Ever since I was a child I suffered from what I like to call 'spontaneous chills'. This unexplained condition suddenly appeared one day when I was thirteen. I was sitting in class minding my business when out of nowhere a gush of cold sliced through me. For hours I felt like pure snow had been injected into my veins and those icicles were cutting at my flesh from the inside. My parents didn't seem worried about it. Nobody in my family thought it was the least bit concerning that I was expecting an off-brand hot flush. For a while, I thought they had disappeared—until today.

My hands tremble from the intense cold as I slip on my jacket. I'm sure people will judge me for wearing this on this, particularly warm day, unusual for an American autumn.

With hands that seem even more pale and fingernails that look like I was stuck in a freezer for an hour, I pick up my school bag and reluctantly head downstairs.

The second I walk into the kitchen both of my parents look at me in concern.

"Are you alright?" my dad asks, pointing to the poofy jacket I have wrapped around me and the beanie that's holding my hair back.

I shake my head. "No, I have those insane chills again."

Another sharp chill aggressively shoots up my spine. I groan and pull my jacket tighter around me until I'm not sure what's going to break me first: the cold or my strength.

I watch my parents exchange the same look they always do whenever I'm suffering from this new kind of hell. It doesn't hold any remote bit of concern, like I'm sure most parents would have, instead their eyes are filled with brief flashes of joy and hope.

My dad shrugs and drowns the rest of his coffee like it's a shot of alcohol. "I'm sure it's nothing to worry about."  

I scoff.  "My whole body feels like I'm turning into a popsicle meanwhile it's like ninety degrees outside. I'm pretty sure that's the definition of cornering." I quickly grab the steaming cup of coffee that was meant for my mom and take a few gulps of the warm liquid.

"First of all, learn to make your own coffee," she says as she grabs the cup out of my trembling hands. "Secondly, I'm sure these chills will go away. They always do." Disappointment is evident in her voice as she mutters the last part and hands me a plate of warm breakfast: bacon and eggs.

Both my mind and body are deeply attracted to the heat of the food, and I quickly sit down and start to shovel the soft and crisp goodness into my mouth with a fork.

"That was so good," I moan, relieved that the heat of the food was battling away the coldness. I finished the food and push the empty plate toward my mom so that she could put it in the sink.

My mom looks at the thick strapped watch resting around her wrist. "You better leave or else you will be late for school," she says. 

I roll my eyes and sigh. "Okay, and remember I'm going to my classmate's house after school to work on a project," I remind them while slinging my bag over my shoulder.

"What classmate?" my dad asks.

He forgot what I told him last night. I sigh again. "The partner for my English class. You know the guy I was partnered with. The one I told you about last night."

"Oh right, the boy," my dad hisses and curls his hands into tight fists.

I laugh and shake my head. "Dad, you can relax. I'm going over to write a skit, not to drink and have sex."

My dad sighs. "Okay, sorry. I'm still not happy about the situation."

"Guys and girls can work on projects together, Dad, it's not a big deal. Now I have to get going, wouldn't want to be late for class."

Ignoring my father's continuous protests about me having to go to a boy's house, I grab my bag and rush out of the door. I plug my earphones into my phone and then put my phone deep into my pocket before starting my slow jog to school.

A wide smile breaks across my lips as I feel the cool air drift past me. When I was younger I loved running. I considered it as a form of art and the second best way to relieve stress. To me nothing could ever beat the feeling of my shoes hitting the ground, the air rushing past me, and my surroundings blurring together to form one mirage. Growing up a good run always fixed my issues. I didn't do as well on a test as I wanted to I went for a run and I felt a lot better. My parents and I got into an argument, the run made all my anger toward them disappear. Sadly my current problem can't be fixed by a run. I could run across the whole Earth and it wouldn't take away how much I really don't want to go to Seth's place.

By the time I reach the school, I'm completely out of breath. I lean against a wall, huffing and puffing while I take out my earphones. I hear someone walking toward me and turn my head in that direction. I roll my eyes and sigh when I see that the person approaching me is the last person I want to see today.

