“Ashlie!” Someone shouted as they jumped onto my back for a hug. I turned around to see Sally with Chase behind her making me smile.

“Hi!” I said hugging Sally with intense strength. Chase just smiled a little and looked away.

“Weirdo" Sally said slapping his arm.

“Hey!” Chase yelped in a laugh.

“Well we better head to class now" I said backing up.

“Okay later" Sally said running off with Chase to her class.

“Well I'll see you soon" Dakota said kissing my forehead before heading to his class. A weight dropped on me watching him head off to his class. I turned to mine and saw everyone inside already talking in groups with the teacher just watching something on her phone. I sat down as the bell rang telling everyone class started.

“I'm just going to say I'm Mrs. Ran. Today we're just gonna start a historic video about how we first discovered America and how the states formed.” Ran said with a smile as her black curly hair formed on the side of her face. Her hair was curly black like Sally's but she had blue eyes unlike Sally who had brown. Sally was more tan than Ran whose skin looked like mine. The video started the lights came off forming only light from the screen. I looked back to see a brown-haired girl leaning on a black hair guy. His hand creeped up her leg and she kissed his cheek. Must be nice to not hide your relationship… That's my problem anyways… I've liked Dakota since 8th grade to now 12th grade. My last year of this hell. Dakota on the other hand has two years left before he leaves. It's not all too bad here at this school, the work isn't hard, it's just most of the kids here dislike a hyper person like me so I have very few friends… The bell rang as the teacher turned off the video and turned on the lights. We all got up to go to our next class. I looked forward to seeing many couples at the side flirting, hugging, kissing, or just talking. I started to feel kinda sad watching every couple having so much confidence just dating the person they love, me on the other hand I have to hide my feelings, because my parents were never accepting for Dakota. I do understand why they don’t accept him but, they never actually got to meet him face to face for a long period of time. After this year I do plan on showing them what I see in this boy that makes him so special to me than anyone else.

“Boo”

I jumped to see Dakota by my side.

“Asshole” I yelped slapping his shoulder which made him laugh.

“I was calling you like three times, but you never responded” He laughed.

“Whatever, I was in my own thoughts” I said rolling my eyes. He laughed and walked me to the rest of the way where my class is.

“Ashlie” He called.

“Yes?” I asked stopping to look him in his eyes.

“I love you” He smiled and ran off to his class. My cheeks started to boil thinking of the way he said “I love you”. I walked into the class to see Riley.

“Riley!” I yelped giving him a hug. He started to shake his head.

“You and Liz I swear!” He sighed looking up at me with his bright sapphire blue eyes. I smiled back and sat behind him. His dirty blond hair like Dakota’s shined in the sunlight from the window beside us. Now I think of it they had the same colors to their looks, same hair color, eye color but Dakota had a bit of green with sapphire blue eyes, and tan but not to tan skin. The bell rang and like usual Liz was late to class. Liz ran inside the class and sat behind me.

“Thank god the teacher is late” Liz breathed with a laugh.

“Liz I saw you run in here” A teacher with curly red hair and green eyes said and she stepped in front of the class. She scolded Liz but smiled. “You got lucky I’m chill, otherwise any other teacher would write you up. Also you’re lucky it’s the first day, I just have a feeling that you didn’t know where your class was” She said walking over to Liz. “This is my warning! If you’re late again, I will start writing you up! Am I clear?!” She said putting her hand on her desk. Liz stayed silent glaring at her with her blonde hair in her face. “AM I CLEAR?” She yelled at Liz.

“Yes” Liz growled.

“Anyways, you all know this is college algebra, but I won’t start lessons on a Wednesday, So you may do whatever, if you’re not too loud.” She said sitting at her desk looking through her phone.

“This dumb teacher!” Liz snapped quietly at Riley and I, which made us both laugh.

“You had that coming Liz” Riley pointed out. I nodded in a laugh, which Liz just rolled her eyes. She started texting Alex her boyfriend with a bright smile. Riley pulled out his phone and showed me pictures of where he has been traveling.

“Look at this picture!” He said as he pointed at one that had huge mountains and a lake that showed the sunset.

“Wow” I breathed seeing the picture. He smiled and looked over at me

“You know going into the Military i’ll be able to visit many more places.” He said with a smile.

“Hmm well I’m going right after high school, you said you’re doing college first” I laughed.

“True, but the job I want to do, I have to go to college” He pointed out.

“True, very true” I said looking down at my desk. I pulled out a folder and started drawing Dakota and I. The bell rung shortly making us go to our other classes, but overall the day was fast, so by the time the last bell rang I headed for the bus.

“Hi" A voice said jumping on my back and put their arm around me.

“Hi love" I teased looking at Dakota's bright eyes.

“I'm glad I get to see you again" He smiled looking towards the bus.

“I'm really glad too" I breathed thinking of the three months spent in pain.

We jumped onto the bus full of other students. They laughed and formed groups around each other, making it harder to walk past them to get to the empty spot in the very back. As I let Dakota in to sit by the window a few kids stared at us laughing among each other. I tilted my head in confusion but sat down beside Dakota ignoring them.

“It’s been awhile!” Spoke sitting right next to me.

“Yes it has!” Dakota’s soft voice spoke in an echo as I laid my head on his chest. I looked over at the girl whose hair shined black in the sunlight with her glasses reflecting the brown eyes that she hid.

“How was your summer?” She asked nervously adjusting the shirt she wore revealing her shoulders and most of her chest which started bugging me.

“It was alright. How’s the team?” His voice echoed again making me feel more relaxed.

“They miss having you there. You know because you’re a really good bowler” She spoke in a way that made me steam with aggravation.

“Yeah” His voice once again relaxing me. At this point I just stared out the window with the bright green trees and grass passing by. I started to doze off until her stop came finally as she sped walked off the bus with all her stuff.

“You alright?” The echoing came again, I looked up into his bright blue eyes that shined in the sunlight.

“I’m alright…” I spoke turning completely red with his stare upon my eyes. Uncomfortably I buried my face in his shoulders, which made him laugh a bit giving me a hug.

Breaking the awkward silence I breathed “Promise me you’ll never leave me like everyone else”

“I promise I won’t” He smiled shifting his head on my lap which made my face boil with embarrassment. Avoiding the awkward stare I looked out the window.

“I can admit, I miss you a lot” He breather holding my jacket in his arms. I looked back in his eyes that reflected mine.

“I missed you a ton. Well it’s time for you to go…” I slowly said looking back out the window at the familiar landscape that hinted Dakota’s stop was around the corner. A weight dropped as the bus was almost to his stop. He got up and kissed my lips.

“See you tomorrow” He purred as he shot up and walked to the front making my whole body drop watching him leave.