"Troy!"

He turned around and of course his blue eyes glistened, "What's up?"

Oh, nothing, you're just really hot. I couldn't say that, though, obviously. "Um, I think you dropped this at my house the night you brought me home," I hand him his ID, "I found it yesterday."

He grabbed it and laughed, "Oh my gosh, I was looking everywhere for this. Good thing I don't drive here."

I chuckled and nodded, not really knowing what to say. "yeah, sorry I didn't find it sooner."

"Oh no, don't worry about it," he tells me before he starts walking, but not away. "I haven't really needed to use it."

I'm now on his side and we're side by side walking to class since we do have first period together, "what were you doing that you dropped it? Wasn't it in your wallet?" I was curious as to why exactly it was at my house.

He looked over at me and smiled, "Yeah, um, I guess when I was leaving you a note. You have such a big place, yet I couldn't find a piece of paper and for some reason, I had some in my wallet so yeah."

Now that I think about it, there are no notepads laying around. And I'm sure he didn't want to snoop. "Oh okay, got it."

We got to English class and took a seat, him in front of me, me directly behind him.

"Okay, class," Mrs. Berry said as she walked in with some coffee in hand and a briefcase in the other, "the first day is over so now it's time to get to business and since this isn't like a regular high school English class, guess what?"

"What?" the class answered in unison, even though I think it was a rhetorical question.

"Your first project starts today," she smirked, "it's easy, but a little demanding. Let me pass our the criteria and papers before I explain it."

So she did. She passed out a few papers and everyone groaned, but me. I actually loved projects. Way better than just reading a textbook and answering questions. Or reading a book and having to discuss. I have no idea what she wants us to do, but I'm sure it'll be fine. I love projects.

We went over it and once we realized it was a group project, some kids groaned some more and others cheered.

It didn't matter to me. I liked working alone, but I could get something done with someone else or a group of people as well.

"It says groups," Mrs. Berry picked up a paper and started reading along with us, "but that's from last year and I didn't have a chance to change it. It didn't really go as planned last year so I'm switching it up. Max three people. But I'd prefer only two that way the work is shared equally. It'd be a little harder to share it was three people since it's not that much. You have until October 4th. A month. I don't care when you do it as long as it's in my hands by that day and no later. Got it?"

I looked around the room at who can be my partner. Courtney Leal would be fine, but I realized she's probably going to partner with Sadie. And then I look over to Matilda, but eh, changed my mind right away about that. She talks WAY too much.

And then Troy coughed which got my attention.

Troy. He could be my partner. He doesn't know anyone in this class I don't think. Maybe I should just offer. It won't be weird, or like I'm hitting on him, right? Maybe he'll just think I'm trying to be nice. I hope it'll come off like that. Well, it's both I want to spend some time with him AND I feel bad he doesn't really know anyone here.

"Does everyone understand?" Mrs. Berry says, "okay, pick your partner or partners."

I have no idea what she said, but I'm sure I can just look over the paper and figure it out myself.

And once she said that, everyone scrambled to find someone, but I stayed in my seat, took a deep breath and then tapped Troy on the shoulder. He turned around and once again, I was taken back by his blue eyes. Ugh.

"Want to be my partner?"

I think he was a little taken aback by me asking, but I also think he was in no position to say no since he doesn't really know anyone in this class, "Yeah, um, sure, sounds good."

It definitely sounds good. "Wanna come over after school? We can get started, unless you're busy of course then tomorrow works as well."

He shook his head, "No, um, today's good. Right after?"

"Yeah, you can just ride home with me," I tell him and then grab a piece of paper and cut off a piece of it and quickly jot down my number, "I'll be out front by the steps, but if you can't find me after, just give me a call."

"Sure, thanks," Troy grabbed the piece of paper and then quickly programmed my number into his phone in case he lost the piece of paper later. "I can only stay a couple of hours, though. I'm having dinner with my aunt and uncle tonight."

No, yeah. Of course. The Smiths are very important people with so many events going on all the time. "I think that'll be enough time."

A couple hours with Troy after school? Um, I'd take five minutes, so yeah, I'm okay with him only staying a couple hours.

"Cool."

"I'm going out," my brother Josh tells me as he passes Troy and I on the way to the elevator.

"Wait," I call after him, "this is Troy, he's new here."

Josh turns around and looks confused. Did he seriously not see him? "Oh, hey man," he extends his hand, "nice to meet you, I'm Josh. Welcome to New York, hope you like it."

That's my brother. A nice, friendly guy.

Troy shook his hand and said thank you, "so far, so good."

Josh nodded and then turned to me, "mom and dad are at that event, I don't know what time they'll be home, but yeah, I'm going out."

Okaaay. I knew that already. But whatever, I told him to have fun with whatever he was doing and then turned around and headed to the kitchen. Lupe had out a tray of fruit and bless her heart, I was so craving some watermelon and here is it.

