When we get to the entrance of the school, Graham holds the door open for me, and I feel everyone's eyes on me. Even more eyes than yesterday when I was just the girl on crutches. But, today, I'm the girl on crutches who's being escorted around by Graham Ryan.

I look at the ground as I crutch through the building, Graham's footsteps following close behind mine. When we get to my locker, I hear two sets of clunky feet approach me. Graham stands to my left leaning against the row of lockers, and his eyebrow raises when he sees the look of confusion on my face. He motions his head behind me, and I furrow my brows more. What the…

A light tap on my shoulder snaps me out of my confusion, and I whip around to see his two friends from the rink standing in front of me. Hell?

The boy with the blonde hair, whose name I now remember is Jake, speaks first.

"Uh, I just wanted to apologize for making you fall, and that I'm sorry you're on crutches," he runs a hand through his greasy curls before sticking it out for me to shake. I nod my head, leaving his greasy hand in limbo. When he realizes I'm not going to shake it, he attempts to play it off by running it through his hair again.

I start to turn back towards my locker when the other boy clears his throat. I look up at Graham who is staring the two boys down like a hawk. They're tall, but he's much taller, so his eyes are already at my height level when they flick over to meet mine. His arms are crossed over his chest, and he raises his eyebrow again. I look back to the boy who is now rocking back and forth on his heels.

"Yeah, uh, we're really sorry, and we hope you recover quickly Scarlett," his brown eyes flick up to meet Graham's before they turn and walk away. I spin around to look at Graham and he’s laughing.

"What was that about?" I reach into my locker as I talk and he lets out a sigh.

"I can't be the only one paying for our assholeish actions. Those clowns needed to say sorry anyway," he smiles, and my cheeks flush. I quickly tuck my head into my locker to pretend I'm looking for something so he won't see my blushed state.

"You alright there?" he takes a step closer to my locker and cranes his neck to see what I'm looking for. I slam it shut and lean against it before he can see my sparkly decorations and magazine cutouts of Joe Keery and Cole Sprouse that hang up inside of it.

"Yup, everything is fine, I can take my book bag now," I reach for the pink bag that dangles from his shoulder and he pulls away.

"Nope, I'm carrying it," he smirks. I roll my eyes, and he laughs. "Relax, Scarlett. I'm just helping out a friend."

I scoff, and his face contorts.

"Well, excuse me. I thought we were friends," he rolls his eyes at me again.

"If you say so," I feel my lips twitch, and I bite down on my lower lip to hide my smile.

The walk to English is awkwardly quiet, and our witty banter has come to an end. When we get to the classroom, he follows me to my seat, takes my crutches from me, and sets them up against the far wall. When he comes back, he takes in my death glare.

"What?" He throws his hands up with the question.

"Did you have to put them in the furthest spot away from me?" I stare at the crutches and then meet his eyes. His mouth forms into a smirk again, and he bends down meet me at ear level. I hold my breath just in case it smells like my Starbucks iced latte.

"If I had put them too close to you, you wouldn't need my help," his breath is hot on my neck, and I feel everyone staring at me. My cheeks burn, and I look away from him, sending him to his seat without an answer.

I look to my left and Sienna is staring at me. Her jaw is dropped annoyingly, and I roll my eyes.

"You're going to catch flies," I use my hand to close her mouth, and she smirks.

"So, this is why you didn't answer me when I asked if you needed help this morning.”

"He's just helping me carrying my stuff," I shrug.

"Um, he was practically kissing your neck a few seconds ago," her eyes grow wide, and she leans closer to me. "That is not someone just helping you carry your stuff."

My cheeks flush and I turn around in my seat to look to the back of the room where the jocks sit. Graham is leaning back in his chair that is far too small for his tall body, and his eyes meet mine just long enough for him to realize I'd been staring at him. I look away quickly and pull a light blue notebook from my bag.

