03

WHEN I SPOT Lila in the cafeteria the next day, I instantly remember the punch she had thrown at me.

It caught me completely off guard. I mean, one second she was completely out of it, and the next her fist was connecting with my jaw and an almost proud look was glimmering on her face.

It was pretty scary. I didn't know if I should have laughed or cried. But when it came to down to it, I did neither from how shell-shocked I had been.

I turn to look at her again, but Lila seems to be completely unaware of my existence. It's like yesterday never happened.

Which would really suck considering how long I've been working up the courage to walk up to her.

Mr. Wilson has threatened to take my grades to Coach Henderson on numerous occasions, and I don't know how long it'll be until it actually happens.

"Chase," my head whips to the side to see Blake glaring at Lucas. "Tell this dumbass he can't put the avocados on his pizza."

I raise a brow at the both of them. They're always going at it, no matter what time of the day it is. Every single second their mouths are open and arguing about something completely stupid and unimportant.

"Tell this dipshit I can do what I want with my pizza," Lucas retorts, narrowing his eyes at Blake.

"How about you both shut up and let me eat in peace?" I snap, leaning forward to catch their attention.

Lucas rolls his eyes and with a dignified glare, puts every single piece of avocado on his pizza. Lucas Sato has the taste buds of an elephant. He'll eat just about anything, even if he doesn't like it. And especially if Blake doesn't, either.

Blake clenches his jaw, "You're just going to sit there and let this happen, Rhodes?"

I sigh, "Are the avocados hurting you?"

"No but—"

"Are they giving you a sever allergic reaction?" I say, taking a sip of my water.

Blake glares at me, "Still—"

"Then I don't see a problem," I interrupt.

They keep their bickering to a minimum the rest of lunch, but by the time we're out in the hallway, I've had enough of their constant back and forth.

"I'll catch up with you guys later," I say, my eyes glancing toward where Lila Matthews stands at her locker.

"Wait—" But I'm already walking away from whatever Blake wanted to say, and toward my only savior.

Lila has a mean scowl at her face, as she files through her locker. Everyone knows that she's a bit closed off. I remember in our junior year when Jack Hyde asked her out and she rejected him in front of the entire English class.

The girl's pretty scary.

Which is why when I go up to her and I plaster on a small smile, maybe if she knows I'm being genuine she won't be so harsh.

I clear my throat, loud enough for her to hear, but she doesn't even glance my way.

My smile falls a bit. This is going to be harder than I thought.

"Lila?" I start, and she scowls harder into her locker. Alright, at least she knows I'm here. Though that wasn't the greeting I was hoping for. "I just came to ask...um...how's the nose?"

She huffs out a breath and spins around, her face looking like stone. Her nose looks slightly less enflamed than yesterday, a thick white bandage wrapping around it.

I guess the medicine wared off.

"Can I help you?" She snaps, clutching her books to her chest, a suspicious glint in her eyes.

I want to say, Yes, you're probably the only person who can but I keep my mouth shut and shake my head.

Baby steps.

"No, I was just wondering if the honker was all healed up," I laugh nervously, because she's glaring even harder, and I just used the word honker.

"Yes, my honker is doing just fine," she says, trying to step around me. "Now if you'll excuse me..."

"Wait!" I say quickly. She freezes and slowly turns around. Dammit. I don't even know how to breach this subject. It's not like I can just say Hey! I'm failing history and really need you to tutor me because you're the smartest person in our grade!

"Look," she sighs. "Thanks for yesterday, but just because you drove me home does not mean we're, like, best friends now, okay?"

My brows shoot up.

"Now I really need to get to my English class so if you'll please just leave me alone that'd be great." She turns on her heel and walks away. Leaving me alone in the hallway.

This is going to be a lot harder than I planned.

Lila is sitting in library when I corner her again.

I'm trying my best not to look like some stalker, but it's pretty hard when every chance I get to talk to her, she avoids me like the plague.

I slip away from the book shelf and catch sight of her figure bent over a book. Her dark brown hair shielding her vision of me, and mine of her.

I take hesitant steps toward her and just as I'm about to make my presence known, she says, "I thought I told you to leave me alone."

It isn't a question, more of a statement. Like she can't believe I didn't listen to her.

"Hm?" I say, feigning confusion. "I'm just looking for a book." I'm not looking for a book. I haven't even been in the library since the beginning of the year.

She lifts her slowly, her glasses hanging loosely on her face, and she raises a brow. "Oh really?" she challenges, and I nod my head. "Which book?"

I scratch the back of my head, trying to rack my brain for something—anything—but nothing comes to mind. "Alright," I sigh. "I wasn't look for a book—"

"We've established that."

"I was looking for you," I inform her, watching as she rolls her eyes at me.

"Why? I've already told you, my honker is fine." I cringe at her words.

I blow out a breath and take a seat next to her. "Sit down, why don't you," she mutters.

"Look," I start. "this isn't about your...honker," I really need to stop using that word. "I have a question to ask you."

She raises an expectant brow at me, clearly wanting me to get over with this.

"I need your help," I burst out. "As you know, this season is going to be critical—especially because college scouts will start attending games—and I really need to be on that field."

She narrows her eyes, looking mildly confused. "I don't really know where you're going with this, but if you remember, I don't really know how to play football—"

I shake my head quickly, "I'm not finished. I need to be on the field, but I might not be due to my grade—my history grade..."

"I'm still not following."

I sigh, placing my hands on the table and drumming my fingers against it. "You have the best grade in our class," I remind her. "I need you to help me get half of what you've accomplished."

Her brows furrow and she leans back in her seat. "You want me to—tutor you?" She scoffs.

"Well when you put it like that I sound pathetic," I mutter, then grin. "So?" I prompt.

She throws her head back and laughs, though it doesn't sound like she's amused. "So? So, no! I wont tutor you, Chase Rhodes."

My shoulders drop and I frown. "Why not?"

"Because!" she says, exasperatedly. "I have my own life to take care of! I don't need Tutoring Chase Rhodes on my long list of things to do!"

"Oh, come on!" I say desperately. "It'll only be for a month, until I get the hang of it."

She shakes her head firmly, and I kind of miss the medicine induced Lila Matthews to the cold one in front of me.

"I'm sorry," she says, gathering her stuff up. "Find someone else to cater to your needs."

"Please, Lila, I'll do anything," I know I'm showing an insane amount of vulnerability to someone I hardly know, but at this point I'm desperate.

She bites her lip, "I'm sorry, Chase, but I can't." Then she spins on her heel for the second time today and vanishes, leaving me alone yet again.