"So, I have finally graded all of your latest assignments and I have to say, I was genuinely surprised at the results. The people I expected to excel didn't do so well and the people I expected to fall short did brilliantly well."

My eyes sparkled with hope. I usually didn't do well in Mr. Bennett's classes so there was a fat chance that I could be the student he expected to fall short but did brilliantly well. I really wanted to have a good grade not just because I needed to do well but because I worked really hard and gave my best shot at this particular assignment.

Mr. Bennett passed out the assignment papers back to the students at the front and I anxiously waited for mine to be placed on my desk. As the papers were passed on from student to student, my gaze was fixed on the papers. It finally reached me and I quickly took mine while covering the grade written on my paper. I then passed the rest of the papers to the person behind me.

Muttering my final prayers, I slowly uncovered the grade and soon, I found my eyes widening at the very big A+ written in red. I almost literally jumped in joy but controlled myself because I realized I was still in class. However, I did giggle to myself as the smile on my face refused to leave. Just then, the bell rang loudly making all of us start packing our bags hastily.

"Please don't forget to get your pre-reading done for our next class." Mr. Bennett reminded us before we left the class.

"Miss Hawkins." Mr. Bennett called as I was about to leave the classroom.

"Yes, Mr. Bennett?"

"That assignment that you turned in was outstanding and exceptional. It allows me to believe that you have solid potential in anything related to English."

"Really? You think so?"

"I know so." He smiled. "But I do have to ask. How did you go from disliking English to loving English?"

My eyes widened at the fact that my English teacher knew about my immense dislike towards the subject that he teaches. "You knew?"

"Of course. I could detect your dislike from your work. That is why I'm extremely curious. What changed?"

"I guess someone helped me to find the reader in me," I said smiling at the thought of Hunter.

"Cryptic. I like that. I'm glad that someone helped you." He said in honesty.

"I'm glad too." I smiled. "See you soon, Mr. Bennett," I said and left the class to head to the cafeteria.

Just then, I felt a buzzing through my left jean pocket. I took out my phone and saw that my boss was calling me. That is weird. He never calls me. I accepted the call and heard my boss telling me something I never thought I would hear from him.

Shit!

I speed-walked towards the cafeteria and scanned the area to find the one person I needed the most right now. My eyes landed on her right after two seconds and I wasted no time in making my way towards her.

"Nina, I lost my job," I said the moment I arrived at our regular table where Nina was already seated at.

Her eyes widened in shock. "What? What happened? How did you lose your job?"

I sat down and felt my shoulders sag. "My boss just called me and told me they had to retrench people because they're facing financial loss at the moment. Then he said and I quote, 'In conclusion, you're fired. It was nice working with you.' I'm doomed, Nina!"

"That is a very rude way of retrenching people," Nina said.

"Tell me about it. I'm screwed, Nina. My mom is not going to be happy about this, I can just feel it. The moment I tell her, she'll just put on a happy facade and pretend everything is fine. She sucks at handling bad news!"

"Hey, look at the bright side! You hated that job so, good bloody riddance." She said giving me a comforting smile.

"I guess you're right. But I'm just worried that I can't get a job soon. I can't let mom sacrifice her weekends to earn a little more. If I don't get a job soon, she'll definitely do that. She'll never listen to me." I sighed.

"Okay, how about this? Don't tell her about this just for a little while."

I was about to argue with her about what she said but she cut me off by giving me a pointed look that says 'don't intervene yet'.

"I know that you don't like to lie to your mom but this isn't lying. This is just delaying the truth. In the meantime, you'll go on a job hunt and if you get a job, you can tell your mom about the good and bad news at the same time. Sounds good to you?"

"But what if I don't get a job?"

"Then, you'll keep looking until you get one."

"Fine. I guess that'll work. I just hope mom doesn't suspect me though." I moved my gaze to Nina. "Anyways, thank you for helping me out," I said with a grateful smile.

"You know I always got your back, bestie." Nina grinned.

"There goes Hera with her whining yet again expecting her pathetic excuse of a friend to help her, yet again. What is new around here?" said a voice who was standing beside our table and looking at Nina and me with a disgusted look.

"Melanie, what a pleasure. Not. Please kindly fuck off, thank you very much." Nina said glaring at Melanie.

Melanie Hawkins, my wondrous cousin—sarcasm intended—is the only person who I know who hates me with her mind, body, and soul. The reason is kind of a childish one, to be honest. It may sound unbelievable, but once upon a time, Melanie, Nina, Newt, and I were best of friends.

Melanie used to hang around my house all the time. And at that time, I didn't mind it because she was like the sister I never had. Except we were the same age. Nina and Newt were our new neighbors and I hadn't met them until Melanie introduced me to them. So, instantaneously the four of us had an unbreakable bond.

