Flynn: Cnt believe ur ditchin project wrk wit ME for that nerd.

Me: stop textin me, ur ruining my date asshole!

"Is everything okay?" I glance up from my phone to see Anthony looking at me with concern.

"Oh yeah, Summer's just having a wardrobe malfunction" I lie, forcing a smile.

I couldn't exactly tell my date that I was texting another guy, especially since it was Flynn, who he hates enough as it is.

Flynn: remember 1+1= 3 hahaha.

'gobshite' I think to myself as I try not to chuckle at his childishness.

I exit his messages, without replying and glare at my phone in astonishment. I close my eyes in a long blink, making a mental note to kill Flynn and to never leave my phone unattended with him around.

My background picture is currently a selfie of Flynn with his cocky smirk.

He must have done it earlier, when I left him to answer the door to Summer, who was loaning me a dress for tonight.

I screen lock my phone, shoving it back into my handbag and resume listening to whatever Anthony was talking about.

Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have zoned out.

..

"Well tonight was nice. Thank you" I smile sweetly at Anthony as we pulls up outside my house.

"Sorry I had to reschedule for today. I forgot I have a family affair tomorrow evening" He apologizes again.

"It's fine. I wasn't doing anything tonight anyway" I give a faint smile.

Nothing except my history project with Flynn, who I practically kicked out of my house so I could get ready for this last minute date that I'd have hoped to go better than our first date.

I lower my gaze to my hands, where I'm fidgeting with my new white acrylic nails. I still found it weird having such bright colored nails.

I glance up, hoping to see him inching towards me but instead he's gazing around blankly, with pinched lips, as if he's waiting for me to get out of the car. "I guess I'll see you in school on Monday" Getting the hint, I step out of the car, slamming the door behind me.

"How was the date?" My mother ask as I stand with my back to the door and drag my hands down my face.

"For a guy who's really intelligent..." I shake my head. "...I know it's only my second date and that I'm not an expert but how the hell do people go through all this dating malarky and manage to fall in love. it's sooo boring"

Before you say anything, yes, it's my second date too. Let's just say the old me didn't exactly make that much effort.

My mother bits her lip, holding back her laughter. "Darling I don't think this Anthony boy is the right one for you. No matter how smart or nice he may be" She says, her laughter dwindled now.

"I think I owe it to him to give him one more date. Third times a charm and all that crap" I sigh, rolling my eyes.

"If you think that's what's best, sweetie" my mother calls after me as I ascend the stairs to my room but before i reach my room I hear her laughter erupt.

___

"Any parties tonight?" Flynn asks, falling in step with me as I stroll to history class.

I glance sideways at him.

"Seriously? who throws a party on a Tuesday? " I scowl, too tired to deal with him today.

"Oh, somebody's grumpy today. Not get to see lover-boy last night?" He chuckles.

"Fuck off Flynn" I tell him coldly and walk faster to escape further conversation with him.

"Hey, I was hoping we could meet up after school tomorrow" Anthony says cheerfully as I approach him outside our classroom.

"I can't, I've plans... with Flynn" I add hesitantly, "...We need to get this project done"

"What about Thursday?"

"Sorry, plans that day too"

"With Flynn?" He questions, the smile on his face slowly turning to a frown.

I nod my head. It's obvious that Anthony isn't pleased with me spending time with Flynn, even though I don't really have plans but I'm kind of hoping he'll get jealous enough to pursue me more.

"And Friday" I add just to eliminate that day too.

"Can't you cancel one day?"

"No can do. We're really committed to this project" Flynn intervenes, startling me. He'd obviously been nearer than I anticipated and over heard me.

Shit.

"Okay, maybe over the weekend. I'll text you" Anthony says giving Flynn the stare down as he heads for his own seat.

"So your house tomorrow?" Flynn whispers over my shoulder once we've taken our seats in class.

Since he'd over hear me, I guess I have to commit to doing our project every day after school for the rest of the week. Why couldn't I have been wise enough to look around before speaking.

"Whatever" I wave a dismissive hand at Flynn, just wanting him to leave me alone.

__

I lean against the counter, folding my arms across my chest and roll my eyes at my father and Flynn.

I love my parents but why do they have to befriend the one guy who irritates me the most in this world.

My father, who's just discovered Flynn owns a motorbike, started asking him about it and telling him the tales of his youth, when he had his own motorbike; and now they've been engrossed in a conversation for over ten minutes.

I don't think either of them even realise I'm still here.

Cocking my head to the side, I gaze at Flynn. He's actually having a mature conversation with an adult and is.. oh my.. he's laughing, a genuine laugh!

I didn't think he was capable of laughing but there he is doing it and looking cute as he does. His mouth curves into a broad smile displaying all this perfect teeth and the noise that escapes him is.. joyous.

As if feeling my eyes on him, Flynn subsides his laughter and looks over at me, but I don't look away. I hold my gaze and the slight smirk on my face, letting him know that I witnessed him laugh.

"So what are you two up to this evening?" My father asks, finally acknowledging my presence in the room.

"History project, as usual" I murmur.

They both frown at me.

weird.

"What's wrong with you?" My father asks noting my lack of interest.

"Nothing" I force a grin.

"Don't nothing me" He says sternly.

"Fine, it's Friday evening, my friends are out having fun and I'm stuck doing this project with that gobshite" I sigh.

"Leah, be nice" My father scolds.

"That'd be a first" Flynn sniggers.

I squint my eyes at him. "Sorry dad but it's Flynn. It's no big secret that he irritates me. Hell even he knows he does"

"I irritate you?" Flynn gasps dramatically in horror.

"Stop being an ass-wipe" I say flinging a tea towel at him.

He effortlessly catches it and places it on the counter. "Is that all that's annoying you? That you're stuck in on a Friday evening?" I stare blankly at Flynn. "Okay, let's go" He decides, taking his leather jacket from the back of the chair and pulling it on.

"Where?" I question curiously, remaining in position.

"We're getting out of the house" He tosses my denim jacket at me. "You don't mind if I take huffin' puffin' out, do ya?" Flynn turns to ask my father, who just shakes his head in reply and smiles at me.

Outside, He hops on his bike and starts it up. "Are you just going to run after me?" He says holding out a spare helmet. "Don't worry it's only a bike"

I wasn't worried about the bike. I've been on motorbikes before; it was the driver I was worried about. After all I was putting my life in the hands of a guy who didn't care about me, he just lived to torment me.

I pull on the helmet, hop onto the back of the bike and wrap my arms tightly around Flynn's warm body.

"But really where are we going?" I shout through the helmet.

"Just enjoy the ride and trust me, for once" Flynn looks over his shoulder, his eyes twinkling mischievously at me before taking off.

As the bike roars down the roads, the wind whipping around us. I let go of Flynn's torso and hold my arms in the air, feeling the wind through my fingers. I let out a scream and for that short moment I feel like myself again.

The real me.

The one I couldn't be anymore; young and free!