"Dad!" I exclaimed, running down the stairs and I was instantly pulled into a bone crushing hug. All air was being squeezed in my lungs as I struggled to breathe. I pulled away and smiled at the way he was grinning at me. I couldn't help but notice how tired he looked but I didn't mention it, instead we both sat down in the living room.

"I have good news!" He exclaimed, taking a seat and sinking into the pillows.

"What is it?"

"I won't be leaving again for a while."

My eyes lit up as a grin stretched on my face. "How long is a while?"

"My next trip is in February."

Wow, that's almost three months away. His face then turned serious. "So what is this about you running around with the towns delinquent?"

Oh fuck.

I opened my mouth to speak when he began to laugh. I narrowed my eyes at him as he grinned. "I'm joking Sam. I've dealt with him more times than anyone and I can say he's a good kid."

Sometimes I forget that my dad's a lawyer and Reece has been to Juvie many times. "Were just friends." I informed him.

Dad smirked. "That's what your mum said about me."

I playfully swatted his arm. "I mean it!"

He propped his feet onto the coffee table. "So how's maths going?"

I muffled a laugh and he looked at me weirdly. "Dad. Reece is my math tutor. "I told him dryly whilst he nearly spat out his beer as he stared at me in disbelief.

"How the fuck did that happen?"

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention that even though my dad's a lawyer, his language is even worse than mine. I shrugged. "He had the highest in the class so our teacher forced him to tutor me." I replied, deliberately not mentioning the part where it was that or be expelled. I chuckled to myself, that felt so long ago. But in reality it was only just over a month ago.

He hummed and then frowned. "That kids had a hard life."

This took me by surprise and I gave him a questioningly look but he just shook his head and then smiled. "Are Cole and Jodie together yet?"

I chuckled and told my dad about what Jodie had said. I never told dad about Cole being in love with her but he said it was the most obvious thing in the world whenever they were around. That's one thing I loved about our friendship, we were all so damn close with each other's parents. Plus, I knew my dad would never say anything and I know Jodie would tell him herself.

We spent the rest of the evening together but because dad had been on such a long lfight he went to bed pretty early. I spent the rest of the evening just lazing about before I went to bed myself.

"Hey." I smiled to Reece as I sat down in chemistry. He and Jake carried on sitting next to me since that first day and I was grateful for it. It kept Adam away and they were pretty good company.

He smirked. "Morning buttercup."

"You two are so cute!" Jake beamed from in front of us and we both glared at him.

"Shut up Jake!" We both exclaimed at the same time and snapped our heads to each other. A small half smile tugged at his lips and I couldn't help to return it. The laughter of Jake cut us out of our trance but he didn't say anything as to the daggers he was receiving from us.

Jake rolled his blue eyes. "Get a grip. I'm just joking."

I turned to Reece, only to see him gone and snogging Daisy from across the room. Fortunately for him, our teacher wasn't here yet. Reece had his hands resting on the small of her waist as Daisy had her arms held around his neck. You could hear the noices from here and my nose wrinkled up at the sight of them. Shuddering, I turned to Jake and he chuckled at me.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You're not that bad are you?" I asked, pointing my thumb at the pair making out.

Jake shook his head with a sly grin on his face. "Nope." He paused and I breathed a sigh of relief. "I'm even worse."

I swatted him on the shoulder as he burst out laughing at my reaction. "So who was the creep then?" My head snapped up to meet his questioning gaze.

"Huh?"

Jake narrowed his eyes at me. "Don't play dumb."

I huffed, leaning on the table. "Just some douche that is Jodie's boyfriends, best friend."

His eyebrows raised. "Jodie has a boyfriend? I thought your friend Cole likes her?"

"What?" I hissed, shutting him up.

He gave me a look like I was the dumbest person in the world. "You know, Cole- "

Before he could finish, I shoved my hand over his mouth, which much to my disgust he licked. "Eww." I swatted my hand away, wiping it down Reece's jacket that was hanging on the back of his chair.

Ha!

