ONE WEEK LATER:

"Okay, this one is to alleviate the stress from the recent test you all bombed."

The entire class groaned as Mr. Herald said that.

Not one of his lame jokes, again.

"A neutron walks into a bar and asks for a drink," 

The bartender says, "For you? No charge!"

"Sirrr I've heard that before!" Alex, who's the most excited about jokes and stuff, shouted and the class couldn't help but roar again.

"Don't be a halogen, Alex. Don't always react negatively to my jokes!"

Okay, this was something else. Our organic chemistry teacher is so full of surprises every time!

"Listen, children, I know you've been distracted this week because of the Sports practice." He regained his serious posture.

"Now that it's over, I want all of you to divert your minds to studies. You all are seniors, remember that."

We nodded our heads before thanking him and he left.

After only one period, I feel close to passing out. With just 12 students in attendance, I regret coming today.

I had no choice but to come to return a book I'd borrowed from the Library long ago.

Just as I was about to take my phone out to text the girls to say they did a good thing being absent today, I heard our Foreign Language teacher, Ms. Penelope calling the Applied Math teacher.

"They're requesting to go home, Mr. Sang. Should we send them off?"

"Once a student enters the premises, we cannot send them home, even if it's just one. Mrs. Lane would solely be against it."

Mr. Sang told her and we were confused about what they were speaking of.

Suddenly, she entered our room and called for the Class President. She asked Rosalyn if we had English and Applied Math in our schedule today, to which the latter answered in the affirmative.

"Alright, send the three students here. This way, they won't get to sit idle all day long."

Everyone was annoyed as to why she had to shift other students to our room.

"Vera, would you mind if I sit with you today? I don't want that fucker to pick on me again."

Richard stated glancing at Aaron and I nodded my head because I knew Aaron was a creepy ass jerk.

A terrible jerk who can't stand Tristan for God knows why.

Almost every boy in our class happens to hate him though. That's because they envy him- so much that I'm quite relieved he's not in the same class this year.

Richard, about to come with his backpack, stopped when the entire class started to murmur looking out.

I followed their stare; making my heart skip a beat.

The three students to be shifted were none other than-

ETHAN, BENJAMIN, AND DAVE FROM E-COM!

Annoyance was etched on their faces because I think they wanted to go home.

But the moment my eyes met Dave's, the blue in his eyes simmered, his lips curling into something I couldn't get hold of.

Now, I regretted coming today more, more than anything else...

He stepped into the room and was coming toward my seat.

Oh no boy you better-

"Why do you have to sit with me?!"

Yes, of all the goddamn empty benches, Dave Sullivan chose to sit beside me.

"Don't flatter yourself. I didn't bring any book nor did Ethan."

"That's the unlikeliest excuse I ever heard..." I muttered under my breath.

Well, Richard. I guess you'll be bullied again today.

I shot him an apologetic look and turned towards Dave again.

"Can't you see those eagle eyes gawking at me?" I whispered glancing at Rosalyn and Lauren because they were, indeed.

"Vera."

"What?" I whined.

"Do you want me to," he was inches away from my mouth. Surprised at how close he had come, I couldn't help but gulp. "Kiss you again?"

"W-What?!"

Backing away, he leaned onto the desk and buried himself in the notebook.

"Then shut your damn mouth."

My lips parted, summoning a curse but nothing came out.

Ms. Penelope makes the worst entries!

"My, did your classmates treat themselves to a self-holiday?" She mocked. "Why are there only three students?"

I wonder if Tristan is present today. I haven't seen him during the morning prayer. Even if I can see him no more than a glance every day, I'm relieved. At least it's better than not having to see him at all.

"Pass me the eraser."

I was jerked back to the moment by Dave's voice. 

"Well, why did you do that?" 

"Do what?"

He pressed his lips still writing in his notebook.

"The pictures. Why did you send them to my friends?" I asked him what had been left uncleared. 

"Their energies were protecting you. I had to break them to get to yours."

"But they're still talking to me?" 

"A moment's suspicion on their minds after watching the picture was enough to break the barrier." He stroked his temple. "It's all about energies, Vera."

I pouted at the thought that they doubted me, even for once.

Suddenly, Alex who was sitting in front of us turned to me showing a mechanism on a notebook he had managed to keep under the English textbook.

No one gives a damn about English in our class but me. Even Ms. Penelope knows that. I guess that's the reason she expects from me so much. 

"This is insane! I can never get it into my head!" I whined slapping the notebook on the desk.

Hillary, sitting with Alex, agreed in a flash, "Seriously! Organic chemistry would've been so easy to tackle if Carbon wasn't such a hoe!"

"Well, Oxygen is nastier. Spreading its lone pairs every time it sees Hydrogen!" I jeered and the two of them widened their eyes.

The next, we three were bursting like total idiots. And I hadn't..... laughed like this in ages. 

With them...with my friends, and not that damned Tiffany's. 

"Can you three crackheads stop being so loud?"

Oh, did we forget someone here?

"You, Blueberry! Tell me what did the scientist say when he found two isotopes of Helium?" Alex pointed at Dave, chuckling altogether. 

