Hey everyone, as I said I will update some stories sometimes based on when i can and then I will a lot more in the summer when school is out.

Luke's POV:
We got into class and sat down just seconds before the bell rang.

I made sure to take my bracelet off before I got my clay out and started working on my project.

After class was over, as I was leaving, I realized I didn't have my bracelet. I turned around and looked for it at my seat but I couldn't find it.

"Aw come on."

"What's wrong?" Layne asked.

"My bracelet. I can't find it."

"Here I'll help."

"Thanks. It's blue and black and green. It's got a little-"

"This it?" She held up a bracelet. My bracelet.

"Yeah." I smiled. "Thanks Layne."

"Of course. Where'd you get it?"

"My older brother gave it to me before he left for college all the way in Chicago."

"Which one?"

"Northwestern."

"Oh nice."

"Yeah. He's a freshman this year."

"Oh Solomon? He's 3 years older right?"

"Yeah, he's 19."

We were already back to her locker again.

"English, right?"

"Yeah. Don't you ever go to your locker for anything?" She laughed.

"Nope, don't need to. It's all in my backpack."

"Fair enough." She grabbed her books and we started walking to class.

"What are we working on again?"

"Oh, Mrs. Young said she has a new project we're starting next week. The intro and picking partners is today, remember?" She smirked.

"Not really." I smiled weakly, rubbing the back of my neck sheepishly.

"That's the Luke I know and love." She laughed and punched my shoulder. "Pretty clueless and generally unobservant, but with good intentions."

"Hey!" I said defensively. "I am not unobservant."

I regretted it the second I said it, because I knew she was gonna wanna know what I meant by that, which put me in an awkward place since she was often the reason I couldn't focus, of course. I had all my classes with her and I often lost focus just noticing the way she tucked her hair behind her ears or the way she'd bite her lip when she was trying to focus or the way she'd scrunch her nose a little when she was confused. But the best thing she did was ask for my help whenever she needed anything. It made me feel like regardless my role in her life, at least she seemed to need me.

"Then why don't you ever remember what we're doing in class?"

"That's not true... I remember..." She gave me a glance like 'yes?' "Sometimes."

"Oh, so hardly ever, my apologies." She teased sarcastically. "Still, if you're not unobservant then why do you have so much trouble keeping track of what we're doing in school?"

"I get all my assignments done, often ahead of time, and have straight A's, whether they be A's or A-'s."

"You know what I mean."

"I'm afraid I don't read minds very well." I joked.

"If you're so observant, why do you never know what happened during class?"

"Well, I get distracted easily, and it's hard to focus for a long time."

"You seem to focus pretty well when I go on long rants or when I tell you stories." She noticed.

"Yeah, but to be fair, I said it's hard to focus, but not impossible. If something means enough to me, I try as hard as I can. But, for one of the things that mean the most to me? I can usually keep track and follow along pretty well." I said with a little smile as I bumped my shoulder into hers.

"Lucas Brady, you little charmer." She smirked.

I shrugged a little, keeping my previous smile as we sat down.

English flew by since I couldn't help but be distracted by the excitement I felt that I had successfully asked her out, and was going on a date with her later today. Like an official date, because of course we always hung out after school. I'd always looked forward to the end of school because I couldn't wait to hang out with her. And that school was over, but you get the point. This time was even more exciting because it was an official date.

Our project was to make and preform a short skit about one of the plays or books we'd learned about and watched/read during the semester so far. Simple enough. We could be in groups of 2-4, and could choose our scene, and partners.

Layne looked at me when she finished explaining the project. She whispered "You and me?" quietly and I nodded with a grin.

I looked up at the clock and was thrilled to see class was almost over. Just 7 minutes left. I glanced at Layne. I couldn't help but dreamily smile at her. She was reading and biting her lip a little like she always did.

I cannot believe I'm going on an official date with her later. It's a first date too so I gotta make it count.

I realized I had zoned out, still looking at her, who was sitting across from me. She had noticed too. She giggled a little and waved with a teasing smile. I blushed and waved back a little. She shook her head with a smile and looked back down at her paper.

The bell finally rang not long after and she walked over to me while I was putting my trapper keeper into my backpack and taking my keys out. I slid them into my right sweatpant pocket, leaving the lanyard hanging out like I always did.

She stood there with her arms crossed and a smirk on her face.

"What was that all about?" She laughed.

"Hm? Oh- it was nothing." I brushed it off.

"You were like zoned out looking at me."

"Yeah." I laughed. "Sorry, I got distracted."

"I didn't say it was a bad thing. It was amusing and kinda cute." She smiled.

"Oh okay." I smiled back.

"I'm gonna put these in my locker and grab my backpack, I'll meet you at your car?" She asked.

"Perfect, meet you there."

I went out to my car as I'd told her I would. I had a black 2019 Jeep Compass. I made sure my hair looked okay and that there was nothing in my teeth or anything.

"Perfect." I smiled a little as I ran a hand through my hair.

I saw her walking out the front door so I took a deep breath as I pulled up to the curb. "It's a first date, not the fall of Olympus or anything. You can do this. Just, be cool." I got out and took her backpack.

I opened the door for her and put her bag in the back seat. I got in and started to drive us away.

Alright, next chapter out soon.