

"Definitely grumpy," Elle whispered to Ethan - but it was still audible to me - and nudged his ribs with her elbow.

"He gets cranky when he doesn't get enough sleep," he said under his breath.

"What anime were you guys binging last night?" I looked over at Ethan who didn't look the least bit scared about what Elle just asked.

"It's -" I started.

"Actually I don't care," she cut in before I could say more. "The sole thing I really care about is my upcoming birthday party."

"That's right. It's all about you this week," I replied sullenly. "What do you want this year?"

Elle put a hand on her chest, acting as if she was touched. "You don't have to get me anything, Andy. The best kind of present for me is seeing my friends there."

Our conversation ended as soon as Ms. Kendrick came in, sending everyone to their seats. Just as I predicted earlier, she told us to take out our homework assignment and selected random students to read out loud their essays.

**

I was standing on the steps of the school's entrance waiting for Olivia to come out from the building when a black Chevy pulled up by the curb. The driver's window rolled down and Kaleb's head peeked out.

He threw me a lopsided grin. "I had a hunch that you missed me."

"Go away, Kaleb," I muttered before looking over my shoulder, hoping to see my sister walking down the steps.

Negative.

"Hi, Andrew," an unfamiliar male voice shouted my name, pulling my attention back into Kaleb's direction.

I could see there was a guy next to him in the passenger seat. A warm smile etched on his face when his soft brown eyes peered over at me. He had short, messy, dark brown hair, caramel skin, and a prominent beauty mark on the left side of his face. Truth be told, he's beautiful.

"Hey, guy I've never talked to before," I greeted back to which he responded by laughing.

He stretched his hand out of the window for me to shake. "I'm Emilio, Ms. Britt's nephew. Your neighbor?"

The realization hit me and I stepped down to take his hand. His grip was firm as he lightly shook my hand before letting it go.

I matched his smile with my own and nodded. "It's nice to finally meet you."

"The feeling is mutual," he told me kindly, nodding as well.

"Why are you in a car with him?" I asked gesturing to Kaleb. "Do you have a death wish?"

"Oh lord, this guy is hilarious," Emilio choked out between chuckles, instinctively slapping Kaleb on his thigh. Was he dumb?

"He's the funniest," Kaleb continued with a mischievous smirk.

"You should come with us," he told me once his laughter stopped. "I want to really know you, neighbor."

"I'm sorry but I can't," I declined politely. "I'm waiting for my sister."

"Then it's going to be a lovely wait of your life," Kaleb sarcastically responded. I couldn't help but frown.

Seeing my confused reaction, he sighed and explained, "Olivia and Kaden left together."

My eyes almost bugged out of my head. "What?"

"That's your sister? Good genes clearly run in the family," Emilio pointed out, grinning. I wondered if he ever got tired of smiling.

"Thanks, Emilio," I replied and took a step back. "I guess I'll see you around, neighbor."

Emilio stylishly rested his elbow on his friend's shoulder. "I think he's turning down my offer, Kaleb."

"Don't get me wrong, I don't want to be a burden to you guys so I'm gonna walk," I said causing Kaleb to roll his eyes.

"Just get in the car," he instructed. "You and Emilio practically live close by. I'll drop you off on the way to his."

As much as I didn't want to be in the same car and share the same air as Kaleb, I really had no other choice if I wanted to evade Ethan. The things he put me through were still fresh in my mind but the presence of Emilio made me doubt he would repeat his actions this time.

Emilio came off as cheerful, like the one I could trust and be around with. There was no evil in this guy and Kaleb might scare his new friend off if he ever showed his true colors.

"What are you doing here and not waiting for me in the parking lot?" Ethan called out on top of the steps.

I swallowed hard and dragged my eyes to him. "I'm not going home with you."

"We promised to talk," Ethan answered back. I never promised him anything but whatever.

His eyes widened once I opened the backseat door of Kaleb's car and climbed in. I heard his hasty footfall coming down from the steps along with his voice telling me to wait but I took no notice of it and swung the door shut.

"Go," I told Kaleb to which he gladly complied.

Shortly, the car began to move and Ethan's voice grew louder as the vehicle moved further away. Kaleb and Emilio remained quiet and showed no signs to make any comment although I could tell they wanted to. As a matter of interest, I glanced back through the window to see Ethan was kicking a small rock off the curb out of rage.