My phone vibrates, and I pull it out to check it quickly before Mr. Fitz starts teaching. The same unknown number from this morning pops up on my screen, and I poke my head up to look at him. His hazel eyes are staring directly at me, and I watch his Adam's apple bob in his throat as he swallows. My cheeks warm and I roll my eyes at him.

"Are we friends yet?" I bite down on my lip and slip my phone back into my bag without answering. I hear Graham scoff, and I'm amused by the fact that he can physically see me ignoring his text message.

When class ends, everyone shuffles out, and I stay in my seat waiting for everyone to leave so I can stand up without the risk of being bumped into. As I'm standing up, footsteps quicken behind me.

"Ah, ah, ah. I'll get them," Graham says with a smirk. He jogs past me through the straight line of seats and grabs my crutches from the wall.

"Don't you have class or something? You don't have a pass to be late," I flash him mine, and he laughs.

"You really think someone is going to yell at me for being late because I'm helping a girl on crutches around the school?" he hands me my crutches

I chew on his question and feel stupid.

"I guess so," I reach for my bag but he scoops it up before I can. "I'm not incapable of carrying my own bag you know."

He runs a hand through his hair and cocks his head back before speaking.

"I know you can, but why should I let you?" He raises an eyebrow. "Why do you have to fight it, anyway? Wouldn't most girls love for a boy to carry their books for them? Isn't that like some 90's rom-com shit?"

Mr. Fitz clears his throat, and Graham whips his head around to look at him.

"Oops, sorry Mr. F. I thought you were in the hallway," he gives him a small smile before pointing towards the door. "We will be going now."

I stifle a laugh and make my way out of the door. When we get outside the classroom, I look at him, and his cheeks are bright red.

"You're a bit flushed, Graham Ryan," his name flows off of my tongue so perfectly I'm sure he thinks I say it in my sleep.

"I don't like getting in trouble with teachers," he looks to his feet. "They probably have the power of telling coach to sit me out of a game or something."

I laugh, and when he looks back up to me, his cheeks still burning red and I can tell he's being serious.

"I don't think any teacher or coach would ever make you sit out of a game. You're practically the whole team," I keep myself crutching at a steady pace to match his long strides, and we're now standing outside of my Calculus classroom.

"Nah," he runs a hand through his head and shifts my bag off of one of his shoulders. "There are 5 other guys on the ice with me at all times, it's not just me. But, thanks for thinking that," he smirks.

"This is my stop," I throw a pointed finger past him and into the room.

"I know," he says confidently, causing me to roll my eyes again.

"It's a tad creepy that you know that," I mutter, pushing past him and into the room.

"It's not actually. The school isn't all that big you know," he raises an eyebrow, and I nod my head at him.

"If it's not that small then why have you never spoken a word to me in the few months that you've been here?" As soon as the words leave my mouth, I regret them.

"I could ask you the same thing," he follows me into the room, setting my book bag by my chair and my crutches up against the wall. "I'll meet you here at the end of the period. Don't do anything stupid like walking to get them on your own."

I roll my eyes and cross my arms. Graham Ryan is not going to dictate what I do.

Without another word, he spins on the heels of his white Adidas sneakers and strolls out of the classroom confidently. If he weren't so kind, I'd think he was such an arrogant ass. He clearly knows he's attractive.

My phone vibrates again. I shake my head knowing that it's likely him and when I see his number pop up I feel my cheeks flush.

"For real, don't do anything dumb. I promise I'll be there after class to help you."

I send back the thumbs up emoji.

"Was that you or your sister answering that message? ;)"

I feel my heart stop at the sight of the winky face and I'm tucking my phone back into my book bag when it vibrates again. I sigh and expect it to be him again, but instead, it's Sienna.

"Word on the street is, you and Graham Ryan are an item now...how dare you not tell me ;)"

I let out a groan, and a few people look over to me. I give them all a mean stare, and they look away quickly.

"One. Not an item. Two. I would tell you, obviously. Three. Can't a boy and a girl just be friends these days? And, four. I hate you, we are not an item." I press send and tuck my phone back into my book bag.