"Don't bring the little pig's house down, they need shelter too," Seth chuckles as he leans against the wall next to me, his arms crossed over his chest and a smile tugging at his lips.

"What happened to not talking to each other?" I snap.

I want to push myself away from the wall and him, but the heat seems to be rolling off him in waves. Seeing that warmth was something I was lacking I reluctantly decided to stay next to him, and he didn't seem to mind.

"Our bastard English teacher paired us together for a project that's what," he snarled. "Anyway, I just wanted to remind you that I will meet you right here after school, and we won't be at my house for more than an hour and a half. The second that hour and a half is over, you leave. Whatever we don't finish today we quickly finish tomorrow, kapish."

I scoff. "Kapish? Are you from the nineteen nineties?"

Titling his head he gave me a look that said everything he was thinking.

I shrug, "Yeah, kapish."

"Great," he says.

I half expect him to rush off, but instead, he stays leaning against the wall intently looking at me. "You do know it's like ninety degrees out here right?" he says with a smirk.

I roll my eyes. "Yeah, dumbass, I can see the sun and that ridiculous shirt you're wearing," I say pointing to the South Park shirt he's wearing.

"Okay, first of all, South Park is classic. Secondly, if you can see it's hot out then why are you wearing fifty thousand layers of clothes?"

I shake my head, "I don't have to explain myself to you." 

He chuckles and raises his hands in a gesture of mock defeat. I honestly don't know what I hate more, the mockery of it or the fact that his dimples are still so captivating.

"Okay, you don't need to get so defensive. I just don't need you fainting out here. Your attack dog of a friend might think I did something to you. But anyway I'll leave you and your fashion choices, and I'll unfortunately see you later." With the smirk still on his face and those damn dimples still showing he pushes himself away from the wall and slowly walks toward the field.

I shake my head as I watch him disappear from view.

"Asshole," I whisper under my breath and rush inside to get my stuff for the very long and sucky day ahead.

As per usual the cafeteria is packed with students rushing toward the line to get the cheap yet surprisingly good pizza that's being served.

Jade, Nicci, and Kim engage in a conversation about God knows what while I munch on my slice of ham and feta pizza, and try to focus on anything else but the uncomfortable coldness that's still sweeping through me.

This morning I thought it had gone away, because for a while after Seth left, taking his heat away with him, I was fine. That was until I came into contact with Jade, Nicci, and Kim. The second they came near me the cold came rushing back and didn't show any sign of relief.

"Vega!"

At the sound of my name being called, I look up at Nicci who seems to be the person addressing me.

"What's up?" I ask.

"Do you have any plans after school? We were planning on getting some ice cream, do you want to join?" she asks, looking at me with a concerned and happy glint in her eyes. The same look my parents gave me.

"And maybe some new clothes," Jade adds in and wiggles her eyebrows.

This makes both Kim and Nicci sigh and roll their eyes.

Kim shakes her head. "You get a pair of new clothes every week. Twice a week if you're lucky."

I laugh at the interaction.

"I like buying clothes, sue me," Jade shrugs and takes a big bite of her slice of pizza.

Nicci chuckles and looks back at me.

"Okay, so we will get ice cream and then Jade can satisfy her obsession to buy clothes. Do you want to come with me?"

I ache to say yes. I don't want to go to Seth's house. I want to go to the mall with my friends. I want to eat ice cream and go shopping. But I can't. 

"As fun as that sounds I have to go to Seth's house," I sigh and shake my head.

An uncomfortable silence settles between all of us, and I was anxiously waiting for the explosion.

"Why the fuck do you have to go to that piece of shit's house?" Jade growls. The explosion and it came from precisely who I expected it from.

As I open my mouth to answer her a male voice echoes from behind me. "Wow, I finally have a new name. Thanks, Jade," Seth says with a smirk as he walks past our table with his usual swagger.

"Yeah well, there's more where that came from!" she yells at him, unphased by the looks she was getting from the other students.

