“Let’s go, beautiful.” He grabs my bag off the couch and tosses it over his shoulder as he heads toward the door, ignoring my protests, and I just know this is going to be the longest day ever as Titus trudges after us.
Julez is unquestionably a pervert, but also the closest thing I have to a friend here, and despite him coming into the bathroom, he has been helpful.
So when he asks to see my schedule, I only grumble a little bit while I hand it over.
“Aw, you're so cute when you're all huffy,” he says with a smirk, and I roll my eyes, trying to focus on where we're going. He might know this school like the back of his hand, but I’m not convinced I won't be lost the second he leaves.
“Alright, you have three classes today and two every other day except Friday, when you only have one. I have two today and one the rest of the week,” he says as an example of what's normal, and yeah, I might have a bit more.
“Today’s first class and your last class on Friday are both with Mr. Adler, your guidance counselor. You have Gavin in your Friday class, your Thursday morning class, and your Tuesday afternoon class. Nolan is also in your second class today, and Titus and I are in your last class. Nolan and Titus are also in your late Wednesday class, and I’m in your early class tomorrow.”
“What?”
My head feels like it’s going to explode as I try and fail to make sense of what he just said.
“You have classes with us for the most part, only a few alone, so worst case, you get lost, we can help you.” He flashes me a smile as he drops his arm to my shoulder, steering me around a crowd stopped in the hall, and the smell of him has me taking a deep breath.
Shit, why does he smell so good?
I shake myself and focus back on the conversation because sniffing people is weird, Wren.
“No, worst case, I’ll ask a teacher or a stranger. Hell, I’ll wander around lost if I have to before I ask one of them.”
Julez's smile falls, but he doesn’t say anything. What can he say honestly? They have made it very clear that they aren’t my biggest fans.
“The fact that you remember everyone’s schedules is a feat. I wish I had a memory like that.”
His smile is back as he all but beams at me, and fuck, is he charming. No wonder all the girls can’t seem to stay away or keep their eyes to themselves.
Not that he seems to notice.
“Let me see your phone.”
I fish it out of my pocket and hand it to him without complaint because, unlike the rest of the student population, I don’t have anything worth hiding.
It only takes him a second to do whatever it is he’s doing before his own phone dings, and he hands mine back to me.
“There, now if you getreallylost, just shoot me a text, and I’ll come and save ya.” He winks at me, and I feel the way my cheeks heat up as his smile grows.
Damn it.
I really wish I could control my face better; he’s loving this.
“Don’t you have your own classes to worry about, though?” I ask, attempting to distract him, and I’m shocked when it seems to work.
He shrugs and begins pulling me along again.
“Yeah, but I’m not above a little hookie for my Pookie,” he all but sings, loud enough to catch the attention of a few people around us who give us a strange look as we walk by.
This is going to be a very long school year.
Iexpected Julez to leave me at the door, but instead, he walked me into class, guiding me over to one of the seats on the far side of the room, but still up front.
Every single eye in the room follows our every move, including Mr. Adler’s.
If the floor could just open up and swallow me, that would be fantastic.
“Have a good first day, Pookie,” Julez says loudly, and if I wasn’t red before, I sure am now as I attempt to melt into my chair.