"How the fuck should I know that?" Poor Dave, he could only have a poker face on.

"It's He He He!" 

Oh my god-

Dave rolled his eyes while Hillary and I were a laughing mess. 

-----------

Mr. Sang entered the room and please....is it Applied Math already?

He gave us some tasks before going out to attend a meeting.

To my utter dismay, Dave had all the solutions of the exercise at the tip of his fingers!

His fingers moved rapidly across the notebook while I could move no further from the fourth question.

"You can't solve something as simple as that and you happen to study Science?" His lips pursed in disapproval. 

"I just..." I replied shortly. "Don't like it."

"That's what losers say when they get exposed."

I hated it when someone mocked me like that, especially when it came to studies. I was aware of Dave's sheer rudeness but this one really hurt me.. 

My lips parted, the brain desperately wanting to fire back. But my actions did otherwise. 

Without a word, I took out an essay that was due and started working on it. Dave didn't react. Not a glance, not a question. 

DAVE'S POV:

Is it just my lucky day?

The chatterbox had finally decided to zip her mouth. Much to my relief. 

Silence hung heavy in the air, punctuated only by the turn of pages. It was weird...her not talking. 

But the air soon filled with sick sweetness as Rosalyn, the coquettish head of the cheerleading squad, sashayed over to me. Her smile was as sharp as stilettos.

Alex and Hillary exchanged glances seeing her approaching. I kind of knew where this was going. 

"Hey...uh. Aren't you Dave?" There she was, her eyes completely ignoring Vera like she always does. Cool.

"You have a doubt on that?" Not a good start, hun.

Alex snorted. From my peripheral vision, I could sense Vera playing with her phone. Barely glancing up.

She was.... really quiet. 

Not like I cared. I'm just happy to shut her up.

...right?

"I-I was hoping if you could ask your friend Benjamin to let me enter the Model United Nations Club. He's the President right?"

"Sure," And her face erupted into the hugest smile I'd ever seen. "However I don't work for free."

Her face fell making me smirk. 

"Give me your friend's number in return." 

It didn't need to explain who I was speaking of. Hillary's jaw dropped before she nudged Alex and Rosalyn's face was a sight to see!

Damn. 

And I'd be lying if I say Lauren didn't catch my attention. She's hot. Way hotter than any other girl in the room. 

I'd be hitting a jackpot...if I make her the next target. 

Involuntarily, my eyes darted to steal a glance at Vera. Nothing. She just shook her head still typing onto her phone. 

What's wrong with this vixen?

VERA'S POV:

I yawned before gathering my supplies and shoving them into the bag as this was the last class. I can't wait for my beauty sleep. 

"You sure about not going down?" Alex asked for like the 123th time.

"Nooo! How many times did I say that? And don't let Mr. Moskowitz know that."

Mr. Moskowitz, the PE teacher's wrath is unimaginable. 

Both Alex and Hillary left leaving me....and that dork in the room. Of course I didn't talk to him for the rest of the day. He made no attempt either. 

I'm liking it this way. 

Dave didn't even bother going over to the washroom to change onto his sports jersey. He changed here, in the very room! How gross. 

Prolly for impressing Lauren. 

And just like that he went out, fluffing his hair.

I plugged in my earbuds and turned on some music. I closed my eyes, drowning into the tune. What's more peaceful than bit alone time? 

Before the song could end, a notification popped up on the screen. It was, 

IT WAS-

TRISTAN!

trist_n

Are you upstairs?

                                                                                                                           vera.aa

                                                                                                 No, I'm on my way down!

Well screw alone time!

I was faster than flash in reaching the field. I saw him, sitting in the bleachers while sipping water. Why does he look....so angelic?

He didn't see me yet. Should I go and sit with him there? After all he reached out to me..

"Well here I go- AAAAH!" 

The searing pain shot through my ankle the moment the rogue soccer ball connected with my shin. I yelped, crumpling to the ground in a heap. 

Aaron's shouts filled the air.... So it was him... yet again.

Through the haze, I registered a blur approaching – Tristan..

His face was etched with much concern, a stark contrast to the playful laugh he'd been sporting moments ago...

But before he could reach me, however, a shadow fell over me.

"Woah there," he said, his hand brushing a stray hair from my forehead. "Let's get you to a bench."

D-Dave?

Tristan, now frozen on the periphery, watched helplessly as Dave carried me towards a nearby bench.

I stole a glance at him, a flicker of something unreadable crossing his features. 

Maybe it was regret, maybe jealousy, maybe just surprise.

Dave settled me down, his touch sending a spark through me that had nothing to do with the pain.

That's because his hand rested on my waist longer than it should've been...

I looked up to see a playful glint in his eyes, "Dave-

A shiver ran down my spine. There was something different in his eyes, a glint that sent alarm bells clanging in my head. 

"Didn't we talk of making him suffer?" he purred, his hand still clamped possessively on my waist. 

Before I could react, he whispered, his voice low and dangerous, 

"IT WAS BY PREVENTING EVEN HIS SHADOW FROM GETTING NEAR YOU."

-----------------------------------------

A/N:

Don't forget to vote and comment! The next chap will be a-

steamy one!