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Excuse the mistakes

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I’d forgotten how much I was dependent on coffee.

I’ve been making the effort to stop drinking it, since during my sophomore year of high school, I had a sort of overdose on caffeine. My hands didn’t stopped shaking for two weeks, and I had decided that it was time to maybe cut the drink out of my life.

However, this morning, I broke my abstinence, and as soon as I put my lips to the cup full of the steaming, heavenly liquid, I was hooked again. Now, as I got dressed for school, I was almost done with my second cup.

See, guys? I have a major problem.

I changed out of my polar bear pajama shorts and Stanford t-shirt, and I sifted through my drawers until I found an acceptable outfit. Then, I changed into the light denim shorts, and I tugged the tie-dye t-shirt on over my head.

I chugged the rest of my coffee, which was still hot enough to burn my throat and make me regret making such a dumb decision, and I hurried into the bathroom to brush my teeth. With coffee came the unattractive breath odor, and I could really do without that.

“Reed! Come down here please!”

I rolled my eyes and groaned at the sound of my mom’s voice, and I quickly pulled my brush through my hair before walking back into my bedroom. I grabbed my backpack off of my floor and hurriedly shoved all of my homework from last night into it. Then, I slung it over my shoulder and slipped on a pair of cheap, rubber sandals.

“Reed!” my mom called, annoyance dripping from her voice, “Please hurry up!”

“I’m coming!” I yelled back, and I made sure to sound equally as irritated. I trudged out of my bedroom and down the hall, and when I came to the top of the stairs, I saw my mom standing in the front hall. Next to her, looking uncomfortable was Jace.

“Hey,” I said as I stepped down the stairs. “Sorry. I didn’t realize that you were here yet, otherwise I would have actually hurried.”

“It’s fine,” Jace replied, though from the sideways look he gave my mom, I didn’t believe him. “I was a little early, so you aren’t actually late or anything.”

“Did you eat breakfast?” I asked, and Jace nodded. I contemplated running to the kitchen to grab some fruit or a granola bar to eat for breakfast, but I didn’t want to make Jace stay any longer. Obviously, my mom’s craziness was freaking him out, and I could understand that. I mean, I lived with the woman after all.

“Well,” I said, gesturing towards the front door, “Why don’t we just head out then? I mean, getting to school early would probably be a good idea, since you need to go to the office to get your schedule and locker information.”

“Yeah, that’s smart,” Jace replied.

“Then let’s go,” I said, and I put my hand on Jace’s shoulder and steered him around towards the front door. “Bye Mom,” I called over my shoulder, and I opened the front door. Jace hurried outside, and I followed quickly after him after grabbing my car keys.

“I’m sorry about my mom,” I sighed as we walked over to the Grouch, “She can be… overwhelming.”

“She is slightly in your face,” Jace said carefully, and I gave him a small smile. “But,” Jace added quickly, “She is really nice, and she definitely means well.”

“Sometimes,” I muttered under my breath, and I climbed into the driver’s seat. As Jace ducked into the car, I thought about what he’d just said. If my mom really did mean well, then why would she try so hard to get between Parker and me?

It was too early for me to get philosophical, so I shook my head and looked over at Jace. “Are you ready for your first day at a new school?” I asked, jamming my key into the ignition and turning it.

“Not at all,” Jace replied, and I laughed as the engine roared to life.

*

“Is it really necessary for me to have gym first period?”

I looked up from my nails, which I’d been chipping purple nail polish off of, to see Jace standing outside of the main office. The heavy wooden door was swinging shut behind him, and in his hands was a piece of paper, which was most likely his class schedule.

“You have gym first period?” I asked, standing up. Jace nodded and handed me his schedule, and I frowned as I read through it. “Yeah, that blows,” I said, handing it back to him, “But, we do have English together.”

“Cool,” Jace replied, and he folded the schedule up and shoved it in the back pocket of his cargo shorts. “Can you show me where room 216 is? That’s my homeroom.”

“Yeah,” I said, adjusting my backpack straps so that they weren’t digging into my shoulders, “Just let me run to my locker first.” I started down the hallway with Jace matching my stride, and I did my best to ignore the stares.

Apparently, when I’d shown up in the parking lot with an unfamiliar boy sitting in the front seat of the Grouch, I was automatically cheating on Parker. The news had spread fast, as is the way in high school, and everyone was whispering about me. Some people were calling me a slut, which was completely unjustified. Others were secretly pleased that I was giving Parker a taste of his own medicine.

