Six

The following morning, Tomas's alarm went off and I jumped up running out his door; I ran into his dad "Woah, be careful. Good morning Casey." I smiled "Good morning." He continued down the hall to the staircase; I went to my room and got ready for school. Tomas came in the doorway "Hey. Go ahead and take a shower first, I'm going to go eat something." I looked up at him "Okay." He smiled and left; I got in the shower.

Tomas went downstairs to eat; Rob was at the island, drinking his coffee "Good morning." Tomas grabbed a bowl of cereal "Morning." Rob looked up from his phone "Mind telling me why Casey was in your room this morning?" As he poured the milk "She had a nightmare and I told her she could hang out with me. We fell asleep on accident, it won't happen again." Rob took a sip of his coffee "You know friends don't usually sleep with each other in the same bed. Is something going on I don't know about?"

He took a bite of his cereal "Dad. We are friends." Rob looked down at his phone "Good because if she was your girlfriend, she wouldn't be in the same house as you." Tomas rolled his eyes "I don't see what the big deal would be with that." Just as Rob was going to say something, I came downstairs; I sat next to Rob, and he looked at me "Do you drink coffee? Or want some breakfast? I could make some eggs and toast."

I shook my head "I don't eat breakfast but thank you." Tomas dropped his spoon in the bowl making a loud clank, Rob and I both looked at him "Thanks. Let me eat the stale cereal I'm sure has been sitting in the cabinet for months Dad." Rob put down his cup on the counter "I just bought that a week ago and you made the bowl before I could offer." I looked down trying to hide my smile and hold back my laugh. Tomas walked to Rob's side of the island and put the bowl in front of him "Try this and tell me again this is from a week ago."

Rob took a bite "Tastes fine." Tomas started walking toward the stairs "Then you eat it, I'll get breakfast at school." He went upstairs, and Rob looked at me "He drives me nuts." I giggled "You can say that again." Rob and I talked until he came back downstairs, I didn't feel uncomfortable like I thought I would. He was easy to talk to and he was funny, it was like talking to someone my age. Tomas came down with his shoes and backpack "Ready to go" I got up from the barstool "Yeah." Rob looked at his phone "I should get going too, see you guys when I get home tonight."

He got up and left, Tomas sat on the stairs and put on his shoes "Did he say anything to you?" I shook my head "No." He stopped what he was doing "Everything okay?" I sighed "Yeah." He stood up "That sigh said no." I looked down and frowned "I heard what he said." He walked toward me "Which part?" I looked back up "He said if I was your girlfriend I wouldn't be allowed here. Maybe I should just go live with my mom now."

He stood quietly "That's up to you but he won't find out." I frowned "Maybe. We should get to the bus before we miss it." I started walking to the door, he said "Casey I didn't mean it that way." He grabbed my hand and pulled me into his arms, he gave me a quick kiss "He won't find out." I brushed my hair behind my ear "Maybe we should stay friends."

He wrapped his arms around my waist "Why?" I could feel the tears come to my eyes "I can't risk you getting in trouble for me again. I like you, I do, but you just moved in with your dad and I don't want to ruin that for you." He wiped away the stray tears "Babe how can you ruin it for me? So he finds out, he can't just kick me or you out because we're together and I know he won't."

I pulled away from him "We need to get to school." I opened the door and started walking to the bus stop while he locked the door. He jogged to catch up to me "So that's it? You'd be willing to end it because of what he said?" I continued walking, avoiding his question, he gently grabbed my arm "Casey?" I stopped walking and pulled my arm away "You act like you're all in love with me. It's been a day." I started walking again.

We finally arrived at the school, Ashlyn and I stood outside "Where's Tomas?" I looked around "Who cares." She looked at me "What happened?" I crossed my arms "I don't want to talk about it. I'm heading to class." I went inside, I walked down the hall past the lockers to the hallway to my right. I stopped walking when I saw Amanda and Tomas making out by the bathrooms, he quickly pushed her away once he noticed me.

