Semi-Edited!  

Song above is...Recovery by James Arthur (I feel like it fits Riley pretty well. Plus I love him!)

Thank you so much for the lovely cover!!! (if you ever want to make a cover/banner I'd love to see them and post them on each chapter, you'll also get a shoutout!) 

Happy Reading!

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"Stupid Mitch. Stupid school." I muttered under my breath the entire walk to school. Because I had no car I had to walk 2 miles to school and the sky looked seconds away from a downpour. I just prayed I got to school before it rained.

My anger at the whole car situation kept growing last night. I had to lie to Helen that I wanted to 'enjoy the nice weather and walk home' after my shift last night, even if it was after 5. Now here I was walking to school even more pissed off.

Oh how I wanted to rip Mitch's face off. He didn't do it but I knew one of his goonies did. Mitch didn't know a damn thing about cars to do it. I was getting fed up with the whole thing.

Finally getting to school I ignored everyone and headed for my locker, ready for this day to already be over. Reaching inside my locker for my english book I didn't hear someone come up beside me.

"Are you going to avoid us today?" Spooked I jumped, hitting my head on my locker painfully.

"Shit." I hissed, grabbing my head and pulling it out of my locker. Rubbing the top of my head I glanced to my right and saw Olivia standing there with a raised eyebrow.

"Uh hey, Olivia."

"So you do know my name." I could tell she was a little peeved about me avoiding her yesterday.

"Olivia I..." I trailed off trying to say this without being rude. "It's just better you aren't seen with me. It's nothing to do with you." I already felt looks being sent our way.

Olivia was part of Alex's group and she was popular on her own accord, so her being seen with me isn't something that should be happening. For both of our sakes.

"Riley." Olivia rolled her eyes at me. Yes rolled her eyes. "I don't care what dumb ass high schoolers think or say."

"But-"

"I don't care. If I want to be friends with you than I will be." She cut me off with a firm look. I felt hope flare in my chest. I didn't realize how bad I wanted, needed a friend. Humans crave interaction, and it wasn't until I was truly alone I learned just how bad it could be.

"Are you sure?" I had to ask. It seemed stupid that I'd have to but I had to be sure she knew what being around me meant.

"Stop trying to convince me otherwise, it won't work." I fought the ear-splitting grin that wanted to burst free.

"Okay."

"Great!" Olivia beamed, her face breaking out into a megawatt smile. "Now give me your phone." Smiling down at the small girl I handed my phone over. In a matter of seconds Olivia put her number in my phone and handed it back.

"What do you have first period?"

"English. You?" I asked, shutting my locker.

"AP Biology." My eyes widened. I didn't even know they had AP Biology!

"Already doing college biology?

"Yeah gotta get ahead you know." She shrugged as if it wasn't a big deal.

"That's really great actually. Medicine is extremely hard so if you can be one step aheads that amazing." Having parents as doctors I knew how hard it is to get into medical school and stay. A lot of people drop out in the first semester because of the stress and workload. And yet here was Olivia taking college classes in high school.

The two of us walked side by side down the hallway talking about our classes. Almost every person we passed looked at us with raised eyebrows but I ignored them the best I could. Having Olivia by my side helped a lot. She kept talking away as if no one was watching us.

As the warning bell rang the two of us split up to get to our classes. Nothing could stop the excited feeling I had growing inside of me as I took a seat at my desk in English. It was pathetic how excited I was to hopefully have a friend.

* * * * * * * * * * * 

"Do you want to hang out after school?" Olivia asked, as we sat in Calculus working on some math problems.

"Oh man I'm so sorry I can't today." Of course the one time someone wants to hang out I already have plans.

"It's okay. We can tomorrow."

"I'd love too."

"Great!" Olivia beamed at me. "What do you have today?"

"I have work right after school to about three then..." I trailed off not really sure if I should say I was hanging out with Alex. We weren't really hanging out though. I was just going to help him babysit his little sister and her friends. Like he said, I owed him.

"Yeah?"

