Alan's pov

That morning I saw the kid in his normal spot, the spot Stacie sat in next to me yesterday. I sat next to him and he glanced up at me before glancing away again. I blinked and decided I would ask him what happened yesterday.

"So where were you?" I asked and he shrugged gently, I thought he wasn't going to say no more so I sat back.

"I was late," he said tugging his shirt down over his stomach and I looked away from his stomach to his face.

"I didn't see you the whole day," I said and I could have sworn I saw his cheeks rise to create a smirk on his face, but it faded as quickly as it came.

"It sounds like you missed me," he said now and I scoffed looking out the window as the bus stopped where Stacie lived.

"Hell no, I barely know you," I responded as my eyes followed Stacie.

"Well I think I know you," he said and my head whipped in his direction as I stared at him, it's like two things clicked together. And my face was growing hot as I thought of the time we sexted, my mind was racing with so many thoughts.

"Bob?" I said and his eyes flicked to mine.

"Trex Group Member," he said and I narrowed my eyes.

"Ha ha ha, very funny. It's Alan." I said and he shrugged.

"I know that." he simply said grabbing his backpack that was under his feet and began to get up.

"Woah Woah, where are you going?" I asked as he tried squeezing out of the seat with me.

"Giving your crush room," he said and walked to further into the back for a seat.

"My crush?" I said and turned to see Stacie heading my direction, my face heated up as I shot a glare at... Bob who seemed to not notice it.

"Hey," Stacie said making my eyes land back at her.

"He-Hey nice um earrings." I pointed to my own ears as my heart began racing and my eyes widen as I saw her cheeks tint with pink.

"Oh..thanks for noticing." she smiled now and glanced around. "Is this seat taken?" she asked as she moved out of the way for others to get by.

"Oh um." I glanced back at Bob who was looking out the window then her. "Uh yeah, I think."

"Oh okay, We'll see you another time," she said smiling and was about to walk past me when I threw my arm in her way stopping her from going.

"Um I mean it's not taken," I said mentally facepalming as she blinked then nodded taking the empty space next to me.

"You're strange you know," she said and I felt like I was sinking in a black hole.

"Oh," I said and she laughed.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. Many things are strange but amazing at the same time," she said looking at me and I stared back at her in her eyes that seemed to hypnotize me every time. "Like my what?" she said and I felt my face heat up as I realized I mentioned her eyes in response to what she said.

"U-Um your eyes are just unique and strange at the same time." And after that, I began to ramble the whole way school even as we got off.

"Um well thank you for the long story about your um pet cricket that died. See you," she said waving and walked off making me feel completely stupid.

"Good job Alan." I heard a voice say and felt a pat on my back then turned to see Landon grinning. "You ran her off," he said making me glare as Kaden walked over.

Before I knew it Kaden had reeled his hand back and gave Landon a hard slap on the back. Landon jolted and shouted in pain. I glanced between them as Landon spun around to glare at the person who did that only for him to run in fear behind me. Kaden was boring his dark eyes at Landon. Glancing at the two once again I pulled the two along with me inside the school so we could make it to class on time. And we went our separate ways afterward.

In English, I was glancing at Bob the whole time. Not in a creepy way... Well, at least I hope it wasn't. So many questions were spinning in my head. I got up slowly with my book and made my way to Bob. People were minding their own business thankful, for now at least. Bo's eyes looked up from his paper and widen when they landed on me.

"I have some questions," I said quietly so students nor the teacher could hear me and Bob glanced at the book then back at me.

"With a word?" Bob asked and I groaned bending down a bit so we could meet eye level.

"No, how did you know it was me?" I grumbled and his cheeks risen once again, producing a smirk more than a smile.

"It was obvious," he said closing his own book.

"How?!" I slightly shouted and got some looks from other students making me duck down a bit then lower my voice. "And did you already finish the book?"

