's

ove a muscle to get off the floor. I was too busy replaying the words Leo had said before h

ry,

before coming to the rescue? I shook my head. That was ridiculous. How would that be

probably wondering how I keep showing up every time my cousin is a jerk to yo

esterday when I said Leo isn't always like that

agreement, not wan

erse is trying to tell us something like becoming frie

I knew better than to even entertain

ng to respond. Lia, and the girl exchanged hugs and pleasantries before Lia introduced her

my tracks. Who is she? Why is she dressed like that? I looked up, and unfortunately the first person I locked eyes wi

the brown-haired one shook his head and looked at me with something close to

e to sit when Leo's voic

s class, Clumsy?" he taunted, a

ake my life miserable, calling me Clumsy every single time. I dropped my gaze to the floor so he and the others wo

voice rang out across the class. The room went quiet then Leo er

cousin as your spokesperson," Leo's deep rough voi

and wore glasses, just like me. From how quickly the roo

Freda Rodriguez before launc

m one student to another, met with complete silence. I knew the answer, but there was no way I w

ly as you take your social lives, you'd do a lot

k, but when I did, I caught Leo's

ed to answer rather than crack jokes. Let's hear

Leo's voice echoed and th

was talking about. What had I done to deserve th

eet. "Mr Leo Callahan, I see you're up to your usual nonsense," she sna

continuing. "I just wanted to remind you that it's always been you

uy beside him gave

you'll be having detention for dis

sure, ma'am," he r

d shook her head. She shot him one last gl

s at the mention of detention

riously. I closed my eyes and said a quick prayer

the new

my seat. Every pair of eyes in the room turned

student, ma'a

ntroduce yourself to the class

them together as I made my way to the front of the class, genu

or a moment, ga

steady my voice came out. It gave me a small boost of con

ead muttered, "Who cares?" and the whole class erupted into la

nd who was impossibly mean and dressed like a fashion icon. I recognised her

hollered, then turned to the

as confused it seemed like the students of

t to be with my baby," she winked a

de Michelle cooed. They were dress

e were together. No won

. She just shook her head with a disappoint

I sincerely hope you stay that way," she said, glancing bet

turned to go back to my seat, a

nearly

at constitutional d

lock onto me. I squirmed unde

with a small, encouraging

l delayed puberty is also known as l

got to

basically a walking definition of it. Late appeara

s, Leo!" Mrs Rodriguez snap

right on cue. As if the

zed hoodie and baggy sweatpants but that wasn't the point. The point was that he had stood in front of a

atred as I could muster. He d

e you