A/N: Hi guys! Chapter three is finally here. I was very busy this week so it got delayed i couple of times. When finish chapther four wich im editing rn I will tell you guys the day it will be posted, hopefully that will be this week. As always thank you so much for reading! <3
“This is your next class. After the next two, I’ll drive you home. I already texted my mom and she said yes, so don’t worry,” Caroline said with a proud smile.
I sighed. Love how she’s already planned out my day.
“Great, I have to deal with you for the rest of the day,” I joked, which made her shove me lightly. I chuckled as I opened the classroom door.
“Okay, now go to class. Don’t want to be late,” I said.
She rolled her eyes but followed my instructions, giving me a quick hug before leaving. I took a breath and stepped inside.
“Oh, you must be Azzi,” the teacher said.
I nodded, and she smiled warmly. “Well everyone, this is Azzi. Treat her well.”
I gave a small nod to the class.
“You can sit anywhere you’d like,” she added.
Unlike last period, there were plenty of open seats. I walked toward the back, found one I liked, and sat down with a small smile.
“You new?” a voice asked.
I turned my head and saw a girl looking at me curiously.
“Somewhat? What does that mean?” she asked, brows furrowed.
“I, uh… used to go to school here during my middle school years but left before high school,” I explained.
She nodded in understanding. “I’m Leah. You?”
“Azzi,” I said with a small chuckle, shaking her offered hand. She smiled back.
Class started, and it turned out to be easy—just basic introduction stuff. Before I knew it, the period was over, and I was packing up my things.
As I slung my bag over my shoulder, I felt a tap on my arm. It was Leah.
“What class do you have next? Maybe I can walk you,” she offered with a hopeful smile.
I chuckled and shook my head. “Can’t, sorry. I already have a friend that’s doing that.”
She frowned slightly but nodded. “Alright, guess I lost my shot then, huh? But… we’re friends, right?”
I thought about it for a moment before nodding. “I’d say we are.”
Her face lit up. “Good. Uh, see you tomorrow.”
“See you,” I said as we left the classroom and went our separate ways.
“So… who was that, huh?” Caroline asked as she glanced behind us, watching Leah walk the other way.
“This is my new friend, Leah,” I replied.
Caroline smirked, and I rolled my eyes immediately. I already knew what she was thinking.
“Friends, huh?” she teased.
“Not like that, Caroline. We literally just met each other,” I said firmly.
“Yeah, yeah, I was only messing. But if she hurts you—” she started before I cut her off.
“Okay, we get it, we get it.”
She smiled smugly. “Good. Now, onto the last period of the day, and then we’re free.”
I shook my head at her excitement. “It’s the first day, Caroline. It’s not that bad.”
We reached my classroom, and—like always—she hugged me, waved goodbye, and left me at the door. I sighed and walked inside, heading straight for the back as usual.
When the teacher began roll call, I heard Paige’s name. I braced myself, but when I looked around, she wasn’t there.
I frowned. She was here just two periods ago. Did she really leave early on the first day of school?
I shook my head at myself. What is wrong with me? Geez.
The last period dragged on painfully slow, as expected, but my thoughts kept wandering back to Paige. It confused me—why she’d leave, why I even noticed. I had promised myself not to worry about her. Not after everything.
When the bell finally rang, I packed my stuff quickly and headed out, spotting Caroline already waiting by the door. I couldn’t help but smile as she grabbed my hand and practically dragged me out of the school toward her car.
“Don’t drive like a madwoman, please. I’d like to keep my life,” I said as I slid into the passenger seat.
She only grinned as she buckled up. “But that’s the good thing about me.”
I groaned as she started the car, making me instantly fear for my life.
Let me tell you something: if you want to keep your life, never—and I mean never—get in a car with Caroline Ducharme. Because that, my friend, will be your last mistake.
“Okay, don’t be so dramatic. I wasn’t that bad,” Caroline said as she got out of the car. Meanwhile, I was still clinging to my seatbelt for dear life before I finally unbuckled and staggered out.
“You almost killed us,” I muttered as we walked into my house.
“No, I didn’t,” she replied in a sarcastic tone. But as soon as she spotted my mom, her whole mood flipped. In the blink of an eye, Devil Caroline was gone, replaced with Sweet, Angelic Caroline.
“Mrs. Fudd!” she greeted happily, pulling my mom into a hug, which my mom gladly returned with a smile.
“Azzi said I almost killed us while driving,” Caroline whined in the fakest sad tone possible.
My mom’s head snapped toward me with that look.
“Azzi, apologize,” she demanded.
I stared at her, betrayed. “Mom… you traitor.”
I sighed. “I’m very sorry, Caroline,” I said in the flattest tone ever.
My mom, satisfied, pulled out of their hug and wrapped me in a tight one before letting go.
“Alright, you two have fun. I’m heading back to work,” she said with a groan before leaving.
The moment she was gone, Caroline followed me upstairs, immediately making herself at home in my room like she lived there.
“So, tell me about your day,” she said, plopping onto my bed.
