As things progressed well with Lexi and grandpa offered me various distractions, I began to think little of my death, mental state finally returning to my old self. I woke for school with excitement rather than a sense of impending doom. I remained nervous, butterflies in my stomach making no move to leave, but at least I was no longer faced with the constant urge to hurl every time I thought about Lexi. Every day, I left the house with a bounce in my step.

      It was the Seniors hockey game that day. I had completely forgotten about the game, until I roamed the school halls and noticed the drastic number of missing students. The boys had warned me about it, suggesting that I skip class to watch them or just stay home. But even had I remembered, I wouldn't have chosen to follow their advice. I knew too well that I'd get much grief from grandpa. The thought of impressing Lexi also may have crossed my mind...

      Having become accustomed to following Conrad's lead, I was left disoriented. I didn't know my schedule by heart; couldn't remember what class came first. I turned my locker inside out, in search of the printed schedule that had been handed to me on my first day. When the bell was minutes away from ringing, I shrugged and decided to take a guess. I remembered that Chemistry and Calculus class followed, both either in the morning or afternoon. I at least determined that I had one of the two. With two binders, two textbooks and a pencil case, I headed towards my first classroom of guess, flipping through a small duo-tang in which I was certain I had placed my schedule.

      "Jaxson?" A delicate voice interrupted my messy scramble.

      With instant recognition, I stopped in my tracks, tipping sideways as I nearly dropped my arm's content. Abruptly I turned her way. The four girls facing the direction opposite to mine, it was made pretty clear that I was headed the wrong way. With the slow fading of my expression of confusion, I noticed the spark of amusement in their eyes.

      "Math class is this way." Lexi pointed towards the opposite end of the hall.

      Her friends seemed surprised at our interaction, three pairs of eyes staring me up and down. Lexi's ears turned pink.

      "Thank you," I sighed, blushing lightly as my eyes lingered on Lexi a second too long. It would take an idiot not to notice my pinning.

      The girls waited for me to fall into step with them.

       "Jaxson," I introduced myself with a short nod to Lexi's friends.

       Easily falling instep next to Lexi, the blonde who I learned to be Angela, smirked my way. It seemed Angela was no idiot.

       She was nearly as tall as me with broader shoulders and a larger waist. Plaid dress falling perfectly against her pale skin, her straight hair fell just above her waist. The pink birthmark stretching across her right cheek drew attention to her intimidating eyes. Eyes sharp and a shade darker than mine, I feared hers was a pair of eyes that saw through every façade. In a matter of seconds, she saw just how much I had taken a liking to Lexi.

       Kianna and Julia were much less intimidating than Angela. Kianna was nearly as shy as Lexi, with the same brown hair, only shorter in length, and smooth skin a few shades darker than mine. A few inches taller than Lexi, Kianna's hair was perfectly curled, while Lexi had seemingly thrown her hair in a swift bun. Julia was almost as animated as Angela, but her emerald eyes were gentler. Shaggy ginger hair in a disarray, mis-matching-colored socks poking out of her leather boots, I suspected that even if she was as perceptive as Angela, she wouldn't tease me about it. Angela would give me a hard time. Already, I had no doubt about it. In the few moments following our introduction the mischievous sparkle in her eyes became amply clear. It wouldn't matter how oblivious Lexi was, with a friend like that. Angela was trouble.

      I had just enough time to retell the story of my transfer from Astha Falls (leaving out valuable information such as my death), before reaching the half empty classroom. I took the seat next to Lexi's, relieved that none of her friends seemed unpleased with my presence. Surprised maybe, but not unpleased.

      "You didn't want to go to the game?" Lexi questioned me quietly when her friends were caught up in their own conversation.

      "I forgot about it," I admitted. "But I've decided to stay, anyway. I'm hoping it'll make me look smart."

      Lexi smiled, pleasantly shaking her head. Short pause as she bit her lip, once again she seemed to contemplate whether she should respond. I returned the soft smile, patient gesture that I was interested in her thoughts.