"Then helping Alex." I muttered the last part hoping she wouldn't hear but nope she did.

"What?"

"He asked me to help babysit his sister."

"As in his little sister Harper?"

"Uh yeah?" The way she was asking with wide eyes and an open mouth made me confused.

"Wow."

"What?" I questioned. Was I missing something?

"It's just...Alex never really lets anyone near his sister."

"Oh." I opened my mouth to ask why but the sound of the bell ringing cut me off. I was curious as to what Olivia meant. The way she was acting made it seem like it was a huge deal Alex was letting me near his little sister.

"You have government next right?" Olivia asked, jerking me out of my thoughts as we walked down the hallway.

"Yeah. You?"

"English." She barely got the word out before an arm wrapped itself around her shoulders. I blinked in surprise but Olivia didn't seem fazed at all.

"Hey girls." Derek grinned. Olivia greeted him back but I wasn't sure what to say so I just nodded at him. I wasn't sure how he would be with me. Olivia was fine but she seemed like a forgiving person but Derek I had no clue.

"Ready to learn all about the government Riley." He asked, sending me a wide grin. I found myself grinning back at him. There was something about Derek that I liked. He just seemed so fun and outgoing and like he didn't have a care in the world. Being around someone like that just made you instantly feel better.

I have heard all the rumors about Alex and Derek. How they are both 'bad boys', who've done illegal things, who use girls, etc. But I had yet to see anything like that with Derek. He was way more open than Alex that was for sure. And he had that cute baby look about him with his curly brown hair and brown eyes. Features that definitely made you trust him easily. 

"Have fun in government you two." With a grin Olivia moved out from under Derek's arm and headed down towards her class. I watched Derek stare after her with a look on his face. I am the last person to know anything about love but I could tell Derek felt something for Olivia that was more than friendship.

Catching me watching him Derek picked up his pace and entered the classroom. Knowing he didn't want to talk about it I let it go and followed after him. Maybe sometime I can get him to tell me what the look was about. 

"I knew you would cave." Derek spoke a minute later, plopping down in the chair next to my usual seat. Thank god there were no seating arrangements in this class.

"Cave?" I questioned, putting my backpack in my lap.

"With being friends with Liv. Yesterday she kept going on about how upset she was you ignored her." Derek elaborated. "Then she said she wasn't going to leave school today until you agreed to be friends."

I couldn't help but feel bad knowing I hurt Olivia's feelings yesterday. I didn't think she would care honestly. 

"It is only third period and she clearly got you to agree to be friends. That may be a new record." He teased.

"She's hard to say no to."

"That's Liv for you."

"You guys have been friends for a long time huh."

"About 4 years." A smile form on his face as he seemed to get lost in thought. I found it sweet how Derek's expression changed when the thought or spoke about Olivia. I didn't need to know him long to know he liked her.

Derek snapped out of his thoughts when the teacher started talking. Mr. Wittwer was halfway through the lesson when I suddenly felt something hit the side of my neck. I ignored it until it happened again but this time hitting my cheek.

Turning my head I found Derek grinning at me with a pile of ripped up paper he was rolling into balls. I watched him roll up another piece and throw it at my face, hitting me right on the forehead.

"Derek." I hissed. His response was a smirk and another paper ball. "Stop."

"Nope." After throwing two more at me I grabbed one on my desk and launched it back at him. When I hit his forehead I grinned in triumph. The feeling only lasted a second as Derek suddenly started pelting me one after another.

I don't know what made me do it but I found myself grabbing the paper on my desk and throwing it back at him. With every hit at each other mine and Derek's grin grew. Our mini paper fight ended suddenly when the sound of Mr. Wittwer's voice appeared above us.

"Mr. Coseman, Ms. Carson is there something you'd like to tell the class?"

My head snapped up arm froze mid-air, a paper ball hitting my cheek from Derek. The entire class turned to look at the two of us and I instantly felt my cheeks heat up. The intense stare Mr. Wittwer was sending us made me squirm in my seat.

"N-No Sir." He looked between us for another moment before nodding.

