[Picture of Chase Grey on the media box!]

C h a p t e r    0 4

I drove fifteen minutes away from Hailey's house after I dropped her. That being said, I also sang along to five songs on my playlist.

How we made the car working? Well, Hailey called a group of boys who were hanging out at the valley and asked for a wee help. Fortunately, one has an emergency tools from their traveling van. They consulted the wheel, then pumped it and voilà! A little help from fix-it-Felix for a deflated tire.

It was exact ten twenty eight in the evening when I reached home. I forgot to bring my phone with me so I was expecting my grandparents were worried and would be mad at me for not bringing it.

Craning my neck towards the dashboard, I scanned the dark house towering me while clutching the steering wheel. The thought of my grandparents' already asleep, gave me a relief. After unbuckling my seatbelt, I hopped out of my car and locked it. A faint screeching sound rechoed across the dark room as I gradually opened the door. Biting my lip, I held the knob firmly while I tip toed in, before closing it behind.

I sighed, and pulled out a smile not until I took two steps forward.

"And where have you been, young lady?"

Thanks, door.

The bulb suddenly turned on, and my eyes instinctively met my grandma's flaming orbs that could burn a house down. She was sitted on the couch with her legs crossed on top of the other, along with her arms to her chest. I also took a second to catch a glance at grandpa with his hands in his pockets while leaning on the entrance frame to the kitchen.

I'm dead.

"I'm sorry, I came home late.." I apologized, bowing my head down to them.

"Answer my question! You told us you're seeing Hailey, but you never told us you're leaving the house!-- And with the front door unlocked! So where did you two go?" She asked with her hand crossed on her chest.

"Wait, I didn't lock the door?" I wondered. Haven't I?

"The door was left slightly opened." My grandpa said.

Grandma faced grandpa with her eyebrows raised in a notch. "No, it's not.."

"Well, I meant her door to her room." My grandpa answered calmly.

"Her door was closed, our door to our room was left ajar! You didn't even close it, did you?" My grandma exclaimed.

"I didn't because you're still inside. You were the last to leave our room and you're blaming me for not closing the door?"

I cleared my throat, earning their attention.

"Oh, deary. What are you still doing there? Go upstairs for bed now, you have your classes tomorrow." My grandma sweetly advised as she made a sound to my grandpa, ignoring him while she walks her way inside the kitchen to grab a glass of milk.

"Oh. Okay.." I slightly nodded.

"Goodnight, you guys." I added, smiling to my grandpa.

Grandpa returned a smile and whispered, "Now, go ahead before she gets back on lecturing you." He lightly chuckled.

"Thanks." I giggled before strolling upstairs to my room.

A peaceful sleep was all I asked for but it was the first day of school making my alarm clock happily jumped up and down to going back to work.

Now I have a reason to hate Mondays, again.. I groaned and tried to turn my stupid alarm clock off.

It was six in the morning as I peeped at the time. I should be up, but everything in me wouldn't want to do it just yet. A yawn slipped from my lips. Gradually, my ton weighted eyes soon closed on their own while I relaxed my body back, cocooned by my warm comforter. I bet five minutes won't hurt my butt, would it?

Thirty nine minutes later, a sharp voice darted straight to my eardrums which made me jerked up from my nap, "Nikki!"

"Fire! Fire... Where's the..." I jolted up to sit, rubbing my eyes before looking up to face my grandma with her hands on her hips while annoyingly tapping her foot on the carpet, emitting soft thumps. "Grandma! Oh, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry... I'm moving."

I did not wait for her to say a word, instead I hastily made my way to the bathroom and took a quick shower for ten minutes. Faster than my usual twenty to thirty minutes bath. Afterwards, I grabbed a stone washed jeans and a go-to-sweater, and hastily donned them. Taking a hair tie on my vanity drawer, I threw in a bun and wore my white converse.

Everything had to be done in a rush, I don't even know if I did all my morning regime. Surpise. Surprise. As usual, since it was the start of school, time hardly cooperates with me. It certainly knew I was running late, but as I moved twice faster than normal, time moves ten times faster than anyone.

I trotted downstairs but before stepping over to the last stair, I tripped on my own foot, tumbling over to the floor. "Oww! Oww..."

"Whoa, hey!-- Are you okay?" My grandpa rushed to me, helping me stand up.

"I'm okay... I'm okay." I chased my breath, before grabbing a toast bread and some strawberries that I could eat on my way to school.

Passing by the mirror, I noticed myself wearing a badly messed up bun. It looked like some sort of a small hat that was worn slantwise.

"My hair!" Whining like a puppy, I began to fix it up to a twirl but only to fail on the first attempt.

