"It means that I agree." Keaton's husky voice whispered next to me his breath suddenly tickling my neck. My face flushed for the second time since we've been in the room the hair on my skin bristled at the sudden closeness. I covered my face as the sound of heels clicked back into the room.

"Here's his schedule Jones. Have a great day sweetie!"

"Thanks." I heard the crinkle of paper when a hand placed itself at the small of my back once again. Flinching but not out of fear, my eyes peeked out from their hiding place as Keaton pushed open one of the double doors leading out into the array of chaotic colors. 

"Before you Tiger." My body shivered at his decadent voice trickling with tease. Warth spread through my stomach, my head immediately shaking away any protruding thoughts threatening to infringe.

I gotta stay out of the front office.

Once the bell rang a second time, the halls cleared out leaving me and Keaton to roam the school as he pretended to be tour guide of the year. We passed the cafeteria, the library, and the courtyard, and walked through several halls labeled with different letters. Some of them had classes I would be visiting later today.

The only place I liked so far was the library. Three administration women sat at a desk that overviewed the entire space leaving no room for trouble. The atmosphere was incredibly peaceful and quiet with thousands of books lined on shelves itching to be read. Stories to fill the mind of curiosity, so I could possibly live my life through others. Even if said "others" were just made-up fictional characters.

It felt like we walked forever before Keaton decided we could rest in the courtyard, testing me to see if I knew where I was going. A loud sigh from me filled the stillness between us as we sat, the silence not as uncomfortable as I thought it would be. Other students were inside classrooms leaving the courtyard deserted to us, my anxiety sinking away.

"So," He started, his hands rubbing up and down his knees. "you think your ready?" My eyes watched as his jaw started clenching again, something he seemed to do when he was nervous. Maybe it was just me, but that question wasn't as comforting as it should have been, only leading me to believe that he doubted me.

"Do you doubt me?" I popped the question, choosing an honest question over an untruthful answer. I can't say I was ready because I can't be ready for something I've never done before. My fear of being outcasted the second I step foot into any of these rooms was overwhelming, a tremble in my hand physically articulating my thoughts.

His head shook for a moment before silence swept over us again.

"I don't doubt you. But I don't doubt you'll do something rash like run off of school property the second you smell something you don't like." The corner of my lip twitched up as Keaton's elbow nudged me from the side teasingly.

"Shut the hell up I said I was sorry." I rolled my eyes. These days Keaton takes every opportunity he has to throw that in my face. His throaty laugh crowded the courtyard, my smile only outstretching further across my once shy features. "Well, I'm sure as hell not walking for 2 miles just to take a breather that's for sure." 

My arms crossed over my chest as Keaton's laugh only got louder at my lame attempt to jab back at him. His stupidly handsome stupid face lit up at my pouting, a rippling chuckle slipping his lips before he propped himself up, standing in front of me with an outstretched hand. 

"Pfft, come on Tiger, we gotta get you to class before Ms.Watts finds us skipping for real." His hearty voice pushed me to just reach out and take his hand like a damsel swept out of distress. The nickname 'Tiger' slowly grew on me, only sounding as sweet as it did when it came out of Keaton's mouth. 

"I can get to my own class thank you very much," I stood up cheekily, grabbed the old backpack Keaton gave to me for school and stepped past him. His heartfelt laugh once again filled my ears, causing my cheeks to set aflame. "and stop calling me that." 

I quickly glanced behind me to catch a glimpse of him holding his stomach, his perfect white teeth standing out from behind a pair of full lips. 

"Whatever you say, Tiger." He taunted, following behind me as I covered the blood rushing to my face. We made our way to our designated areas, Keaton only leaving me when I stood in front of the door of the class I should be attending momentarily. I took a jerky breath in and out, my teeth taking hold of the meat inside my cheek. My hand clutched the nob, driving myself into the nippy gust of air.

One step at a time.