Chapter 5 ~FIVE~

I've never been more grateful to Ms. Kent in all my life.

"I know this announcement is short notice so, I'll give you the rest of this week as a headstart. Starting Monday, you have two weeks to complete this assignment." She said, handing out copies of the novel she assigned us to read. 'In Ella's Eyes' by Lennie Gwan.

"I've only ever read one story by this author." Kieran said.

"Well, I've never heard of him." I shrugged reading the synopsis of the novel written at the back.

I felt Kieran's eyes on me and I turned to him. "Lennie Gwan is a girl."

"Oh, it matters." I said sarcastically.

After a few moments, I remembered reading a novel 'With An Omega' by Lennie G.

Oops.

"Well, I haven't read this one yet, so this should be good." Kieran whispered as Ms. Kent began talking again.

"So, for this assignment, to make it easier and faster for you guys, I'll be placing you in groups."

Instinctively, my eyes flickered towards Kieran and I caught him looking at me. I looked away almost immediately.

I couldn't deny that I wanted him on my group, the boy knew his novels but Kieran was too cocky to work with.

Ms. Kent shared us into six groups. Five members each. And then there was my group.

"Veronica, Nathan, Alison, Kieran, Mia, Jayden and Iris. What do we with you?" She said more to herself than us.

"Um, Ms. Kent?" Alison said shyly.

"Yes, dear?"

"Um, I'm not gonna be around. My dad's burial is on that week." She muttered.

Ms. Kent softened and she nodded in understanding.

Poor Alison. She used to be the bubbly, cheery and loud one of the class. Now, her voice was barely above a whisper.

"Okay. So, that leaves Veronica, Nathan, Kieran, Mia, Jayden and Iris then." Ms. Kent said, her smile back on her face.

"You say it like it's a problem." Mia said.

"Well, we can't have six of you in one group. It would be added advantage over the others." Ms. Kent said, folding her arms and relaxing on her desk behind her.

"Don't worry Ms. Kent, we're carrying dead weight."

I did not even know when the words left my mouth.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Mia shrieked and the whole class erupted in laughter.

I raised my two hands in defense, "I didn't say nothing to no one."

"That's true, Mia. She wasn't talking to anyone in particular." Ms. Kent said and I could have sworn I saw a smile playing on her lips.

Mia shot me one of her death glares and I smiled at her in return.

Boy, I'd grown ballsy.

"But on a serious note, what do we do?" Ms. Kent cleared her throat.

"We can divide the group into two." Jayden offered.

"But that would mean the others have advantage over you guys." Ms. Kent countered.

"That's no problem. We'd love a good challenge." Iris smiled.

Now, this is the part I couldn't be more grateful for.

"Okay then, if you're all good with it. Then, Iris, Jayden and Mia can be in one group. And Nathan, Veronica and Kieran can be in the second group." Ms. Kent smiled and dusted her hands like she just cracked a case.

"How come she gets to be with the boys?" Mia asked.

"Oh, would you like to switch places with Veronica?"

"Duh."

"Um, Ms. Kent, I'd prefer if Veronica was in this group." Nathan said and Mia audibly gasped.

"Kieran?" Ms. Kent asked.

Kieran nodded.

Just then, the bell rang and the class was over and I bolted out of there because I knew that if I stayed for one more second, hell will be let loose.

"Hey, it's good you're in my group. We could use this to catch up." Nathan said to me as I walked back to my locker.

"True. But, don't forget the group is still intact. It's Group Seven A and Group Seven B." I said.

"Potato-potahto." He rolled his eyes. "See you around then."

I nodded at him as he walked faster towards Mia.

I grabbed my History book from my locker and shut it, revealing Kieran's scowling face behind it.

"Oh my–" I gasped, startled.

"Chill out." He smirked. "I know I'm hot."

"No, you're creepy. What are you doing here?"

"Um, it's the school's hallway not your dad's." He rolled his eyes.

"I mean," I said through my teeth. "What are you doing by my locker?"

"Well, technically, I'm leaning on locker 314 which is not your locker last I checked." He smirked again.

I groaned in exasperation and stormed away from the infuriating bozo.

I knew he was following me because I could feel his eyes on me which only made me madder.

I turned to him abruptly and as you can probably tell, I bumped into him. Losing my balance, I fell to the floor with my back.

Except...

I never hit the floor.

I opened my eyes and realized that Kieran's hand, tight around my waist, had suspended me in the air, with him leaning in.

Oh, for the love of Nicholas Sparks.

"You have got to stop doing that." He said, his voice deeper than usual, vibrating through my chest.

I wanted to say something snarky in return but my mouth refused to move.

What the hell?

It seemed like he was holding me for forever and I noticed that people had started whispering.

"Well, you have got to stop standing so close." I finally said. Even though my voice was barely audible.

I couldn't tell if it was my imagination or there was a look of shock in Kieran's eyes because it disappeared as soon as it came.

Kieran slowly but firmly stood me back on my feet as the tardy bell went off.

"We better get going." He cleared his throat and walked to History class.

Another class we had together.

Lovely.