Jace was totally oblivious to what people were saying, and I was jealous of that. Sometimes, I wondered what it would be like to be the new kid at school, since I’d grown up in the same school system with the same people. However, then I remember that I’m not Bella Swan; I’m not going to go to a new school and have a ton of guys thinking I’m hot, and that my lack of coordination is sexy.

On the note of Twilight, I would just like to say that a normal response to a creepy guy telling you that he watches you sleep is to call the cops. It’s not deciding you want to get bitten and become undead just to stay with said creepy, sparkling guy forever.

Jace and I turned the corner, and as we started down the hallway, I saw Parker leaning against my locker. I flashed back to the slightly rude, defensive way he’d been with Jace when they’d first met, and I groaned inwardly.

“Hey, Man,” Jace said as we walked over, and he stuck his hand out to shake Parker’s.

“Jace,” Parker replied with a stiff nod, and he completely ignored Jace’s handshake attempt as he looked over at me. His steeled expression softened, and he grinned, “Mornin’ Reed.”

“Good morning, Parker,” I said, doing my best not to let on that his grin made my heart flip, and I shoved him gently out of the way and opened my locker. As I grabbed the folders that I was going to need for my first couple of classes of the day, I listened to Jace and Parker exchange a few words.

“I didn’t know you were enrolling in our school,” Parker stated, somewhat coldly.

“Yeah,” Jace said casually. “My parents sent me to live with my aunt for the next couple of months while they go to Africa on a good-will trip.”

I slammed my locker shut and turned around quickly, desperate to end the awkward charade between the two guys. I had to give credit to Jace for being friendly to Parker, who was being blatantly hostile.

“Alright,” I said, running my hand through my hair, “Let’s go.”

“Great,” the boys said in unison, and I frowned. Parker and Jace exchanged confused looks, and Parker shook his head and looked at me.

“Aren’t I walking you to homeroom?” Parker asked.  

“Shit,” I muttered under my breath, and I sighed. Parker had started to walk me to my classes when we began fake dating, and him walking me to my homeroom had sort of become our morning routine. “Parker, I’m really sorry, but I have to show Jace where his homeroom is.”

“Oh,” Parker said, and though he was doing a pretty good job of concealing his disappointment, I could tell. I could see it in his eyes, and I felt really bad.

“I’m really sorry,” I repeated, and I shoved my hands into the back pockets of my jean shorts.

“You can come with us if you want,” Jace offered, being the nice guy that he was. I winced at his words, though, because I knew Parker, and I knew he wasn’t going to take well to sympathetic words like that.

“No, I’m fine,” Parker replied roughly, reacting exactly as I thought he would. Parker then turned to me and said, “I’ll see you in health.” Then, without another word, Parker turned and stalked down the hallway. I watched him push out of the school, and I felt my guilt deepen and fester.

I really, really liked Parker, and I didn’t like the look he gave me when I told him I was showing Jace to his homeroom. It made me feel bad even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

“Reed!”

Jace’s voice interrupted my thoughts.

“Earth to Reed!”

“Right!” I cried, a little louder and shriller than I expected, “Right, Jace. Let’s go find room 216 and get you to homeroom.” Without giving Jace the chance to comment on what had just happened, I started to hurry down the hallway in the opposite direction from Parker.

Jace managed to catch up with me in a few seconds, and instead of staying silent like I really wanted him to, Jace cleared his throat and started to talk. “Parker really doesn’t like me, does he?” he commented, stating the obvious.

“How could you tell?” I replied dryly, and Jace chuckled.

“You seem like a great girl, Reed,” Jace said, pushing his hair out of his eyes, “But I would never go for someone who’s already in a relationship.”

“Thanks,” I murmured quietly, and I started chipping at my nail polish once again.

“Besides,” Jace continued, giving me a sideways glance, “I don’t think I’d have a chance if I even bothered to try.”

I stopped walking and frowned. “Why do you say that?” I asked as Jace turned to face me. Students surged past us in the hallway, some muttering about how inconsiderate we were being, but I didn’t care. I was curious what he meant about not having a chance.

“It’s pretty obvious,” Jace said with a shrug, and he jammed his hands into his pockets, “You two are crazy for each other. I couldn’t break the connection between you guys, no matter how hard I tried.”

“Oh.”

Jace wasn’t the first person to comment on the chemistry between Parker and I. Zephyr had as well, and it was really making me wonder. Maybe, just maybe, Parker did like me back. Suddenly, I found myself regretting telling him to not talk about the kiss.

The bell rang loudly, snapping me out of my thoughts, and I checked the time on my phone.