"Want some?" I offered.

Troy put his books down and took a couple strawberries, "how old's your brother?"

I swallowed my watermelon and went over to the fridge and grabbed myself and him a couple of water bottles before answering him, "He's a junior, so 16? Almost 17. Yeah, he's turning 17."

"Oh, cool," he says and then takes a seat around the island, "nice place you got here."

"Thanks," I tell him a bit embarrassed. It's an awful big place for a family of four, but like I have a say in where I live.

"What?" he chuckles, sensing something's up.

I shake my head, "No, nothing. I just get uncomfortable when people say that sometimes. Like it's sometimes too big of a place and I'm like, what are we even doing here? Why don't we live in a three bedroom apartment?"

He looks like he doesn't believe me and that's a little heartbreaking because I never want to come off like some preppy stuck up princess. But the truth is, I'm very privileged and I'm very blessed, but it's not my fault. I don't shove it in people's faces. I don't try to at least. Especially since everyone around me is in the same boat pretty much. But Troy, he's from Chicago. He's probably not used to this. People having people drive them around everywhere. Or having your own driver, being picked up whenever you want to, having a maid. I don't know. And I really hope he's not judging me because honestly, I'm pretty normal.

And to make things worse, Lupe pops up holding a hamper full of towels, "Oh Gabriella, I didn't hear you come in. Do you want me to make you some food?"

Troy looked over at Lupe and he didn't look completely taken back by this. I mean, he's living with Stacy Smith. The Smiths have like three maids. He can't possibly judge me if his own family lives like this.

"I'm okay, Lupe, thank you," I tell her and then turn to him, "do you want something?"

He shakes his head, "no, thanks."

I give him a small smile and then turn to Lupe, "this is Troy, we're gonna be working on a project."

Troy gets up and goes over to her and sticks his hand out to shake her hand, "Nice to meet you, Lupe."

Lupe looks all flustered which is SO adorable to watch. She's married. She has 4 kids and is even a grandma. And is the cutest little Mexican woman in the whole world and she's getting shy and embarrassed in front of this hot 17 year old. It's SO funny and so adorable. Ah, I love her so much.

"Nice to meet you, too," she pauses to smile, "Troy."

Troy smiles at her and then takes a seat back around the island. I look over at Lupe and she's blushing so she quickly grabs the hamper and goes to fold the towels in the bathroom.

I couldn't help, but laugh when she left the room. "She's the best."

"She's cute."

I know he means in like an old lady way so I'm not jealous whatsoever. Ha. "Are you sure you don't want anything to eat? I can whip you up something. Like a quesdilla or a sandwich, I don't know."

Again, he looks a little taken aback. Oh my gosh, does he think I have Lupe do everything around here? No way. She's not like a typical maid. She's more of like a friend. A grandma. If she's putting her feet up, I don't bother her to make me food. And right now, she's folding towels so I'm not going to bother her.

"Okay, fine," he gives, "that sounds good, actually."

So I make him a quesadilla with some chicken, cheese and some guac and also give him a little bit of salsa on the side that Lupe made the day before and he eats it in like less than a minute.

"So good," he smiles at me, "I might ask for another one soon, if that's not a problem."

"Of course not," I tell him, putting the cheese away, "I'll just leave everything else out then."

And then we transitioned to the living room and got to work on the project. And by that, I mean we really got to work. Maybe he wanted to finish up and get out of there or maybe it just came to him, but he was on a roll with ideas and what to do and before I knew it, a couple of hours had passed.

He looked at his phone and realized it was 4:30. "Shit, I better get going."

"How are you going to leave?" I ask since he did come home with me, "do you want a ride or something?"

"Nah, I can walk," he says as if it's not a big deal.

I laugh because it's cute at how unfamiliar he is with New York still. "Stacy's is like so many blocks away, you'll get there in like an hour." Okay, I'm kinda exaggerating, but it isn't the closest and it'll take at least 25 minutes to get there if he walks.

He looked like he was in a pickle.

So I helped him out. "Martin will take you, he'll have no problem doing so."

"Nah, I don't wanna make him do that," he put some papers in his folder, "really, I can call Stacy or get a taxi, or just walk. It's not a big deal."

"But he's literally right there for our use. It's like using a taxi," I argue back, trying to not make it seem like a big deal, "come on, let's go." I get up and grab my purse and he quickly follows me to the elevator.

We ride down together and he looks a bit uncomfortable. But like, how else is he going to get home? It's seriously not a problem at all and I want to stop by Savannah's place anyway to pick up a pair of shoes and she lives by Stacy so it's not a big deal.

And once we get into the car, he looks over at me and gives me a small smile. And I think everything's okay again.

Thank God.