Chapter 2

I grabbed my backpack and slammed the door shut behind me. I rushed out to the big bus and sat across from Jessica and Kyle.

Kyle raised an eyebrow at me. "Woah, cutting it short, huh?" I rolled my eyes and shook my head. I'd rather be short than obnoxiously tall," I pointed out. He shrugged. "I can't control how tall I am. I was just programmed perfectly." I scoffed as we continued the conversation for the couple minutes to school.

I stopped at homeroom first, to grab my locker number and combination from the teacher, before I headed over to my locker. I looked back down at the slip. Locker 532. I stopped in front of my locker and got the combination on the second try.

I opened it and threw my bag, tablet, and all of my supplies into it. The bell rang and I hurried back to homeroom, bringing only a pencil.

The teacher, Mr. Grass, was only a few minutes into his speech before the loudspeaker came on. "Jessica Nane, Skyler Hectin, and Jake Mena please report to the senior elevators."

Slowly, I stood up and looked around the room. Jake was also slowly rising out of his seat and looked as confused as I was. I waited for him at the door and then asked him, "Do you know what this is about? He slowly shook his head. If I did, I would tell you." I nodded.

I led him to the senior elevators. Jessica was there with the vice principal, Ms. Brown. Judging by Ms. Brown's smile, we weren't in any sort of trouble, but I still didn't know why we were gathered there. Jessica was smiling with a mischievous glint in her eyes. So, Ms. Brown started. "I've chosen you two girls to introduce Jake, here, to our school and give him a tour of the grounds. I expect you two will welcome him with open arms and be his friends here at our school?"

I looked back and forth at her and Jessica. "Why?" I asked.

"Well, Jessica, here said that you could use some help on the welcoming committee since you happen to be new to the committee and offered to show you the ropes." I scrunched my eyebrows and looked over to her. Sensing my confusion, she pulled me aside and started whispering.

"Go along with it. I signed you up."

"What? Why would you sign me up? I never volunteered for this!" I whisper-shouted. She rolled her eyes and sighed. "Look at it this way, its good on your college application." I gave her a look. "And since when have you started caring about college?"

"Okay, well I knew that you liked Jake so I signed you up so you can talk to him. Maybe you'll even be friends." Then, wiggling her eyebrows and nudging me, she said, "Or maybe you'll even be more than that." I blushed red and hit her shoulder before we walked back over.

"All good girls?" Ms. Brown asked. Jessica smiled and nodded. Ms. Brown turned around to leave but then turned around as she remembered something. "Oh! And girls? Coach Hopkins told me to tell you guys that you have practice Fridays, Tuesdays, and Sundays. Spread the word to the rest of your teammates."

"Okay, thanks, Ms. Brown." She smiled and nodded before she hurried off to do other things.

"So...." Jake said, turning to us. Jessica held out her hand for him to shake. "I'm Jessica Nane." He took her hand and shook it. I felt a slight pang of jealousy as they momentarily held hands. "Jake Mena." She nodded and motioned to me. "And this is Skyler," she said. I held out my hand for him to shake and he took it. "I'm Skyler Hectin." He nodded. "So should we get going?" Jake asked. Jessica nodded, but her eyes were glued to something in between us. I looked down and realized what she was looking at. Jake and I were still holding hands. We both pulled our hands back quickly and I blushed. He, on the other hand, did not.

Jessica shot me a grin and winked, only making me blush harder as she started the tour.

"So what do you guys practice for?" Jake asked.

"We're cheerleaders. Jess is actually the cheer captain. That's why we knew the cheer schedule already."

"Wow. That's pretty cool. So where do you guys have practice? In the gym here?" he asked. Jessica nodded and stopped in front of the gym doors. "Yup! Right here. This is also where you'll have gym class."

He nodded and I saw the slight smirk he was trying to keep hidden. Jessica, thankfully, didn't see it. Walking closer to him I whispered, "No way." He played it innocent, but he let me see his smile. "What?" he asked. I gave him a glare and nudged his side with my elbow. "You want to crash Friday's practice." He shrugged a shoulder and gave me another innocent smile. "Would you let me? If I wanted to, hypothetically speaking?" I tilted my head. "Well, hypothetically speaking, no." He sighed.

"Well then, don't drive to school Friday."

"I usually take the bus."

"Well, don't do that either." I sighed. "And I suppose I should ask why?" He smiled. "I'll pick you up." I gave him a questioning look. "Really?"

"Yes. Don't you trust me?" I nodded. "I do." He smiled. "We're falling behind," he mentioned. I looked away from him and saw that it was true. We caught up to Jessica who was in front of us and she turned around.

"Hey, Jake? Do you want to sit with us at lunch?" He glanced over at me quickly before he smiled. "Yeah, that would be great, thanks." She smiled. "Alright then, the tour is officially over. Any questions?" she asked. He shook his head. "No, but thanks for the tour."