      "You think intelligence can be judged based upon presence and appearance?"

      "No but it seems it can certainly be judged on words," I snorted.

      She had such a way with words, I thought it was a real shame that she didn't share them with the world as often as she should.

      "Those words really weren't complex, Jaxson," she teased, turning towards the white board. "Maybe it is a good thing that you stayed."

      Now facing the teacher, Lexi shot me a side glance, lips turning upwards as she took notice of my feigned look of offence.

      Sitting so close to Lexi, I thought my attention span would have been poor, but with her few whispered explanations of the topics I didn't quite understand, I found myself focused intently on the lecture. Surprised that the material wasn't as complex as I first expected, the first two classes flew by. By the shared looks between her friends, when Lexi smiled or teased me, I suspected they were seeing a side of Lexi that few people got to see. A side that they were likely to only see when they weren't in public. And I think for that reason, they took a liking to me. When the second period's bell rang, Angela didn't hesitate to invite me to sit with them for lunch.

      Lexi on my right at the lunch table, the three others sat in front of me. Initially I was uncomfortable, especially in the face of insinuating looks. I could sense that Lexi was as uncomfortable as I was, but I didn't dare turn to confirm my suspicion. This wasn't how I intended to approach the situation. Though I was getting along great with her friends, I didn't want their unintended, obvious interest to pressure Lexi. No matter how it happened, as long as the task was complete, I would be happy. If friendship was what she wanted, then that is what she would get. I would pull no romantic moves so long as I wasn't absolutely certain they were wanted.

      With the intention of differing the attention away from myself and Lexi, I questioned the chattier of the three. Angela's response easily kick-started a conversation. In an instance the atmosphere changed, and I relaxed in my chair. Lexi interjected infrequently, not to our surprise, but I found myself smiling along with the other three when she did.

       As the conversation drifted to the English project, the girls didn't hide their surprise of my choice of novel.

       "It definitely wouldn't have been my first choice. I wouldn't have laid hands on a Shakespeare book, if I hadn't seen Othello in Lexi's hands," I admitted, earning myself giggles.

      "You convinced him to choose Hamlet?" Julia asked amused.

      Still chewing on her lunch, Lexi had no time to defend herself.

      "If you disliked him so much, I'm sure there were better ways you could have told him so," Angela teased.

      I chuckled as Lexi narrowed her eyes at her friend.

      "I really don't think his writing is a punishment," she argued. "And he only gave me two options, both by Shakespeare."

      "Why on earth would you do that?" Angela laughed, blinking innocently my way. She asked a question that she obviously already knew the answer to.

      "I'm not usually much of a reader," I admitted. "But I figured I'd at least make myself look smart."

      I chose my words carefully, trying not to reveal too much of my true motives, but the smirk on Angela's face was indicative of the failure in my attempt. Luckily, she made no comment of the revelation, considerate enough not to cause me greater embarrassment.

      "I did enjoy it though," I clarified.

      Lexi smiled lightly, poking her salad victoriously while Angela and Julia cocked their brows in disbelief.

      "I really did," I insisted with a chuckle. "I finished it in a day. I can genuinely say that I understand where Lexi's obsession with the story comes."

      Look of disbelief still on their faces, they averted their gaze from me, and instead directed it towards Lexi.

      "You've read it too?" Angela asked.

      Slight blushed as their attention returned her way, Lexi nodded. "Multiple times."

      "Why?" Julia asked.

      "It's a classic— I enjoy it," Lexi replied, shooting the girl an incredulous look, as if to say why else?

      Angela snorted and shook her head. Lexi narrowed her eyes, but her curled lips proved she wasn't truly annoyed. I could tell the two were the closest of the four. Angela seemed to understand Lexi in a different way than the others. She was able to push her out of her comfort zone, but careful not to over-do it.

     "You are such a nerd," Angela laughed.

      Rolling her eyes, Lexi smiled, blush only slightly deepening. "Tell me something I don't know."