But it did become breakable in middle school when Melanie called the twin's mom the R-word just because she was disabled and in a wheelchair. That changed everything between the twins and Melanie. They didn't want anything to do with her and they even yelled at her face asking her to fuck off.

But Melanie being Melanie refused to accept that she was the one who ruined her friendship with the twins and blamed everything on me. So, that's where her hate for me comes in.

"And here comes the oh-so brave best friend to save the pathetic loser." Melanie scoffed. "What a cliche." She giggled alongside her two friends who always seem to stand behind her instead of beside her.

For some reason, that didn't sit well with me. I hated how these mean girls just walk all over their so-called 'friends' and those friends let them. Whatever happened to having a backbone?

"If we're a cliche, then you're an even bigger one. In fact, you're the biggest cliche of them all. Look at yourself, way too much makeup to cover your way too many flaws, blonde hair that is not even the natural color of your hair, and not to mention the all pink and seriously tiny clothes. Are they even the right size? I think it's time you go shopping again because honey you need clothes that are at least two times bigger than the size you're currently wearing."

My jaw dropped at the speech Nina just gave. No, it's not a speech. It's a whole savage bomb. I knew this girl could be savage but not to this extent!

"Oh, and if you're trying to pull off a Regina George here, guess what? You're never, and I mean never going to be able to pull that off. Do you know why?" Nina asked with amusement floating in her eyes.

Realizing that Melanie is shocked as a shell and unable to answer, Nina continued for her. "Because Regina George is top-tier and you-" Nina eyed Melanie from top to bottom. "You're not even in a tier. You're a no-tier."

The whole cafeteria gasped along with me because my best friend just attacked Melanie freaking Hawkins verbally. Nina has never forgiven Melanie for what she said about her mother because Nina is very protective of her. So, her dislike for Melanie has never faltered. In fact, it has only intensified because of how Melanie thinks I'm in the wrong and never fails to remind me of her hate towards me.

I guess Melanie finally regained her composure because she was fuming with anger. "You! How dare you! You think you're such a big shot, huh? You can think you can bring me down, huh? Well, guess what Nina Preston, you don't know what I'm capable of."

Nina scoffed. "Oh please, take your meaningless threats and shove it up your ass because I don't give a fuck."

"You will give a fuck when I ruin your life. Do you think I can't do that? I will and when I do, I'll shove it up your ass."

"Melanie, that's enough! You created enough attention for today so just leave us alone, will you?" I said wanting this to end desperately.

Melanie moved her gaze to me and smirked. "What? Is this too much to handle for the princess? Can't handle a threat?"

"Just stop it, Melanie. We don't want to fight."

"Oh, no. Please go on, I would love to hear you threaten me thinking that you sound so scary." Nina said looking amused.

I jerked my head towards Nina to glare at her but her eyes were fixed on Melanie as if challenging her to go on. Why the hell is she pushing her buttons?

I could hear Melanie almost growl at Nina as if she was ready to pounce on her any moment now. Oh, no. I have a very bad feeling about this.

"You're such a bitch! Guess you learned that from your freak of a mother, didn't you?"

All the amusement left Nina as it was replaced with rage in an instant. Melanie knew she hit the perfect nerve as she put on a smug smirk and continued.

"That's right, your mother was such a bitch that God punished her to be confined to a wheelchair. Your mother is weak and-"

That was enough for Nina to explode as she stood up ready to slap the shit out of Melanie's makeup filled face. I stood up as well and was about to stop Nina when Newt beat me to it. He grabbed Nina's wrist and held her in place, not letting her make a mistake she'll regret.

"Don't let her get to you, Nina. You're better than this." He said to Nina which made her drop her hand and look down to the floor.

Newt then gave a terrifying glare to Melanie. "Get the hell out of here before I do what she was going to do."

That was more than enough for Melanie because she almost ran out of the cafeteria. Newt somehow always manage to unnerve Melanie no matter the circumstances. I don't how he does it, but I'm glad he could do it.

I looked at Nina and saw her breathing in and out, calming herself down. Then, I moved my gaze to Newt who was already looking at me. I knew that look. It was the 'are you okay' look. I nodded to him and gave him a smile which he returned.

"Let's get out of here, okay?" Newt asked with his arms around Nina, indicating that he was there for her.

"Yes, please," I said as we rushed out of the cafeteria which had too many intrusive eyes.

"I'm so glad school is finally over for the day. I can't stand another person giving me the judgemental look." Nina said as walked out of school together.

"Yeah, but still we have to wait for Newt until we can actually leave school grounds."

Nina groaned. "Oh yeah, he has that scholarship meeting or whatever, right? I totally forgot. Why today out of all days?"

"Don't worry, I'm sure it won't take that long," I said trying to sound reassuring.

"You and I both know that isn't true. It's Newt, for God's sake. He is always taking his own sweet time." She crossing her arms.

"But this time he won't because he knows his sister needs him," I said with a smile.

