Chapter 5

A saccade string of continuous beeps harassed my ears in the morning.

What a nice sound to wake up to, isn't it? I thought, while I tried to reach the snooze button of my alarm clock without losing the warmth of my bed.

I used to make it play the radio, but I would either not notice it or have a real annoying song in my head all day long so I had settled for the beep-beeps, even though they were freakishly annoying.

I curled back in my bed, holding my blanket closer, and buried my head in my pillow. "I don't wanna go to school, I don't wanna go to school, I don't wanna go to school," I chanted in a muffled mumble.

And then I fell back into a light sleep, until I heard the damn beep-beeps again.

I hit snooze.

I could do that all morning long. I was not a morning person and I didn't really need that much time to get ready in the morning but I still set up my alarm clock one hour before school started, because in the end I always ended up waking up twenty-four minutes before the school started.

And then I would run around the house telling everyone to get out of my way because I was going to be late but never was.

I liked my little morning ritual.

So, I rolled around in my bed until the next beep-beeps. But I didn't hit snooze this time. Instead, I closed it and got out of my bed and dragged my SpongeBob SquarePant's pyjamas' covered butt to Tyler's room.

He was still snoring lightly when I fell on his bed right beside him.

"Beep, beep, beep. Get up," I whined, shaking his shoulder lightly.

For some strange reason, I was Tyler's alarm clock. My parents had never bought him one when he was younger and he gotten used to it. I had no idea how he could live without the time in his room but I guess it had just became normal for him.

"Come back in nine minutes," Ty groaned and cover his face with his pillow.

"Get up!" I told him and took his pillow off and put it under my head, settling in his bed. It wasn't rare for us to fall right back asleep and then dad would have to wake us up.

"But I was having such a nice dream," Ty groaned again and pulled back his pillow.

"Well, just tell Megan Fox that you'll come back tonight," I snorted him and closed my eyes, sensing the sleepiness slowly creeping back.

"I wasn't dreaming about her," Tyler answered and yawned.

If my eyes hadn't been closed I would have rolled them. "Please, it's too early to talk about your perv dreams Ty," I informed him and yawned too.

After that, I think we fell asleep again because I heard our father. "I never signed up for Sleeping Beauty's. Get up kids!" dad said and waited practically impatiently, until we both got out of the bed.

Rubbing my eyes, I thought about lying and saying I was sick in order to curl back up in bed, but instead asked, "What time?"

Dad was almost smug when he answered. "You've got twenty minutes."

"Great," I groaned. That was all I had needed to know, and ran downstairs.

My priorities quickly changed in my head as I cooked scrambled eggs for Tyler and I, while drinking coffee dad had made.

"Eggs are ready," I yelled for Tyler's benefit, and sprinted back to my room with my plate in one hand and the coffee in the other.

On my way up, I almost bumped into my brother, who was already fully clothed, his bag on his back, ready to go.

The kid had it easy—he didn't give a crap about what he wore, as long as it was clean, and had nothing to do with his hair because he had it cropped up short.

"Yum-yum. Eggs," he grinned evilly, grabbed my fork, and took a mouthful.

"Dumbass! Go eat your own," I reprimanded him, caught the fork back and ran again to my room.

I looked at my clock. Twelve minutes left. Crap! Clothes, on. Fast! I brushed my teeth while skipping to get in my dark blue skinny jeans, almost breaking my neck four times in the process. I slipped in a gray V necked knit, grabbed my bag, and rushed downstairs.

"We're leaving," I screamed at Ty who was watching the Sport Channel in the living room, snatched my keys and jogged to my car.

I looked at myself in the rear-view mirror and sighed. My hair was a mess so I took my yellow beanie lying on my back seat and put it over it, trying to cover the mess that it was.

When Lazy-Ty finally got in the car, I backed out of the garage and sped out of our alley to the street.

Five minutes before the first bell would ring.

Obviously, my brother wasn't affected in the slightest by how late we were. Instead, he reached for the radio, about to change the music. "Kings of Leon is so depressing in the morning, Lexi," Tyler whined.

I slapped his hand. "Do not change my music. I love this CD and you're going to have to suck it up," I informed him in a tone that left no place for arguments, and turned up the volume just to reiterate my point.

"Don't you think we already have enough reasons to be depressed? Don't you think a little beat could be good for us?" he demanded, crossing his arms over his chest.

I wasn't going to have it though. I knew how that kid worked and even if he tried his puppy dog eyes on me I wouldn't cave. "Cold Desert speaks to my soul," I answered him absentmindedly, while overtaking the car in front of me in a very illegal manner.

Whatever. I was already going seventy miles per hour so if a cop stopped me, I would just get my money's worth.

"Well, your soul is one depress fellow and now you're feeding him!" Ty shot back, obviously still not done with our conversation.

That kid should have known me better. "Do you want me to put my fifties music? Or maybe my twenties?" I asked him mischievously.

"Go to hell," Ty mumbled just before trying to reach for the radio again.

I slapped the back of his head. That caught his attention. "Damn it, Ty! If you try to change my music again I swear to god I'm kicking you out of my car," I threatened.

Luckily, brother-dearest didn't try to fight back. "Can't wait to have my own car..." Ty mumbled but I didn't reply because my attention was suddenly brought back to the guy I had just overtaken that was following me dangerously close.

