Reality sinks back in the day after our ice cream escapade. It was fun hanging out with Dustin all weekend and meeting Raegan IRL, but now it's time for the boring drone of teachers and endless pages of homework. The one upside to my day is that Raegan and I exchanged phone numbers, so now I get to text her whenever I want, just like Dustin.

I'm in my second period class- AP Stats (fml), texting her under the table. The teacher is completely oblivious, lecturing on the importance of numbers while my desk partner, Smitty, and I mess around on our phones.

Clifford: so u ever gonna tell me how you got such a nice car? i googled it and its 1/300

Raegan: a lady is entitled to her secrets ;)

Clifford: ok ok that's fair but how bout we exchange secrets? i tell u something and u tell me something

Raegan: what is this, a 5th grade slumber party? didn't know you were such a girl, cliff

Clifford: ouch

"What did you get on that last problem, Cliff?" Smitty asks innocently, bringing my attention up from my phone. Just in time, too. The teacher's making rounds, walking up and down the aisles.

"Well, I was a bit confused.." I trail off as the teacher peers closely at my page. "I was volunteering at the humane society this weekend for orphan dogs and didn't get the chance to catch up."

The teacher shakes his head sadly. "Those poor dogs. Atta boy, Cliff. I'm sure Smith here can help you out." He fist bumps me and then makes his way back to his desk.

Smitty groans and bangs his head down on the table. Sympathetic, I pat his back with a slap.

"There, there, Smitty. It'll be okay," I continue, "You'll just have to learn how to kiss ass better."

Smitty and I have been friends since freshmen year. Ironically enough, we met in a geometry class with this super hot teacher. She was delectably thick, curves in all the right places, and long black hair that would fall into her cleavage all the time. Sadly enough, she got fired after the first week because she didn't know geometry. She wanted to be an elementary school teacher but this was the only job she could get. Man, did we miss her. I hope she's blessing single parents lives everyday with her good looks as she educates their young ones.

"Shut up, Clifford." His voice is muffled by the desk. All of a sudden, he shoots up in his seat, chocolate eyes wide in curiosity. "Hey, where were you last night?" Smitty brushes a renegade blond lock out of his eyes. "You said we'd play co-op Halo 4 online."

Oh, shit. I'd forgotten about that.

"Sorry, man." I scratch the back of my neck, fumbling for my next words. "You know Thatsnotmywallet?"

He nods. "Yeah, the girl who whooped your ass in Halo."

"Well, I-uh, I kinda met her."

Smitty's eyes go so big they look like they'll explode. I risk a glance up at the teacher and find him reading A Dog's Purpose at his desk with his feet kicked up. Everybody is supposed to be doing the worksheet.

"Bullshit!"

"Seriously, Dustin and I met her. She works at some burger place and it was just a coincidence and then she came over. We went out for ice cream." I explain it hastily in a hushed voice. There's a blue light flickering on my phone, signaling that I've gotten a message. "I'm texting her right now," I gesture down at my phone.

"Lemme see!" Smitty steals my phone and unlocks it. Damn dude knew my password. I should probably change it. If he knows the password to my phone, then he pretty much knows my password for everything. I use the same one for multiple things, a bad habit, I know...

After a minute of scanning through our text messages, he lets out a low whistle as he observes her profile picture. We've been talking over regular SMS, but I saved her profile picture off of Facebook to use for her contact photo. "You lucky bastard. She's hot."

I can't help but grin from ear to ear as I take my phone back.

Raegan: ok fine u got me, nerd. i'll bite, what's your secret?

Clifford: i'd rather talk about this in person

"What are you gonna tell her?" Smitty peers down over my shoulder. I jerk away, because hey- personal space is a thing.

"That's for me to decide, Smith." I say his entire first name to push his buttons. He hates his first name. His full name is literally Smith Gregory Smith, a fact that he dislikes. Poor guy, having a first name that's a common last name, which just so happens to be his. He goes by Smitty Smith instead of people having to call him Smith Smith.

Teachers do it regardless.

Kid has issues with his parents for naming him that. In all honesty, I don't blame him. You'd think he'd get over it after seventeen years of existence though.

"Asswipe," he curses just as the bell rings.

I quickly swipe all my belongings off the desk and carry it out of the room. Smitty follows behind diligently. Thank God that it's lunch, I fucking deserve a brief respite from crazy eyed educators.

Dustin holds a place for Smitty and I in the lunch line which we quickly claim. The line moves slowly, even though we're in the middle, it's at a turtle's pace. I groan, my stomach roaring for a Smuckers sandwich and a piece of pumpkin bread. Conversations nearby clutter my eardrums and I don't even recognize when Dustin is talking to me.

"Whatcha gonna tell her, Cliff?"

I glare at Smitty. "Blabber mouth."

He holds his hands up in surrender. "My bad," This is Smitty's way of apologizing. "But to be fair, if you didn't want me to, you should've paid attention."

I roll my eyes but don't respond as I feel a buzzing in my pocket. Dustin nudges me forwards, a firm hand placed between my shoulder blades.

People in line are hungry, and start to get antsy, especially if you don't scoot up on time.

Raegan: come out front

Oh shit. Was not expecting her to come here. Doesn't she have school, or work, or something? I've got school. But eh, it sucks. Only two more weeks until Thanksgiving break!

"Imma bounce guys. Raegan is here." I tell them with a smirk. I probably seem so cool right now.

"I gotta see this," Smitty says and saunters out of the lunch line. Dustin nods his agreement and tugs me roughly by my bicep along with him.

Light blinds me as Smitty holds the door for us. I blink several times until I adjust to it. Sitting right at the front of the parent pick up line is a gorgeous, shiny red Mercedes. Raegan.

She honks the horn as she sees us approach. Smitty's jaw drops to the sidewalk, his feet stumbling as he shuffles to it.

"That's her?" He stutters, tripping over his feet. He would've faceplanted on the ground had I not yanked him back up by the collar of his black Gears of War 3 shirt.

Holy fucking shit. As we walk closer to the car, Dustin leans over the passenger door and starts ogling her.

Raegan looks stunning in a tight, navy blue tank dress that goes down to mid thigh. Her pale arms are on display, toned from all the work at the diner. Despite it being late fall, the weather in New Mexico is still relentlessly warm. She lowers her sunglasses so they rest on the tip of her nose.

"Well, are you gonna get in or what?" Her words pop the bubble I'd begun to live in and I nod.

Dustin moves out of my way so I can climb into the passenger seat. I slip the backpack off my shoulder and put it in by my feet.

"Is this a party for two or am I invited?" Dustin asks, leaning over the door. Smitty stands a foot behind him, swiping blond locks out of his eyes.

Raegan raises an eyebrow, looking to me to decide.

"Sorry guys, it's a local co-op party and only two can tango." I wink, and nod for Raegan to start the car.

After she adjusts her sunglasses to their proper position, she wiggles her finger in goodbye and floors it.

Warm wind drips through my hair as we leave the school far behind us. That's when it occurs to me...

I've never ditched school before. Yeah, it was lunch, but I have a feeling Raegan won't be taking me back. Not if we're exchanging secrets...

My mom is going to kill me.