"Pay attention." I nodded before ducking my head and grabbing my pencil. Once the teacher walked away Derek snickered beside me. I sent him a quick glare for getting us in trouble before turning back to my notebook.

Class passed by silently but the moment the bell rang I leaned over and smacked Derek on the arm.

"Ow what was that for!"

"You got us in trouble!" I grabbed my backup, stuffing my notebook in it before heading for the door.

"You gotta admit that was fun."

"I don't know if I classify fun as being caught by the teacher." As a slightly teachers pet I hated getting in trouble by a teacher. And the look they sent you was of such disappointment. I hated it. 

"You just got to live a little." Derek nudged my shoulder with his. Because he was so much bigger than me it sent me stumbling to the side. "Shit! Sorry." He reached out and grabbed my elbow steadying me.

"God what do you eat?" I looked up at his big frame. It seriously took me until now to realize he was pretty tall and muscular.

"Are you calling me fat?" He raised his eyebrows at me.

"If the shoe fits." I smirked.

"You're mean." I just shrugged. As we passed by the library I turned to head inside but a grip on my elbow stopped me. "Where are you going?"

"Uh library?"

"What about lunch?"

"That's were I have lunch." Derek stared down at me for a minute before shaking his head.

"Not today." With that he steered me away from the library.

"Hey!" What's with these guys pulling me everywhere. I can walk on my own!

"It's for your own good Riley." As he continued on pulling me after him I noticed heads turn to watch us as we passed.

"Where are we going?" I questioned. The lunch room was behind us. Derek didn't answer as he kept walking towards the back of the school where the football field was. I didn't bother questioning where we were going and just went with it.

Finally we left the building and Derek took a left turn. By now he had let my elbow go so I was now free to walk on my own. Still confused as hell I opened my mouth to ask where we were again when I heard familiar voices.

Coming around the corner I saw a table underneath a beautiful tree where Olivia and Alex were seated at. I looked around having no clue this was even here. With us being at the back of the building we had very little chance of running into anyone else which I was already liking.

"Welcome to our casa." Derek gestured towards the table, a wide grin on his face.

"Casa is house dumb ass." Alex spoke as we came to a stop in front of them.

"Potato, Patoto." Derek waved him off taking a seat on the other side of the bench.

"You're here." Olivia smiled at me, patting the empty seat beside her.

"This one practically dragged me here." I pointed my thumb at Derek as I took a seat. "I hope I'm not intruding." I glanced at Alex.

"Of course!" Olivia answered. Alex didn't say a word and continued on looking at me. We haven't spoken since our texts yesterday about helping him with his sister.

"I didn't know this was back here." I said after a moment, looking away from Alex and his intense stare. The tree was surprisingly beautiful.

"We nabbed this place two years ago. Can't stand to eat lunch with everyone else." Olivia rolled her eyes at the last bit. "I never see you at lunch. Where do you normally go?" She asked, pulling out a mini bag of Cheetos from her backpack.

"Library." Alex answered before I could.

"Oh." Olivia looked between the two of us, almost like she knew something we didn't.

"Liv did you bring extra?" Derek interrupted drawing her attention back to him.

"Don't I always?" She reached back into her bag and pulled out another mini bag of Cheetos. Derek's face lit up like a kid on Halloween.

"You really are the best." I watched as Derek ripped the back open and shoved multiple Cheetos into his mouth. I loved how everyone thought of Derek as some cool badass guy when in fact he's just a big goofball. Watching him shove Cheetos in his mouth he was anything but badass, especially with orange starting to stain his lips.

"So how was class?" Olivia asked glancing at Derek and I. Because his mouth was full of food I answered.

"Good but this idiot," I gestured to Derek, "got us in trouble."

"For the record we didn't get in trouble." Derek spoke around a mouthful of Cheetos. I wrinkled my nose at him.

"I think the teacher coming over to our desks and telling us to be quiet, is getting in trouble."

"That's not getting in trouble." Alex butted in.

