4. It Only Gets Worse

The next morning, my mom tried to convince me to stay home. I told her I needed to go to school to get good grades, a high school diploma, etc.

Mom told me she wouldn't be able to pick me up when I arrived at school.

"It's fine mom, I'll get a ride home from a friend. Or I'll just hang out somewhere." I smiled kindly at her.

She nodded, and waved me goodbye with a small smile. I opened the passenger door, and slammed it shut and walked into school.

"Rebecca!"

No. No, no, no, no! That was Jacob's voice. What do I do? What do I do!

"Rebecca! Rebecca!" He called out louder, running towards me.

I stopped walking, and turned around. I glared at Jacob. I was trying my best to get rid of him.

"Rebecca." He cooed. "An entire summer did you good."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I narrowed my eyes at him.

Jacob smiled, ignoring the venom dripping from my words. "I mean, you look beautiful. More beautiful than before."

He placed his hand on my cheek. He stroked his thumb in small circles on my cheek bone. I smacked his hand off.

"Leave me alone." I glared and walked away.

"Rebecca!" He called out again, but he stayed put.

I walked to my locker. I did the combination harshly, messing up a few times. On the fourth try, I finally got the locker to open. I took out the books I needed for my first class, which I hadn't thought of at the moment. I stopped for a second.

Writing class. Right, right.

I put back the wrong book, and got out my notebook and pen. That was the good thing about writing class. All you needed was paper and pen.

With that, I slammed my locker closed.

"What'd that locker ever do to you?" a voice asked behind me.

I jumped at the sudden question. I spun around on my heels to come about a good five inches away from Craig's face. I blushed slightly.

I looked down at the floor. "Sorry. It's just that-"

"Rebecca!" I heard Jacob call out, looking straight at me.

Then, his eyes landed on Craig. And how close he was. Jacob glared at Craig, and started walking towards us.

I looked at Craig with terror-filled eyes. He nodded and looked at Jacob calmly.

"Rebecca, who the hell is this? And why is he insanely close to you?" Jacob growled.

"Jacob-" I was cut off by Craig.

"Why, I happen to be Craig. I'm insanely close to her because I have a phobia of non-close spaces. It's quite annoying." He smiled sarcastically.

I couldn't help but giggle.

"But seriously, I'm Craig. And the real reason I'm this close to her is because I'm her boyfriend."

I looked at him shocked. "Say what?"

He put a finger to my lips and wiggled his eyebrows. Then I smiled and I knew what he was getting at. He wanted to piss off Jacob.

"Boyfriend?" Jacob said through clenched teeth.

I wrapped my arms around Craig's neck. For some odd reason, it felt good to be this close to him.

"Yep, we're totally in love." I smiled oh-so-sweetly at Craig. "Right, pudding cup?"

"Yup muffin cakes." Craig tried not to crack up.

Jacob glared at Craig. But then he turned his gaze to me and it softened. Then he sighed, and walked away.

"Thanks Craig. You're a life saver!" I sighed deeply.

"No problems, muffin cakes." He winked sarcastically.

I rolled my eyes and smacked his arms off me. I also let my arms slowly slide off his neck. My smile turned into a frown.

"What's wrong, muffin cakes?" He pouted.

"My dad died yesterday."

Craig went silent. Then, out of no-where, he hugged me tightly.

"Why are you hugging me?" I asked, tears brimming in the corners of my eyes.

"Because, everyone needs a hug every once in a while." Craig smiled softly at me.

And that's when silent tears began falling down my cheeks. I hugged him back tightly.

I'm grateful Craig came at a time like this. I wouldn't have been able to stand not having anyone to talk to. Other than my mom, of course.

"So," He raised an eyebrow. "Who was that Jacob kid?"

I smiled slightly. "Long story."

The bell then decided to ring. I looked at him with a shocked expression. We were late for class!

Craig smirked. "At times like these, I like to call upon: Batman!"

Then he grabbed my arm, and started running extremely fast while going; Na-na-na-na-na-na, Batman! All the way to writing class I was laughing and giggling.

Then, we slammed the writing class door open. "We're here!"

"Nice of you to join us, Ms. Harvard, Mr. Pierce." The Teacher smiled softly. "Don't worry about being late, it happens."

I smiled back at her. "Thanks, Ms. Farah."

Craig smiled and nodded at Ms. Farah.

Ms. Farah was about 29, had medium length black thin hair, and deep brown eyes. She also had black thick rimmed glasses. She was very tall, very skinny, and very kind.

Then I took my seat towards the window. Craig sat next to me. I raised an eyebrow at him. He only smiled and shrugged it off.

