'You're having me on, aren't you?'

'No' I reply.

'Yes you are' Dan spits, I could hear the anger in his voice.

'I'm not honestly. Look, I'm trying to be nice here' I attempt to reason with him.

'Bollocks, Sophia. I know what would happen: I would arrive wherever we would agree to meet and would sit there for fucking hours while I wait for you to turn up. But then you wouldn't, because it would be a funny anecdote to tell your stuck up friends. Jesus Christ, I'm not that fucking stupid'.

'What?' I protest, too outraged to say anything else. 'I wouldn't do that, you know I wouldn't'.

'Yeah right Sophia. You're a bitch. You're a straight up bitch'. Dan retorts angrily.

'Thanks Dan. Nice to know what you think of me'. I abruptly end the call, not giving Dan a chance to say anything else. His words, 'you're a straight up bitch', replay in my head and I feel strangely bad. My phone rings again, sighing, I pick up.

'Hello?' I answer.

'Sophia? I'm sorry-' Dan. I once again hang up and then turn my phone off, in case he tries to ring me again, to redeem himself.

I walk into the school hall the next day, flanked by Ava on my right and Isabella on my left. We're late, as usual, not that anyone cares. Everyone's eyes turn to us as we enter the hall but then swivel back as they realise that we aren't going to get told off. The hall's packed and there are only 3 spare seats, located in different places around the hall. Ava and Isabella make their way to the 2 seats closest to where we're standing. So that left me to go and sit right at the front next to the weirdos and nerds. I plonk myself down on the wooden chair and look at who I was sat next to and who I had to sit next to for the next 30 minutes.

Naturally, it was Dan.

He catches my eye and attempts a smile but I turn my head and inch my chair away from him; hoping he would get the message.

'Sophia' he whispers. I ignore him and continue to stare at the blank wall, not remotely interested in what the head teacher has to say.

'Sophia' he whispers a little louder. Again, I continue to ignore him. And then he does the unthinkable; he places his hand on my thigh.

'What the actual fuck?' I snap under my breath at him as I glare at him. 'What the hell do you think you're doing?'

Dan whips his hand away like he'd burnt it.

'Sorry' he mutters. He eyes down as he twiddles with his thumbs. At least he has the decency to look ashamed.

At long last, assembly is over and I quickly grab my bag and stalk out of the hall. I feel a hand land on my shoulder as I exit through the double doors.

I spin around on my heel and narrow my eyes at the person whose hand was still touching me.

'What do you want Howell?' I sigh; I'm getting tired of his bullshit attitude by now.

'I want to say I'm really sorry for calling you a bitch' he says, his face red.

'Whatever' I snap and turn away.

'No Sophia, I am really, really sorry. You know I am'.

'Oh yeah? Guess what Howell? I don't believe you'.

'Please believe me Soph-'

'Sophia to you' I interrupt.

'Sophia' Dan continues calmly. 'I am really sorry, I shouldn't have said it'.

'Yeah, you shouldn't have' I retort.

'Do you forgive me?' Dan asks, looking pleadingly at me, his brown eyes wide.

I toy with the idea of forgiving and not forgiving him in my mind. If I didn't, he would stop bothering me. I remember Ava's words, 'you'd be doing him a favour'. Would I be? If I went out on a date with him? I guess he wouldn't be known as such a loser – old Dan Howell's got a popular girlfriend. That'd do wonders for his social status.

'I guess so' I say, surprising both Dan and myself.

'You do?' Dan looks shocked.

'Yeah' I smile tightly. 'Still on for that date then?' I lower my voice but I wink at Dan; whose grin grows.

'You bet. What about tonight? I'll pick you up at 8:30pm?'

'Sure. See you then'. I pull Dan in for a hug. 'I can't wait' I whisper into his ear. I pull back and bite my lip. 'Later' I say and walk off, leaving a bemused Dan behind me.

I walk to my next class, Geography, with a smile on my face. I was early; for once. I enter the empty class room and walk to my desk at the back by the window. I sit down and pull a pen out of my bag and drop it onto the wooden table. I place my chin in my hand and turn to stare out of the window.

'Is this seat taken?' I jump and looked upwards at the person standing next to me.

'Um. No' I reply, My grin grows as I see Jake standing there.

He smiles lightly at me before dropping into the seat beside me.