"What the hell his wrong with that guy?" I whispered to myself while looking at the dark metallic blue Cadillac Escalade in my rear view mirror.

That was when I saw Blake in the driver seat with a big smirk on his face, waving his hand at me, and getting closer and closer to my bumper.

"That fucking asshole," I yelled and stepped on the gas harder, but Blake did the same.

"What the hell?" Ty squeaked, and turned his head around to look at the car behind us.

I seriously hoped Blake could see the murderous glare I was giving him through my mirror. Damn moron!

"Jeez, that guy gives me the heebie-jeebies when he makes that smirk," Ty said and faked a shiver.

I was too pissed to comment. What the hell was wrong with that guy? Did he want us to get arrested?

"Is there any particular reason why he's doing this to us?" Ty enquired.

This was not something I wanted to have to think about right away. My plan had been to never see the guy again, not have him follow me dangerously close in his car the very next morning, before even stepping a foot in school. "I owe him," I groaned.

Tyler snorted. "Wow! You're in big, big trouble sis!"

I narrowed my eyes. "I know."

"You remember that girl who set her panties on fire in the science lab last year and had to pay the fine you get when you call the fire department. Well, she owed Blake too," Ty laughed.

Okay, seriously, what's up with all those freaky stories? "Oh please! I don't need that kind of reminder," I yelled. "I should brake fast. Make him bump in my car. He's going to be responsible," I mumbled to myself wickedly.

"Yeah, right! And his Escalade is going to make mashed potatoes with your Jetta," Ty snorted again.

Evidently, I didn't need a car crash. It seemed like a better option than having to face Dra—Blake so early in the morning though.

I stepped harder on the gas and turned sharply in the school parking lot. When I saw Alex's Jeep, I parked right beside it. Blake parked beside me. Stalker.

"A little persistent, isn't he?" Ty chuckled and got out of the car. I sighed heavily, grabbed my bag from the back seat and got out too.

Of course, Blake was walking towards me, grinning. Asshole! Jerk. Dumbass!

"What the hell did you do that for?" I asked Blake, because clearly I wasn't getting out of interacting with him, so I might as well show confidence and a strong front and cut his bull. Then, I just turned around and walked in a quick pace towards the school.

I didn't give a crap about his answer. I didn't give a crap about him!

"Well, well. No need to thank me, babe. I'll just add this to your I-Owe-Blake tab," he told me, easily following my pace that subsequently slowed at his reply. What the hell?

I gave him a look that was supposed to show him just how much I thought he was crazy, because he clearly was. "And why was almost bumping in my car a reason to owe you?"

"Cops can't arrest two cars speeding at the same time." Blake said in a duh voice. Wow, he really is an idiot.

"Highly unlikely," I pointed out because his was reasoning was flawed. "And I don't owe you anything," I told him and walked even faster towards the school.

"Oh, I think you do," Blake shot back and grinned.

"I never asked you for anything, you simply decided to act, therefore I do not owe you!" I repeated, walking through the school doors.

"Nice try Grayson! I give you an A plus for your efforts." Blake laughed. I was tempted to punch him.

"I'm serious. I don't owe you anything Eaton!"

"Wow." He pressed his palm against his chest. "You remember my surname! I'm touched!"

I rolled my eyes, heading to my locker, hoping I would have time to get my stuff and not be late. "Get over yourself!"

"I'd rather get over you," he said, smirking.

I snorted, not impressed. "Your pick up lines are really getting old Blake!"

"Are they? Or are you so attracted to me that those words leave you speechless and you can't come up with anything better than my pick up lines are old?"

Damn moron didn't even begin to cover it... "Try not to drown when you'll see your reflection in the water Narcissus!" I told him, snorting. Honestly, the guy could hardly be more conceited.

"And don't come whining to me when only your voice will be left Echo," he shot back.

I stopped dead in my tracts and stared at him, my head tilting. Blake stopped in front of me and looked at me, his expression confused.

"What?" he asked, almost self-consciously.

"Mythology?" I pointed out, almost in disbelief.

"Yeah," he answered clearly not understanding what was happening, frowning.

"Blake Eaton, the jock of this school knows mythology?" I asked him, forming what was bothering me into words. I mean, come on! Who would expect him to know mythology, and not one of the most known and popular stories?

"You're quick to judge Grayson, that's your problem," Blake countered and there was a weird look in his eyes.

I wanted to say something back but then my gaze met Stacey's, Blake's fake platinum blond and orange tanned conquest of yesterday. And she was glaring at me—no wait, glaring didn't even begin to cover the way she was looking at me—she had the expression Darth Vader would have when he chokes people with the Force if he didn't wear a helmet.

Blake turned around and saw who I was looking at.

"Aw, shit!" I heard him mumble. "I have to take care of something right now, but don't think we are done here," Blake added, his eyes never leaving Stacey, and he left me there, walking away towards her.

"Oh by the way, the Echo reference was way off base! As far as I know I've always been the one pushing you away!" I yelled after him.

"Keep telling yourself that," Blake turned around and answered, smirking.

Ugh! God he's annoying!

That was when the first bell rang and I ran to my locker to grab my things.

What a lovely way to start my morning!