"Say it again. What exactly did Jaxon say that set Kellan off?" she asked.

"It all happened so fast. Something like, 'Wren and I were discussing being partners,' then Jax said something about Kellan's football team sucking. I can't remember his exact words. I was hit in the head."

"Wow, that's amazing," Sage said. She was walking backward to face me, with her strawberry blonde curls bouncing in time with her step.

"What? Are you crazy? Last time I checked being punched in the face wasn't a good thing."

"No, not that." She smirked and rolled her eyes. "The fact that both Jaxon and Kellan haven't even so much as blinked in the direction of a girl at this school since they've been here. Not from the lack of trying on the side of the female population, though. If a girl threw herself at their feet, they would likely step over and keep walking."

She paused as if she was thinking about something. "You know, I even saw that happen once when Jessica practically dumped her book bag upside down in front of Kellan to get his attention and he kept just talking to his buddy Shane and walked right through her stuff totally oblivious." She laughed and pushed her hair back out of her eyes. "But you, you're here for what a few hours and these two start a fight over you?"

"I told you. The fight wasn't really over me. Those two clearly have issues with each other already. I think I just happened to be in the wrong seat at the wrong time," I replied stuffing my free hand into my back pocket. "Oh, not to mention you practically had to yell at Kellan this morning to get him to leave me alone and back off."

"True, but at least he saw you and stopped to talk. With Jess, he just kept on walking."

"Hard not to see me when I basically ran right into him with my entire body. He'd have to be dead not notice that." I laughed and adjusted the ice pack on my cheek.

"Okay, maybe you're right." We rounded the corner and were now standing in front of the Galaxy Diner's red and yellow hand-painted sign in the window. "Ok, I'll drop it, but you might like to know," she said as she looked down at her phone, "that Jaxon is on his way join us for lunch."

I think my face went white as a sheet. "What? You weren't going to tell me until now!" My blood pressure spiked at the mention of his name.

"Well, I didn't want to say anything, as he doesn't always join us due to basketball practices at lunchtime, but I just got a text from Amy saying that he was on his way. It'll be all right, come on," she said, pulling on the sleeve of my cardigan as she opened the door.

I could see why they liked this place to hang out. It had an old classic fifties feel to it, with the red stools wrapped in steel that were facing a long countertop with booths that lined the wall on the right side. The mint colored walls added to its charm and displayed several framed poster ads from the fifties along with an old Texaco gas station sign. In the back corner, there was a booth larger than the rest in the diner, instead of two benches facing each other, this booth's seats wrapped all the way around the table to seat eight. Sitting at the booth was a girl with long straight brown hair wearing a tan corduroy jacket and plaid skirt waving at us to get our attention.

"Hey, I got here early. I had a spare last class and with the first day of school, there really isn't much to study yet. Oh, I'm Amy." She waved as we slid into the booth. "You must be the famous Wren everyone is talking about." She smiled and handed me a menu.

"More like infamous, I think today," I jested.

"Wow, your jaw looks, uh rather awful. I'll have to punch Kellan for you next time I see him," she said.

"He wasn't aiming for me. He was gunning for—"

"Me," Jaxon said finishing my sentence. He slid in and claimed the seat next to me. "But Amy if you see Kellan before me, feel free to punch him once for me too." He winked, knowing that she couldn't so much as make a dent on Kellan's muscular body.

Sage took a seat next to Amy. "So what are you and Kellan trying to kill each other over this time?" she asked.

"Yeah, I know I'm interested to know," Amy smiled, put her elbows on the table and rested her head in her hands.

"I don't know maybe he had his heart set on having the same lab partner as me?" He grinned then threw an arm over my shoulder.

Oh, kill me now. When I looked up, Sage had one eyebrow raised, silently saying, I told you so. Not convinced with Jaxon's answer I replied, "I don't know about that. There was definitely more to your exchange. It seemed like there was some history between you both that you were referring to."

"Maybe, but I think you're avoiding the question," he said avoiding my inquiry for more information.

"What's that?"

"Are you going to be my lab partner this year? Thought I had made that one clear before you hit your head." He chuckled, then wrapped the side of my head with his arm kissed the crown of my head and then released his hold.

Stunned, I froze and didn't know what to say to Jaxon about his open display of affection. Sage was almost ready to burst out laughing and was somehow managing to hold it in, and Amy looked like her eyes were about to fall out of her head. Then Jaxon reached over and grabbed a menu from the center of the table like he had done nothing out of the ordinary.

When I opened my mouth to speak, and nothing came out, and it looked like my ability to process speech might be permanent, he came to my rescue and said, "You don't have to answer right now, I know I'm totally putting you on the spot. But I think my chances are pretty good given the only other person without a partner is the one that gave you that lovely bruise across your jaw."

Sage looked up from the table, and I could see her eyes catch something behind me. I turned to follow her gaze wanting to see what caught her eye when I noticed two more guys had just entered the diner and were approaching the booth. "Hey Sage, thanks for the invite." The hottie smiled and waved. "Who's the new girl?"