"Vega, what's going on?" Nicco asks me.

"I have to go to his house because we got assigned to work on a skit together for English," I explain. "Hopefully it will be a one-day job," I add.

They silently look at one another, as if communicating telepathically.

"Well then, good luck to you," Kim says, the corners of her mouth turn up in a mixture of a smirk and a smile. Pity and anger are evident on her normally calm face.

I look over my shoulder at Seth who is standing in line for his food, his hands nestled deep in his front pants pockets and his eyes gazing around the room. Eventually, they land on me and I swear I saw the corner of his lip twitch. It was only for a second but I know it happened. Those unfamiliar yet familiar butterflies I felt that time I saw him in class on my first day swarm back into my mind. The pressure building inside me was too much and I break our eye contact and looks back at Kim.

"I'm gonna need all the luck I can get," I chuckle.

Eventually, the tiring day came to a noneventful end, and while the bell rang over us and students around me rushed past me I lazily shuffled towards Seth who was casually leaning against his car.

His eyes lock on mine and harden with anger and annoyance. "What took you so long," he snaps.

"I had to get a few books." I show him the small stack tucked in my arms. 

"Whatever, let's just go get this thing started," he says as he swings the passenger door open.

"I can open my doors," I say as I roll my eyes.

He chuckles, "Sorry, but I thought girls love it when a guy does this sort of shit."

"They do, but you don't seem like the kind of guy who cares about what the girl thinks," I snap.

He sighs and shakes his head, and his lips purse into a scowl.

"You know what, next time I won't open the door for you," he snaps.

He let go of the door and stormed around the front of the car and climbed into the driver's side, slamming the door behind him which causes a few people to jump.

Ignoring the multiple of eyes trained on me and the silent judging they are no doubt doing, I climb into Seth's car.

He starts the car and a loud hum echoes across the parking lot making a few people around us jump again. Pushing the car into gear he presses his foot on the pedal and we shoot off, thankfully not hitting anyone in the process.

After silently driving for about ten minutes we pull up outside a gorgeous two-story, face brick home with a small but beautiful yard, and topped with one of those fairytale-worthy red roofs. It's not a large home like the ones you see when you Google pictures of Los Angeles, it's not flashy or costs over a million dollars. It's warm, inviting and obvious that a family who loves each other lives in it.

"What?" Seth asks.

I look over at him, it seemed my staring was more obvious than I thought. I flash him a beaming smile and it seems to help him relax his tense muscles.

"You have a very beautiful house," I say, the smile still full on my lips.

His deep brown eyes show all of the confusion he's hiding inside, as well as the happiness, which I'm sure he won't admit to.

"Oh, and here I thought you would think it's crappy," he says with a nervous smile.

I shake my head. "Your house isn't crappy," I smile. "Your room on the other hand might just be a different story," I chuckle.

"Excuse me!"

I laugh, "I have a friend who had a teenage brother. Their rooms are... what did she call it... pig stye I believe was the word."

He smirks and shakes his head. "Let's just get this thing over with."

I follow him out of the car and into the cozy-styled home filled with family items and lines of pictures of young Seth surrounded by smiling adults. His mother, father, and grandparents. The last picture is different though, mainly because one major person is missing and the smiles, although wide and bright, hold a hint of sadness within them.

"My room is this way," Seth says, his head swaying to point toward the stairs.

Silently, I follow him up the stairs layered with a beige carpet and down a small hallway. We turn into the second door on the left and I come face to face with by far the dirtiest room I have ever seen.

"Just as I thought, your room is crappy," I chuckle as I look around at the mess this guy calls a bedroom.

The unmade bed, the empty chip packets sitting on the bedside table and around the small black bin in the corner. The unused desk is lined with dirt as well as the posters on the walls depict some of the classics: The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Queen, Nickleback, and The Artic Monkeys.

"Guess I'm a typical teenage boy then," he says as he flops onto the bed, the mattress catching him like a trampoline.

"I guess so," I laugh.

