The next day at school I was better so I was acting like myself. Maybe no one but Clyde noticed I was a bit off yesterday after lunch. Or maybe they just didn't want to bother me about it especially since I seemed okay. But it was okay and at lunch today I was there before everyone else. I felt awkward sitting at the table alone but luckily it didn't last long. Soon Vic had taken he seat across from me.

"Hey, Oakley." Vic shot me a grin and I smiled back.

"Hey sorry about not getting your gift," I say realizing that didn't really make any sense, making me want to facepalm.

"It's not your fault." he sighed but the smile appeared again. "Anyway I can give you a ride home today if you like," he suggested before taking a bite of his taco.

"No its fine my dad is gonna pick me up," I say glancing at the taco on my tray. "Besides your car is new. So did your mom or dad get it for you?" I asked finally picking up the taco after inspecting it a bit.

"Oh uh neither. Just a guy that's like a dad to me," he mumbled and I frowned taking a bite. "My parents are alive." he laughed that sounded kind of awkward. "No need to frown," he said as I swallowed.

"Well if you have a dad why would another man be like a dad to you?" I asked as my eyebrows furrowed.

"Don't worry about it," he said rolling his eyes and I quirked an eyebrow at the change of his attitude, he rarely acted this way.

Before I could say or ask anymore another person came to the table. It was Farley which shouldn't have been a surprise really since we both left from the same classroom. We shared the Photography class before lunch again. But this time we had to go back to the class after lunch which like yesterday I almost went to English instead like I did the first semester. Farley took a seat on the left side of me.

"I think the teacher let us out early," Farley said looking at me before scooping a spoonful of his chicken potato bowl.

"You think so? Maybe that's why I got here before everyone else today." I said thinking.

"No the lines are just short," he responded as the bell for lunch rang proving Farley was right.

"Anyway, guys did you hear how upset our Band teacher was that her classes didn't get to have a holiday concert before winter break?" Vic asked as Clyde came over taking the seat on the right of me.

"I didn't," Farley responded before eating again.

"I heard, do you think she's going to make us do one in this month to make it up?" Clyde asked.

"I don't know but if so I can drive us somewhere to practice," Vic said grinning.

"Like your place?" Clyde asked and Vic's grin fell.

"We aren't going to my place," Vic said quickly and I tilted my head as Farley and Clyde also looked confused.

"What about us going to your place?" Cory said popping out of nowhere taking a seat away from Vic.

"Not you I meant Oakely, Clyde, and Farley," Vic said.

"Oh, so they're going to your house?" Cory asked looking at him coldly and I wanted to shrink from the feeling of tension but soon Lily took the spot between Vic and Cory.

"How is everyone?" Lily asked cheerily.

"Good." Clyde and I said at the same time then Clyde glanced at me smiling.

"Fine," Farley responded with Vic and Cory.

"I'm good too," Lily said glancing at Clyde and me before looking at Vic and Cory. "Are you two okay?"

"We're fine!" Cory blurted out and I glanced around quickly but no one really paid attention to us or so to say, Cory.

"Um..okay," Lily said glancing down as Cory got up throwing away the food he didn't even touch and left the cafeteria making me frown.

"Hey uh.." I started to say glancing around to see if anyone was going to go after him because I was ready to do so if no one else was going to.

"I'll go talk to him," Lily said standing up with her tray and walked out of the cafeteria.

The rest of the school day was pretty normal after that I guess. I didn't really see Cory after lunch until maybe after school. And I did see him after school walking with Lily as always heading to where the buses were. I was waiting where I usually was for my dad to come to pick me up.

What was unusual was Vic being out of the school a bit early and instead of going to his car like I thought he would he was with a group of people. Which didn't really come off as such a surprise since he seemed a bit popular? But I wondered why he hangs out with me and the others then. He walked my way leaving the group behind.

"Hey," Vic said pushing his hair back.

"Hey." I smiled glancing at the front doors waiting to see our other friends come out.

