Adjusting my backpack on my shoulder, I let out a sigh as I begin my journey to my own next class. I manage to hit the doorway just as the bell rings and give myself a mental high-five, hurrying over to my seat. My foot catches on a desk leg and my bag falls to the floor when my eyes skate across Destiny in the seat behind mine. Shit.

The class erupts in laughter as I force a laugh of my own to cover my embarrassment, grab my bag, and make it to my desk. Shoving my bag underneath, I drop into my seat, offering Destiny a smile as I do so. I hope, most likely in vain, that she had missed my display of grace. She nods in response and I turn towards the front of the room.

Ms. Camden starts her lesson but, just as it did in my previous class, it completely alludes me. I can't focus to save my life. I try my best to take notes but they don't make any sense. I'll most likely spend hours later trying to sort through them and make them at least half distinguishable only to fail and have to borrow someone else's.

I consider passing Destiny a note, maybe trying to get to know her a little better in a way that I can't put my foot in my mouth. Before I can get the resolve to do so the bell rings. The sounds of everyone gathering their things is almost deafening as I consider my next move. By some miracle, Destiny stops beside my desk.

"Would you mind helping me out with my locker again?" she asks softly. I try to reign in the excitement in my smile at her words but I'm not sure if I do a very good job of it.

"Sure," I quickly respond, keeping the answer short so I don't say something stupid. I stand up and she steps back.

"Should I keep my distance? You're not going to trip again and take us both out, are you?" Her face is so expressionless that I'm not sure if she's joking until color rises in my cheeks and her lips quirk into a small smile. "Sorry, couldn't resist."

I scoff, ridiculously embarrassed, and try and shrug it off. "I've found that almost falling on your face is the quickest way to break the ice with someone. They feel sorry for you and have no choice but to become your friend."

She lets out a small laugh that's like music to my ears and raises her eyebrows at me. "Oh, is that so? I suppose I'm stuck then. You've given me absolutely no choice but to be sucked into this budding friendship."

I can't help but laugh, glad to find someone else who flings sarcasm just as much as I do. I can only assume that, as it is for me, it's a form of protection that she uses to make it through every conversation. Am I serious? Am I not? You may never know.

“I didn’t want to have to twist your arm, but you gave me no choice,” I respond with a wink as we make our way to the door and out into the hallway. I’m happy when she laughs again.

I can’t help but wonder, as we walk the rest of the way to our lockers in silence, how forced her reactions may be. If a stranger can see the sadness in her eyes then surely it’s a struggle to ignore it. Are her small smiles genuine? Is her laughter from humor or just to cover an awkward silence or lack of response? Even being in a similar boat it makes it hard to tell if the sails are legitimate or if the boat is pushed across the water by hidden ores.

Destiny passes her locker combination to me again as we reach it and I open it for her before stepping back and returning the paper to her. She mumbles her thanks and puts her book inside, a collection of two that will grow with each class she has. I want to ask why she started as a new student here in the middle of the year instead of the beginning. Instead, I bite my tongue and retrieve the book for my next class before shutting my locker.

“Where are you headed to next,” I ask just as Josh approaches his locker, the corner of his mouth quirking up as he smacks me on the shoulder before opening his locker.

She rustles around in her shoulder bag before pulling out her schedule. “Chemistry with-”

“Mr. Hundson,” Josh and I echo at the same time. He pokes his head around his locker door to grimace.

“The best advice I can offer you is don’t draw attention to yourself, good or bad. He’s a douche but you can skate under his radar,” Josh suggests, closing his locker to lean against it. “Just do all your homework and there should be no problems. I’m Josh, by the way.”

Destiny nods lightly as she takes in his advice. “Destiny,” she responds. “Thanks, Josh, I’ll be sure to do that.”

“After that’s over, there’s the sweet release of lunch,” Josh responds with a wide smile. Food is one of his favorite things and I really don’t know how his metabolism can contend with the amount of food he manages to inhale. It probably helps that he plays several sports. “You should come sit with us.”

It takes me a moment to realize what he’s purposed. “If you want to,” I add when she doesn’t instantly respond. “No pressure.”

“I’ll think about it,” she replies with a smile. “I better get going so I’m not late.” She offers a small wave that we return as she heads off to her class. As soon as she’s out of hearing range I turn on Josh.

