Today, I have decided to walk to a farther bus stop as my early morning workout; my tryouts are today and though it's still after classes, I'm already pumped. Walking would be a great way to clear my head, and though I may be a lazy person at times, exercising is an exception, especially now that I can feel the adrenaline in my veins despite the fact that I'm going to be needing it much later in the afternoon.

"Mom, Dad, I'm leaving!" I announce.

"Be safe!" Mom yells faintly from up the stairs. I don't reply anymore, adjusting my black leggings a bit further. I sling my bag over my bare arms since I'm wearing a safe and comfortable tank top today, appropriate for a walk and school at the same time— since it's early, I suppose I'll get the chance to get changed into a fresh new shirt later on. Lastly, I tie my shoelaces firmly and tighten my ponytail and I'm finally ready to leave.

I swing open my front door, making sure it is locked before I continue on my way. Though I've done this a few times before, this is a new town, and I always have to be careful, so I don't put on my earphones on and play music. It might cause me to be distracted. Instead, I watch my surroundings more carefully.

It is quiet and peaceful, the sound of birds chirping the only thing being heard, except for a few cars passing by here and there. So when my name is called just a minute into my walk, houses away already from my own, I am genuinely scared.

"Riley Bales!"

My heart feels like it stops and I jump in place. Whipping around, I see the culprit, grinning in amusement at me like he's always done in the short time that I've known him.

"God, Liam, it's like you enjoy scaring me!" I glare at the boy a few meters away from me. Even from a distance, I can see that smug look he usually has.

"It's actually very entertaining," he tells me, stopping next to me with his backpack slung over one shoulder. "Are you walking to the bust stop?"

"Yes," I say in an obvious tone.

"Which one?"

"Third one from here," I reply. "I'm going for a walk, if it wasn't clear."

Liam nods, beginning to move forward. "So am I."

"Unfortunately," I say jokingly, making him pause and face me.

"Do you not like being with all this?" He gestures cockily to himself, forcing me to look at his confirmed muscular body.

"Let me think— no."

"You want this."

"In your dreams," I hit him lightly on the arm when I pass by him.

"Well you're going to have to get used to me, neighbor," he emphasizes, catching up with me. He pats my head, causing me to gasp dramatically.

"Don't you dare mess up my ponytail," I tell him with a pointed look, smoothening the top down. "Fixing this thing is my arm workout already."

"Right," Liam says slowly, confused as to how that is possible. He then decides to change the subject, asking a simple, "You got any tryouts today?"

"Cheer," I reply. "There aren't any other teams besides that, basketball, lacrosse, and a few other that I don't even play. You?"

"None today, but the field is open so I might have a little practice for tomorrow," Liam answers. "For lacrosse."

"Oh good, I don't want any more lacrosse objects flying into my backyard," I say seriously.

"You really can hold a grudge, can you?"

"Maybe against people who make me drop my phone and possibly break it, make objects fly into my backyard, and scare me twice in the past two days," I say, ticking each event one by one.

"Okay, two of those were accidents and it's not my fault you get scared easily," says Liam defensively, his hands up in mock surrender.

After a sort of long walk and bantering all the way as we do so, we make it to the bus stop. The school bus arrives soon after we reached our stop and we immediately get in. Minutes later, we unsurprisingly make it to the school quickly due to the fact that Beacon Hills is an extremely small town.

Walking out of the yellow bus and down the lawn of Beacon Hills High School, our topic has switched to our old schools that we've transferred from.

"Wait, where'd you move from again?" Liam asks me after I retold a short story of how my aunt is the English teacher there after the first one left due to circumstances that should be told in another time.

"Rosewood," I answer his question. "My parents planned the move a long time ago, and Dad got a job in the Beacon Hills Hospital, so it wasn't a problem. You?"

"I-I just transferred from Devonford," Liam replies with slight reluctance, making me look at him curiously. His stuttering is obvious, showing that he either isn't a good liar or something went wrong there. Did he have to move for some important reason? Based on our few classes together, he doesn't seem like a student who has a hard time in school at all, so that can't be it. Could it be a family problem?

I don't say anything after Liam speaks, trying to shake my head to get rid off these ridiculous thoughts. Overthinking is a big weakness of mine, and I'm usually wrong when I think too much.

"Hey, I gotta go to my locker first," Liam's voice brings me out of my thoughts just as I stop right in front of my locker. He then starts walking backwards and into the crowd. "See you in English!"

And then he was gone, and I am left thinking how he is able to keep track of those subjects we found out we have together just yesterday at lunch.

→ → →

"Riley!" My blonde friend waves at me when I go to my History class again.

I approach her in a faster pace with a smile, saying, "Hey Lacey."

"Oh, this is Stella," she gestures to the girl next to her. She has dirty blonde hair and fair skin unlike Lacey, and has more of a cute look to her while Lacey looks more model-like with her sharper features.

"Hi, Riley," she greets in slightly timidly. She seems to be much more soft-spoken than Lacey.

"Hey," I smile back, and sit in front of a dark-skinned guy and directly behind Lacey.

"So Riley, today there are cheerleading tryouts. Are you a cheerleader? Or are you trying out? 'Cause I am, but Stella here is more of the academics girl," says Lacey.

"Yes, actually," I grin, happy that we have something in common.

"Really? That's way cool," she laughs and I agree, nodding. "So I'll see you after school?"

"Yeah, out in the field, right?" I say one last thing to make sure before Mr. Yukimura starts the class.

"Mm-hmm. I can't wait!"

