Nolan rode through a neighborhood that wasn't too far away from the high school. The houses were all the same: one story homes with garages and large front yards. Each house was a different color with painted shutters to match.

He pulled into the driveway of a grey house with bright red shutters framing the windows and a large lemon tree in the yard. When he cut the engine I climbed off the bike, taking the helmet off.

My legs didn't feel as wobbly as they did the first time. To be completely honest, I wasn't even half as terrified as I was the first time I rode on his motorcycle. The way we speed off, leaving those jerks behind us...I understood the why it was his mode of transportation. It was thrilling and exciting. There was an overwhelming sense of freedom.

Nolan propped up his bike then got off, standing in front of me. He looked over me, as if inspecting for injuries.

He pointed to my leg. "They got you."

I looked down a sure enough there were white eggshell and a gross yellow stain on my jeans near the ankle. Maybe it was the adrenaline coursing through me or the stress of the day catching up with me. Whatever it was sent me into a laughing fit.

Nolan stepped back, his brow furrowed. "Are you crying?"

I shook my head "no", but I doubted he could tell since my entire body was shaking with laughter. He just stood there, unsure of how to handle the situation. He looked spooked, which made the whole thing funnier.

"They tried to egg me!" I exclaimed as I sobered up.

He seemed to relax and pointed at my leg again, a ghost of a smile on his face. "They did egg you."

Another wave if laughter hit me. My giggling infected Nolan as well. He tried hard to hide it and keep his face straight, but he was breaking. Before he completely gave into the laughter he started towards the house.

"Wait here," he instructed before pulling his key out and entering the house.

Weird that he didn't invite me in. Still, I did what he said and waited. The garage door roared to life and slowly began to open, making the most obnoxious rattling noise.

There was a black minivan inside the garage. It wasn't at all the kind of car I imagined Nolan Chambers driving. The motorcycle was more fitting.

Nolan came out of the garage and wheeled the motorcycle inside. "You coming or what?" He asked, climbing into the car.

Once we were both buckled in he pulled out into the driveway and hit the button on the remote to close the garage.

"I live on—"

"Bradley, I know," he said easily as he turned down the road through the maze of houses.

Right. He had been there before. A few moments passes before I broke the silence that had fallen between us.

"Thanks for warning me," I said. "Again."

He kept his eyes ahead. "Yeah."

Another silence filled the car. The reality of everything settled in mind. The students, my peers, the very people who we were supposed to earn votes from, they hated me.

"You still think this is going to work?"

He glanced over at me. "What do you mean?"

"I was literally just chased out of school by people throwing eggs at me."

Nolan turned back to the road, his features softening as if it probably just dawned on him that maybe I wasn't the right girl for this plan.

"We have months to work on this," he said, shrugging a shoulder. "People will forget and move on to something else soon."

I raised my brows at him. "We do go to the same school, right? They know how to hold a grudge at Bellcreek High. Remember Felix Ramirez?"

He nodded knowingly. "But that was different. He lost the Grizzlies the championship, ended their nine year streak," he pointed out. "All you did was—What did you do?"

I drew back in shock. "You really haven't heard?"

"I've heard a lot of stuff about you since school started," he admitted. "I'm just not sure any of it is true."

I bit back a smile, thankful that he wasn't quick to believe in the rumors. "I broke up with my boyfriend."

"Why?"

Why? That was a big question. The simple answer was that I didn't feel the same way he did. The more complicated reason involved the fact that my dad had just left. That being with Deshaun was starting to feel claustrophobic. Whenever he mentioned us being together beyond high school I felt like all the oxygen was being sucked out of the room.

I'm not an expert, but I'm pretty sure being in a relationship isn't supposed to make you feel like you were being buried alive.

I didn't tell Nolan all of that, though. I gave him the simple answer. "It just wasn't working for me." I turned to him to see him staring at me, a pensive look in his eyes.

"They'll get over it." He sounded so sure that I wanted to believe him.

* * *

After successfully dropping Taylor off at Tiny Sprouts, Nolan then took me to Grice's Market. I thought the incident was behind me, but all I could think about was the broken candle and Taylor's crying. My crying.

"I think this is a bad idea."

Nolan was beside me in the driver's seat scrolling through his phone. "You've said that twice already," he mumbled distractedly.