"Quiet down, would you?" I hissed quietly.

He grimaced. "Shit sorry."

"How did you know?"

He smirked. "It's so obvious, I'm very observant you know. I can always spot when people like each other."

I glared at him. "If you say it I will kick you in the balls."

He shuddered and grinned, pretending to zip up his lips and threw the key away. But because Jake is Jake, he can't shut up for more than two seconds. "So..." He leaned his elbows onto my table, a wide grin on his lips. "Are you coming to my party tomorrow?"

I raised my eyebrows. "Party? What party?"

Jake shook his head with disbelief but a teasing smile was on his face. "You really are something Sam."

I glared at him. "I haven't heard anything about a party."

Jake rolled his eyes. "Everyone's been talking about it. I mean..." He trailed and then smirked. "Who would miss out on one of my famous parties?"

Me apparently.

"So..." He drawled, giving me a questioning glance as his grin widened. "You are coming right?"

Sighing, I gave him a tight lipped smile. "Send me your address."

His grin got even wider and his eyes lit up. "Yay." He squealed like a girl and pumped his fist, earning laughs from the students around us and one from myself.

Jake was really something else. "Why are you squealing like a woman?" Reece's voice suddenly appeared out of nowhere as he chewed on a piece of gum.

"Sam's coming tomorrow." Jake beamed and Reece turned to me, furrowing his eyebrows.

"I thought you hated parties." What, I had never told him that before.

I chuckled. "I don't hate them I just prefer to not go to them when those assholes are there." I replied, referring to the group we all hated. Reece didn't reply, instead he just stared at me, like he was trying to figure me out under his gaze. I gulped, slightly uncomfortable at the way he was looking at me but luckily Jake coughing snapped our heads away from each other.

Jake lips twitched but he didn't tease us for once. He turned his head to me, smiling. "Ive texted you the address." I smiled back just as I felt a vibrate in my pocket. Me and Jake swapped phone numbers a couple weeks back as he would always bombard me with texts over our French homework. I was just as bad as he was at French so I would normally just google translate everything anyway.

The bell soon rang and we all stood up, eager to get out of that horrible classroom. Jake was the first out as we all started walking to the carpark as chemistry was our last lesson of the day. Today was a Thursday which I was grateful for. The week was nearly over and we only had another week until Christmas break was here and I was so fucking excited. I had no plans but I couldn't wait to just laze around for 2 weeks and do absolutely nothing.

Jake saluted to us as we reached his car. "Adios peasants." He exclaimed, climbing into his car. He and Jodie were more alike than I thought. Me and Reece rolled our eyes as we continued down the car park to our cars. It was strange, this morning we both pulled into school at the same time and Reece parked right next to me.

"We both have such fucking weird friends." I chuckled, referring to Jodie and Jake. I wondered, I'm sure they would actually get along pretty well. They were both odd and annoying but I loved them both.

Reece laughed deeply, walking to his car. "Agreed."

Poke.

"Go away."

Poke.

"Dad go away."

A snicker came from above me. "Oh you can call me that if you want." The familiar voice made me shoot up from my slumber as I stared wide eyed at the boy in my bedroom.

I threw my hands up in the air. "What the hell are you doing here?" I yelled, hastily wiping the dribble that had formed during my nap.

Reece thrust his hands into his pockets as he flung himself on the bed next to me. He rolled on his side and grinned. "Your dad let me in." My face was inches away from me and I didn't like how close he was so I wiggled back but didn't realise how close I was to the edge so to my luck I fell straight off.

"Oww!" I cried as I stood up, rubbing my back and glaring at Reece as he howled with laughter, clutching his stomach.

"Hilarious." I deadpanned but it didn't stop his laugher from erupting.

"You sound like a dying cat." I murmured as I climbed back into my bed. I turned to him and narrowed my eyes. "What are you doing here?"

After his laughter died down he rolled his eyes at me. "Its 8pm you dork."

