(Edited)

I wished for Monday to arrive ever since Dustin dropped me off on Saturday, but now that it has, I deeply regret whishing so. The whole day up until now had been a total disaster. I arrived late to school because I overslept. Thank goodness they were already gone when I got downstairs. Since I was running late, I didn't get time to go to my locker, and that evidently caused me a lot of problems.

I didn't get my books for the first three classes, and the teachers were all over me. Luckily for me, we had pop quizzes in all three, and I knew the material. What made my day even worse than that was the fact that my stomach had been grumbling since I left the house. I'm pretty sure everyone could hear it because they kept staring at me.

"Okay, everyone that's all for today," My teacher dismissed us when the bell rang. It was finally lunch, and I was starving. "Autumn don't make a habit of forgetting your books." She yelled after me. I waved at her with a smile while running to the cafeteria.

I pushed through the crowd forming at the lunch line and saw my friends sitting at our usual table. I walked towards then, without greeting anyone, I placed my bag down and went to get food. Thank goodness for the freshman who let me cut in line, I thanked him with a kiss on the cheek and took my food.

Usually, I would sit next to Ashton, but before I could do that Michael pulled me in right next to him. I gave him a confused look, and he just shrugged sending me a wink. If I wasnt so hungry and focused on my food, I would have swooned at how handsome he looked while winking at me.

Jason chuckled, looking at me while I was devouring my food. "Whats the hurry?"

I chewed faster and answered him vaguely. "Hungry. Locker," I said between bites. My friends looked at me like I was crazy and laughed at me. I would have blushed, but the sandwich that I was eating was to darn good.

"Wait, you havent been to your locker?" Michael asked, taking a grape from Kates tray. She slapped his hand away, and he stuck his tongue out. Michael looked at me and chuckled. He grabbed my napkin and wiped the corner of my mouth clean. This time I did blush and thanked him.

Taking a sip of my water, I answered him. "No, I was late this morning," I explained with a smile. "Wait, how come you guys were here so early?"

"We skipped the period before lunch," Michael said, nonchalantly. "We were going to tell you, but you werent here, and you dont answer your phone." Michael scowled at me.

I took my phone out and turned it on. I looked at Michael and smiled sheepishly. "It was off." He glared at me, and I avoided eye contact.

The guys were having a conversation about what they did after the sleepover. Emily said she went shopping, Jason and Mason had a family dinner, Michael said nothing, and Ashton apparently had a story to tell. I wasnt paying attention entirely because something else across the room caught it.

There in the very back corner of the cafeteria sat Shawn and Dustin eating and talking without a care in the world. My heart ached by the mere thought that I couldnt speak to them. I had lost them once already, and Im not particularly fond of the idea that I could lose them again. They must have felt someone staring at them because both of them lifted their heads and look at the culprit.

It felt like there was a Guilty one here sign on my head because their eyes landed on me immediately. The biggest smile I had ever seen stretched out on both of their faces. I was surprised by the fact that I could see them clearly from all the way here; how their eyes lit up when they saw me. I couldnt help but smile back at them, but my happiness was short-lived because I couldnt hang out with them. They saw my smile falter, and their bright ones turned sad. I looked away from them and told myself it was only temporary.

I concentrated on my friends. Everyone looked happy, happy to be around one another. We sat around an oval-shaped table, which I loved, and enjoyed talking and eating. On the left side sat Jason and Kate followed by Emily next to Kate and then Mason. Next to Mason sat Ashton—I would have sat next to him if Michael wasnt so darn possessive— instead, he sat next to Ashton, and I ended up sandwiched in between Michael and Jason.

"Okay guys, all attention on me!" Ashton exclaimed, smiling, he pointed both index fingers towards himself. We looked at him. "Like you all know my father is a psychologist-"

"I didnt know that!" I interrupted him, Ashton glared at me. I looked around and was shocked to see that I was the only clueless one.

"How did you not know that?" Michael asked, amused. "Its pretty obvious, dont you think? Just look at him!" Michael smirked, waving his hand in an indicating way.

"Im sitting right here!" Ashton huffed, annoyed.

"We know!" We all said in unison, receiving death glares from him. Taunting him would never get old.

"Shut up!" Ashton scowled. "Like I was saying-" he tried to continue.