       Sandwich in hand, I spoke instinctively, losing control of my own mouth. Much to my dismay I spoke aloud my answer to her question. "You're beautiful."

      All hopes of controlling her blush around me were lost. It didn't take long for my face to match Lexi's beat red one. Kianna's eyebrows shot into her hairline, while Julia, and Angela both visibly attempted to contain their laughter behind shaking shoulders.

      "Sorry," I muttered, almost incoherently. "That was meant to be an inside thought."

      This time the three girls fully laughed, while Lexi smiled shyly as she rubbed her neck. She wouldn't meet my eyes.

     "I did mean it though," I clarified, color of my face making no move to return to normal. I played with the collar of my shirt. Had the cafeteria always been so hot?

     I had said it, there was no taking it back. I had already embarrassed myself, so I figured as may as well make sure she knew that I truly meant it. I had been sent here to help her, not to build my own reputation. And thank God for that, because I was doing a poor job of making myself look like anything other than a clown.

      "It really is something I think you ought to know... It's just not something I would usually say aloud."

      "I could be more conceited than you think," Lexi joked, clearly trying to reverse the awkward ambiance that had suddenly taken over us.

      "Nah." I shook my head, shoulders slightly relieved of their tension. "You've got a certain admiration for yourself, but not to the extent that you should... You're like— a chocolate Labrador but you think you're a wet poodle."

      Still blushing, Lexi finally met my eyes with a smile. Her eyes reflected pure amusement at the ridiculousness behind my statement. Her deep frown was a mixture of confusion and delight.

      "Some people prefer poodles."

      "But you don't."

      "You seem to think you know a lot about me for someone who's known me for a very brief period of time."

      "I'm good at reading people. You especially."

      Lexi cocked a brow, urging me to continue.

      "You're easy enough to read, if one's really paying attention... if you don't get caught up on the wrong things."

      Lexi studied me with a tender smile. I couldn't tell what she was thinking, but I liked the smile on her face. Returning my focus to my food, my earlier ease returned, successfully having recovered myself from the embarrassing mishap.

      "I'm going to make it happen," I decided.

       Lexi cocked a brow again. "Change my self-view of a poodle to that of a chocolate Labrador?"

      I cringed. "Again, I am regretting my choice of words, but to answer the question: yes."

      Lexi grinned and raised her brows in challenge, a clear sign that she had little faith in my ability or promise to do so.

      "Mark my words Lexi-Grace," I responded to her challenge. "I will not rest until I make it happen." If only she knew the truth behind my words. I suspected that she would appreciate the irony of it all.

      Snorting, Lexi shook her head playfully, she too returning her attention to her food. It was only then that we both seemed to remember the other three. Three intrigued gazes on us, Lexi kept her gaze on her salad as her hair fell into her face, shielding herself from my view.

      Ignoring the sly smirks, I questioned Kianna of her choice of novel. Still quite reserved, Angela added to the girl's response, helping my attempt of a comfortable conversation.

      I spent the rest of the afternoon with the girls and was surprised to find myself enjoying the presence of the three others among Lexi. They were much different than my usual group of friends. They spoke a lot of their classes, but I found myself interested and amused by their opinions. I had never really had friends of the opposite gender, and I appreciated the lack of drama and laidback attitude of their group. I saw a lot of Jonah in the blonde, Angela even making sure to let me know that I was welcomed to sit with them in the future.

       Last bell marking the end of the last class, the girls left me at my locker, as they each went to their own. I grinned as I watched the four chat quietly as they walked away, progress lifting a weight off my shoulders. The three trailed behind Lexi, who was blushing furiously, leading me to conclude that they were speaking of me. The knowing look I received from Angela when she caught me looking their way confirmed my suspicions. Immediately averting my eyes, I hid behind my opened locker door. 

     I couldn't help but smile into my locker, when I caught sight of Lexi laughing at Kianna's latest remark. Whatever insinuations they were making, she may have been embarrassed but she wasn't uncomfortable or uneased by it and the thought put a skip in my step. A skip that later resulted in a great deal of laughter from my grandfather.