Chapter 2 Chapter 2

**** Aurelia ****

He leaned back in the booth like he owned the place; one of the girls was whispering something and giggling while looking straight at me, and the other one took out her phone like she wanted to record something embarrassing, but I wouldn't give them anything.

He smirked at me. “No” .

I turned away and was about to walk away, and I heard one of the girls giggle, the sound of water falling, and a glass shatter on the floor.

"Oops, sorry," he said. The others started giggling and full-out laughing like they were kids or some shit.

When I turned around, a glass was on the floor, in pieces. "Aren't you going to clean it?” he asked.

Paul rushed over and began cleaning it up. “What do you think you’re doing? She knocked it over, so she has to clean it," he said, but Paul ignored him and cleaned it up anyway. 

I left them and went to place their orders. When I returned with their orders, I placed them and left. Thankfully they ate and left quietly. I was at the back when Jules came over. “Stay clear of Nico; he’s a bully. His dad owns the gas stations around here. They are the rich kids.” She said, and I nodded. Talon and his crew came in but were over on the other side; thankfully, I didn't need to wait on them.

When I got home after my shift, Mom was already home. I sat and ate the lasagna she plated for me, and she asked about my first day. My first week was as good as it would get. 

When I walked into class the following Monday and took my seat, a girl came over and sat beside me in the chair in front of me and stared at me. 

“I’m Sofia. What's your name?” She asked.

“Aurelia” 

“Nice, so you’re good with physics. Can you tutor me?” She asked smiling. 

"Umm." 

“I’ll pay you," she said hurriedly. 

"That's against school rules," I heard the person say. Nico was standing there. 

“If you want me to tutor you, then you’ll need to let Mr. Donovan know so he’ll let the principal know. Tutoring is a part of my scholarship." 

“Really? She asked.

"Yes." 

“Show off," Nico muttered and walked back to his seat.

“You really do tutoring? "Another guy asked.

"Yes."

"Nice, then I'll get in on that," he said.

Sofia went back to her seat. Just as class was about to start, Taon walked in and placed a cup of coffee on my desk, and I stared at him.

“For you, it's a smoothie," he said, smiling as he sat down. I didn't touch it. Why would he give me this?.

All through class he kept looking at me as if waiting to see if I would drink it. I left it at the side of my desk and ignored it. I thought that would be the end of it, but it wasn't. Monday was the smoothie; Tuesday morning it was an iced coffee, and it was really testing my patience.

Wednesday after lunch I found the energy drink on my desk, which I handed off to the guy two seats in front of me. Thursday was another smoothie, which annoyed me.

As we were leaving for lunch, Talon caught up to me.

“Wanna grab lunch together?” he asked.

"No."

“Come on, you can sit with me," he said, and I looked at him. Why was he being nice to me?. I ignored him and kept walking; Sofia caught up to me.

"Hey girly, let's go get lunch," she said, hooking her arms through mine and steering me away from Talon, and I was grateful for it. We grabbed lunch and sat down. 

“So let me give you the info so you won’t get into any trouble," she said with a smile. Sofia. Was tall, fair-skinned, with short black hair and brown eyes. 

She nodded towards the table.

"That's Talon Blackwell. Richest kid around, his family deals with everything. He's the football star. That's Nico Thompson, second richest, a bully. You don't want to cross him. He and Talon aren't friends, but they aren't enemies either," she said. 

"Luke Carrington, the blonde; Mason Reed, the one on the phone; Sienna Holt, cheerleader captain; and Harper Vale. She is always the top of the class. All rich kids," she said. 

“And you?" I asked and she began laughing. “Me, Sofia Hart, rich kid too, but I tend to be normal and not into the shit they’re up to. What about you?” She asked, and her question was genuine.

“Aurelia Anderson, Scholarship. Mom got offered a position at SilverRidge Hospital, so I came too.” 

“Nice. We’re going to be good friends," she said with a smile, and I could tell we would indeed be good friends. She wasn't talking down or looking down on me; she spoke to me as anyone else would.

As we were heading back to class, a guy walked up to her. “Hey Sofia, heads up, Donovan is planning on giving us a pop quiz," he said walking off.

“Oh goddd nooo.” She groaned.

“What?”

“He always does that. Pop quiz at any random time," she groaned.

When we got back to class, I headed to my desk and stopped short. Another cup was there, and it was cold. I looked around, and Talon was smirking at me. I took it over and set it on his desk.

“Thank you, but no thank you.”

“Hey, I'm just trying to be friends," he said, shrugging his shoulder.

All week he kept buying me drinks, and Nico kept showing up at my workplace. By the end of the week I was tired of it. Saturday morning when I woke up, Mom was already gone. I was having breakfast when my phone vibrated. 

SOFIA: Send me your address; we’re going to the beach.

I was about to reply when another message came.

SOFIA: If I have to search every single house in SilverRidge, I will. 

That made me laugh. I replied.

AURELIA: Fine, 

I spoke my address, and she replied, saying ten minutes. I hurried my shower and wore a pair of shorts and a tank top. Just as I finished, I heard the car. When I opened the door, a jeep was parked in the driveway. Sofia got out and so did another girl and two guys. Sofia was wearing shorts and a tank top, the same as me. It's the beach; fewer clothes are needed.

“Damn, not bad," Sofia said walking up. 

“This is Lila, Ethan, and Theo.”

“Hey. Why don't you guys come in”

They came in and went straight to the living room. “Did Sofi tell you to pack? We'll be there all day and then night for the bonfire," Lila said, and I looked at Sofia.

“She didn't say anything. 

"Figures," Lila said.

“Who do you live with?” Theo asked.

“My mom, the kitchen's over there; you can grab drinks or snacks. I'll go pack a bag.”

“Thanks, Sofia," yelled.