In less than five minutes after getting it done, I hastily bid my grandparents goodbye, and walked my way outside while taking a bite on my toast bread. Reaching my car, I launched myself inside and drove to Riverside High. Hoping I would be there on time.

I passed by different houses, raced at the red light, and halted when an animal illegally crosses the road. To my surprise, I made it to school before the bell rings.

Now this girl, deserves a pat on the back.

Pat. Pat. Pat.

The massive opened gates of Riverside High School, welcomed me as I drove in. Tilting my head, I scanned the area before me. The green grass was filled with students loittering around by groups, other preps and cheerleaders all together with the jocks. Meanwhile, kids with such great abilities and profound skills were gathered below a tree with their books all scattered around them and one book slapped on their faces, which leaves random students just doing their own thing.

I was pulled out of my trance when a honk blared behind me. Glancing through my rearview mirror, I saw a hot blue sports car. Specifically, a Lamborghini.

Is that a new student?

The car was convertible yet I could barely see the person inside because of the sun striking through my mirror.

Students swooned, murmured and stared at the car behind me. Oh yeah, go ahead and marry the car. I rolled my eyes.

I was about to hit the accelerator pedal, but before I could do it the car behind me roared, successfully overtaking me on the steep road.

Unbelievable... That dude got a bottle full of ego to even drive by the poor flowers. I thought, shaking my head.

"What a conceited jerk.--" I uttered a sigh.

Lightly pressing the gas, I scanned for an empty spot at the parking lot and saw one beside a black new model of BMW.

New school year, new cars? I barely have new shoes for the year! I thought, before I steered the wheel directed to the spot.

I got my car from my grandpa. It was pretty vintage which might be obsolete to other kids in this school, and I love this baby. I mean who wouldn't love their first car? My grandpa told me he will buy me a new car when I turned eighteen, and that will be next year.

I parked my vehicle then gleaned my stuffs who just dispersed on my passenger's seat, after slinging them earlier. After that, I pulled out the key and hopped out locking the door behind. Taking a deep breath, I turned around about to walk until another honk blared, closing my eyes frustratedly.

"Sup, nerd! You own the beat-up?" A guy with a raspy voice yelled.

Wait, did he just call my car a beat up?

My eyes opened to glared at none other than, Cole Hayes. I don't really know him personally, other than the fact that he had been going on and off to school. One day he would come to mess around the campus, bully a freshman and tell the tale to everyone, then the next few days, he was nowhere in sight.

"Beat-up? Where? All I see is a beat-up face!" I retorted, dropping my bag on top of the trunk of my car. Stupid boys!

"Hey, shut the f*ck up and move that thing out of my parking space or I'll run over your toy car with my truck!" He sneered.

"D***head." I grumbled in annoyance and took my keys to unlock the door of my car.

Closing the door behind me, I adjusted my rearview mirror, having a vision of Cole, "Once I got Thor's hammer I'll wreck your stupid truck..."

I turned the engine on, and released the hand brake reversing the car.

"Whoa, hey! Stop!" Someone yelled which followed a clashing sound, before I slammed the brakes.

What's that? I thought, peeking on my side mirror and saw my bag who just fell flat on the concrete road.

"Oh, fudge." I grunted, jumping out of the car to grab my things.

"Do you need some help?"

I lifted my head to face the person, "Oh, no... Thanks Nathan, I'm g--"

I was being disrespectedly cut off when Cole punched his horn, beeping an unpleasant and ear bleeding sound.

"A little help on shutting up that guy would do." I sighed.

Nathan lightly chuckled before he spoke to Cole, "Dude, come on..."

As I scooped all my things, the bell chimed, piercing a strong sound from all over the school premises making all students rush inside the building.

Oh no, first subject started.

"Better not be late on the first day." Nathan intoned after jogging away.

I agree.

I swiftly ran inside my car with my bag before reversing it while Cole drove in. I tilted my head side to side, searching for an empty space while lightly pressing the gas, taking a millisecond to cast a glance on my wrist watch. A few seconds later, I finally saw one near a tree and beside a bicycle.

Without anymore time to waste, I quickly parked my car and turned the engine off. My hands hooked my bag, again, together with my key before hopping out.

Afterwards, I took a copy of my schedule and rushed through the empty hallway, heading straight to my locker. I couldn't help but to notice the welcome banner hanging from the ceiling, crumpled paper unsuccessfully thrown into the bin an inch away, lockers were newly painted, and a few part of the wall had been marked by shoe dirts from someone who leans on it earlier.

Well, I wasn't surprised at all. One second I would be sitting on my seat already had a chewed gum sticking underneath my desk.

I reached for my math book and quicken my pace to my first subject. I hope everything goes well.

Ugh! Thanks a lot Cole!