"It just was, connect the dots and it wasn't too hard to notice. I'm surprised you didn't notice who I was. Then again heh, who would?" he muttered the last part looking at the book that laid on his desk. "And the book was interesting so finishing it was no problem," he said and I stood up huffing.

"Whatever... Just keep the sexting to yourself." I mumbled started to head back to my seat but stopped in my tracks realizing I might have come off a bit rude.

Bob was getting out a notebook from his folder. What I said didn't seem to have fazed him at all. But I guess he would be used to things like this and worse being said and done to him. Even so, I wouldn't be one of them, at least try not to be. Making my way back over to him he glanced up.

"Can I help you?" he asked quirking up an eyebrow.

"Sorry about what I said earlier I just...um..." I was trying to think of the right words to say.

"Regret it? Don't want the Trex group to find out? Fine by me. Now if you don't mind me I have work to do." he snapped and I blinked then sighed because what he said is what I wanted to say but it was rude. But mostly I just didn't want Stacie to know.

"What are you doing up young man?" a voice caught my attention and I turned to the direction of it to see the teacher looking at me and now so were other students.

"Um, I was getting help with a word," I said opening the book in my hands to a random page and pointed to a long word, I knew this bringing this book would come to handy.

"Mm alright," she said and looked back down at her book in her hands making me sigh in relief as I headed back to my seat.

•°•°•°•

Lunch rolled on eventually and I was sitting at the normal table. Glancing between Landon and Kaden, which I felt the tension radiating. I cleared my throat getting looks from both of them.

"So is there a problem?" I asked and Kaden looked away from me returning his attention to his food.

"Of course there is. Landon shouldn't be dragging you in his bad habits." Kaden said and Landon gasped dramatically.

"I did no such thing." Landon huffed and I rolled my eyes.

"He didn't, I made the choice to join him and the guys so it isn't his fault but mine," I said and Landon fake coughed.

"Plus I plan on trying to quit after a certain event," Landon said and began to eat. I glanced at him and so did Kaden.

"Let's see how long that lasts," Kaden mutters then looks at me. "Don't be like the other Trex members. We are in the group for protection only."

"I've been in the group longer than you guys," Landon said between chews and I made a face while Kaden glared.

"And you aren't the same person you are today before you were in the group," Kaden said and Landon looked away swallowing.

Kaden and Landon knew each other before I came along. I always knew that beforehand. But I never knew how the old Landon was, I only knew that Kaden didn't really change only Landon. I wonder if I changed by becoming their friend and joining the Trex group. Thinking of the Trex group made me think of Duke... Who liked Stacie.

"Hey, guys enough fighting. Landon says he's going to try to quit and Kaden just wants us to be safe." I said and they both sighed in sync but nodded. "Now let's talk about another topic...like how Duke possibly likes my girl," I said the last part quietly and started eating my own food before getting looks from the two.

"Your girl?" Kaden said raising an eyebrow and Landon laughed while opening his milk.

"Last time I checked you ran her off," Landon said before gulping down his milk and I rolled my eyes feeling my face heat up.

"Guys I need help. I tried of thinking ways to get him to not like or have Stacie but I need two other brains here." I mumbled before finishing off my food.

"Well, how about you just tell Stacie your feelings for her," Kaden says as I got up to throw away my food.

"Are you crazy?" I looked at him bewildered and threw away my trash.

"Kaden what if she rejects him?" Landon asked tossing his milk carton in the trash as I sat down huffing.

"Then she rejects him. Let's be realistic here, she probably doesn't even like Duke." Kaden said but my eyes were looking away to another direction, there in the far off distance, I saw Duke talking to...Stacie?!

"I guess you have a point." I heard Landon say and the rest of the conversation I drowned out.

Eventually, I realized Landon was snapping his fingers in my face. I looked at him to see he was laughing. Kaden was shaking his had and I felt my face heat up slightly.

"Sorry guys.." I grumbled only for my eyes found their way back to Stacie and then Bob was in view, my eyes followed him as Duke left Stacie and began to stalk over to Bob.