"I know. I just—What if—"

He cut me off with a heavy sigh, slipping his phone in his pocket before angling himself towards me. "Look, the longer you sit here thinking about it the more time you have to talk yourself out of it," he said, his eyes narrowed and determined. "Just go in there and tell her want the job."

"That easy, huh?"

"Why make it more complicated than that?"

I crossed my arms over my chest, eyeing him. "And when's the last time you've used that advice?"

"When I asked you to be my girlfriend—fake girlfriend."

"And I turned you down."

A smirk appeared on his face. "Yet, here we are."

Point taken. A smile made its way onto my face. "Here we are."

Finally having the courage, I got out of the car a headed inside the market. Mrs. Grice was helping a boy who looked to be about ten and buying a boatload of snacks. I waited for her to be done before approaching the counter.

"Hello." Her smile stopped short when she got a good look at me. "You don't have your toddler today?"

"Uh, no. She's at daycare," I told her. "I'm really sorry about the candle, by the way. I was having a bad day—"

She placed her hands on her hips. "So you came into my store and took it out on an innocent candle?"

"No! It was an accident."

She looked like she was seconds away from kicking me out of her store for a second time. Her dark eyes just slits as she stared me down.

My eyes shifted to the window behind her, which gave me a clear view of Nolan. He sat in his car, watching the entire scene unfold. When his golden eyes locked on mine, I felt like I was able to breathe again. There was no judgement or his usual scowl, just a friend.

Turning back to Mrs. Grice I said, with more confidence than I knew I had, "I want the job."

Her face instantly softened with a wide smile. "You're here for the job? Well, why didn't you just say so?" She reached under the counter, shuffling some papers around. "I know the applications are down here somewhere. Oh, you know what? Forget it! Can you start Monday?"

My jaw went slack. "Seriously? I got it?"

"Listen, uh—" she looked at me expectantly.

"Jade."

"Jade. I'm desperate. It's just me and occasionally my youngest," she explained, the lines in her face deepened. "I need an extra set if hands around here."

My slacked jaw slowly morphed into a smile. "Okay. I'll be here on Monday."

We exchanged information and she gave me a schedule for next week. I did it. I got a job. It didn't pay much, but it'd help relieve some of the pressure from my mom.

I slid back into Nolan's car, still on cloud nine.

"So?" He questioned.

"I start on Monday."

He started the car, backing out of the parking space. "I'll draw up a payment plan for the money you owe me." The amusement on his face told he was joking, for the most part.

* * *

"Pass me the salt." I grabbed the salt shaker from in front of me and handed it to Mom.

She sprinkled some on her fries. Apparently, McDonald's didn't already put enough salt on their fries. I went back to my burger, which Taylor was trying desperately to take from me even though she had her own, ripped to tiny pieces, in front of her. I couldn't remember the last time we all ate together. We had both been so caught up in our own world.

"Oh, Bee says her step dad's firm is looking for a new receptionist. Maybe you can—"

She stopped salting her fries, her eyes snapping up to me. "Excuse me?"

Her tone confused me. I thought telling her about a job would be a good thing. "Mr. Hatton's firm has a job opening," I said, weakly. "You're still looking, right?"

"My employment status is none of Kevin's or Bianca's or anyone's business."

Her eyes seemed to get dark. The table got so quiet I'm sure she heard me gulp. "I was just trying to help."

"Help?" Her brows shot up. "Do you not think I can take care if this family myself?"

"Mom, that's not—" Tears sprung into my eyes. She never yelled at me.

"You're going around telling people our business—my business." She shook her head disappointingly. "Who else have you been talking to?"

"No one." My voice cracked but I refused to let the tears fall. "I'm trying to help."

"I told you I would handle it, Jade!" Her voice boomed through the kitchen, scaring Taylor who began to cry. Mom stood, picking her up from the high chair. "Your one and only priority is school. I will take care of the rest."

"But you don't have to do it all alone."

She gave me a hard look. "That is the end of the discussion, Jade." With that, she turned and left, taking Taylor upstairs.

I hastily wiped a tear from my cheek. Why did she refuse to let me help? With my appetite gone, I cleaned up the kitchen table and headed up to my room.