"Who's side are you on?" I glanced over at him.

"Clearly Derek's. That's not getting in trouble freckles."

"Then what classifies as 'getting in trouble' Mr. Bad Boy?" Placing my elbow on the table I leaned my chin on my palm as I turned my body to look at Alex.

"Oh tell her about the skunks!" Derek butted in.

"Skunks?" I raised an eyebrow at that.

"We let go three skunks in the front office at the beginning of Sophomore year." Alex shrugged like it was no big deal.

It took a second for what he said to sink in. When it did I looked at Alex with wide eyes.

"You were the one to set the skunks loose?" I remember two years ago hearing about a couple of guys letting loose some skunks in the front office. The skunks were found before they sprayed anywhere. I never actually heard who did it but every once in a while people still wonder who did the prank.

"Yep."

"Wait did you get caught?"

"You know I helped too." Derek said but I ignored him, waiting for Alex to reply.

"No. I'm pretty sure they knew it was us but couldn't prove it. And since the skunks didn't do anything we did nothing wrong." The smirk on Alex's face made me shake my head. Damn.

"It was pretty epic." Derek sighed. "We need to do another prank before the year ends."

"And get expelled before graduation? Nuh uh, not happening." Olivia shook her head at him. She was definitely the mother hen of the group.

"But-"

"No. School ends in 7 months and you're not going to do anything stupid. Same goes for you Alex." She glared at the both of them. I grinned at the pout that formed on Derek's face and the eye roll Alex sent her.

"Buzz kill." Derek grunted, shoving the rest of his Cheetos in his mouth.

"Don't let these idiots scare you away Riley. I'm the normal one of the group."

"It's okay I can handle some crazy."

"Not Liv's crazy. She likes to cling to people." Alex said which earned him a jab to the ribs from Olivia.

"I do not cling to people." She glared at him. Alex of course was unfazed. He didn't reply and instead looked away, a smirk on his face.

I stared at him as he sat on top of the table, elbows on his knees, head bend down to look at his phone. His dark hair brushing his forehead, a few pieces threatening to get in his eyes. I silently wondered where he got his tan skin from, because living here where it rains 80% of the time it was hard to tan.

I continued on watching him as Olivia and Derek talked to each other. There was something about Alex that I found very interesting. At times he seemed open and playful, but then he was closed off. I wasn't sure what brought on the change of moods but it somehow made me want to get to know him more.

I wasn't sure if it was a good idea to get close to Alex given the all the rumors I've heard. But just being around him for a few days I was starting to see he wasn't like what everyone said. I did notice at school he was more closed off then when he was alone with friends. But who could blame him. High school is a bitch. I know that first hand.

Before anyone could catch me staring at Alex like a freak I glanced away and turned my attention back to Olivia and Derek.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * 

"Where's my drawing?" Was the first thing out of Alex's mouth the moment we sat down in Biology.

Lunch went by surprisingly fast and for the first time in a long time I didn't want it to end. It was nice to have people to talk to instead of sitting alone in the library. I wasn't going to get my hopes up that I'll always eat lunch with them. It is still too early to make promises.

"At home." Was my instant response. I wasn't going to tell him I spent almost all night last night trying to get the drawing perfect, and that it was in my bag perfectly placed in a folder so it wouldn't get ruined.

"You really need to lie better."

"Why are you so sure I'm lying?" I countered.

"Because its you."

"You make it sound like you know me so well."

"I know enough." I wasn't quite sure how I felt about him knowing things about me. I had no clue what he thought he knew about me. What he probably knows is what is said about me through school. I mean we've never even spoken to each other until the other day. 

Alex sent me a smirk and turned to face the front just as the teacher started to talk. The entire class period I kept glancing over at him. My mind was racing wondering what he meant by 'I know enough'. For some reason it didn't sound good.

Of course as time went on I felt myself starting to panic slightly. What if he really believed the rumors about me and believed I really slept with Mitch and his friends? It didn't help that Alex wouldn't look at me the entire class period and it just made my head race even more.

