Chapter Seven

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"Bye Lotte, see you last period," I waved to Charlotte as she left for class.

"See ya girl."

As we left out the cafeteria, I headed to my locker as I remembered I didn't go to it when I was talking to Jake after fourth period, but when I made it, Celeste was nearby. I sighed already annoyed when she headed my way because I really didn't want to acknowledge her.

"Hello Deeee," she greeted with her famous wiggle fingers. I guess I can't get out of this now.

"Hi Celeste," I said back not looking at her with a fake smile.

"So how are you today?" she asked all preppy-like.

"Awesome," I titled my head at her pausing. "How about yours?"

"Better than yours will ever be," she smiled back grinning. I didn't leave my stare. "I was just checking up on you," she shrugged.

"Thanks, I appreciate it, but don't you have better things to do than to get all in my business since I know that's what you're doing?" I asked her straight up. She gave me an ugly face. "Because I do," I smiled kind of slamming my locker door. She jumped, along with her un-intimidating besties beside her.

"Well bye Celeste. See you later for cheer practice," I wiggled my fingers, mocking her. She gasped at me disgustedly as I walked away out the main building to the science halls.

Celeste didn't scare me even when she tried to intimidate me and she wasn't my bully either, or someone I'd wish who'd leave me alone. She was just a mean girl who was a bitch to the all the girls she was afraid that might take her rank and I didn't even want it.

I was about to walk into class when Asher stopped me. "Hey Dawn!" he smiled at me happily. 'Yes!' I thought, a smile creeping it's way across my face.

"Hey Asher!" I said back.

"Sorry, I'm just really happy I passed last Six Weeks in physics. I got an 88," he told me. I smiled really happy for him.

"Aw that's cool! You deserve another pencil," I inside joked walking into class. He laughed behind me.

"Haha, yeah, but I honestly wanted to thank you personally," he said seriously as we sat down at our table.

"What? What did I do?" I asked him smiling.

"Remember that project we had to do together last month? Yeah, it raised my grade 10 points because we made a 98 on it and it was test grade," he nodded. I had to chuckle.

"Hold up a 98? Why did we get two points off?" I really wanted to know. He shook his head making that crooked smile I drool for every time.

"We spelled a label wrong," he shrugged. I busted out laughing.

"Oh my God, that's so stupid," I got out my journal.

"But we passed," he mentioned right after me. "That's all I care about." I looked at his light brown eyes.

"Meeee too," I smiled at him. He smiled down at me.

"So, what time do you want to go out tomorrow for those tacos?" he asked me nudgeing his elbow into my ribs. I chuckled playfully pushing him away.

"I'm not sure," I tried to keep my cool. Jake didn't tell me what time would be good for a 'first' date, but I didn't want it to be extremely after school because I know he probably had swim practice, but I didn't want to go at like 8 o'clock, because we do still have school tomorrow.

And besides it's just tacos.

"Well, I have practice tomorrow for swim, but I'm free afterwards," he nodded thoughtfully. I blurted out quickly,

"Wanna go at six? I mean...if it's okay with you?" I asked. He smiled at me as I gave a nervous look.

"Nah, it's cool, why not 6:05pm?" he asked. I gave him a weird look.

"6:05pm.... Why the five minutes?" I asked giggling. He shrugged as the tardy bell rang. I didn't even noticed our class was full.

"Well why not? People always say seven or like 8:30.... Why don't we change it up? Won't hurt nothin'." I just kept giggling as he looked down at me with his super cute smile....his teeth so white he must've went to the dentist like twice a week.

"Alright then.... 6:05pm," I agreed with my hand out. He shook it firmly.

"6:05," he repeated playfully.

'Am. I. Dreaming?' I thought hysterically.

~

The rest of the class with Asher was hilarious with a pitch of flirt, and even awkward-funny moments.

He was telling me a bunch of embarrassing moments he's had with his little sister who is five and how he thinks she's secretly bullying him. I couldn't stop laughing so the teacher finally called on Asher for the answer to the subject we were learning about and he didn't know it and he had to talk to our teacher after class.

I was laughing so unbelievably hard, I had tears in my eyes.

It's eighth period now and the period before this I have my career class which is culinary arts, but nothing goes on in there.

I gave my 'What is Fall?' poem to Mr. Will and he was actually pretty happy to accept it. He said he'd look over it while we worked in our work books today and surprisingly, when I turned around to go to my seat, Jake was already there.

"Ah, Kit-Kat," he gasped happily. I breathe out sitting beside him, putting my satchel down.

"Jake Lander," I said back. "You're here early."

"Course. I can't afford another detention, it's Monday. Besides, I actually came to listen. I can't afford a failing grade in this class either," he nodded over me. I nodded.

