Chapter 1

Buzz buzz,

Ari groaned at the sound of her alarm clock.

"It's morning already?" she grunted out almost tempted to touch the snooze button. Then again, she was taught never to be late for anything, even on her first day.

She dragged her feet to the bathroom and tried her best to hurry her bath. After her morning rituals in her room, she jogged downstairs, opened the fridge, grabbed an apple and put it in her bag. She stuffed her already prepared avocado toast in her mouth and headed for the door.

"Mum, I'm out." she said audibly, even when she wasn't expecting a reply, even when she knew she and her mother never really connected anymore, even when she knew her mother wasn't home, even when she knew her mum wouldn't be back until 10 in the night. She just said it to feel like a teenager most times. She hopped on her bike, a gift her mother gave her when she turned sixteen.

During the weekends, she studied the location of her school, so getting there wasn't hard. The school principal handed her a map of the school, and her schedule for all her classes.

"Advanced chemistry. Shit." she mumbled as she arranged her locker. All along, she tried her best remain unnoticed, but just like her other schools, guys keeps staring and girls keeps glaring.

It’s not my fault I have a cute figure.

The bell rang and the crowded hall of teenagers and stressed out teachers found their way to their various classes.

Ari found her way to her class and studied her environment.

It's a thing she does almost all the time. She studies and try to understand who or what it is.

She realised that in all highschool, sitting at the very back means you don't wanna concentrate in class, but she wants to learn well and seating at the front means majority of the questions asked in class would be diverted to you. And the middle is quite right but it also means you'd have to listen to the jerks at the back, it's either they are flirting or playing pranks.

But what many don't know is that, there is always this space inbetween the middle row and the front row. You can listen to the teacher perfectly and never get to answer any question.

And Ari has found that perfect spot. A small smile rose across her face as she placed her book on the desk, trying not to loose her temper because of the noisy class. The class was chanting, singing, flirting, tapping their feet, pens and pencils, books were flipped, sound of laughter was heard. Most time she'd wanna scream on the top of her lungs. It was like mother earth was on to her. Ari seemed to always notice everything in her surroundings. Most of the times it felt like a good thing, but most times it seemed like a curse.

Even with all the noisy sounds, she heard footsteps, the persons feet sounded like someone that was used to wearing a canvas, and the steps was approaching her.

Crap.

She wasn't used to people approaching her. This one time when it happened, she was holding a knife and immediately the person got close, she threw the knife at the person. But she mentally calculated it so it would hit the person by its handle, but cause enough distraction to take the target down.

Luckily for this person, she's with a pencil, her brain immediately calculated it so in case the person gets hit, it would be by the eraser. She threw the pencil, aiming for the persons forehead. Even without looking up she had already assumed the height of the trespasser. Ari was waiting for the person to grunt loudly and walk away but instead the person stood there. She saw the white canvas and instantly knew it was a boy...

Or a girl with a really manly feet.

The person didn't drop to the ground, neither did the pencil that she threw. Strange.

"Next time try using the sharper part of the pencil. " The familiar voice said to her.

For once, someone got her attention, she looked up to see... Him, smirking down at her. Her neighbor from home whom she had ignored at first. He was holding the pencil right in front of his forehead. He caught it.

She grunted inwardly. I should have known.

"You can have your pencil. " He returned the pencil and she collected it reluctantly, giving him her famous nonchalant look.

"I see you've found my middle space. " He took a seat beside her.

"Excuse me? " She raised a brow at him.

"You know the perfect place to seat in class, away from others," He explained.

He also found out about this place?

"Coincidence. " She mumbled and immediately regretted talking.

Then the teacher walked in and the class automatically fell silent. Ari let out a sigh of relief but frowned when she watched the canvas boy grunt loudly as he hit his head on the table.

"What? " Once again, Ari let curiosity get the best of her.

He sighed and looked at the teacher.

"The teacher in front of us is seven minutes late, he is never late, you see the way he's tapping his feet on the floor? And how his lips twitch up in a slight smirk?"

Please not what I'm thinking...

"That can only mean one thing.. " The canvas guy trailed off and stared at her with sadness...

"Pop quiz. " They both chorused and he chuckled lowly but audibly. As for Ari, her lip twitched up in a small smile but comes back down before anyone could notice.

"Hello class, today I've got a surprise for you all. It's pop quiz day. " He said and majority of the class groaned including the canvas guy.

"I'm Austin, by the way. " He smiled.

"Ariana." She replied.

Maybe he isn't as stupid as the rest of them.

Wait. What?!

******************

The bell rang and the students didn't listen to what the substitute teacher was saying anymore but packed their stuffs and themselves out of the class.

"So class, remember your assignment. It's a huge part of your assessment take it seriously. " She said but they merely listened.