"You're quick on the draw for introductions. Wren, this is Robin and Jeff, guys this is Wren. She's just moved here, so be nice. Apparently, not all of our school understands what the meaning of nice is yet."

The waitress snuck in beside the guys and placed a basket of fries in front of us. "Can I get you anything?" she asked the group.

Everyone placed their order like they had been there a million times before knowing the menu verbatim. Without looking at the menu, I ordered a hamburger knowing that any diner in the world would have to have that on the menu. The waitress headed back toward the counter straightening out in her light pink uniform as she went. She tore off the top piece of paper and placed on the grill ledge for the line chef to make.

That was when Robin spoke up, "So how's your first day at Swallow Falls so far? Is it different from your previous school?" he asked.

Trying to avoid the first part of his question, I focused on answering the later. "I've been to few schools in the past few years after my parents died. My grandmother and I have pretty much moved every six months due to her work, so it hasn't been like I've got to know anyone at my other schools before. But my grandmother is semi-retired now, so who knows, maybe we'll be staying here for a while. School is school. It's pretty much the same where ever I go."

"Right, with the exception of maybe this morning's events," Jaxon said. "I can't imagine you having to seek medical attention on your first day of school before."

"That's gotta be a first for anyone," I replied. Two more people walked up to the table to join our group.

"Hey, why are you two so late?" Amy asked the new arrivals.

"Oh, Chrissy here couldn't get her locker open all morning. So I went with her to find the janitor to cut her old lock off and get a new one," he said.

"My hero," Chrissy said patting the front of his shirt. "Hey, you must be Wren. This is Brandon, and I'm Chrissy. Sage told us you were coming to lunch."

The waitress placed our orders down in the middle of the table, covering it in an array of fries, shakes, hamburgers, and chicken fingers.

"Nice to meet you." I smiled as I picked up my Cherry Coke and took a sip.

"OMG." Chrissy said noticing the mark of pain on the side of my face. "You're the girl who got in the middle of the fight between Jaxon and Kellan. Geez, that looks like it hurts." Chrissy turned and glared at Jaxon. "What kind of guy are you? Not protecting her and letting her get hit like that?" She punched his arm hard. "Look, that's because you and Kellan can't stop trying to kill each other," she said pointing at me. "Can't the two of you just grow up and let whatever it is between you go?"

"Nope. That's not gonna happen," Jaxon replied. He smiled and picked up a handful of fries from the basket. "Besides, we give you way more to talk about this way. Who would keep you entertained if we stopped attacking each other?" he remarked as he motioned to Brandon that needed to slide out of the booth.

When Jaxon stood up, he grabbed a burger off the table and took some cash out of his pocket. "I have to talk to the coach before the end of lunch, so I'm off. Uh..." He paused looking at the table trying figure out what he might owe. "That should cover Wren's and mine. Catch you guys after school, or in class," he said as he gave me a smile hinting he'd be looking for me. Then he took a bite of the burger, turned around and walked out the door.

We all sat in silence eating our food for about a minute before Amy broke the quiet tension. "Uh, what just happened?" she said looking at me pointing at the door.

I shrugged and felt clueless about the whole thing myself. "I don't know— Are you asking about Jaxon and me?"

"Yes, Jaxon. He hasn't so much as looked at girl since he arrived at our school three years ago, and you've been here for what five minutes and he's getting into fights, throwing his arm around you, kissing you on your head and paying for your lunch," she said sounding totally amazed. "What have you done with the real Jaxon? If it's some kind of magic pixie dust or something, I want some. Just tell me how much and I'll happily pay." She held up her wallet.

"Ah, knock it off. Clearly, Jaxon's taken with her and apparently not afraid to show it. Give the guy a break. It's not like he's gone around the school breaking all the girl's hearts or anything," Robin said in defense of his friend.

"No Robin, you've already done that." Chrissy said crossing her arms.

"Yes, that's right." He puffed out his chest. "That's my badge of honor, so cut Jaxon some slack." No sooner than he said the words badge of honor, all the girls at the table picked a handful of fries and pelted him with them.

"That's for being such a womanizer, you creep," Amy said with a semi-smile on her face.

"Yeah," Sage said in agreement, throwing another handful of fries at him.

"Hey." I laughed at Robin picking french fries out of his hair. "So what does everyone do for fun on the weekends around here? Anything happening Friday or Saturday night?" I asked trying to change the topic.

"I'm holding a party this weekend at my house," Jeff answered. "Most of the football team is coming and a few from some of the other school teams. I think everyone here is coming. You're welcome to join too if you want. It's on Saturday."

"Why not all of us girls go together? I have the car that night!" Sage said.

"Cool, I'm game. Sounds like fun," I answered.

Chrissy looked up from the hamburger she was eating and said, "Count me in."

"Oh, I'm definitely in, especially if Wren brings some of her magic pixie dust," Amy joked.

I laughed and chucked a fry at her. "Honestly, there's no magic dust or ruby slippers."

"Damn, too bad. There's a guy I'd loved to sprinkle some over," she said with a secretive smile.

***

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