It's been a week, and after a week you would hope that the people would stop staring or snickering at every chance they got but no, that is not the case. Every time I pass the hallway, someone is either loudly playing the video of the cafeteria scene or hollering behind my back. God, can I smack someone?

Caitlyn, on the other hand, got suspended for a week. And today, the devil comes back to school. It didn't take me long to find the video on the facebook and show it to the principal, who immediately called in Caitlyn's parents. Now, I could have let it slip and shrugged it off, but I have seen enough movies to know that this is how bullying starts. So, if I don't want to end up in a dumpster after being beaten, I needed to bring this to authorities. And I don't regret it one bit.

The major reason why I did it was because I didn't say anything provocative to her, if anything I was calm and collected when I talked to her, but bam! Next thing you know, I am covered with food. It still sends me into shudders to think about it but I close my eyes, trying to take in a shaky breath. It's safe to sag I will not be eating spaghetti anytime soon.

"Where are you lost?" Breanna asks, her hand clasped with Luke's and I give them both a deadly look.

"When you guys came to school yesterday after your weekend date, I remember telling you very precisely the rules of dating when you have me as your best friend, which includes no PDA in front of me." I say, pointing to their hands and the way Luke was just about to peck her.

They are officially dating, and while they make an adorable couple, it makes me want to hit both of them at head for being all gushy-mushy. Gross! But I have become good friends with Luke, the guy gets my non existent humour and makes my best friend smile, there isn't much to complain about.

"We'll see about your thoughts on PDA after Chris asks you out." Luke comments and that does it, I take up my thick biology textbook and slam it on his head.

"Fuck off!" I say and he chuckles, rubbing his head.

These new couple has some weird obsession with Chris and I, and in their fantasy dreamland, we have hots for each other. The thought makes me barf, actually.

"Chris and Adrianna sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G." Breanna sings and I scrunch up my nose.

When my eyes catch Chris walking down the hall, I immediately catch his jacket's arm and pull him towards us.

"Please please please tell them that there's nothing between us, and save me from this torture." I plead him and he chuckles, and oh boy, I stare at him for a second.

He chuckled with deep hoarse voice and it sent my stomach into fucking knots. I am sick, I am definitely sick, because there is no other explanation for why I feel this way around him.

"You're hurting my feelings, Claire." He pouts and my eyes flicker to his lips.

Suddenly, my mouth feels very dry as my gaze flicker between his eyes and his mouth. Breanna laughs by my side, finally snapping me out of my trance and I frown at Chris.

"Not at all helping, Jay." I shove his shoulder and he turns towards Breanna and Luke.

"What's she on about?" He asks them and I continue to pout but Evan comes to join us and I immediately smile at him.

He grins at me before winking and I try to hide away my blush with a cough. Damn you, cheeks!

"Nothing, Luke and I were just pulling her leg and teasing about you." Breanna shrugs and I nod.

"And I was just telling them, very clear and loud that there is absolutely no chance that anything is happening here, because blaaah!" I say and Evan laughs at my reaction.

"Him and her? No chance." He says, supporting me and I push away Chris before hugging Evan.

"You are my saviour, Ev! Best best friend ever." I say and he chuckles, keeping his arm around my shoulder as we face everyone, and I realise that we have formed this small group by the lockers.

Jordan joins in as well as he looks between us, and his gaze goes from Evan's arm around me to Chris' expression which looks almost pissed. Jordan smirks at me and I frown at him, giving him a questioning look.

"Hey, you told me I was the best best friend." Breanna says, finally catching on and Evan laughs beside me.

"Actually, I am THE best best friend, you both are managing just fine under my guidance." I shrug and Evan pinches my sides.

"Don't be clever, An." He says and I elbow him.

"Stop pinching me, you ass."

He chuckles but stops pinching me and places a quick peck on my forehead, "I am late to class, see you at lunch." He says and I nod.

When he disappears down the hallway, I continue to stare at his back, a sigh escaping my lips but I am also smiling. I missed this with Evan, we had been arguing a lot lately and I didn't like it one bit. But today, everything seemed normal.

