Jason and I walk out of math, both confident that we totally just aced that test. The problems were easy, for me anyway, and they were identical to the ones I help Jason with last night.

"So?" I ask Jason as we walk down the hall heading to our table out back.

"So... I damn aced that thing man!" He says excitedly, "seriously thanks for helping me last night, those questions were identical to the ones we did." I nod my head in agreement.

We walk a little further down the hall, I spot Hadley at her locker, I assume anyway. "I'll meet you outside alight. I forgot my ruler." I lie, I'm hoping Jason doesn't notice my lie or Hadley in his excitement.

"Okay." He says still grinning like a child that was just told they are going to Disney land. I slow down in walking and wait for Jason to make it out the door, then I walk over to Hadley. I stand back to the locker beside hers on the left side so she can see me.

"Hey Hadley." I say happily.

"Dustin." She says, continuing to look for something in her locker. I don't know how she could misplace something, her locker is the neatest one I've ever seen. Her books are in order. Binders on a lower shelf, she has a picture of her dad, brother and her on her door held up by a simple black magnet. "Is there something you need?" She says finding whatever she was looking for and pulling out a textbook with a notepad and blue pen.

"Just wondering what you're up to. You now it's lunch right? You don't need your stuff for the next class for another forty five minutes." I say laughing slightly at her and pointing to her handful of books.

She rolls her eyes at me and shuts her locker. "I know that, I'm going to the library to work." She says and starts to walk that direction. I walk to slide into step with her.

"You're working through lunch?" I ask her." Are you behind or something?" I ask her honestly.

"The opposite actually. I'm trying to get ahead." She says and I stop in my tracks. What kinda girl wants to spend her lunch hour doing homework. I once again have to walk quickly to catch up.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes Dustin, I'm doing some extra credit stuff for a few classes and getting a head start on my English essay. " she tells me like it's normal.

"You've got o be kidding me. Is all you do school, like even when we talked yesterday at lunch you were reading a book for English." We stop in the middle of the hall, people see us talking and I already know what they think. Jerks, always marking assumptions. Like I could even do a thing to Hadley, she's too sweet to play with. I glare at a few kids and they immediately diverted their eyes from us.

"So what if it is? I have too keep up my grade and if working through lunch is how I'm gonna do it then that's what's going to happen." She snaps back at me. "Now if you will excuse me, I have work to do." She says her last work and heads in the direction of the library. What is she some kid of genius.

~ ~ ~

I wait at my car. Searching the doors for Hadley. I'm hoping that our little outburst earlier didn't change our after school plans.

"Well." I hear from the passenger side of my car I turn to look and there stood is Hadley. "Are plans still hold right?" She asks.

I nod my head quickly and unlock the doors. Once I start driving Hadley speaks up and breaks the somewhat uncomfortable silence between us.

"I'm sorry for snapping at you, during lunch" she says like she's assumed of her actions.

"It's okay." I smile "I get it, you're uptight."

Her mouth falls open in awe. Oh that was definitely not the right thing to say.

"I mean, that's not what I meant. It's just, extra credit doll, I don't think you need it. If you're already trying to get ahead.

She looks out the window watching the passing scenery, as though she's hoping the words to her response will be hidden somewhere out there. "It's a long story." She sighs.

"I've got time." I say, really wanting to know her whole story. Cover to cover.

"It's not a good one." She says trying to squeeze a smile out. I shrug and decide to leave it. She'll tell me when she's ready.

We finally pull into my drive way and make it into my house. Surprise surprise, mother of my parents are home, as per usual. "Sorry, my parents work late, but I promise I'm not gonna do anything." I say in defence. I know with my reputation she probably thinks I coned her into consign over to my place with my parents out so I could do god knows what to her.

"Don't worry, I trust you." She says while awkwardly standing in the foyer, looking around at event picture and pice of decor.

"Well don't be shy, come on in." I say motioning her to follow me, she takes off her shoes and quickly follows behind me to my room. I'm so glad I cleaned it a few days ago and haven't really been in it except to sleep the past few days. I point to my bed and she takes a seat. I look around and finally find her phone.

"Your phone doll." I say handing it to her like it's a magical sceptre or something.

"Why thank you." She says taking her phone from my hands. I sit down beside her on my bed, probably a little too close. But she doesn't seem to care.

"I put my contact in it, hope that's okay. You didn't have it locked so." I can see a smile at the corner of her lips, though she tries to hid it.

"Such a you thing." She says.

"So what do you want to do." I ask her as I lay back on my bed putting my hands under my head.

"Go home." She says simply. She seriously just wanted her phone.

"Really, you don't want to hang out for a bit or anything?" I ask sitting up on my elbows. She goes to open her mouth but before she can speak I decide to take my guess. "Extra credit right or more work." This makes her laugh. Look at that I've known her for a total of like two days and I already know her like the back of my hand.

"I have work tonight." She says." I also have some stuff to get done at home before I can go so.." she says. I'm about to argue but decide against it, I can't force her to be my friend or hang out with me. I stand up and leave the room so I can drive her home.

"Well, thanks for the ride this morning and giving my phone back." She says after she finished putting on her shoes. She opens the door and starts to close it when I grab it and open it back up. "What?"

"You're not walking are you. I thought I could drive you?" I say to her and her face drops. What is her issue with me driving her home?

"That's okay you've already driven me places and.."

"I don't mind doll, really." I cut her off. "Do you live close to here?" I ask her

"Well." She starts and rubs one palm with her other thumb," not exactly." She says softly.

"Then I'm driving you. No questions. Now where do you live?" I ask as we get in the car, Hadley very hesitant.

"You can just drop me off at the elementary school I can walk from there." She says.

I shake my head. She sighs and starts to give me the directions at each intersection we come to.

"Pull into that parking spot there." She says referring to an open space right in front of a small general type store.

"Hadley I said I wanted to drive you all the way home, the point is for you not to have to walk." I laugh. But I see no joy on her face so I stop.

"Dustin this is where I live." She says sadly

"You live in a store?" I ask, That somehow gets a small giggle out of her.

"No, I live in the apartment above the store silly." She smiles slightly.

"Oh." I say not knowing what else to say.

"My dad's the manager and takes every extra shift he can so the owner is letting him rent out the above apartment." She says to me. I remain quiet. "I know sad, that's why I don't want you to drive me home, I knew you'd see how sad my life actually is and decide you don't want to be friends with me anymore, who wants to be friends with the poor girl."

"Uh.." I manage to muster out. I don't want to ask how she can afford to attend Witfer if she is living in an above apartment but I don't want to be rude.

"That's why I work so hard you know, all the extra credit and getting ahead. I'm attending Witfer on a full scholarship. I can't let my average dip below a 85 or I'm out." She sighs. " I've never had a friend at Witfer Dustin. I though I'd have a chance with you if you didn't see this," she says tears in her eyes and pointing to the store.

She wipes her cheeks and quickly grabs her bag. "You know my dad gave me his old car so I could make it over to the school everyday, he is so proud of me for getting into Witfer and maintaining it. Then I had to go and mess it all up." She sighs again with a shaky breath. "Thanks anyway Dustin, for everything, and uh.. I still owe you a few. But if you don't want to talk to me again, I understand. I'm sorry" she says and leave. I watch her as she walks to the door and disappears.

I take out my phone and call my dad, no answer, should have expected that. So I call Jason.

"Sup Dude?" I hear him on the other side of the line.

"Jason, think your dad can help me out with something? I need to get a car fixed"