the only way for you to graduate." The office lady explains.

The room seems to shrink in size. The fan, that has been spinning above me, seems to stop altogether.

My mouth hangs open in astonishment, my mind whirling with questions.

"But that can't be right!" I exclaim, waving my hands in the air to prove my point.

"It is, dear. You're just going to have to put up with it."

"So you're asking me - on my senior year - to go and ask the Quarter Back of UCLA to teach me how to cook?" I ask, raising an eyebrow.

"It's the only way. You're going to need to ask him yourself."

"Fuck off." I say, the words slipping out of my mouth before I can stop them.

I slap a hand over my mouth, regretting what I just said. The old office lady's eyes that are coated with crusty, black eyeliner widen in shock.

"Excuse me?" She says, her eyes narrowing.

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean that." I quickly gather the papers that are spread across the desk. "I'm just gonna go."

"That's a good idea." She instructs, her once kind face suddenly stone cold.

I stuff the papers into my bag and push the heavy door of the office open. The cold September air greets me with ice as I shiver.

Trudging through the leaves that rest on the concrete pavement, I look up at the sky with a scowl on my face.

Don't you think about raining.

Great. Now I'm talking to the sky.

As the first drop of rain hits against my forehead, I let out a groan of annoyance.

Senior year is not off to a good start.

••••

I click on the golden button of the elevator, tapping my foot against the floor.

My mind wanders as the floors pass by me.

Why are my even doing this to myself?

The truth is, it's the only way. If I want to graduate with my Master of Fine Arts in dance, then I'm gonna have to do this.

Learn how to cook with Axel McSmith.

Now, I'm never usually intimated by guys.

They're just big bags of testosterone after all.

But Axel McSmith is the quarter back. The best in decades if you ask the officials.

A pile of shit, if you ask me.

But Mrs Eyeliner, also known as the office lady, insists that he volunteered for teaching a class inbetween his busy schedule of games.

The elevator doors glide open and I take a step out.

The red carpet is fluffy and covers the whole floor, daylight streams in from the window that covers the whole back wall. There's two white doors in the corridor, one on each wall. There's a golden chandelier that hangs above me, it's use pointless due to the window.

The whole place screams classy. Exactly where I feel most out of place.

I go to door fifteen and knock.

Silence follows.

I look at the number on the door again, checking that I'm right.

I know where Axel lives due to the amount of parties that have been held here and I'll admit, they've been pretty cool.

Apart from the desperate-for-attention-outfits that every girl seems to wear, of course.

A sigh leaves my lips as I realise no-one's home.

Time for plan B.

••••

The smell of popcorn fills the air. Anticipation surrounds me. Yet all I do is sit and frown.

"You're insane, Skylar. And not like a good insane." My best friend Emma complains.

Emma has been with me since day one of UCLA. Since we bumped into each other in the canteen by both reaching out for the last cookie. You know what they say, share food and that bond is forever.

Yeah, no-one says that.

"Is there even a good form of insane?" I ask, rolling my eyes.

"Em, yes? Did you see Miley Cyrus twerking at the VMA's in 2013, that was all kinds of amazing." She laughs, when an evil glint suddenly appears in her eye.

"What?" I ask, following her line of sight.

My voice dies out as I realise what she's seen.

The football team trudges out onto the field, the crowd going wild. Axel leads the team, his whole posture oozing with confidence.

I'm just noticing him because I need to talk to him. Right?

I place my hands over my ears from the sound. Screaming girls surround me shouting things like,

'I'm here Axel.'

'I love you.'

And then whispering things like,

'I mean look at that ass.'

'Why is he playing football when he could be making a home run with me instead?'

The last one made me want to throw up in my mouth a little bit.

Amazed by the amount of attention they're getting, I lean over to speak to Emma. "Jesus, they're just throwing a football." I need to shout in Emma's ear so that she can hear me over the noise.

She laughs at me and shakes her head. "It's more than that! It's school spirit, Skylar, c'mon."

I laugh at her upset face as she scowls at me, looking like a parent who's just received a call from the school complaining about their child.

So, as the child would do, I stay silent and agree with Emma.

It is only football after all.

••••

"He was open you dipshit. Ugh, I could play better than that." I shout to the field, acting as though the players could actually hear me.

Yes we were winning, The Bruins were six points up. But it was a close match and the other team could easily catch up.

But you know, it's just football.

I gasp as the ball flies through the air and lands in the hands of our Quarter Back.

Holy shit that was hot.

"What you looking all doe-eyed at? Oh, Axel." She smirks.

"Shut up, I am not." I nudge her hip with my own.

"Sure." She rolls her eyes, clearly seeing through my fib.

The match continues, our team keeping the lead the whole time, until it finally ends.

That was too stressful for my heart.

People quickly clear out, wanting to get to the celebratory parties as soon as possible.

I hang round the entrance, waiting for Axel.

I am the image of desperate right now.

So when he swaggers out by himself (thank god) looking totally calm, I'm about five seconds away from passing out.

This is majorly down to Axel wearing Nike sweatpants and that's it.

Nothing else.

Sure he has a t-shirt round his neck, but wow his chest is distracting.

His tattoos running across his right arm, all the way to his hand are a major distraction. The designs are intricate and obviously have hidden meanings.

Why are my realising this?

What is wrong with me?

"You know if you take a photo, the sight lasts longer." Axel smirks as he approaches me, standing still when he's around three meters away from me.

"Yeah but then I would need to burn my phone from capturing your ugliness." I shoot back.

"Ohh, feisty. I like it. Now what do you want? To be my date to the party?" He asks straightforwardly , folding his arms across his chest.

"Your date? No way." I scoff, my nose scrunching up in dislike.

Axel seems shocked by my answer, his face suddenly looking very curious. "Huh. What do you want then?"

"I need to take up your offer on your volunteer work." I state.

"Phh, wasn't a offer. How did you find out about it?" He asks, scratching the back of his neck.

"The bitch of the office lady." I complain, my initial hate coming back stronger than ever.

Axel laughs, tipping his head back.

"Feel sorry for you having to deal with her. Actually maybe I don't, you're just as mean."

"And you're just as cocky. Are we done?" I say in a bored tone, copying his stance and crossing my arms across my chest.

"Yeah we are and I can't help you. Goodbye." He says, his bored look on his face quickly coming back.

"No, stop!" I shout as Axel begins to walk away. "Please, I really need your help."

"Got yourself into a pickle?" He asks, cocking his head to the side like a dog.

Because he's just as annoying and stinky.

"Don't make a big deal of it. Please." I ask again, my cheeks becoming warm from having to ask yet again.

"Ugh fine. What's your name anyway?" He asks.

"Skylar." I mumble, wanting to get out of this situation as quickly as possible.

"Skylar." He says slowly, as if testing the name out on his tongue. "Well Skylar, Monday we'll begin."

"Where?"

"My place, where all the parties happen." He winks before jogging off, his back muscles moving with him.

What? I'm a girl, I'm gonna notice this stuff.

I smile as I realise I've just made a deal. The deal that's going to save my college career.

As long as Axel sticks to his word, that is.

••••

Welcome to Cooking With The QB!!

I'm so excited for this story, it's been living in my head for around two months and I've decided to put it down into words.

Hopefully it'll turn out well :)

I'm thinking about doing dedications for each chapter. It would be one of you guys who voted or commented and it would change each chapter!

So if you think that's a good idea, let me know by commenting or maybe voting!

The picture above is how I imagine Axel's tattoos :)

Let me know what you thought about this chapter, I would love some feedback!

Much love,

Jade x