"Please, be a little more subtle." Jordan says, amused and my eyes snap at him.

"What?" I ask and notice that all four of them are staring at me, Luke looks a little confused, Breanna and Jordan amused, while Chris looks pissed.

Okay, then.

"You have hots for that guy, as in you desperately want him in your pants." Jordan points out and I scrunch up my nose at him and pray to God that my blush isn't as clear as a day to everyone.

"Gross, Jordie! He's my best friend." I say, huffing before adding, "FYI, he has a girlfriend."

He laughs, "You didn't deny it." He winks and I shake my head.

"I don't like him, loud and clear." I say, trying to sound sincere and almost sounding pissed, to which Breanna gives me a sad smile and Jordan nods, taking a hint.

"I'll not mention it again as long as you promise to stop calling me from that awful name." He says and I forget about being mad as I stand on my toes and pinch his cheeks.

"Okay, Jordie." I grin at him.

"God, you're so annoying." He breathes and I scowl at him.

"Heard that!"

"Yeah, you were meant to." He says and I push him away playfully but he puts his arm around my shoulder before leading me down the hallway and I look back at Breanna, Luke and Chris and wave at them.

But, Chris is following us and I remember that I was headed to Biology class, the class I share with Chris. Ms. Kaur is a sweet, timid teacher who absolutely does not know the word strict.

Jordan walks me to the class and gives me his signature salute before disappearing into the hallways and I enter the class, Chris right behind my step.

"Alright class, as we discussed, we need pairs to do this next report on nutritional values in all living species, it's an elaborative paper that will require a lot of research. So, you better choose your partners to your convenience." Ms. Kaur says and I look around the class, already seeing friends pairing up before someone kicks my chair and I roll my eyes and turn around to look at Chris.

He's smirking at me, and I am surprised about it because he looked pissed before this class. "Since we both have no friends in this class, obviously. You wanna do it together?" He asks and I shrug.

Why the hell not. After Chris dropped me home last week, he offered to stay but I told him that I wanted to be alone. I took an hour shower, scrubbing off every food item from my hair and then snuggled into my bed, reading. After that, Jordan and him would casually join us for lunch sometimes. Evan complained to me at first, but when he started noticing that nothing was going on between Chris and I, he stopped complaining altogether.

He said he trusts me, and that he would expect me to tell him things and I promised him that I would, because I seriously would tell him. But, I learned that Chris is an okay guy, and that his reputation is something built on the rumours about him. He doesn't talk much though, he's usually the silent observer and Jordan, on the other hand, talks a lot! Enough for both of them.

Jordan has become a good friend, much like Luke. And Chris, well, he's a mystery that I am not too adamant to solve. Even though him sticking around only fed to the rumours, I started shrugging them off, because I mentally prepared myself for them. Although I still think that the reason Jordan and Chris joined us for lunch sometimes was purely out of guilt for what Caitlyn did to me.

As for him and Caitlyn, they are officially broken up.

"Earth to Claire!" He snaps and I finally get out of my head and look at him.

"What?" I ask and he gives me an amused smile.

"Daydreaming about me?" He asks and I barf.

"Okay, Jay." I shake my head and focus my attention back to the task at hand, "You wanna pair up for this?" I ask, gesturing to the topic return on the white board and he nods.

"Cool then." I shrug.

"Your house after school." He winks and I scrunch up my nose at him.

"Your house after school." I say, just as sternly and he shakes his head.

"Absolutely not."

"Absolutely not." I shrug, an amused smile on my phase as an annoyed expression starts to take over his face.

"Stop doing that." He says, aggravated, leaning forward in his seat and I do the same as I lean towards his desk.

"Stop doing that." I say and he smirks.

"I love Chris." He shrugs and I stare at him.

"Self obsessed." I snap and he laughs.

"Your house, alright?" He says and I nod.

"Five, okay? I need my beauty sleep after school." I say and he grins.

"Okay, Cinderella."

"Aurora, actually." I point out and he gives me a confused look and I shake my head before turning towards the front of the class.

