Inside the office they waited for the Principle to come in. Richard was sitting there nervous fiddling with his fingers and tapping his foot.

"Would you just relax. Nothing is going to happen." Rachel said annoyingly while she sat slumped in the chair.

"Relax? What if you get another strike. I can't let that happen." Rachel looked wide eyed at his answer. "What?" Richard asked.

"Nothing." Rachel looked down at the floor trying to hide her blush.

"Grayson, Roth, I will see you now." The principal said popping his head out of the door. Ten minutes later still in the office, Rachel was dismissed and now was back at class and Richard was still in the office.

"Please don't give her another strike, I am just getting through to her."

"Fine, I won't give her another strike, but next time I will. Don't let this happen again." The Principle stated.

"I won't. I promise." Richard promised.

"I can tell you care much for her Grayson." The principal said smiling.

"I do." Richard replied.

"Good, because I know little about her background but all you have to do is look at that girls face and you can tell she has been through a world of hurt and more. Take care of her." The principal said and Richard nodded and left. By the time he got out it was lunchtime and he went to look for Rachel in the cafeteria.

"Looking for someone?" Victor interrupted Richard's search.

"Yeah I am actually, Rachel."

"How did I know." Victor smiled. "Dude you should just ask her out to movies or out to eat or something!" exclaimed Victor.

"She won't like that." Richard said thinking of an idea of how to ask out Rachel.

"Well what would she like? You totally like her." Victor teased.

"Hey guys." Rachel said popping into their conversation.

"Rachel! How long have you been standing there?" Richard asked scared Rachel might of heard the previous conversation.

"Not long, Why?" Rachel asked.

"Just wondering." Richard said.

"Oh okay then." Rachel said. And the three of them stood there awkwardly.

"Well... I am just going to go then." Victor said leaving and bumping Richard in the process. Richard turn to Victor who was mouthing the words 'Do it!' Richard shook his head at him and the boys were now arguing with each other without making a noise.

"Umm, am I missing something?" Rachel said laughing a bit.

"You laughed." Richard stated.

"Did I? I really did not notice." Rachel said sarcastically.

"Yeah. You should laugh more often." Richard began and Rachel looked up at him with hope that he was going to ask her out. "So Rachel..."

"Yes." She said hopeful and the bell rang.

"Oh, time for class." Richard said walking to class a and signaled Rachel over to walk with him. Disappointed Rachel walked with him to class, it was their last class of the day. History with Mr. Mod. They walked in and Richard went to speak to Mr. Mod and Rachel went to an empty table.

"Is this seat taken?" A boy who looked liked Richard, but had orange hair asked. He was tall and looked very strong.

"No, go ahead." Rachel replied.

"I'm Roy by the way." He introduced himself.

"Rachel." She said with a smile.

"You're very beautiful Rachel, especially when you smile." Roy said. Rachel laughed and blushed from the comment. Richard turned from the conversation with Mr. Mod when he heard Rachel's laugh. Richard was shocked to see her sitting with Roy and Richard was angered because it was Roy. Roy and Richard have been in competition with each other over the simplest things from who has the nicest car, to who is the best at football, and to who has the hottest girlfriend. Roy was the cool bad kid of school and Richard was the nice popular kid in school so the rift and rivalry between them was natural in the high school world. All Richard knew he was not going to let Roy influence Rachel. Instead of stomping right up to him to get him away from Rachel, Richard calmly sat at a table across from them with jealousy pumping through his veins. He heard Rachel laugh again.

"What are they talking about." Richard seethed balling his hand in a fist.

"What?" Said the girl sitting next to him.

"What do you think those two are talking about?" He asked pointing to Rachel and Roy.

"I have no idea. Roy is not that funny." Said the girl.

"I hate that guy." Richard said. After class he went over to Rachel and Roy. "Rachel want a ride home?"

"No that's okay, Roy is giving me a ride."

"What?" Richard said now getting mad and Roy and Rachel looked at him with a shocked face from his tone. "Rachel you don't even know this guy, you just met him! You didn't let me drive you home, when we first met."

"I will meet you outside Roy, just give me a minute." Roy left and he grabbed Rachel's books. "That's sweet thanks." Roy nodded at her and went outside.

"What are you doing Rachel?" Richard said sternly when Roy exited the door. "You don't even have to know him to tell he is bad news. What are you doing? Are you trying to get kicked out."

"No I am not. I found out that Roy lives across the street from me so it is easier if we carpooled. That's it. Why are you acting like this?"

"I am acting like this cause I like you Rachel!" Richard said by accident.

"You like me?" Rachel asked.

"Yes and I was hoping you felt the same. I wanted to ask you out but I got too nervous, and..."

"Rachel are you ready." Roy came back in the room interrupting. Rachel kept her eyes on Richard.

"Yeah I am." Rachel said and turned and left Richard in the classroom.

Roy was dropping Rachel off and he walked her to the door. Rachel was distracted the whole car ride thinking about what Richard said.

"Hello Rachel?" Roy said waving a hand in front of Rachel.

"Oh sorry I was just thinking." Rachel said

"About?" Roy said grinning and putting his hands on Rachel's waist bringing her in close. Roy leaned in to kiss her, but Rachel turned away to avoid it.

"No." She whispered and Roy smiled and took a step back.

"Sorry, I don't like to take things slow." Roy stated. "Hey, so tomorrow there's going to be a party at my place and I would love for you to come."

"Can Richard come?" Rachel asked and Roy laughed

"What do you see in that kid?"

"He has been kind to me." Rachel said timidly.

"Haven't I been kind to you?" Roy said and Rachel nodded "I heard that you were a bit of a bad girl at your old school." Rachel shrugged. "Well you see Richard and "Bad kids" do not go well together and I have heard some stuff that you have done. What would Richard say if he found out. You need to be with people who are like you, and not the honor roll." Roy said.

"How do you know..." Rachel began, but Roy put a finger to her mouth.

"Shhh. I won't tell your secret."

"Thank you." Rachel said in relief

"Don't thank me yet. Be there tomorrow Rachel." Roy said going back to his car and he drove off.

"Richard can't find out about my past." Rachel said whispering to herself.

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