I rolled my eyes and continued walking to class, he hollered my name but I continued walking. I went around the corner to get stopped by a random guy "Hey. I was curious if you knew who Casey is and where I could find her." I crossed my arms "Who cares to know?" He smiled "I'm Ryan, I just started and she was assigned to be my guide?" I wiped the angry look off my face "Right. I completely forgot."

Tomas came around the corner "Casey?!? It's not what it..." Nice. No need to introduce myself now. I turned around to look at Tomas "Don't worry about it." I grabbed the new kid's arm and pulled him gently alongside me "What's your first class?" He handed me his schedule "Math is first." I looked over his schedule "Mine too, we can head over there now if you want." He reached for the schedule as I handed it back "Sure." We headed to class early and introduced him to our teacher.

Tomas ran through the halls looking for Ashlyn, he ran up to her and Alisha "Whoa, take it easy." He was out of breath "Have you talked to her?" They looked at him confused, Ashlyn asked "Who? And Casey went to look for you, I think." He tried to catch his breath "I know, Amanda kissed me and she saw it, did she text you?" She continued to look at him confused "I don't think so. Why would she care?" He exhaled deeply "I asked her out yesterday and I..." Ashlyn smirked "And you broke her heart. Good job. I'm sure she'll talk to you when she's ready to."

He shook his head "No, Amanda came on to me and she saw it at the right time. I didn't agree to that kiss." The bell rang, and Ashlyn grabbed her backpack, Alisha crossed her arms "You should be explaining it to Casey if she ever speaks to you again."

Tomas sat next to me but didn't say anything, I had my headphones in my ears; Ashlyn walked by and gave me a quick hug. Ryan sat in front of me; Mrs. Monroe stood up "Good morning class." I pulled my headphones out, I kept looking forward. I finished the assignment and turned it in, I asked Mrs. Monroe "Can I have the hall pass?"

She handed it to me, I walked out and started walking to the bathroom, I looked in the mirror trying to hold back the tears. I went into the stall and cried my eyes out. I came out and wet my face, I fixed my makeup; I redrew eyeliner on my eyes. I looked at my reflection and whispered "Just forget about it, he blew it. Nothing's wrong with you."

I headed back to class, I put the pass on her desk "Casey?" I turned around "Yes?" She looked up from my paper "You did well on your assignment." I gave her a quick smile "Thank you." As I walked by Ryan, he looked up and smiled. I sat down and put my headphones back in my ears, Ryan turned around "Hey are you okay?" I looked up, removing my headphone "Yeah."

Tomas looked up and threw Ryan a dirty look. Ryan whispered "My last girlfriend cheated on me. I'm here if you need a friend." I gave him a quick smile "Thanks, Ryan." I felt Tomas' glare beside me and it took everything not to laugh. The bell rang, and Tomas stopped me at the door "You really think that guy is better?" I turned around and crossed my arms "What guy?" I knew what guy but I had to irritate him. We moved to the side "Ryan." I laughed that he was acting jealous "I can't believe this right now. You were making out with Amanda and you're scared I'm into a guy I just met? I don't move on that quickly."

I started walking into the crowd of students, and he followed me through them "Casey. Nothing happened! She came onto me." I pulled him to the locker "Look I don't care if you want to be with her. We weren't really a thing; it's not like I fell in love with you or anything. So go for it, I said we were done at your house. Be happy and do not regret this. I'm moving in a few months anyway. Friends?"

He looked at me with shock "Why is it so easy for you to say that?" I crossed my arms and sighed "Because I never believed we were real. Someone like you could never be with someone like me. I was right and I accept it, I have to get to the gym." He started acting frantically "Casey we were real, my feelings for you are real. I'm way out of your league and you deserve far more than this." I stood not knowing what to say "I have to go. I'll see you at your house."

I started walking to the gym, and he followed me "Must've forgotten we have this class too." I faked a smile "Okay." He walked beside me "Are we okay?" We walked through the gym doors "Sure. You just kissed the girl I made clear I hated." He frowned "She came up to talk to me and she grabbed me as soon as she saw you and things escalated." I smirked with a shrug not believing him "She is friends with Kylie, after all, I'm not surprised, but if that's what you're saying then okay."