Ms. Kaur gives us a format and explains how to go about the whole paper while I jot down pointers because I know Chris wouldn't be doing that. I should have paired up with some nerd, now two average students are paired up together who will get average marks. No chance for an A. Great!

Rest of the day goes uneventful until lunch break where Jordan and Chris join us, again. I sit between Chris and Breanna, who's sitting beside Luke and across us is Evan, Rose and Jordan.

Jordan picks up a fry before saying, "Open your mouth." He says and I do, as I rub my palms together.

He shoots the fry in my mouth and it meets my chin and falls in the tray in front of me. He huffs and tries again but again, it falls in the tray. After the third failed attempt, I shut my mouth close.

"How are you a basketball player again, aren't you supposed to be good at this." I say and he shrugs.

"Supposed to be being the key word." Evan says, smirking and picks up a fry and gestures me to open my mouth so I do, "Watch and learn, Woods."

Evan shoots the fry and it ends up in my mouth, the only problem being that because of the force, I end up swallowing it without chewing and immediately start coughing. Evan's expression turn into a horrified one as he watches me while Jordan almost falls off his seat, because he's laughing like an idiot.

Chris looks at me and immediately offers me a water bottle, his hand meeting my back as he starts rubbing circles on it and I immediately drink up the water.

When I sober up, Breanna and Luke are both very much amused, and Rose is looking between Evan and I while Jordan is still trying not to laugh.

"Watch and learn, Woods." Jordan mimics Evan's voice and laughs again while I throw a fry at him and it meets his eye. "Ow!" He squeals and I give him a bitchy smile.

"Sorry, An. You okay?" Evan asks, concern lacing his voice and I nod.

"Don't worry about it, we both know that is not the first time you saw me choking." I say without thinking and Jordan laughs loudly, Luke and Breanna joining in while my first cheeks turn red. I notice how Chris' hand is still on my back but he has stopped his motions while Evan gives me a completely amused look.

"Oh, c'mon! Grow the fuck up." I tell all of them, which only makes these stupid asshats laughs more.

"It's okay babe, we got ya!" Breanna says and I elbow her.

"Oh god, I need a mouth and brain filter at times." I slam my head against the table and Chris' hand slowly moves towards my waist and he pulls me closer to himself.

My eyes narrow at him, a deep blush taking over my features due to the strange feeling in the pit of my stomach at his touch. The cloth of my t-shirt is thin and I can actually feel the warmth radiating off his palm on my skin. I try not to gasp when he gives my waist a squeeze and I turn to him.

I am pretty sure that my face is flushed as I look at him but he doesn't even meets my eye, he's staring at Jordan, and then I realise that they are actually talking about something but I am completely at loss of words.

When I notice screeching of chairs, I look at Rose but she's already leaving the cafeteria. Evan looks at her back before cursing under her breath, "Well, fuck!" He says before taking his backpack and running after her.

"Evan!" I call out but he doesn't even spare me a glance as he follows Rose.

I turn to the rest of my friends and they are wearing the same confused looks but Jordan is the first one to speak, "What's her problem?" He asks and I sigh.

"Pretty sure it had something to do with what just happened with Adrianna." Luke points out and my eyes meet my food at the table, suddenly losing appetite.

Fuck! This is what I told Breanna I didn't want to happen. I am almost about to stand up and follow after them but Chris doesn't loose his hold on me, and when I meet him eyes he just shakes his head, as if telling me that following after them should be the last thing I need to do.

"It was a joke." Jordan tells Luke and he nods.

"I know, but think from her perspective." Luke says and I give him a thankful nod, for being someone who at least understands this whole situation.

I run a hand through my hair and Breanna looks at me, "You okay?" She asks and I nod. "This is what you meant when you said that you would never want to be the reason Rose has insecurities in her relationship, huh?" She says and I give her a deadly look for saying it out aloud.

"You said that, why?" Jordan asks and I sigh.

"Jordan, if you have a girlfriend and she has this childhood guy best friend, and they have amazing bond. Put yourself in that shoe, and imagine what just occurred was something your girlfriend said, would that not feed into your insecurities?" I ask and he thinks about it for a second.

