Our teacher walks to the front of the class. She's a tall woman with lines on her forehead. Her blonde hair is mixed with gray and it lightly grazes her shoulders. Her cream sweater and black slacks don't really go together, but I'm not about to say that out loud. "My name is Mrs. Beattie and I'd like to welcome you to what will hopefully be your last English class of your high school career." Her voice is deep and slightly raspy. "I have some papers I'd like for you all to fill out before we get into the syllabus." She picks up a stack of papers and hands them out. I hand the papers behind me and whoever is behind me isn't taking them. I shift in my seat so I can turn around to put the papers on their desk. I blink when I see Dylan Parker sitting there. Dylan is known to cause trouble wherever he is. He's been suspended before, but I don't know why. As far as I knew, people either wanted to avoid him, or sleep with him. He takes the papers from me and I face forward again to start filling out the paper. A tap on my shoulder distracts me. I sigh and turn around again. "Yes?" "Can I borrow a pen or pencil?" Dylan asks, leaning forward in his seat. "It's the first day and you don't have anything to write with?" I ask him. It comes out harsher than I intend, but he doesn't look fazed. His eyes are so captivating and it almost becomes hard to focus on what's he's saying. "I've been asking pretty girls like you all day," he winks. "And I believe you owe me for bumping into me earlier." His eyes are a light green, unlike any color I've seen before. I bumped into him earlier? I wrestle with the thought for a second. My good side takes over and I reach into my bag, pulling out a pen and handing it to him. "Perfect," he smiles. "Thanks." I go back to my paper. Other students are finishing up so I rush through it. It's a bunch of basic questions about us. Nothing challenging. We turn them in to Mrs. Beattie and she hands out the syllabus. It's just about what is expected of us in class and what books we will be reading. Near the end of class, I guess Mrs. Beattie could tell we're getting restless and calls our attention. "For the last activity, I want you all to pair up and write down three facts about your partner. It'll help to learn a little more about your classmates." Everyone seems to know who to partner up with. Another tap on my shoulder makes me turn around. Dylan flashes a smile at me. "Partners?" Since no one else is available I sigh. "Sure." I turn my body all the way to face him. "You want to go first?" He nods. "Let's see..." he trails off. "My name is Dylan Parker, if you didn't know, and I have two brothers." "Their names?" "Derrick and Ethan." I scribble it all down. "What else? Any hobbies? Talents?" "I can show you some of my talents later tonight. If you're not busy I mean." He smirks as he says it. Like I'd ever hook up with Dylan Parker. "Don't be gross. Let's just finish this." My cheeks feel warm and I hate myself for it. Dylan is nothing but a flirt. "Fine. I like to listen to music, and hang out with my friends." He glances down at my notebook. "Can I borrow a paper?" I rip a page out and hand it to him before writing down the rest of his list. "Alright, and your name is?" "Lacey Reyes." He starts to write down my name, but he spells it wrong. "It's E-Y, not I-E." He draws over it and rewrites it. "What about you? Any siblings?" "Nope, I'm an only child." He writes that down. "Any hobbies or talents?" "Um." I think for a second. "I write for the school newspaper." "We have a newspaper?" he asks, raising a brow. That's always the reaction. People care more about sports than the arts. "Yeah, the Stewart Times." "Okay..." he writes it down. "One more thing." I'm drawing a blank. I don't even know who I am as a person. "I don't know. I like mint-chocolate chip ice cream?" "That works." He finishes writing and writes his name at the top. "So, Lacey, can I call you Lace?" "Only a few people call me that—" The bell rings and Mrs. Beattie announces she wants the papers on her desk before we leave. Dylan stands up, grabs his backpack, and turns in his paper before walking out. Never in my life would I think I would ever talk to Dylan Parker. Casey had casually mentioned a couple of times that she thought he was cute, but that's all that was ever said. I start walking to my journalism class when I feel someone walking next to me. Dylan smiles and holds out the pen I let him use. "Thanks again, Lace."