He glares at me and it only makes me laugh harder, filling me with a strange sense of joy, hatred, and familiarity. As if I'd been in this situation with him before.

"You seem to be enjoying this," he says with a smirk.

I shrug. "Yeah, making jokes is something I do when I have to spend time with someone I don't necessarily like. Now can I set up at your desk?"

He rolls his eyes and nods.

"Great!" I open my bag and pull my laptop out along with a notepad and some pens.

Meanwhile, all Seth does is grab a bright red bouncy ball off the bedside table and toss it into the air while his other arm is bent under his neck.

"So, what crippling world issue are we going to joke about?" Seth asks.

"Well... um... I wouldn't call it a joke."

He stops throwing the ball and looks at me.

"Isn't that what a skit is?" he asks, his face crunched in confusion.

I purse my lips. "I guess so, but putting it like that makes it sound so crass." My face scrunches in disgust at the thought.

"Well, you call it crass, I call it a joke. It doesn't matter, let's just pick a world issue and write about it."

We spend half an hour juggling between six different world issues and eventually after a semi-heated fight we decide on the energy supply crisis. We spent the next hour bantering back and forth (some of which we landed up including in the skit because it was pure gold), and before we even knew it we had completed the entire project.

"I can't believe we finished that in an hour and a half," Seth says, shock and disbelief laced in his voice.

"How long does it normally take you to finish a project?" I ask as I pack up the last of my things.

He clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth as he thinks of the answer. "Usually about a week or two," he finally says with a shrug.

My eyes widen, "A week or two?"

"Yeah, let me guess, you're the good student who gets everything done weeks ahead of time?"

"Yeah, I am."

Suddenly, my stomach emits a loud grumble which sends a harsh blush rushing down my cheeks.

Seth smiles and chuckles causing his eyes to twinkle, and once again those damn dimples show and my heart betrays me and flutters.

"I was gonna go to a cafe down the street to get some coffee and something to eat. Do you... do you want to come with me?" he nervously asks.

As I'm about to reject his... nice offer my stomach grumbles again. "I don't have any money with me."

He hops off his bed and walks over to me while holding his wallet between two fingers.

"My treat, consider it my apology for being such... what would you call it?"

I smirk, "A demon from hell." 

"Well, that's... that's a little extreme. I was thinking more along the lines of an asshole but sure whatever floats your boat."

We head back to his car and he takes me to a beautiful cafe called The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf.

My eyes dart across the grey modernistic style of the interior, while Seth goes in line to order our drinks and snacks. He comes back less than five minutes later carrying two takeaway cups and a bag filled with what—I don't know.

"Here is your hot chocolate, and I saw you ogling the doughnuts so I got you one as well," he says as he sits in the chair across from me.

"I wasn't ogling them," I defend myself as I take the hot chocolate and one of the bags containing a large doughnut.

"You looked like you were going to break the glass case and steal them all," he laughs and then takes a long sip of his coffee.

I open the packet and wrinkle my nose in disgust. "Well," I shove the packet back toward him. "Your efforts were in vain because I hate cream-filled doughnuts."

He shrugs and takes the packet. "Oh well, more for me I guess."

I look up at him. "Aren't you going to get me another?"

He smiles down at me. "No, my charity is closed for the day. If you want one you should go get it yourself. Oh wait, you don't have any money."

"Asshole."

"Finally, we agree on a nickname for me."

Rolling my eyes I take a long sip of the delicious hot chocolate while I watch him devour three doughnuts like it was breathing air.

"That was disgusting," I say as he throws the crumbled-up packet into a nearby bin.

He leans back into his seat and pats his stomach. "I'm a growing man, I need to eat." He sighs and looks around before his eyes eventually settle on a sign pointing in the direction of the bathroom. "I also need to go and relieve myself. I'll be right back."

He pushes himself away from the table, the chair screeching against the floor and then rushes toward the bathroom.