"So, you're saying that you're my girlfriend and Evan is my childhood best friend?" He says and I slam my palm against my forehead.

"Is that all you got from what I just said?" I glare at him and he laughs.

"Chill, I was kidding. Listen, Adrianna, if this supposed guy and my girlfriend are tight, I wouldn't be insecure if I trust my girlfriend, because at the end of the day, I know where her loyalty resides." He shrugs.

It takes me a minute to comprehend his words but I nod, totally getting where he's coming from but I know that's not how everyone thinks.

"Unless, of course, if I am aware that there's a possibility that my girl can have feelings for the guy, then I will definitely have the same reaction that Rose had." He says, his eyes boring into mine, as if he's trying to convey a message but I shake my head.

Everyone starts conversing amongst themselves but it's hard for me before checking the cafeteria door every minute. I sigh and I am glad that Chris has taken his arm off, because I was starting to get fidgety in my seat.

"You okay?" Chris asks and I nod.

"Fine." I give him a tight lipped smile and I know he doesn't buy it, but he doesn't say anything either.

The lunch break ends and everyone goes to their own classes. When the day ends, and I have not seen either Evan or Rose, I start to get worried. I leave him a text message to ask if everything's okay, but he doesn't respond and deep inside, I didn't expect him to.

I meet Breanna at the lockers and notice that Luke is waiting for us and I look at her, "Why don't you and Luke drive to school together?" I ask, because that's what most couples do, and knowing Breanna, I know this is something she would want to do as well — it's about getting to spend as much time as you can with your boyfriend.

"Because I am not Evan?" She says and I laugh, biting my lip.

"I don't hold it against him, you know?" I say and she nods.

"I know, but that doesn't mean that I can't." She shrugs.

I am thankful that Breanna's loyalty resides in her friendship and that she isn't ditching me for her one week relationship but that doesn't mean that I feel good about it. I don't want to hold her back. I just wish I would turn eighteen soon and get a car.

One month, only! I repeat the mantra in my head when I feel someone's presence behind me. "Go spend time with your boyfriend, she's riding with me." I hear Chris tell Breanna and both of us frown at him.

"What?" Breanna asks.

"I am?" I ask Chris and he nods.

Breanna gives Chris a hug and looks at me, "You okay with this, right?" She asks and I nod.

"Yes, he lives across the street, it's not like he's going out of his way." I shrug and she nods.

She turns to Luke and exits the school building and I turn to Chris, "Thanks, I guess?" I say and he smirks.

"You're welcome, Claire."

"Don't go soft of me, Jay. It makes you look weak." I say and he laughs before we start making our way to the parking lot.

Jordan is waiting for us by his car and as soon as we look at each other, we both yell at the same time, "Shotgun!"

I am louder and quicker and he groans, "Fuck you." He says and I wink at him.

"Top or bottom?"

He pales at my comments, making Chris laugh out loudly, "I can't believe you just asked him that." He says and I shrug.

"What can I say? It's all a part of my charm." I say, turning towards Jordan who's just staring at me, "I'll say you're bottom." I stick my tongue out at him and he smacks my head.

"God, I thought you would be all nerdy with that big frame of yours." He says and I grin.

"My dad would have been thankful. I just have weak eyesight, not because I study, but because I read, a lot. And watch netflix." I say, getting into the car and Jordan takes the back seat.

"Well, netflix and chill then?" He says, winking and I shove him back in his seat from the centre.

"In your dreams, Jordie," I say and pause, "Oh wait, I am so out of your league, that you can't even have me in your dreams."

Chris chuckles, shaking his head as he starts driving. Jordan and I bicker back and forth while Chris tells us both to shut up every five minutes.

"If you ever need a bad guy to make Smith jealous, that would be my house." He points to where Chris has stopped his car, and I notice how he just lives down the street from my place.

Why have I been so oblivious all these years?

"For the last time, Jordan, I do not like Evan." I say, narrowing my eyes at him and he gets out of the car with his stupid signature salute.