I chuckled, sitting beside her, and began walking her through everything. But when I reached fifth period… I hesitated. Should I tell her?
“And in fifth period… I sat next to Paige. And uh—” I rushed out the words, “she spoke to me.”
Caroline's head snapped toward me, eyes wide with shock and confusion.
“She spoke to you? What did she say? Did she say anything mean? It’s okay, you can tell me.”
I shook my head quickly.
“No, she… actually welcomed me back.”
Caroline blinked at me, her confusion doubling. “What? Why though? Paige is never nice. Especially not to you.”
I just sat there, just as lost as she was. “Honestly, I don’t know.”
Caroline frowned, then softened. “Well, no matter. Just tell me if she does anything else, okay?” She gave me a small smile.
She nodded, and we went back to chatting about the rest of our day. But no matter how hard I tried to brush it off, one thought kept lingering in the back of my mind.
Why would Paige all of a sudden be nice to me?
Caroline ended up staying the night, which neither of our parents had a problem with. They kept saying we needed to bond and catch up after all the lost time, which, fine—I agreed. What I didn’t agree with was her waking me up at 6:30 a.m. for school.
“Azzi, if you don’t get up, I am going to jump on you,” Caroline threatened from the foot of my bed, grinning like it was the best idea she’d ever had.
I groaned and sat up. “I’m up. You happy?”
She nodded quickly and left my room so I could change in peace. I got dressed fast and walked out to find my mom cooking breakfast while Caroline was already waiting at the table, practically bouncing for food.
I slid into the seat next to her, and once my mom set everything down, the three of us ate together.
“So, how was your first day?” my mom asked.
Caroline launched into a detailed retelling of her day, which gave me a chance to focus on eating. But then, of course, my mom’s eyes landed on me.
“And you, Azzi? How was yours?”
I looked up with a small smile. “It was good. Mostly teachers and some students saying they missed me.”
Caroline gave me a look that screamed she wasn’t buying my watered-down version, but thankfully, my mom seemed satisfied.
“I’m glad,” she said warmly before standing and grabbing her bag for work. She kissed my forehead on her way out. “Well, I’ve got to go. See you when you get home. Love you.”
“Love you,” I called back as the door shut behind her.
Caroline and I grabbed our bags, waved goodbye to my mom through the window, and headed out the door. Once we were in her car, she glanced at me.
“So, do you think Paige’s going to do anything weird today?” she asked suddenly.
I paused, thinking about it. “I don’t know… it was always a surprise with Paige.”
Caroline nodded, her expression serious. “Well, just make sure to tell me if she does anything. I don’t want you leaving again.”
I turned toward her, offering a reassuring smile. “I won’t. This time, I’m going to stay.”
That made her smile softly. “Good.”
Still, as we drove toward school, I couldn’t shake the feeling that something was off. Paige’s behavior yesterday had unsettled me. How could someone who used to be so cruel suddenly turn kind—especially to me, of all people?
I didn’t know what her game was, but one thing was certain.
I wasn’t letting my guard down. Not ever again.
We got to the school not long after leaving the house. As soon as I stepped out of the car, I heard footsteps approaching—fast. They stopped right in front of me.
“I heard you were back, and I just had to see for myself,” she said with a laugh.
Caroline got out of the car a second later, immediately stepping beside me. Her glare could’ve set Kk on fire.
“I’m not here to cause trouble,” Kk said quickly, clearly directing it at Caroline, who wasn’t budging.
“Then go away,” Caroline shot back coldly.
Kk held her gaze for a moment, then backed down. She gave us a small nod before turning and walking into the building.
I let out a breath as Caroline grabbed her bag from the car. “Are both of them going to start bothering you? Geez,” she muttered.
I kept my eyes on Kk as she disappeared inside.
Kk Arnold's—best friend of Paige Bueckers. Caroline always called her Paige’s “lap dog,” but really, the two were more like partners in crime. They were the other half of one another, inseparable. At least, that’s how it used to be. I didn’t know how they worked now, but one question lingered: why would Kk come running just to confirm I was back?
“They’re both acting weird,” Caroline said, pulling me from my thoughts as we headed into the school.
“I have no clue,” I admitted.
“This isn’t like them. At all.” She said it mostly to herself, but it made my curiosity spark. Still, I kept quiet. I didn’t want to open another can of worms—not yet. I figured I’d find out eventually.
Just before we reached class, Caroline grabbed my arm, making me stop. I turned to her.
“Tell me if she does anything. Please.”
“You mean Kk?” I asked, and she nodded.
“Not just her. The other dummy too.”
That made me laugh. “I will, don’t worry.”
Her expression softened, and she smiled as she grabbed my hand and tugged me into class.
“Okay, now let’s worry about whatever this is—and not those hooligans,” she said with a grin.
I laughed, and we slid into our usual seats in the back as the professor began his lecture.
Still, I couldn’t shake the feeling in my gut. Something told me this was only the beginning of their weird behavior. But then again, I had Caroline—and that was enough. Honestly, I think both Kk and Paige were a little scared of her. And in my eyes, that was more than fair.