I went into the locker room to change into my gym clothes, I came out and talked to the coach "Casey you ready for the first game tomorrow?" I smiled "Of course coach." Deep down I wanted to disappear and never return. She winked "We're depending on you for next year's captain." My heart dropped "Coach I'm moving in the summer; I can't be captain next year." She patted my shoulder as she walked away "I will talk with your mom about that. I don't think you should pass up this opportunity."

The rest of the class came out and started heading outside, Ryan jogged up to me "Hey, jog with me?" I turned to look at him "Sure." I started jogging with Ryan, he asked "So you're a volleyball player?" I laughed "Yes I am; they want me to be team captain but I'm moving next year with my mom so I can't take it." Tomas ran up to us "Do you still have your game tomorrow?"

I stopped to fix my shoe for a second, and they both stopped with me "Yeah, I may not go to it though." Tomas ran his fingers through his hair "I'll see you after class then, I'm going to catch up to Jake." I nodded my head "Okay." I was better once he ran off, Ryan asked "You guys are okay again?" Of course. I stood up "It wasn't serious, it wasn't even a day. It didn't work out; he likes someone else."

He looked down blushing "I think you're amazing, he's a fool to like someone more than you." I threw my head back laughing "A lot of girls here would say differently." He smiled as his brown eyes lit up with admiration "We should start running." Our coach blew her whistle and called us in, we jogged back to the gym. We all sat on the gym floor waiting for the coach to come in; she finally came in "So today we will be having a free day..." I glanced over at Amanda who was staring at Tomas but her eyes looked at me and she smiled. She looked back at the coach, I glanced at Ryan who looked at me with a smile before looking forward. I looked back toward Jake and Tomas, Tomas' attention turned to me but he quickly looked away agitated. I looked at the floor and realized how close my hand was to Ryan's hand.

Everyone started standing up and Ryan grabbed a basketball "Casey!" I stood waiting to talk to the coach, I turned around "I'll be right there." He bounced it as he walked to me "You play?" I stole the ball from him "Of course." He smiled "Nice steal." I tossed it at his chest "I have a brother who plays." The coach called my name "Casey." I talked to her about being captain for a bit, Ryan went to shoot some hoops while I was talking to her.

Tomas and Jake walked up to Ryan "You play bro?" He looked at them "Look I don't want trouble." Tomas dribbled the ball he had "I don't go around fighting over people, especially over a girl. Just want to be cool here." Ryan threw the ball in the hoop "Not that I'm scared but I'd rather not fight right now." Jake stole the ball from him and threw it at the hoop missing it, Tomas caught the ball "I don't want drama either, I mean it's obvious she's into you. She's my friend and if she likes you and wants to be your friend why can't we be cool too?"

Ryan smirked, "That's fine by me, she might have a problem though." I walked up to them "What are you guys doing?" Jake said "Playing you?" I rolled my eyes "You two act like I'm clueless about what you're doing." Tomas walked toward me "Playing just like Jake said. He's your friend so why can't he be mine." I crossed my arms "Right. Whatever, I'm going to get some water." I walked to the locker room to get a drink from the fountain, I avoided going back out and stayed in the locker room until the bell rang; I quickly changed. I wanted no part in the drama stirring up.

I stood outside waiting for Ryan, Tomas came up to me "You really like him don't you?" I pulled out my headphone "What?" He repeated himself, and I laughed "No but he's nice and has no friends yet." I was surprised he didn't mention our hands being next to each other "I'll be his friend but someone convinced him I just want to fight him." I faked a laugh "I haven't even mentioned you to him. He doesn't care about us and our drama, he's new and trying to find his way around."

He put his hands in his jacket pockets "You want to skip school with him too? Since you've managed to play basketball with him." I was over this conversation and the jealousy so I rolled my eyes and said "Go find Amanda please." He scoffed then chuckled "Right. I completely forgot I asked her out." I crossed my arms over my chest "Okay. Hope she makes you happy." He got upset I didn't react to it and just walked away, Ryan finally came out "Sorry couldn't open my lock." I looked up from my phone "No worries." I helped him find his next class and then went to mine.