I finish the rest of my hot chocolate and then go on my phone and check my Instagram while I patiently wait for him. Suddenly I feel a hand touch my shoulder and the intense coldness that has since vanished comes rushing back. I jump in my seat and quickly turn to face the person who is trying to get my attention. To my complete surprise, it's Chris.

"Vega! I thought it was you," he says with a creepy smile stretching his lips.

Looking up at him in his business suit and wide smile I notice pure excitement shining in his eyes. He looks far too happy to be seeing me.

"Hi, Chris," I politely say and then try to look back down at my phone.

He doesn't get the hint and walks around the table so that we're facing each other.

"What are you doing here?" he asks. His hands reach out and grab the back of Seth's chair and he leans forward.

"I'm here with my project partner. We finished early so he bought me a hot chocolate," I respond holding up the empty cup to show him.

His lips were pursed in the same amount of anger my father showed when I mentioned that my partner was a boy. But unlike my father's reaction, which is normal, his reaction isn't normal and that only makes him creepier.

"Well, I'm going to get myself some butter croissants. If you want, I can get one for you and then maybe I can take you home," he says.

A deep pit forms in my stomach at the thought of being alone with this man who's looking at me in a way that should be illegal. I twiddle my thumbs trying to find the best way to reject him.

"Actually, I was just going to take her home," Seth says as he returns from the bathroom.

When Chris turns to look at Seth I can see the pure rage and shock appearing on his face. He is looking at Seth like he killed his dog or wronged him in some grand way.

"And you are?" Chris asks him, his voice laced with the anger that's still evident on his face by his furrowed brows and pursed lips.

"I'm Seth. I'm her English partner and I'm the man who's going to be taking her home. So, if you can leave the underage girl alone that would be great."

Chris shifts his gaze between Seth and me for a few minutes before he asks me, "Are you sure you don't want me to take you home?"

"Seth can take me," I quickly say.

His lips press into a tight line showing his clear disgust at the situation, but he doesn't try to press the issue any further.

"Okay, goodbye, Vega, it was lovely seeing you again."

Without even acknowledging Seth again he walks toward the counter to place his order.

"Come on, let's go," Seth says and half drags me out of the shop.

And even though I don't look back I know that Chris's eyes are settled on me.

Seth leads me back out to his car, and I quickly hop into the passenger seat.

"How do you know that guy?" Seth asks me as he starts the car and we drive off.

Shifting in my seat I wrap my arms around myself as if I want to create a shield that separates me from the rest of the world. "He's a friend of my dad's. I've only met him twice before this."

"Well, he looked like he's known you for a long time. Aside from the fact that he's a pervert."

I hold back a laugh while I nod my head.

The car falls into a state of comfortable silence all the way back to my house. I mentally sigh in relief when I see that my parents aren't home. I can finally get a moment to myself.

"Thanks for the ride and the hot chocolate," I say to Seth as I unlock the passenger side door.

"No problem," he says.

As I'm about to open the door and hop out his hand suddenly shoots out and grabs my left hand.

"What are you—" my voice trails off when as I watch him pull my jacket sleeve up and reveal the scar that had formed from the fight with Carla. The one where she somehow burnt me.

"Who did this to you?" he asks, his voice filled with concern and rage. His eyes desperately pleading with me to answer him.

I shake my head and pull my hand back, quickly covering the scar with my sleeve again.

"I don't have to tell you anything!" I yell at him.

The concern shining on his face disappears and soon it's only anger that's present.

"Well jeez, I'm sorry I dared to be worried about you," he spits.

My anger quickly disappears and it is replaced by regret, but this doesn't seem to affect him in any way and his anger-filled gaze is still locked with mine.

"Seth I'm—"

"Get out of my car, Vega," he hisses.

Silently I open the door and grab my bag, and jump out of the car. The second I close the door he takes off like a bat out of hell down the street. Tears well up in my eyes as I watch him drive out of view.

Throughout my life, I've seen so many types of guys. There are the good guys, the bad boys, and then... there's Seth. The only boy in my entire life that has ever made me laugh and cry on the same day.