Riley why the hell are you freaking out over nothing? It doesn't matter what he believes. You know you didn't do anything so that's all that matters. Calm your tits.

My little pep talk helped calm myself a bit. The little voice questioning Alex stayed at the back of my mind but I was able push it aside for now. By time I calmed myself a bit class was basically over and I hadn't heard a single thing the teacher said.

From the corner of my eye I noticed Alex had a page of notes written. Glancing down at my own notebook I only had one sentence down. He did nothing and still managed to distract me. Great.

"You need to stop thinking so hard." Alex finally spoke as we headed for our final class of the day.

"What?"

"All class I could practically hear your mind going. You need to relax a bit, freckles."

"I don't need to relax. I'm perfectly-" My legs suddenly got swept out from under me. I tumbled forward but a large hand gripped my upper arm, stopped me from face planting. Glancing up I found one of Rebecca's clones standing there a smirk on her face.

"Watch it slut." With another glare she turned on her heels and strutted off.

Shaking my head I pulled myself upright. It was like they all had a schedule when they should harass me. It was everyday at this time I swear. They were never going to stop though.

"You okay?" Alex asked, his hand still holding onto my upper arm.

"Yeah. I'm fine." My voice coming out quiet. "Lets get to class." Moving out of his hold I continued down the hallway, eyes glaring into my back. I didn't look back to see if Alex was following me.

The thing is I could take the comments. It wasn't anything new to me by now but I didn't like that Alex was there to witness it. It was embarrassing enough having such things said to you and then add in the hot bad boy, it just made it ten times worse.

A huge part of me didn't want to be friends with Alex, Olivia or Derek. It was easier being alone. At least that way I was the only one having to deal with the comments and hate. But I didn't want to be alone anymore. I wanted to hang out with people and forget about my problems just for a few hours.

I knew I was selfish to want to be friends with Alex and everyone else. It was selfish to make them have to deal with the rumors and what everyone says/does to me. I know they won't get any crap from Mitch or Rebecca but that didn't mean they wouldn't have to sit there and listen to it with me. I would be more trouble than I'm worth to them.

"Ready to be my model?" Alex's voice jerked me out of my thoughts. I was so lost in my head I didn't even notice the class was now filled and that Mrs. Benell was telling everyone to get to work.

"Uh how about we draw you again?" I asked. I wasn't in the mood to pose and I bet Alex was just going to draw me as a stick figure anyways.

"Nope, I'm not failing this class because of you Freckles." He shook his head as he grabbed a sketchbook I didn't even notice he had.

"Fine." I sighed. Placing my bag on the floor I tried to come up with a pose that didn't make me look like an idiot.

"You do know we don't have all day." Mumbling under my breath I brought my chair around the table until I was across from him. With no other ideas I put my elbows on the table and placed my chin on my knuckles, looking right at Alex. When he didn't start drawing I raised an eyebrow.

"We don't have all day." I singed, sending his words back to him. I swore I saw the corner of his lip twitch but it was gone before I was sure.

I sat there quietly watching Alex. This was actually the best pose. I could freely stare at him without being creepy.

"Your eyes are burning holes in my skin." Alex spoke a moment later, his eyes down on the piece of paper. I ignored him but I averted my eyes towards the window off to the side of us.

As Alex sat there sketching me I let my mind wander. I tried to stay clear of thoughts about Mitch and that whole thing. The last thing I needed was to bring my mood down anymore.

I occasionally glanced over at Alex, finding him looking back and forth between me and his notebook. He nibbled on the corner of his lip as he concentrated which I found really cute. Instantly I mentally slapped myself for thinking such a thing. Alex Kinley was not cute.

Nope. He was extremely ugly. Even I didn't that, but I wouldn't admit that out loud.

"Class there is five minutes left of class. If you have not finished your portraits then get together and finish them tonight. They are due tomorrow." Mrs. Benell spoke over the chatter of everyone.