"Yes, yes very true.... Oh here...I got the book. I meant to give this to you in algebra." I went into my satchel and took out the book and gave it to him and he looked at it funny.

"Bubble Gum and Cigarettes?" He questioned. He stared at it a bit and flipped the book over examining it and he then just chuckled to himself shaking his head. "This looks like a-" I put my finger up.

"Nope, don't say anything. Just read it. It's good for you. Besides, it's a really interesting and you'll love the characters. For you, I feel the story line will be easy to comprehend, but there's a tiny plot twist in the book that'll get you on your feet," I mentioned to him with a nod.

He just stared at me as I took out a black pen and began turning to the page Mr. Will wanted us to read and I added, "Oh and a perk is it's written in first person by one of the characters." I saw him squint his eyes at me as I pretended to ignore him.

"What does that mean?" I looked at him sighing, pressing my lips together.

"You'll see. Just get ready to in your feelings and want to be a paid assassin," I threw in an inside joke. "Now, do your work. He told me this is due at the end of class," I warned him. He skimmed through the pages of the book looking disgusted as if he regretted me being his tutor and he sighed sadly shaking his head, placing it in his backpack. I couldn't help, but smile biting the top of my pen.

'He doesn't know what he just got himself into,' I thought with a smirk.

Jake and I actually didn't talk much in class after the tardy bell rang, except when he asked me for help on a few problems he didn't understand. He actually seemed like he cared and he really surprised me when he wanted to borrow my highlighter.... I let him keep it since he asked for it so much.

"See you later Kit-Kat," he brushed my shoulder when class was over.

"Bye," I rolled my eyes placing my satchel on my shoulders. He smiled at me, his tongue pressing against his vampire teeth and I noticed then he had a left dimple..... It was cute....but Asher's was cuter.

"Oh, Dawn," Mr. Will called to me before I exited the class.

"Yes Mr. Will?" I went over to his desk.

"This poem is very good for the contest," he complicated. I smiled. "I really like it. The use of similes and real life events that go on in fall make it seem relatable, even in the use of imagery.... Very nice," he nodded up at me with his hipster glasses. I kept smiling.

"Thank you Mr. Will, I really did try.... Do you think it'll have a spot in the contest though?" I asked him. He nodded violently with a scrunched face.

"Of course, but there are actually many anonymous contestants participating in this contest. I've read some of them and they're really good like yours. We're accepting more than one entry from each person so you can enter as many times as you want," he informed me. "I guess the more you enter the better chance you have of winning, so I will encourage you, as one of my best future authors, to enter in more." I nodded comprehending.

"Oh okay. When does that contest end by the way?" I asked.

"It closes in three weeks," he informed looking down at his desk scrambling for something. "At the end of the month. I bet as writer you could make up plenty of entries before then, yes?" he smiled up at me. I nodded.

"Of course." He chuckled.

"Yes, and here, I want you to read this," he gave me a book from his locked drawer.

I took it.

"It's random short stories and quotes by random authors. You should take a look at it to get some inspiration," he suggested. I was honored.

"Wow thanks Mr. Will! I'll be sure to return when I finish reading it."

"No, no, take your time. I'll even let you keep it until the contest ends. I can trust you with such care of one of my personal favorite books." I smiled at him super big.

"Thanks Mr. Will! You're the best teacher ever! -And NOT because you're a New York Best Seller either," I told him truthfully. He laughed.

"Haha! You're welcome. I'm just passionate for young writers like you. You have real gift for writing compared to my other students and you'll be something one day and hearing that from a published author like me is something you should remember. Before you can be accepted, you have to be rejected," he prophesied to me. I smiled as I felt something blow up in my mind....or maybe even my heart. It didn't even occur to me Jake also said I had a gift as well when he read my work...I guess that meant he was serious earlier then...

I didn't even know how to respond to Mr. Will but suddenly the tardy bell rang and we both jumped. "I'm so sorry Dawn, I'll write you a pass," Mr. Will began to scribble on a pink sticky note.

"It's okay, and thanks for the book again Mr. Will. I'll read it from cover to cover," I nodded sufficiently.

"No problem, and don't be afraid to skip around. The best ones are out of order," he tilted his head at me smiling. "And the ones by Kyndra Nicholle happen to be my person favorite and maybe you're too." I chuckled in his dorm frame. 

"Haha, okay! I'll see you tomorrow Mr. Will. I'll have another entry ready by Thursday."

"Now I have something to look forward to. Haha, goodbye Dawn."

I left out class as the final bell rang with the book close to my chest honored to be one of Mr. Will's personal best students. I think when I get older I'd have to keep Mr. Will's contact just so that he could be my personal tutor for when I want to publish my own first book.

He'd encourage me all the way and definitely not reject me. I feel like everyone needs a teacher like him. Someone who believes in your dreams....

Even when you can't see them yourself.

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