'I came across a really nice restaurant last night; I think you'd love it there. Would you like me to take you there one day?' Jake asks me, he sounds nervous.

'Sure' I agree.

'What about tonight?' Jake says and at that moment, Dan sits down in the seat in front of us. I had no idea that he was in this class, I'd never noticed him before.

'So, tonight?' Jake repeats. I notice that Dan had moved his head slightly back as soon as Jake and I had started talking, like he was listening in.

Shit, I'm going out with Dan tonight. Make an excuse, but don't tell him you're going to be on a date with a loser. 'I can't make it tonight, another time?' I say apologetically.

Dan turns around in his seat. 'So, babe. What time shall I pick you up tonight?' He drawls out. Jake's jaw hardens.

'Howell' Jake says frostily. 'I didn't know you were in this class'.

'Gardener' Dan replies, just as coldly. 'Well, you clearly aren't very observant. I've been in this class since the start of September, and it's May now, so that makes it…..' Dan pauses. 'Nine months'.

Jake lets Dan's jibe slide. He looks at me before saying. 'I didn't know you were with Howell. That's news to me'.

'Oh we're not together' I say quickly. 'It's a long story'.

'No it's not' Dan interrupts.

'Yes it is' I say, rather forcefully, glaring at Dan. 'And it's pretty tedious'.

'Oh…Right' Jake says, clearly not interested in hearing it. 'You know what? I've gotta go help Evan out with some Trig homework. Might as well do it now, get it out the way' Jake forces a laugh. 'Later' he says, rising from his seat and walking over to the other side of the classroom.

'What the fuck was that for?' I turn on Dan. 'You had to ruin it, didn't you? You're fucking pathetic'.

Dan holds his hands up in mock surrender. 'I'm helping you'.

'How the hell are you 'helping me?' By ruining my chance with a seemingly decent guy? Pretending to be my boyfriend so you can look cool? What the fuck is your problem Howell?' I practically shout.

'Calm down Sophia. I know him. He's not a nice person' Dan replies evenly.

'How do you know that?'

'Because I used to go to school with him, before both he and I moved here in Year Ten. 'He's not a nice guy. I've had girl friends who've dated him in the past, and they've all said the same thing: he's trouble'.

'Whatever Howell'.

'MR HOWELL!' The teacher screams at Dan. 'WHY ARE YOU TALKING?'

'Sorry Miss' Dan says meekly.

'DETENTION. NO ONE SPEAKS WHEN I'M TALKING, YOU KNOW THE RULES'.

'It was Sophia too' Dan points at me.

'WHAT?' I screech.

'DETENTION. BOTH OF YOU!'

I groan. 'Fuck you Dan' I whisper. The arsehole just laughs.

The rest of the lesson passes quickly, and before I know it, I'm walking to the detention room yet again. I plonk myself down in one seat and rest my head against the wooden table, hoping to drift off.

'Hello Sophia' I heard Dan say.

'Howell' I reply, not bothering to lift my head. 'I hate you, you know'

'Oh I know' Dan chuckles as he sits himself down in the seat next to mine.

Surprisingly, Dan stays silent for the rest of detention and doesn't bother me. I'm impressed.

We walk out of school and I'm heading to my car when I hear Dan cuss.

'What's up?' I ask.

'I can't get home….'

'Oh, that's unfortunate' I smile innocently at him. 'I'd better get going now. Later'. I turn on my heel and begin to walk off when I heard Dan mutter under his breath.

'What was that Howell?'

'Nothing' he looks startled, he obviously thought I wouldn't have been able to hear him.

'Hey, I'll take you home if you want? I owe you a ride anyway'. I smile brightly at him.

'Sure. Thanks. Oh, and that doesn't count for your repayment. You're still coming on that date'. Dan says matter of factly.

'Unfortunately' I mutter.

We drive home, the only sound being the music blasting from my iPhone docking station.

'Here' Dan says as I pull up alongside a white house. We sit there awkwardly, neither of knowing what to do next.

'Hey, um, thanks for the ride' Dan mutters, fiddling with his seatbelt.

'You're welcome' I say automatically. He leans over and I give him a one armed hug. He smells lightly of aftershave, it's not too empowering. It's pleasant.

'Later, Howell' I say, kissing his cheek, tantalizingly close to his lips.

'Later Sophia' Dan says, his brown eyes looking into mine. He leans forwards and presses his lips lightly against mine.