"Have I mentioned that you're insane and I love it?" Noah told me during study hall.

"About four times now, yeah." I laughed, briefly looking up from my AP Anatomy homework.

"Seriously, how did I manage to land a badass for a best friend?"

"Magic." I joked, wiggling my fingers teasingly at him.

"Had to have been, because if you haven't noticed, I'm not very badass." He said chuckling, motioning to his lanky build.

"That's bullshit." I argued lightly. "You're a badass with the books."

"That's funny." He scoffed sarcastically. "I'm also a badass in running away."

"Hey, courage isn't only not backing down during a fight but it's also choosing when to fight and when to avoid the fight."

"Thank you, Mister Miyagi." Noah laughed, rolling his brown eyes at my antics.

"Anytime, Danny LaRusso."

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"So I leave to get help for Econ homework and you manage to save your little brother from a bully, kick that bully's ass, and land yourself Saturday detention for the next two months?" Adriana asked me with her eyebrows raised.

I simply nodded and continued to stretch as we got ready for the warmup laps. In sixth grade Adriana managed to talk me into joining the track and field team with her, and I haven't regretted it since.

"Why does all the exciting stuff happen when I'm not there? I swear I'll leave to go to the bathroom, come back and Noah will have asked you out in my absence!"

"Okay, can you stop with that, he doesn't like me." I groaned at my girl best friend's statement.

"Are you blind or just the dumbest smart person I know?" She scoffed, shaking her head at me. "The guy is always staring at you and blushing whenever he's around you."

"That's bullshit if I ever heard it." I chuckled, rolling my eyes.

"Why are you like this?"

"Because A) Noah doesn't like me like that and B) I'm Italian and Irish, I was born stubborn and short tempered." I explained jokingly.

"Obviously, because you haven't told Noah you're in love with him yet." She pointed out with a laugh.

"Greene! Mitchell! Enough with the chitchat and start your laps!"

"Yes, Coach!" We both chorused, before taking of.

"And I'm not in love with him!" I shouted at Adriana as I started to pass her.

"Keep telling yourself that, Athena!"

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

"So Athena." This girl on my track team named Sophie asked me. "I heard you have a crush on my boyfriend."

"Who's your boyfriend?"

"Kevin. Kevin Marks."

"I don't even know who the fuck that is." I laughed, Adriana chuckling along with me.

"Well, stay the fuck away from him. He's mine."

"No problem, Red." I scoffed at this chick's ridiculous assumption.

"My hair is strawberry blonde, you fucking Frodo look-a-like."

"Congratulations! You made a movie reference!" Adriana scoffed sarcastically.

"Stay out of this loser!" The overdramatic bitch said before storming off.

"Who the fuck even was that?"

"I honestly have no idea."