"You like to wear pink panties!" Mason interrupted cheekily, a mischievous look in his eyes. We chuckled.

"No-"

"One was supposed to find out. Right, sorry, man!" Mason said, unapologetically smiling as big as a clown.

"What the fu-" Ashtons face was turning red from anger and embarrassment.

"Were you thinking when you bought them? I have no idea!" Mason taunted. We looked between the two laughing so hard that we were attracting the people sitting around us.

Michael said through laughter holding onto my thigh. "Okay, okay let the girl talk!"

"Thank you!" Ashton said, smiling at Michael, and then his words registered. "Hey!" he exclaimed, punching Michael on the arm. Michael laughed even harder at this. Everyone started laughing at them, my stomach hurting from all the laughter.

"Okay thats enough, I want to hear this life-changing story!" Jason said seriously, a hint of amusement in his eyes. He looked at Ashton and nodded. "Go ahead!"

Ashton looked around the table, making sure no one was going to interrupt; when he was satisfied, he began. "So, on Saturday afternoon my father called me in-"

"Was it time for your weekly session?" Ashton shot Mason a look but ignored him. Mason chuckled under his breath.

"To talk about You know what that parts not important." He brushed it off with a blush. "Anyway, he was busy upstairs with some paperwork and told me to wait in his office. So, I went in and made myself at home by taking his pad and pen and sat in his chair." His eyes lit up, and the corners of his mouth widened, showing happiness. He ran his hand through his blond hair. "What he forgot to mention was the fact that he had a patient that afternoon."

I could see where this story was going, and I would be lying if I said I wasnt enjoying it. I saw the scene in front of me, Ashton sitting with one leg crossed over the other, a pensive look on his face and listening intently. That alone got me laughing. My friends were paying full attention, smiling.

"So, his patient burst through the door and sat down." He began mimicking a feminine voice. "Im sorry for coming in so early, but I honestly need help, I dont know what to do!" Ashton laughed, shaking his head. "I shook my head and listened to what she was saying. By now, I realized that this woman was new here because she obviously didnt even realize that I wasnt the psychologist and she was bat shit crazy. So, she went on telling her story, and I was so busy on the pad." Ashton held his stomach because he was laughing so hard. He calmed down a bit to continue. "She then asked me what I thought. I gave her one nice look and told her the truth. I said-" he started laughing. "I said, I have no idea what youre talking about, to be honest, Ive been drawing the whole time youve been talking. But honestly, you sound messed up! Go home, get wasted and if it isnt better when you wake up, do it all over again."

My friends and I were laughing so hard by now; he was such a strange boy. "The best part was when she stood up looking determined as hell. She shook my hand and thanked me for the great session." He sighed happily.

"Wow, there are some really stupid people in the world." Jason chuckled.

"I think you messed her up even more!" Emily said with her head on Masons shoulder. Ashton shrugged without a care in the world.

I sighed happily. "Thanks for the laugh guys but I have to go fetch some books," I told them. They all looked around, sending secretive glances at one another. Everyone looked at Michael and urged him on, he sighed and looked at me.

"Look, Princess," Michael started to say. I could see his lips were moving, but I was distracted by what he was calling me. At first, I hated it, and I knew he only did it to rile me up, but now it left a trail of butterflys fluttering around my stomach. I didnt know what to make of it, but I know I liked it. Did Michael like me? "Wrote slut on your locker." He finished.

I shook my head yes with a smile and then his words registered. "Wait, what?" I scrunched my nose. "Who wrote that on my locker?" I asked, confused, looking around the table for an answer. At least now I knew why people kept looking at me today.

Michael shook his head and placed some of my long hair behind my shoulder, away from my face. "Tiffany and her minions but you dont have to worry the guys, and I handled it," he reassured me, making me smile.

"What did you guys do?" I wasnt surprised that she did something like that. Shes a petty, delusional little girl who thinks that I need to stay away from Michael. Over my dead body!

Mason pointed towards where Tiffany was sitting, and we all looked over. "Wait for it!" Mason said, looking at his watch. "Now!" when Mason said that Tiffanys food exploded all over her. She jumped up and screeched running out of the cafeteria with her minions following behind. Everyone was laughing now.

I chuckled and looked over at my friends. "I love you guys!" I told them with a smile.

