6

I pulled away from Justine and cleared my throat. The family had their attention on me, and I almost laughed at how Justine looked like he had committed a crime.

Caramel stood to her feet and hurried to stand by our sides. "Are you okay?" She asked me with doubting eyes, clutching Justine's hand in hers.

"I'm fine." I cleared my throat a second time.

"Since Justine is my guest. He can have my seat. It is fine, really." She said with a straight face and led him to where she had been seated.

"Nonsense, I'm more of family than guest, I really am not-" Justine started to say, trying to get Caramel to keep her seat until Becca cut him off.

"While you two are playing lovebirds, there is a stool in the living room and Ally can sit on it, since she was not fast enough to get a chair." She rolled her eyes and proceeded to grab the said stool from the living room.

"Becca is right. I will take the stool, it is absolutely no problem." I forced a smile. Becca returned with the stool and gave it to me. I placed my stool beside Becca so I sat directly opposite from Caramel and Justine.

"So..." My father began, breaking off the awkward environment. "How has school been for you?" He asked, all six of us digging into our food.

"It has been going pretty well." Becca was the first to speak in her cheery voice, ignoring that her mouth was stuffed with food.

I looked up from my meal to catch sight of Justine and what he looked like while eating but he was already staring at me. My eyes grew wide and he smirked at me?

I quickly glanced away and hid my blush with another dive into my meal.

I wanted to look at him once more but my gaze locked Caramel's instead as I automatically felt her eyes on me. She had a doubting glare on her face that caused me to look away sharply, pretending to have paid attention to what my father had to say.

Had she noticed what I was doing? Was she on to the fact that I could be eyeing Justine from the corner of my eyes.

I gulped at the thought and hid my fear with a smile at Becca, who was listing her achievements in the past month.

You need to get your head together and focus on the present.

My subconscious warned. For the rest of the meal until Justine left, I made sure to be careful not to get caught, lost while I stared at him...

*

It was Monday and I knew so because my alarm clock had begun to beep beside me, disrupting a dream I had been having.

I groaned and sat up. It was seven in the morning and I had to prepare for college classes. Becca was surely up by now and I knew she would have dressed up and be ready for school.

I stood to my feet, making my bed before heading to my closet to select the outfit I had to wear for the day.

I picked out a red hoodie and black leggings, pairing them with black converse. Once satisfied by what I had on display, I continued to the bathroom to get ready.

"Morning folks." I called lazily once I got downstairs. The rest of the family was gathered on the table, diving into their breakfast of sandwiches prepared by Caramel if I had to guess. She hated when anyone else had to make the sandwiches for the family.

Our parents didn't have to go to work until the next week and so were present at the breakfast table.

"Hey there, tardy." Caramel referred to me without looking up from pouring our mother a glass of water.

"So what is happening today?" I asked them, taking a seat on the table, placing my hand bag on the floor beside me.

"Just hurry up with your food, you girls are going to make me late." Becca frowned. She was already done with eating and it was no surprise.

Even though we had to deal with separate classes, all three of us chose to go to school together. It was mostly because we shared one car and both my sisters were able to drive. I was lazy with learning and constantly postponed having to do it.

"We will be done in no time." Caramel responded, taking her seat and settling to eat her food.

We spent the rest of breakfast in silence and left for college once we all were done.

*

The professor walked into the class and took her position in front of everyone. I had used my headphones to distract myself from paying attention to Justine who was already seated, engrossed in a book while he waited for lectures to begin.

"Good day everyone." She called. I took my headphones off and placed it in my handbag so I could pay attention to what she had to say.

The class acknowledged her presence and everyone pulled out their notebooks, me inclusive.

"So," she began, "has anyone done their research on the history of literature like I had asked you to in the last class?" She asked.

The class mumbled in response and I only sighed. I hated being in her class as it only posed boredom in my life.

"Well, I would like to have you all know that this project will be taking thirty percent of your grades this year." She said, earning disapproving groans from the majority.

"And as that will be, I have decided to pair you in a group of two..."

I shut her out of my hearing. I knew she had kept on saying the trash she had to offer. I thought about yesterday and the look Justine had given me while we were on the dining table. A smirk settled on my face until I heard my name from the professor.

"Justine Parker and Ally Smith." She said. The class was an optional one with only about twenty students taking it. It was of no surprise that she could call out the names of everyone.

I craned my neck in the direction of his seat and he was already staring at me. The reality dawned on me in that instant, Justine and I had been paired as project partners. This was not good.