“Dude, seriously? You shouldn’t pressure her into eating with us on the first day. Maybe she’s got other friends she wants to eat with.”

Josh laughs heartily and pushes me. “For someone who can’t keep his eyes off of her, you’re blind to what the girl actually does. She’s very to her self. Based off all the gossip, you’re the only one she’s been seen talking to so far today.”

I swat his hand away and we start walking towards our next class. “That doesn’t mean she doesn’t already have friends here that she just hasn’t had a class with yet.”

“Again, the gossip tells all. She doesn’t know anyone here. No one has a clue as to who she is or where she’s come from. We are her only in. It’s not like we don’t have space at our table for her. You’ll just have to be sure to dab at your drool from time to time.”

I shove him against a locker we’re walking past, making a group of girls we pass giggle, and he quickly rightens himself and catches up to me. “Don’t be a dick,” I warn.

“I’m not!” He laughs, straightening his bag on his shoulder. “I’ve waited for this for years, man, don’t ruin it for me. This is the first girl you’ve actually shown legitimate interest in. I’ve gotta take this chance to mess with you while I’ve got it or I’ll regret it forever.”

“Seriously? Messing with me is that important to you?”

He raises his eyebrows and gives me a “duh” look before we enter the classroom and take our seats. “You should be happy! This could mean a stop to me teasing you about your hairy palm.”

I glare at him as a few of our classmates laugh at his remark. It’s certainly not the worst thing they’ve heard him say but it still never fails to make my stomach clench when he teases me in front of others. I’ve mastered playing it off like it doesn’t bother me, even when it does. We’re always bantering back and forth so I’m uncertain to why it still causes a reaction in me, even when I know he’s just messing around.

“It could also lead to a swift ass-kicking if you aren’t careful,” I jab back.

He holds up his hands in surrender and laughs. “Anything but that. I’ve seen you pummel that punching bag and I will for sure pass on that.”

I smirk at him and he turns towards the front of the class as the bell rings. I try my best to have more focus for this class and manage to take notes and get my assignment done without too many errors. Before I know it the class comes to an end and we put our things back into our backpacks before heading towards the cafeteria.

“Do you think she’ll eat with us or not,” Josh asks, and he actually sounds genuinely curious, which is unlike him. “I feel like she needs friends or something.”

“I know what you mean. Something about her makes me...” I pause, trying to find the right word.

“Protective?” Josh offers, and I nod because it’s an oddly accurate word for it. I don’t know her well enough for that, but the feeling is still there. I feel like there’s something that I need to fend off for her.

“Yeah, protective.”

“I get that feeling, too. It’s weird. Maybe it’s-”

“I swear if you say fate I’m going to punch you.”

“Oh come on,” Josh laughs, “You know that in this sort of situation you want to believe that it could be true.”

“No,” I respond, as I always do when he brings up the childish notion of fate. “I want to believe that I’m the only one in control of my life and the route it takes. So hush.” I narrow my eyes at him and he laughs again.

“You’re such a stick in the mud.”

“A fine looking stick if ever I saw one,” a voice cuts in and I smile at Tara as she squeezes in between us, throwing her arms over our shoulders. The movement is a stretch for her as she’s a good five inches shorter than I am, but once she’s got her arms secured she lifts her feet and makes us carry her several staggering steps. It’s a daily routine that we all laugh through the whole time it happens, no matter how many times.

She hops down and walks between us the rest of the way into the cafeteria, telling us about her morning as she twists the end of her blonde braid around her fingers. “Oh! Did you two hear about the new girl? I’ve heard that she’s a looker.” She wiggles her eyebrows and Josh and I laugh.

“Yeah, we shared a class with her this morning and Aiden had the one after that with her, too. Right, Aiden?” I glare at him as he throws me under the bus, knowing exactly what’s about to happen next.

“Oh my gosh! Dish, Aiden! What’s she like? Is she as pretty as they’re saying?”

“There really isn’t much to tell. Yes, she’s pretty, but I don’t think she’s what you’re looking for.”

“Jeez, Aiden. Get your head out of the gutter! I’m excited because she’s new and new people are exciting, not because there’s a possibility that she could be into chicks,” she slaps my arm and Josh laughs like it’s the funniest thing he’s ever heard. I’ve been set up.