"Oakley I'm going to just come out and say it." I heard him say all rushed and I looked away from the doors to look at him. "I know I've said it already but I want to make it clear," he said messing with his hair.

"What is it?" I asked tilting my head.

"I like you more than a friend. The way you know how parents like each other," he mumbled the last part looking away with his cheeks pink as my breath got caught in my throat. "Oakely?"

"Oh um, I uh.." I looked around everywhere.

"Hey, you two." I heard Clyde say and turned to see him running over. Farley soon came out the front doors as well.

"He-Hey," I said looking at Clyde and he tilts his head.

"Am I missing something?" had asked as Farley came over.

"I was talking to Oakely," Vic spoke up clearing his throat and looked me making me look down as I felt my cheeks get hot.

Farley and Clyde glanced between us. Clyde frowned then his eyes landed on Vic last. I didn't like having all the attention. I held my head down hoping dad would get here sooner. Then I remembered something Bookie had mentioned that I do often.

"Well can I talk to Oak-" Clyde began.

"Actually I think Vic and I should continue our conversation. I'll talk to you two later." I said interrupting him and grabbed Vic's sleeve, tugging him away from the other two. I stopped tugging him and let go.

"Sorry I guess this was a bad time." Vic laughed awkwardly and I sighed smiling. I wasn't the only one who could be awkward. Vic could be awkward too.

"It's okay," I gave him a reassuring smile.

"Does that mean I can prove to you how much I like you?" he asked taking a step making the space between us a little smaller.

"U-Uh." I looked around feeling heat come to my cheeks again. "I don't know Vic."

"Please, I want you to know I'm serious. I'll invite you to my house," he grumbled the last part.

"Oh um well okay I guess. I'll call my dad." I said pulling out my phone and called him.

Dad said it was alright. So I ended up in the passenger seat in Vic's new car. I just kept thinking about how my shoes were dirtying his new car. I tried not to touch anything if I could avoid it. Using my sleeve to grab or touch things which Vic gave me looks in response to my actions. Eventually, Vic pulled up behind a car in a driveway to a house that kind of looked a bit old and kind of small. I glanced over at Vic as he groaned glaring at the car parked in front of us.

"Whats wrong?" I asked frowning but he only shook his head taking off his seatbelt getting out the car and I did the same following right behind him.

He pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked the front door. I was about to walk in behind me but he stopped me. I looked at him confused when he told me to stay here. I listened to him through a bit worried about why he told me to. Suddenly I heard voices.

"Why are you here? Shouldn't you be at work?" I heard Vic ask.

"Cause I can boy, why does it matter if I'm home?" I heard a deeper voice ask.

"You shouldn't be home this early it would have been nice to know if you were going to get off early!" I heard anger rise in Vic's voice that shocked me and I frowned.

"Dear, please be kind to your father! He just got off work and is tired." I heard a soft but strong voice say I was guessing it might be Vic's mom and the other voice before was his dad.

"Yeah, drinking lots of beer is totally helping him." I heard Vic scoff then I heard a loud smack noise making me freeze slightly.

"Treat your father and mother with respect, Victor." I heard his father's voice lower dangerously and next thing I know Vic is rushing out of the house and is tugging me back to his car by my arm.

"Vic! Dear!" I turned my head to see his mother standing in the doorway with a pained look on her face.

Vic didn't even turn to look. I glanced at him and he opened the door on the passenger side for me. I got in frowning and closed the door before putting on my seatbelt. He got in afterward as his mother yelled for him but he drove us off. I felt like I was a bit responsible, I could not have come.

"Sorry about that I'm just gonna take you home," Vic grumbled and I glanced at him seeing the red hand mark on his cheek.

"It's fine..." I mumbled softly as I sunk down in the seat as I tried to pay attention to anything but his cheek, I was sure he didn't want to talk about it so the whole ride to my house was quiet.

~ 1,752 words!!! Look at me haha. So school is going to start for me again the week after this week meaning I probably won't be able to update that much anymore. I hope you all enjoyed the chapter! By the way wrote ths yesterday haha.