Ariana found her way to the cafeteria and ate her apple in silence, studying everyone around, her eyes darting from one person to another, not settling in one place. She heard the canvas footsteps approaching and she sighed.

"You know of you keep hanging out with me, they'll begin to think we're friends." She never looked up.

"Is anything wrong about it?" He placed his tray on Ari's table.

"I have a reputation to keep." She took a bite from her apple.

"Which is? " He smiled.

On a normal day, she'd reply none of your business, but today ain't normal, none of her days has been normal.

"Don't keep friends and you'll live long." She stated.

"Ouch, hurtful." He pouted.

"You asked for it. " She said her face still emotionless

"So what are you doing?" He tried changing the topic.

"Trying to concentrate on eating my apple. Anyone with eyes and a brain could figure it out. " She said in a duh tone.

"No, I meant you keep looking round like you're expecting someone."

"I'm not. I wasn't even expecting you." She said her eyes still roaming around the noisy cafeteria.

"Your school's funny. " She said.

"In what way? " He asked eating his fries.

"Several. The most amusing is how girls would do anything to be with a guy. " Ari said as she eyed some girls that giggled at the canvas boy beside her. Austin noticed her disgust and smiled.

"Don't you ever get frustrated? " She asked him. He knew what she was talking about and he shrugged.

"All the time. I hate my life most times. "

"One of them is gonna come here any minute now. " She said and Austin cursed underneath his breath.

"Austin hey. I've been looking for you all morning." A red haired girl took a seat beside Austin and he gave Ari a distressed look.

She would have helped immediately but it was fun watching the drama. She saw Austin shoulder tense and his jaw tighten like he would soon blow up.

Then her eyes deviated to the red hair. She had slightly swollen eyes, which meant she was either crying or she had a sleepless night. And she heard some students gossiping about a break up that usually happened between she and her boyfriend ever Monday. They say it spiced up the relationship. Barf.

Austin shot her a death glare and she finally decided to help.

"You know if the story doesn't end with you dying then it's not as interesting as you said it was. " Ari said with boredom audible in her voice.

"Excuse me? " The girl glared and Ari lifted her eyes to her.

"You heard me. How bout I make things easier for you, you're only doing this to make your ex-boyfriend jealous and it's working, why don't you just leave before you wreck your relationship. He wants you back. " Ari explained.

"Ryan wants me back? " she sounded excited and Ari nodded. Then girl took off.

"How did you know they broke up? " Austin asked

"Like I said, anyone with eyes and brains could figure it out. " She shrugged.

"Take a look at the new couple." She pointed at the red hair that just left and he squeezed his face in disgust when he saw her kissing Ryan.

He turned his attention to Ari.

"How'd you know all these stuff? " He asked.

Oh, just that I secretly signed up for training in America Defense Department and they taught me a bunch of stuff and in a matter of time I'll be nominated as one of their best and work for them.

"Just talent. " She said with a shrug.

"What else did you notice? " he asked, Ari stared at him for a moment and tilted her head to the side.

"I know you dyed your hair to bleached blonde and that you wear a grey contact lens." She said truthfully and he froze. She noticed.

"But seems you're not ready to explain why so I'll let it slide. Do you want me to say other things I've noticed? " She asked innocently.

"N-no. " He stammered and the bell rang.

He quickly left the cafeteria not saying another word to her after what she figured out.

But she cared less.

It would keep him away for at least a while.

*****************

Up until last period, Austin didn't say a word to Ariana. She wasn't bothered to the least. And she quietly listened to her health education teacher.

"You guys would be having a project and I'm gonna pair you up, a boy and a girl. "

"Crap. "Ariana likes projects. She likes'em when she's doing it alone. Now she'd have to pair up with a stupid ass for a fucking project.

According to her.

"Amanda Andrews and Aaron Walker" A long blonde girl smiled at her partner.

"Austin Parker and Ariana Bliss."

Hearing her name, Ariana sank into her chair.

"God I'm cursed. " She muttered.

"And you two are working on the reason for pre-marital sex."

"Shit." She cursed out.

"Mind your words miss Bliss. The project is to be submitted on Friday." She said and the final bell rang. Ari arranged her stuff and went to meet Austin who was beaming at her.

"Guess you're stuck with me. " He smiled and she rolled her eyes.

"Send me your number. " He added.

"Why? " She raised a brow.

"Cos we need connection for the project. "

"Right." She deadpanned.

They both switched phone numbers.

"Does that mean we're friends now? " He asked.

"No, you're just a stubborn classmate and project partner that turns out to be my neighbor. " She glared at him.

"Awwn. That's the nicest thing you've ever said to me. "

She mumbled something underneath her breath and left regretting why today ever happened.