“Congratulations,” I said sarcastically, “You’re officially late to homeroom on your first day.”

“I feel so accomplished,” Jace replied with a grin, and I couldn’t help but laugh.

“C’mon,” I said, shooting Jace a smile, “let’s get you to homeroom, New Boy.”

“Yes ma’am!” Jace stated, giving me a mock salute. I put my hand on Jace’s shoulder and shoved him gently down the hallway, and he laughed. We started to hurry down the hallway, and it took us a few minutes before we reached room 216.

I reached to open the door, but just as my fingers brushed against the knob, it was yanked open. To my surprise, Maya was standing in the doorway, and her eyes widened as she recognized me. I’d failed to connect that fact that Maya’s homeroom was also 216.

“Hey,” Maya breathed, closing the door behind her. 

“Hi,” I replied, taking a step back to give her room. I looked her up and down and smiled. “You look more like yourself,” I stated, and Maya blushed.

Instead of the pin straight hair and overly made up face that Maya had adopted when she was hanging out with Triss, she’d returned to her loose curls and simple, natural look. Even her slutty clothes had been replaced with Maya’s typical floral, spring dresses. It was a good look for her, and I’m glad that Maya had returned to it.

“I missed my wardrobe anyways,” she stated, smoothing the hem of her turquoise dress.

“What did you tell Triss?” I asked curiously, and Maya sighed.

“I told her that being a jealous bitch just wasn’t the thing for me,” she stated casually.

“Wow,” I commented, my eyebrows shooting up in surprise. “That’s ballsy. What did she say?”

Maya ran a hand through her hair and shrugged. “She told me that I was just being a spineless pussy, and that she was better off without me.”

“That sounds like Triss,” I replied with a chuckle.

That’s when Jace cleared his throat loudly.

Maya and I jumped, and I laughed nervously. I’d completely forgotten that Jace was standing next to me, and he’d just heard that whole conversation. Taken out of context, those probably weren’t the nicest things to say about someone named Triss who he hadn’t met yet.

Let’s be honest; Jace was hot, so Triss would be all over him in no time.

“Hi there,” Maya said, giving me a questioning look, “My name’s Maya.”

“I’m Jace,” Jace stated warmly, and he shook Maya’s hand. “I’m new here, and Reed’s mom is friends with my aunt, so she’s showing me around.”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Maya replied, and I watched as her cheeks reddened. I glanced from her to Jace, and that’s when it saw it.

The instant connection.

Jace and Maya’s eyes were locked on each other. They hadn’t even noticed that their handshake had gone over the normal amount of time people took to shake one another’s hands. I’d never seen Maya look at anyone that way, and Jace reciprocated. It was the way Zephyr and Vance had first looked at each other; a look of attraction.

“Hey,” I drawled, feeling strongly like a third wheel. Maya and Jace broke their eye contact, and Maya turned an even brighter shade of red, whereas Jace just grinned broadly. I saw an opportunity and decided to take it.

“Maya, can you do me a favor?” I asked, the corners of my mouth curling up into a smile.

“Sure, Reed,” she replied, nodding.

“Can you show Jace around for me?” I asked innocently, and I pointed towards the classroom behind her, “He’s in your homeroom, so it makes a lot more sense for you to show him to his first class and stuff.”

“Sure!” Maya said immediately, and then she blanched and glanced at Jace, “As long as you’re cool with that, Jace.”

“Absolutely,” Jace stated, and they smiled at each other.

“Awesome,” I said, and I gave a small wave, “I’m off to homeroom.”

I was barely acknowledged when I turned and walked away, as Jace and Maya dove into a conversation about where he was from and why he’d come to our high school. I had no problem with that, and I was actually happy that Jace and Maya had a connection. It lifted some sort of weight off of my shoulders.

Now if only I could figure out what was going on with Parker.

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I would just like to point how creepy it was that a lot of people called Jace and Maya... I've had this story planned out since chapter six, and that's always been the plan. Ya'll are creepy.

GOD I FINALLY UPDATED! I'm so sorry it's been so long, but school as been hectic. I have a debate for a class on Friday, and I've been preparing like a crazy person. I'm nervous and scared. The next update will either be Saturday morning or Sunday, because I have PROM saturday night. (I'm SO excited :D)

Also, I am offically telling you that after this chapter, there are three chapters of the story left, in ADDITION to a Parker chapter. We're almost there, guys!

Song on the side is How to be a Heartbreaker by Marina and the Diamonds... I'm currently obsessed. It's fine.

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