"Yeah, no problem, but Skyler, I need to talk to you. Would you stay behind?" I looked over to Jake and waved a hand away, letting him know that it was fine. He gave me a firm nod before he left for whatever class he had now.

Jessica turned to me with her jaw hanging wide open. "What?" I asked. She gave me a look. "What was that?" she asked.

"What?" I asked again. She sighed and shook her head. "You didn't tell me that he was totally into you!" she accused.

"That's because he isn't." She rolled her eyes. Despite the truth, it's not like I could tell her. "You are utterly hopeless." I shrugged, knowing that it was at least partially true.

"Whatever, but we have class now." She started walking behind me. "You two were totally flirting," though. I scoffed and turned to face her. "We were not!" I said.

I turned away from her to put my combination into my locker. "You must have a loose bolt." She put on a sarcastic grin. "Haha, very funny. I'm serious, though, he totally likes you." I shut my locker and without saying anything else to her, I went to my next class.

It was another long three periods until lunch decided to come rolling around. Jake sat with Jessica while Kyle and I waited for our food. "Kyle? Your girlfriend won't stop bothering me," I complained.

"What's she doing now?" he asked as the line moved forward. I sighed. "She thinks that Jake and I are secretly dating or something." He smirked and even laughed a little. I shot him a glare. He put his hands up in surrender. "Okay. I'll ask her to stop," he promised.

"You're the best," I said. He smiled. "I know." I rolled my eyes. "Just move up." He saluted me. "Yes, ma'am." I rolled my eyes again. I grabbed my tray after Kyle and ditched him at the silverware. I sat down next to Jake, and Kyle sat next to Jessica when he came back.

"Did you guys get homework yet?" Jessica asked. I shook my head. "No. Who's giving out homework already?" I asked.

"Mcstern. And its double-sided." I groaned.

"Of course it is," Kyle said.

Under the table, Jakes leg touched mine. I thought it was an accident, until I looked up at him. There was something about his expression. It was like his very own mischievous face. I kicked his shin and hid my smirk. "Is it difficult?" I asked.

"No, but it's long." I rolled my eyes. "But why? Its the first day back at school!" Jake hit my leg with his. "Maybe they just wanted to be mean." I giving him a look to assure my double meaning.

"Probably," Jessica said. The bell rang and we all stood up. "What do you guys have next?" Kyle asked.

"History. I think," I said.

"Me, too," Jessica added. Kyle frowned. "I have math with Adams," he said. Jake nodded. "So do I."

We all left for our separate classes while Jessica left for her locker. I started making my way to history when someone tapped my shoulder. I turned around. "Don't take the bus today home today."

"Why?" I asked. He smirked. "I'm taking you home," he said. I bit my lip. "Jake, I'm not so sure that that's a good idea." He frowned. "Why not?"

"My parents don't really support boys coming over."

"So tell them that we're working on a project together." I sighed. "We'll talk about this later, Jake." He smirked. "Whatever you say, Princess."

I rolled my eyes and smiled to myself as I rushed off to history.

I plopped down next to Jessica just as the late bell rang. She gave me a look. "What were you doing? Almost late on the first day?" She shook her head as if she was disappointed. "And you're supposed to be the goodie-two-shoes of the group." I scoffed.

"I am not!" I said. She gave me a knowing look as the teacher began her lecture.

The day dragged on until it was the last period. The teacher was in the middle of giving an assignment when the bell rang. We all stood up and moved towards the door. "Hey, hey! The bell doesn't dismiss you! I do!" He was ignored as everyone pushed to get to their lockers. I sighed. This is going to be a long year, I thought.

I smiled as I approached my locker.

Jake was standing there, leaning against my locker. He pushed his hair out of his face and smirked at me. I crossed my arms over my chest as I stood there in front of him. "I need to get into my locker, Jake."

"Do you?" he asked. I gave him a sarcastic smile and nodded. "Yeah, I kinda do." I grabbed his arm and tried to pull him away from my locker. He wouldn't budge. "C'mon!" He just stood there, silently watching me and smirking. "Fine! You can take me home!" He instantly moved away from my locker and I pushed past him.

"I'll be right back," he said. He walked off to his locker and I was immediately assaulted by Jessica. "So what's going on between you two?" I groaned as I put books in my backpack.

"I thought Kyle said he was going to have a talk with you." She nodded with a smirk. "He just told me to stay away from your love life." I gave her a look. "Well then, you should probably listen to your boyfriend."

"So you admit to having a love life?" I shook my head and glared at her. "Never." I looked over her shoulder and saw Jake coming back. I slammed my locker shut and smiled. "Alright, time for you to go. Goodbye!" I said as I pushed her into the mob heading towards the exit.

She sent me a glare and then she smirked when she saw Jake coming up behind me. She pulled out her phone and took a picture before she was pushed out the door.

I sighed as I turned around. "Ready to go?" I nodded.

He led to me to the parking lot and I froze.