"Good morning class. I happen to be Ms. Farah. I love to write, and apparently so do you. As you know, we have many talented children here. Well, all of you are extremely gifted! But one student has shown her heart in all of her work." Ms. Farah shot me a look and smiled. "And she is Rebecca Harvard! Come here, Ms. Harvard."

I smiled shyly and walked towards the front of the class. I glanced at Craig. He looked amused and smiled at me. I smiled back.

"Ms. Harvard, would you please read a line from Shakespeare?" Ms. Farah asked with pride in her voice.

"Of course, Ms. Farah. Which play?" I asked back.

"Romeo and Juliet." Ms. Farah was obsessed with that play.

I grabbed the Romeo and Juliet playbook from a pile of Shakespeare playbooks on her desk. I flipped to one of my favorite lines.

"There is thy gold, worse poison to men's souls, doing more murders in this loathsome world, than these poor compounds that thou mayst not sell. I sell thee poison; thou hast sold me none. Farewell: buy food, and get thyself in flesh. Come, cordial and not poison, go with me to Juliet's grave; for there must I use thee." I recited, putting full emotion into my words.

The class clapped in awe. I smiled at the entire class. Then my gaze flickered to Craig. He was clapping, astounded by my performance. Then he noticed my vision set on him, and he smiled encouragingly.

"That was marvelous, Ms. Harvard!" Ms. Farah smiled brightly. "Now, take a seat."

I nodded at her, and took my seat back at the window. Craig lightly tapped my leg. I looked at him.

"That was amazing, muffin cakes." He whispered.

"Thanks, pudding cup." I whispered back tauntingly.

Then Ms. Farah discussed how writing is an extension of your soul. And how it brightens up anyone's day. Ms, Farah recited some Shakespeare here and there, but not like the lines I read.

When the bell rang, you could tell the class didn't want to leave. Ms. Farah was an amazing teacher, and she taught true reasons of writing.

The next classes went by in a blur. But maybe that was because Craig was only in my writing class. But anyways, I at least met someone new.

"Mrs. Carlos is boring!" Sadie growled at me.

Sadie happens to be a senior. I bet you're thinking, why is this sophomore hanging out with a senior? I take advanced math, that's why. Very, very, very advanced math. Go figure.

"I know right. All she does is either pound you with math questions or nag you to death about crossword puzzles." I sighed, agreeing with Sadie.

"Exactly. I say we skip her class all year long!" She skipped towards her locker.

Mrs. Carlos had let us out early for the end of the day.

"Amen to that, sister." I giggled.

"Sadie? Muffin cakes?" I heard Craig behind us.

Sadie smirked. "Hello little brother."

Sadie and Craig were siblings? They looked nothing alike. Sadie had deep auburn hair, and green eyes. Craig had dark, dark black messy hair, and of course, his amazing chocolate eyes.

Craig looked at me. "I take after our mom, she takes after our dad."

I nodded, finally understanding.

"Cool beans." I smiled widely.

Craig chuckled at me. Then I realized my mom wouldn't be able to pick me up. Shit.

"Hey, Craig?" I asked.

"Yeah?" He looked down at me.

Gah. Fuck his tallness.

"Can you drop me off at my house? My mom isn't able to." I smiled sheepishly.

"Of course, muffin cakes." He winked.

"Stop calling me that." I smacked him lightly on the shoulder.

He chuckled. Sadie then decided to speak up.

"Hey Craig, you should bring her to our house." She smiled brightly.

"I thought you were hanging out with your new boyfriend?" He asked her suspiciously.

"Oh, I am." Sadie looked at us innocently. "But just to show her around."

"Well, my mom did say I could hang out somewhere." I muttered to myself.

"Then it's settled!" Sadie exclaimed, scaring Craig and me. "Becky comes over our house!"

"Becky?" I asked myself quietly.

"Yes, Becky. It's an adorable nick-name for an adorable girl." Sadie giggled. "Well, bye ya'll!"

Sadie then skipped out of Memorial, and to a Toyota truck. Damn that thing was shiny.

"I'll walk you to your locker?" Craig asked me.

"Yeah, sure." I nodded, and headed towards my locker.

As I was putting my books in, my cute little pink bunny fell out. I reached down to pick it up, but Craig had picked it up before I had even touched the thing.

"Awwh. It's so cute!" He snuggled it. "Almost as cute as you."

"Can I have it back, please?" I rolled my eyes.

"Sure." He handed it back.

I placed it back in my locker, got my bag, and slammed my locker shut.

Then I had to wait for Craig to pull up his Ferrari. Was he rich or something like that? Either way, he was one lucky bastard. And apparently, he didn't want me to waste my time walking my "pretty self" over to his car. Hence why I'm waiting.

Soon enough, he pulled up and smirked cockily.

"Hop in, babe."