"That sounded so cheesy." Nina shuddered in disgust.

I smirked. "But you secretly love it. Wait, it's not so much of a secret since you do love your older brother!"

"He is older by twelve minutes! Twelve!" She said changing the topic which only made me laugh.

The twins are absolutely adorable. I quickly took out my phone and sent Newt a text asking him to hurry the hell up because his sister needs him.

We decided to sit on the staircase that leads to the school to wait for Newt. Nina started talking about a blog post she came across the other day just to distract herself from the looks we were getting. I was listening intently until my eyes caught a familiar figure who was standing near a motorcycle with his group of friends.

Hunter was listening to his friends talk and all of them were smoking except him. A small part of me wondered why but a huge part of me was glad that he wasn't killing himself. He was in his remarkable leather jacket that made him look unquestionably outstanding. Even though some of his friends were wearing it as well, they didn't stand out to me. My eyes only saw him.

Looking at Hunter, I realized that he totally lied to me when he said he would recommend books to me. The last time I saw him, he just left without recommending a book to me or telling me where I could find him. So much for 'Hunter Knight at your service'.

I couldn't even go over to him if I wanted to because everyone knew that Hunter and his group of friends are not exactly sociable people. It's like you're asking for your own death bed if you go over and try to talk to them.

As if feeling my gaze on him, Hunter turned his head and looked right at me. I should have gasped and looked away but for some reason, I didn't want to. It was as if I was waiting for him to look at me with his mesmerizing grey eyes I can't seem to forget about.

We maintained eye contact for what felt like an eternity until Nina snapped her fingers in front of my face making me finally look away.

"What?" I asked her in a daze.

"I've been calling your name for the last minute and you didn't respond even once."

"Oh."

"Now tell me why were you staring at Hunter Knight while drooling?" She asked making my eyes widen. "And dare I say he might have drooled a little too."

"What the hell! I didn't drool!" I said while touching the sides of my lips just to make sure. "And nor did he."

"Yeah, and Locke & Key isn't an amazing and awesome Netflix show. Quit lying and spill!"

"I didn't drool and that's the truth."

"No, not about that! Why were you guys having a staredown? Do you guys know each other?"

"No!" I said quickly making Nina more suspicious.

Before she could ask further, Newt appeared saving me from Nina's prying session.

"Hey, Newt Scamander!" I said as I stood up.

Nina scoffed. "Oh please, he only wishes he was that cool."

"Hey, I am that cool! But just to be clear, who are we talking about?" Newt asked making us slap our foreheads with our palms.

"At times like these, I'm not too sure about his intelligence," Nina said.

Newt was about to argue when he moved his gaze above our heads and then moved it back to us. "Can someone tell me why is Hunter Knight staring in our direction?"

Nina and I immediately turned our heads to look at Hunter. To my complete shock, his gaze was still fixed in our direction. But I'm not too sure if his eyes were on me or.....Newt.

"That's my question. Just before you came, He-"

I elbowed Nina and shook my head at her subtly to stop her from making a big mistake. Newt doesn't need to know that his best friend had a stare-down with the person he clearly dislikes because it will definitely worry and bother him.

"He what?" Newt prompted.

"He, uh, he was looking over here as well. I have no idea why."

"Maybe he's just waiting for someone. I mean, we are standing near the entrance of the school." I quickly added to erase Newt's suspicions.

Newt simply nodded. "I don't think you guys want to be standing here all day so, let's go."

Nina and I instantly agreed and walked along with Newt. As we were walking towards Newt's car I could feel Hunter's piercing gaze still in our direction. I was itching to look at him but I couldn't let Newt get suspicious again.

We finally reached Newt's car and Nina got in immediately. I was about to get in as well when all of a sudden, Newt stopped me by placing his hand on the car door, closing it shut. His eyes were locked on mine as he searched them for the truth.

"Does his staring having anything to do with you searching for him yesterday?"

"What? No, of course not." I said using my most confident tone.

He took a step closer, never breaking the eye contact. "You'll tell me if anything happened between you and him, right?"

"Of course, Newt. But nothing happened. Trust me." I lied steadily.

"Okay, because I know he's looking at you and I don't like the way he's looking at you. So, if he ever talks to you or does anything to you, please tell me, okay?"

"Okay."

"Promise?" He asked raising his pinky finger.

I smiled. "I promise," I said and interlocked my pinky finger with his making him smile.

He then moved and got inside the driver's seat. I was about to get in when I paused to take a peek at Hunter. A gasp made its way out of me when I found his eyes fixed on me, staring at me with such strong intensity.

I gulped at his fiery gaze—the kind that scared me a little—and looked away as I couldn't handle it. Opening the door as fast as I could, I quickly got in without giving him a second glance. In an instant, Newt drove away and Nina talked throughout the whole car ride.

But all I could think about was Hunter Knight.