“Don’t be too offended, Tara. He’s interested in her so he’s got tunnel vision.”

Tara’s eyes light up and I want to whack Josh over the head with my lunch tray as we make our way down the line. I just know that Tara has some idea of matchmaking going on in her mind that I dread to the depths of my soul. They start talking to each other about Destiny and I block them out as I decide what to get for lunch.

Once we’re through the line and seated they both turn their attention onto me. They don’t use words but their gazes are so heavy I feel like I’m going to be crushed under their weight. “Please stop it,” I grumbled, taking a bite of my pizza.

“It’s far too late for that,” Tara chirps, taking a bite of her own food, her eyes never leaving me as she does so. “Spill,” she adds between bites.

“Again, there is nothing to spill.” I glare at Josh, the master instigator, and he just smiles widely at me.

“Wow, what’s with the tension rolling off Aiden in waves,” Rylie asks as she takes a seat beside me. I let out a defeated sigh, knowing my trio of torturers has just been completed and that I now have nowhere to run.

Josh smiles widely. “You’re about to find out. Incoming,” he warns, waving at someone over my shoulder.

My eyes seek out the nearest door, wondering if I have enough time to bolt. Rylie must sense my intentions because she grabs my shoulder as she turns to see who Josh is waving at. Knowing that its Destiny approaching makes my stomach drop, fearful of how badly this could go if my friends don’t reign it in. I kick Tara under the table and her eyes jerk to mine with a grimace. I silently plead with her across the table and her smile falters before Josh stands up, motioning to the seat beside me.

“You made the right choice,” he says with a wink. “Please sit down! Everyone, this is Destiny. Destiny, you already know Aiden. This is Rylie and Tara,” he adds, motioning to each girl in turn. He drops back into his seat and Destiny slowly takes her own, looking a little overwhelmed.

“Nice to meet you,” she mumbles.

I smile at her, despite my anxiety, and it calms me a bit when she smiles back. I clear my throat because everyone aside from Destiny is looking at me expectantly like they didn’t just corner me into this situation. “Um... How was Mr. Hundson’s class?”

My friends collectively deflate, like they expected much more from me, and go back to eating their food. Tara and Rylie start a conversation of their own and Josh looks back and forth between Destiny and I as he eats.

“It was alright. Not nearly as bad as what I expected after Josh’s warning.”

Josh may as well preen like a peacock, pleased that she remembered his name. As if he needs anything else to grow the size of his ego. “That’s the magic of knowing what to expect beforehand,” Josh replies, taping his temple.

Destiny laughs, and I’m almost certain that one was a pity laugh. I roll my eyes. “I highly doubt anything you could offer anyone would be magic,” I gripe.

“There are several ladies who would beg to differ,” he replies with a smirk. The response is so quick I feel like he’s been holding that one in his arsenal for a while, just waiting for the right moment.

Beside him, Tara’s face scrunches up in disgust. “Eww! I need a mind cleanse after that comment.”

“Agreed,” Rylie quips with a grimace of her own.

“Hey, if I have to listen to you two go on about all your lady problems then you’re just going to have to deal with hearing about my manly escapades.”

For a moment the table falls silent and then Tara, Rylie, and I burst out laughing. Destiny chuckles beside me as well, and Josh looks like a kicked puppy, mumbling “jerks” under his breath when we can’t seem to reign in our laughter. The laughter pulls the attention of the tables around us, leaving people looking bewildered, which makes it that much funnier.

“Alright already, that’s enough!” Josh crosses his arms across his chest, an obvious pout on his face. “You guys are a bunch of assholes.”

“Hey, you dug that hole yourself,” I finally manage to get out, dabbing tears from my eyes.

“I’m gonna bet it’s the only hole he’s encountered.” My head whips towards Destiny, jaw-dropping, totally not expecting that to come out of her mouth.

“Oh, BURN,” Tara cries, and within seconds the entire table is laughing again, Josh included.

“I think I might have to go to the hospital for that one, jeez!” Josh wipes at the tears running down his face and holds up his hand to Destiny. “Come on, you earned it.”

She smiles, shaking her head, and reaches up to give him the high-five he’s offering. Just like that, she’s part of the group and the weight on my shoulders dissipates. Grudgingly, I begin to wonder if Josh was right after all about fate.