My eyes widened as I grabbed my phone that had fallen on the floor with me and sighed, it was indeed 8pm. "Have you been asleep since after school?" He grinned like a child and I flipped him off.

"I was tired!" I complained and he chuckled, standing up and grabbing my wrist gently, tugging me out of the room. His touch burned me and I wanted to grab my hand away but it was almost like something was compelling me not to. After pulling, more like yanking me down the stairs, I stopped at a holt when I saw my dad staring at us. I instantly yanked my hand from Reece's grip but dad just smirked and walked away.

Geez, is it me or does everyone seem to smirk all the time?

As we walked into the kitchen I heard my dad yell from behind us. "Do you want to stay for dinner Reece? I'm ordering pizza."

He looked down at me and smirked before turning back to my dad. "Yes please David." My head shot up to Reece's and it actually hurt my neck. Reece was about 6ft 2 whereas I was 5 ft. 5. I grabbed his hand and tugged him into the kitchen.

"Since when are you on a first name basis with my dad?" I hissed and he just chuckled in response, taking his usual seat and the dining table and grabbing the text book from his bag and placing it in front of us.

"Since he's been my lawyer." He replied dryly.

I raised my eyebrow at him. "Lawyer for what?"

Reece's face went blank. "It doesn't matter." He muttered in a low voice before his signature smirk appeared back on his face. "C'mon. You're not gonna pass math by doing nothing."

I rolled my eyes. Smartass.

"Stop!" I cried, slamming my hands on my face to cover my blush. Both boys laughed as they carried on making fun of me.

"And then she jumped out the pool screaming because she thought there were sharks, when it was just someone's swimming hat." Dad repeated the memory of when the three of us, me my mum and dad, were on holiday in Greece. I was about 6 years old so I think my fear was justified, right? Reece attempted to muffle his laughter, failing miserable as they both fell into fits of laughter.

"Never thought in this situation I would be the third wheel." I muttered and they were both too busy laughing at me they didn't even realise. I slumped into my chair, holding my cheek in my fist as I ate my pizza. A nudge to my arm brought me out of my trance as I dropped the slice of cheesy goodness back onto my plate.

Reece was smiling down at me. For once, not a smirk or a grin but a genuine smile. "What?" I narrowed my eyes at him but he just shook his head, smiling and turned back to my dad. What was that about?

I glared at my dad when he opened his mouth to tell yet another embarrassing story and his mouth quickly shut, sending me a wink. He turned his head to Reece who was sat to the right of me. "So Reece, got any plans for Christmas break?"

He shook his head. "Mum's taking El to see our grandma but I have to stay for something." He replied, giving my dad a look and he nodded. Ugh, why were they communicating without even speaking. They were like a pair of best fucking friends or a creepily married couple. I shuddered at the thought as I heard the doorbell ring.

"I'll get it!" I exclaimed and jumped out of my seat and fast walked over to the front door.

I swung open the door and furrowed my brows at the two figures in front of me. Cole barged past and looked over his shoulder at me, smirking. "I heard there was pizza." With that he was gone and I could hear him greeting my dad and Reece. I shook my head, laughing as I turned to Jodie.

How the fuck did he even know?

I pushed Jodie gently out the door and closed it behind me. She gave me a questioningly look as her green eyes narrowed at me. "Have you told him yet?" I pointed my thumb to the door where Cole had just left.

She sighed. "Not yet. I'm waiting for the right moment."

I gave her a pointed look. "Just tell him."

She groaned, holding her head in her hands before glancing up at me. "I can't!" She yelled but quickly quieted down. "Only ten minutes ago he boasted about banging some chick from school when I mentioned Harry."

Oh Jodie, you oblivious girl.

I desperately wanted to tell her and it took everything in me not to spit out those five words.

'He's in love with you.' But I couldn't. Cole had to be the one to tell her and I couldn't take that away from him. I know if they didn't have it sorted soon I would have to help them get together without making them know I did anything. I guess I would have to play cupid, that sounded pretty fun.

"Come on." I grabbed her hand, pulling her inside. "We have your favourite."