Chapter 1 Chapter 1

I can't be late for class!

I slam the door to my locker and start to run through the hallways to get to Calculus class. If I'm late, Mr. Black would surely give me a detention and I would miss dance class and I can't afford that.

I can't miss dance class.

I finally spot the classroom at the end of the block and run faster. Only one minute before the bell rings. When I reach the door, I dash in the classroom and breathe a sigh of relief. I made it!

Students were already in the classroom and I began scanning the room for an empty seat. I spot one of my best friends, Dylan Saunders at the back of the class and he looks up at me and smiles. I return his smile and made my way towards him.

"Hey Jessie. What took you so long?" Dylan asked as I took the seat beside him.

"I was running late this morning and to top it off, traffic was a buzz." I sighed as I got out the things I'll need for class out of my bag pack.

"That sucks."

"You have no idea." I whispered as Mr. Black enters the classroom. He give the class a stern look and everyone shut up instantly. Mr. Black was one of those teachers that don't want anyone to talk in his class unless it was necessary. Necessary, in his case was to ask a question about the lesson. He was mean and no one messed with him. Let's just say, in his class you could hear a pin drop.

After I tortured myself in Calculus, I went to my other two classes and before you knew it, it was lunch time. I put my books into my locker and went to the cafeteria. I got my lunch and went to my table, where my friends were already sitting.

"Hey Jessica. How were your first periods?" Amber asked as I sat in front of her. Amber Petersen is my other best friend. We have been best friends since we were in diapers. Her mother and my mother are best friend, so we grew up together.

"The usual. Boring." I answered lamely and Dylan laughs beside me. I shoot him a sideways glare and he held up his hands in surrender and turns back to his lunch. "How about you, Amber?"

"I had P.E. before lunch so take a wild guess." She groans out in frustration. Amber has complained countless of times about how she hates P.E., so I knew what she was talking about.

"Come on, P.E is not that bad." I said. She gave me a 'are you serious?' look.

"That's easy for you to say. You're a dancer. You have the body to endure all those workouts." She grumbles and I laugh.

"Speaking of dance, you have dance class today, right?" Dylan asked me.

I nodded. "Yep. Today is Thursday. I have dance class Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays right after school." I remind him.

"I know. Just making sure." he replied.

"Dylan, this is Jess we are talking about here. She never misses a dance class." Amber said and Dylan nods in agreement.

"That's because I love dancing. It's my life." I said and they smile. They both knew how much dancing means to me.

The bell rings signalling the end of lunch and my friends and I left the cafeteria. Amber and I parted with Dylan because we have English class together.

We entered our English class and took our original seat in the center of the classroom. Ms. Knead walks in and begins her lesson. She took up her copy of the book we were currently reading for class; To Kill a Mocking Bird and indicated it as she spoke. "I hope you all have finished reading this book." A chorus of 'yes' was mumbled throughout the classroom, before she continued. "Okay. I want you guys to pair up and write down your responses about what you think is the significance of the themes in chapter 8." Ms. Knead went to her seat and began grading papers.

I turned around to Amber and smile. She got out her pen and we refer to the book as we jot our points down. As soon as we began, a voice interrupted us.

"Ms. Knead, I don't have anyone to work with. What do you expect me to do?" A voice said behind me. I turn around to the owner of the voice and see that it was Ethan Kingsley. Ethan was one of the most annoying boys in our school and was always in the middle of attention. He was arrogant and tries to get in trouble all the time. Ms. Knead looks up from the papers on her desk and sighed.

"Mr. Kingsley, why don't you join with the pair in front of you?" She said looking back at her papers, clearly annoyed. I groan and shake my head. Oh God, please no.

I heard Ethan's chair scrapes on the ground as he got up and came around to the chair beside me. He looked at me with a raise eyebrow and I did the same. He was never up close to me before, so I never notice how green his eyes are. He ran his hands through his blonde hair and wink at me.

"Hey beautiful. How come I haven't noticed you before and we're in the same class?" Ethan said wriggling his eyebrows.

"Yeah and I hope it stays that way." I replied annoyed.

"You're a feisty one." He wink again. What a flirt!

"Look, I hope you did not come over here to be a nuisance to me. So let's please get this work done." I said with a sigh.

Ethan looks over at Amber then, "I think your friend likes me."

I turn in my seat so I was fully facing him. "I don't like you!" I growl through clench teeth. God! The nerve of this boy! He chuckled and shook his head. Amber just looks at us with a grin on her face. Her eyebrows lifted in amusement. Surprisingly, Ethan left me alone and we continue with our work.

Class was over and I was packing my bag, when Ethan came up to me again. "What do you want now?" I see Amber through the corner of my eyes and she mouthed that she would wait on me outside. I glare at her. Some friend she is.

"I never got your name, beautiful." Ethan was saying. I turn my eyes to look back at him.

"Why is that important to you?" I demand, folding my arms across my chest.

"Just tell me your name." He pressed.

I sighed. "It's Jessica." I said giving in. It won't make a difference if he knew my name or not.

"Nice name." He said smirking. I rolled my eyes.

"Yeah, whatever." I mumble as I brush passed him and out the door. I grab Amber's hands and drag her to our next class.

Make no mistake, she was going to get it for abandoning me with that annoying jackass.