"Are you done?" I questioned Alex. I was so ready to move. My elbows hurt from leaning on the table for so long. Every time I moved to get more comfortable Alex would tell me to hold still. After telling me to sit still five times I finally forced myself to stay still, and that was a good 20 minutes ago.

"No, but good thing you are coming to my house." Alex spoke softly, still focused on his sketching.

"Uh about that..." I wiggled in my seat and kept my head down. "Are you sure you want me to come over? I mean you'll be fine with a few little kids."

"You clearly have never been around three 6 year old girls. It's torture." I tried to hold back a laugh at the horrified look on his face. Who knew the bad boy was scared of little girls.

With the bell ringing overhead I finally moved out of my position and grabbed my bag. I stood by the table waiting as Alex shoved his sketchbook into his backpack.

"You do know I expect to see that drawing of me later today." Alex spoke after a minute of us walking down the hallway.

"Not going to happen."

"Is it because you didn't finish it? Too distracted by my sexiness?"

"I think you need to go to the doctor to check out that big head of yours. If it gets much bigger it will explode."

"You didn't deny it though."

Alex was way too cocky for his own good. And I was never going to admit anything; especially to him.

"Continue that and I won't come help you today." I warned.

"You're too nice of a person to say no."

"Nuh uh! I can say no!"

"Yeah I don't believe that freckles."

"Well you don't have to believe it because I know so." I stuck my chin higher in the air and walked faster in front of him. He was wrong I knew how to say no. I say no all the time. I said no to junk food last night, so he doesn't know what he's talking about!

I didn't notice that my feet were taking me to his car until I found myself reaching for the passenger door handle. I paused realizing I hadn't even asked him for a ride. Looking up at I found him standing across the car from me on the drivers side staring at me, a smirk on his face.

"Uh...can I have a ride?"

"I don't know."

"Please?"

"I'm not sure I like that you didn't ask." His right eyebrow went up and I could see the corner of his lip twitching.

"Fine I'll just walk then." I huffed, taking a step back.

"Get in the car freckles." Alex rolled his eyes and slid into the drivers seat. Feeling everyone from the parking lots eyes on me I quickly got in the car. I didn't even want to think about what everyone would say tomorrow about this.

As Alex started to leave the parking lot I dared a glance over where Mitch usually parked. I found him leaning against his car, arms crossed over his chest glaring. He was clearly not pleased that I was in Alex's car.

Nothing could stop the smirk that appeared on my face as Alex drove right by him. I knew he could see me and it made the glare on his face even deeper. I turned back to the front windshield severely proud of myself. It was small victory but a victory nonetheless.

We were almost to Sofia's when I finally spoke.

"Do you know when my car will be fixed?"

"I'll call after I drop you off."

"You know you can just give me their number and I can call them. You don't have to waste your time."

"Its fine. They know me anyways."

"I-"

"Freckles its fine. I seriously don't mind." He spared me a glance before looking back at the road. I slowly nodded, not use to other people doing nice things for me.

"Well thank you. I appreciate it."

"I'll come pick you up around 3." He said pulling in front of the bookstore.

"Sounds good." Shutting my door I sent him a wave. Watching him drive away I frowned.

I was going to spend an entire afternoon with Alex. Yeah...nothing can go wrong.

________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Hiya! I'm back with an update! I've been so busy this week! Every year around this time my mom and I bake tons of stuff. We made these homemade mints (like the inside of a New York Peppermint Patty) and man are they good! We also make Banana Bread, and we made about 18 loaves today! I am so tired :D 

But I'd love to know if you guys do any baking with your family around this time of year! Did you make sugar cookies even though you know santa isn't real? Do you have a family tradition recipe that you make? I'd love to hear it! 

Anyways, I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! We are going to finally meet Alex's little sister Harper next chapter!! Who is excited to see how Alex is like with three little girls!? Is there anything your excited to see coming up with Alex, Riley, and Mitch? (I do promise you'll learn more and see more of Mitch coming up!)

I hope you guys have a wonderful weekend! Thank you guys so much for being the best readers anyone could ask for! <3 <3

<3 <3

-Ken