"That was nothing. She has a surprise waiting when she opens her locker." Mason said proudly.

"When she opens it up blue dye will explode all over her, and it doesnt come off that easy." Ashton smiled widely showing his hand with blue residue on it.

My smile brightened. "You guys are honestly the best!" I winked at Mason when my phone vibrated with an incoming message. I opened it up and saw it was from Dustin. I moved my phone to the side so Michael couldnt see the message and then opened it.

Dustin: Meet in ArtR in 3 min!

I quickly replied and put my phone away. Dustin and Shawn walked past our table, and the boys glared at them, they didnt stop until they were out of the cafeteria. I took that as my cue to leave and gathered my stuff. "I have to get going."

"Do you want me to walk with you?" Michael asked, starting to get up.

I placed my hand on his shoulder, stopping him. "No, it's okay theres only a few minutes left. Stay and enjoy Ashtons craziness," I said, smiling down at him. Ashton saluted me, and I bid everyone goodbye, leaving the cafeteria.

I was about to walk into the classroom when I heard Shawns impatient voice. "Why is she freaking late?" he huffed, annoyed.

Dustin spoke up. "Woman are always-"

I cut him off by walking into the classroom. I leaned against the threshold and crossed my arms. "What?" I smirked daring him to finish his sentence.

He gulped. "The most beautiful things on earth!"

I suppressed a smirk, getting an idea. I pushed myself away from the door and approached Dustin slowly. "Things? So, you see woman as objects?" I asked him, my eyebrows furrowed. Shawn sat down on top of one of the tables enjoying Dustins torture.

Dustins face paled. "I-I, thats not what I meant!" he exclaimed, panic evident in his voice. He started walking backwards slowly to get away from me, but his legs hit against a table, nowhere to escape.

I slowly walked up to him, our toes touching, his eyes widened as big as a saucer. "Then what did you mean?"

He was a nervous mess, looking around him for an escape. "I-I dontShit!" it dawned on him that he had no excuse to save himself. Shawn was to busy laughing his butt off to help him.

I decided to take him out of his misery and wrapped my arms around him for a hug. When my arms touched him, he screamed like a little girl. I pulled him closer and laughed into his shoulder. "Im only joking, Dus."

He hugged me back and huffed. "Youre a witch! Im only hugging you back because I missed you." He mumbled into my hair. I chuckled and pulled away from him.

"Oh My Goodness! Your face was priceless." Shawn said through laughter. Dustin and I turned and found him laughing on the floor. He stood up after calming himself down and hugged me too.

"So, whats going on?"

"Were here to tell you the time span that we have to stay away from you," Shawn said, running his hand through his hair.

"Oh, James says hey!" Dustin smiled happily.

Shawn glared at him for interrupting. Dustin pouted innocently. "What? Im just delivering his message."

Shawn rolled his eyes. "While Im trying to talk?"

"Yeah, or do you want me to tell James that you didnt want to deliver his message?" he challenged. I sighed and sat on the table.

Shawn punched him. "I never said that you dumb shit!" Dustin punched him back, and they started wrestling. Seriously, I left lunch for this?

I whistled to get their attention, and they stopped immediately, glaring at me.

"Dont whistle at us, were not dogs!" Shawn protested.

"Yeah!"

I rolled my eyes. "Then stop acting like it!" I jumped off the table and looked at the time. "Is that all you wanted to tell me?"

Dustin nodded. "Yeah, we could have texted you, but we used it as an excuse to see you." He smiled brightly.

"How long?"

"Two weeks," Dustin frowned.

"Isnt two weeks a bit much?"

"Im sorry Kid, but its for your own good. James will call you when it's all clear." Shawn explained. I sighed, holding back tears.

"But what if-" An angry voice behind me cut me off.

"What the hell is this?" Mason asked, looking between me, and the boys. It was clear on his face he was shocked and angry. I looked at the boys and nodded for them to leave. They walked past Mason, glaring at each other.

"They wanted to apologize for stealing my homework." I wanted to slap myself for my lame attempt of an excuse.

The look on his face said it all; he didnt believe me. "So, it had to happen in an empty classroom?" he asked, raising his eyebrows at me. It felt like he was accusing me of something. I glared at him and stormed passed him. They were also my friends, and all of them needed to get over their hatred.

Vote and Comment.