→ → →

The subject before lunch is when Liam and I have a class together again, just like yesterday. I see him before we make it to the classroom in the hallway full of students.

He is standing by his locker, taking out a few books. I stop by the wall across him to refrain from getting hit by the many students. He turns around and sees me, showing a smirk and look of acknowledgment, then starts walking towards me, but not before a big, burly, senior accidentally bumps into him, making him drop one of his books.

The senior doesn't seem to notice and Liam says in annoyance, "Watch it."

Above all the noise, he doesn't hear, and I curiously watch as Liam glares at the guy walking away and then kneels down to get his book.

The hallway starts to clear up when he does that and I hurriedly go to him. He is still on the ground, and this somehow reminds me of how we met, because he looks like he's trying to calm himself down, except that he's on the ground instead of me.

"Liam?" I say softly, slowly bending down in front of him. I don't say another word and instead hesitantly put a hand on his left shoulder, praying that he won't lash out on me. He then looks up at me at that, looking as normal as ever and not at all glaring.

"Let's get to class," he just says simply after a moment. We stand up in unison and in silence.

I know it may be annoying to ask this, but I do anyways. "You okay?"

"Yep, fine. I, uh, I kinda get like that sometimes," he explains plainly, not meeting my gaze.

I nod and drop the subject as we get to class, still confused. I know we've only really known each other for two days, but I would never guess that he could be angry so easily. Everyone gets angry once in a while, though...

→ → →

At lunch, Liam suggests that we eat with some of his new friends, including Garrett. I have concluded that Garrett isn't a bad guy, but I'm just a bit... skeptical of him. Nevertheless, we find a table with him and two other people, one other boy and a girl, sitting there.

"Yo Liam!" Garrett greets, then his eyes fall on me. "And his little neighbor, Riley!"

"Glad you still know me," I smile, sitting across the yet to be known guy and beside Liam, who sits in front of Garrett and the girl.

"So you're Riley," the girl says knowingly. "I'm Violet, and you obviously know my boyfriend here, Garrett."

Violet is the typical looking teenager: pretty, nice hair, good height, and while I'm thinking of this, she also mentions that she's already 16.

"Hi there, and yes, we've met," I shrug. I'm actually not surprised that Violet and Garrett are dating, they just seem... right for each other in an odd way.

I then face the guy in front of me again and send him a friendly look. "Hi, and you are?"

"Mason," he smiles.

Mason, on the other hand, is 15 as well, unlike Violet. He's dark-skinned, good looking, and seems nice. Once again, I am skeptical of someone else on this table, but it's not Mason; it's Violet. I don't know why I'm so suspicious of the only couple in this table, but I just am. Maybe it's just because they have this certain aura, so for now, I'll stick to Liam and even Mason.

"Hey, you're in my English class, right?" I suddenly ask Mason.

"Yes, I sit behind you," he chuckles, nodding.

"I'm not in any of your classes," Violet says but ignore her.

"I heard from Liam that you're trying out for the cheerleading team?" Mason continues the conversation.

"Right," I confirm.

"We'll probably be there since those two will be practicing," he says, glancing at Garrett and Liam, so I look at them, but Garrett is busy talking to Violet.

"I'll... uh, I'll cheer you on while practicing?" Liam says unsurely.

"Yeah, yeah, we will," Mason reassures, giving a small laugh at Liam's suggestion.

"What? It's not a stupid idea."

"Don't worry, it's not," I reassure with a smile and Liam grins lopsidedly.

"See, dude," he tells Mason, smirking, and the other boy just scoffs and drinks his soda.

→ → →

"5 6 7 8!"

The whole group of students trying out follow the counting, hitting the toe touch not exactly synchronized; I hope I was.

We were all into the tryouts already when Liam and Garrett walks into the field, dressed in simple sweats and holding their lacrosse gear. Violet and Mason are no where to be seen, though.

The coach in front starts talking about the line up and who goes first for the next round, which is tumbling, also my favorite. I have been listening completely, taking note that I am in the second group, but then I become distracted when the two boys wave at me funnily.

I can't help help but laugh at their actions, and I soon have to face the consequences.

"Pay attention, everyone!" the coach says loudly, clapping her hands, and though she doesn't say my name, I see her looking directly at me for most of the time.

She gives one more reminder and then we move to the side to start the last round of the tryouts. I take this chance to look at the two obnoxious boys who are now jogging, meters away from me.

I wait until Liam catches my eye and he does so when he's closer, so I glare at him. He smirks at me all the way until he reaches me. When he does, he says, "Good luck, Riley Bales," and even has the nerve to pat my head. My hair doesn't get messy at all, but that action irritates me a bit.

"Liam," I grumble at him, though I'm not sure if he heard because he's already father away again.

"Who's that hot piece of fresh meat?" Lacey says dreamily.

I stop my frowning and laugh at her choice of words. "You mean Liam?"

"You're so lucky you know him," continues Lacey, giddily jumping up and down.

"Well, you must know a lot of other guys, I mean, you've been here since junior high," I nudge her.

"Yeah, but all the guys I know are dicks."

"Lacey," I gasp exaggeratedly.

"Okay, okay, not all, but look at him!" she squeals, and I really do.

When I look back, Liam's still jogging with Garrett and once again nearing me. I randomly wave at him when he meets my gaze, and he winks like he always does, making me smile.

"Gosh Riley, I only met you yesterday and I hate you already," Lacey pouts.

A whistle blows, signaling that it's our turn to show our skills.

"Love you too," I blow an annoying kiss at her so she scrunches her nose in fake disgust. Then, we follow what the coach says, burst in to a run, and tumble.