"—enzie? Mackenzie Blues? Ms.Blues?" a stern voice called out. It was Mr.Hammer. God, he looked irritated.

"Shoot!" Cherry whisper-shouted as she opened the door to the small classroom.

Mr.Hammer didn't look up. He proceeded to calling the rest of the names on the roll,"Emma Cloud?"

"Here."

"Alice Camar?"

"Here."

"Isabelle Dotts?"

"Here."

Ocean, Cherry and I tip-toed as quietly as possible to our desks, trying our best to act like Casper.

We safely made it to our seats and was about to let out a sigh of relief, when Mr.Hammer gave a long silent pause.

He exhaled loudly and simply said,"Ah! Ms.Blues, Ms.Nightpaul and Ms.Saturn. I'm glad to see that you all could join us for class today."

I looked at Cherry and Ocean and they returned that "we are busted" stare.

Cherry was about to open her mouth to explain, but was cut off by Mr.Hammer's calm statement,"Please Ms.Saturn. Save your breath. And don't worry young ladies, I have already marked you all late, not absent. So now, may we begin our session?"

Ocean gazed at me in awe. I could tell that she was surprised by Mr.Hammer's response.

I was just amused by the whole situation and shook my head, smiling.

That math class dragged on, just as my second and third period classes did.

I felt as though there could be better ways to learn things. But some teachers are just sad. Although calling them 'sad' is an understatement.

Finally, bell rang for lunch.

Ocean, Cherry and I ran out of Art class and straight toward the cafeteria. The three of us may have looked small, but we sure had an appetite. If I'm being fair, who doesn't like food?

"So where shall we sit today, my good ladies?" Cherry asked in a superior tone.

We turned to face the entire sitting area with our trays of food in our hands.

"Well, we've got our opinions," I replied, acting half as much as I cared.

But we really did have our opinions laid out for us; straight ahead, sat the "mean girls", which, as you expected, most people fear for reasons I still can't understand. If they couldn't hold you and beat you physically, then why fear? I honestly did hate them, though. They'd always have to be the center of attention...it was sickening.

Then there was the cheerleaders at the left, looking prissy as ever and taking a million useless snaps.

At the right, was the worst group ever, the jocks. Considering what happened earlier, I don't think that I need to explain anything further. They're just horrible, at least from what I've experienced.

Finally, at the back, there were the other groups; emo kids, musicians, hipsters, the fandoms...you get the point.

Ocean looked at me with her mischievous grin,"Hey, maybe we should sit with the cheer squad today." She walked in the directions of the cheerleaders and for a split second, I thought she was serious.

Fortunately, she strolled straight pass them and headed to the cafeteria's back entrance.
Cherry and I just stared at her.

"What?" Ocean mouthed,"Are you guys coming?"

I playfully rolled my eyes and smiled at her.

Oh, Ocean.

Barley nodging Cherry, I said,"C'mon, before she gets the shady spot."

We left the cafeteria and raced each other to the school's orchard, where we'd always have lunch.

It a was small, grassy area with a few shady trees and some flowered plants spotted over the field. Most of the fruit trees were cut down, which left parts of the orchard with several stumps.

It wasn't much to look at but I personally liked it for its peacefulness and the fact that not much other students would hang around there. It was calm, unlike the rest of the school.

"God, Art today, though," I huffed.

"I know, right? Like lady, who cares?" Cherry said.

"Yeah," Ocean agreed,"just teach us what we'll get tested on."

Throughout that time we just talked and laughed. We gossiped about teachers and criticized the jocks' ways and just messed around.

Everything was going fine till Cherry struck up a conversation,"Hey Mack, wanna know what I found weird about today's Art class?"

I smirked,"You mean besides the teacher and the topic?"

Ocean laughed at my particularly usual cheeky comment.

"So Dylan, right?" Cherry began,"I know you're gonna tell me I'm wrong but I swear I saw him looking at you throughout the entire Art class. Like every minute his eyes would be on you."

I raised my eyebrows and squinted my eyes at her,"Cherry, go check your eyes. Maybe you need glasses."

What was she saying? At least, what was she trying to say?
 
After all the bad experience with Dylan, I would've expected Cherry to think twice before saying something like that, especially after this morning.

But then again, was she just messing with me? Or was she really serious?

Ocean broke the silence by making fun of Cherry,"Wait just a second here. Why were you staring at Dylan for the entire class,huh Cherry? Huh?"

Oh my gods, I thought. Ocean has a point.

If she hadn't mentioned that, the thought of Cherry staring at Dylan would have never crossed my mind.

Ocean continued with her harassment towards Cherry,"And don't you lie to us. How else would you have known that Dylan was staring at Mack? Huh? Huh?"

I would have dropped all my accusing thoughts against Cherry if she'd just give me 'the look', which is how I'd tell if she was lying or not.

But shockingly, her cheeks burned bright red. She refused to make eye contact.

"Um...I-I...." Cherry stuttered as though the words were stuck in her throat.

I got scared. Cherry never blushes, never stutters and never avoids eye contact...unless...

No.
That's not going to happen. Not to one of my besties.

I stopped Ocean from pressing on the topic any further,"Guys, just stop. Okay? I mean, all jokes aside. Dylan isn't a good guy. We should just leave things as it is."

I felt my face go pale and I wiped the sweat off my palms.

  "They're the jerks. We're just trying to avoid them as much as we can."

The surrounding began to float. I was gonna be sick. I hated drama. I hated tension. But for the most, I hated acting like a their overprotective mother and control freak friend.

Cherry quietly mumble an agreement followed by Ocean's.

"Hey..Mack?" Ocean shook me,"You okay?"

"Um..yeah. Yeah, yeah. Fine," I said shaking my head, trying to clear my clustered thoughts.

I glanced at Cherry and found her to still be in her gushy presence. She was obviously hiding something..but forcing her to talk to me wasn't something I'd like to do.

"Well,um. I should go get my books for History, now. The bell is gonna go in a short while. So see y'all later." I picked myself up and began walking, not waiting for anyone to catch up with me.

The only thought running through my mind was Cherry and...Dylan.

Jeez, even the idea of them gave me chills.

I have to change Cherry's mind. She can't do this to herself. I'll never accept it as a thing. He'll hurt her, no doubt. She needs to talk to me.

"Guess we'll have to play the waiting game," I grumbled to myself. "Only one problem; that game requires patience...which I have none of."