Maya's POV

Getting to school on monday morning, i felt a new wave of freshness wash over me. I never thought i'd feel this way about coming to school but i guess the just concluded 5-week holiday spent without my friends did that to me.
Stepping into the 12th grade wing, i immediately spotted my friends. They are the most awesome set of people and they always have my back no matter what.
Charlotte- really close friend of 7 years. 16, nice caring, fun to be with and extremely talkative....
Stiles- great friend of 7 years too, turning 17 next month. Tall, Muscular, jovial, but not so talkative.
Alex- Best friend in the world. I Can't even remember how we became friends but it's been a lot more than 7 years. He's just like the big brother I never had. He's always there for me. He's caring, funny, he knows just how to make me laugh. Also, he's tall, has an amazing building, broad shoulders (which i have leaned on a lot of times). Above all, he's the best friend anyone could possibly ask for.
So when i saw them standing together on the corridor; because we still had like 10 minutes before classes began, i was really excited and i made my way over to them. Charlotte was the first to see me and she screamed my name. "Maya!! it's so good to see you again!" At this, she hugged me and i swear i would have choked if she hadn't let go. "You can't begin to Imagine how happy i am to see you. Honestly i thought spending my holiday away from home and with my aunt would be good for me. Actually it was great at first but then i started to miss you guys but i couldn't back out anymore. I'm so glad to be back." All this while, i had been holding Charlotte's hands and hadn't turned to look at either Alex or Stiles.
"I guess i don't get a hug" i heard Alex say. "oh, come on. You have no idea how much i've missed you" i said wrapping my arms around him in a fierce hug.
"looks like someone's been taking her vitamins." Stiles said and turned to look at him. He gave me a hug and ruffled my hair, though he knew i always complained whenever he did that. "With my aunt, you have to, or else....." i said and we all laughed.
"I'm sure y'all had a lot of fun without me." i said as well proceeded to class. "Well we had fun but it wasn't the same without you." Charlotte said.
"Yeah, you were on my mind like everyday that's why I kept calling and sending messages." Alex put in as he put his arm around my shoulders and hugged me to his side.
"Those letters were what kept me going when the boredom was becoming unbearable and i'm super grateful for that" i told him.
By now, we were already in our English class which was the only class the four of us had together. I had Economics with Alex, Literature with Charlotte and Government with Stiles. Mrs Pratt, our English teacher, had a strict no-talking-in-class rule so we all shushed as we entered the class.
She came in and though it was just the first day of school after the long break, there were still some groans from some people who really wished Mrs Pratt was home with the flu or something that morning. 'Sorry people,' i thought to myself, 'this woman has got one pretty strong immune system.'
She did the traditional roll-call and the class started.


************

After school that day, as we were going home together like we always did, a guy i recognized from my French class walked up to me. Charlotte and Stiles kept walking but i noticed that Alex stayed out.
"Hi, i'm Jake" he said, extending his hand which i took. "Ok, i'm May..." i started but he cut me short. "I know who you are." he said. "Yeah, right. we have French together right? i asked, to which he replied affirmative. "So, um, i Was wondering if i could have your number and if we could um, you know, hang out and stuff." He looked kind of nervous as he said this and it got me thinking 'what does he have in mind?' Jake was tall, but not as tall as Alex(wait a minute, why am i comparing them?) Anyway, he was kinda cute and when he spoke, his mouth curved in an attractive manner but still.....
I was thinking of saying no but then i thought 'what's the worst that can happen?' I had been asked out by 2 or 3other guys before but it never really worked out so i decided to put off dating but thinking about it now, i said to myself 'i've got nothing to lose.' With this in mind, i gave him my number. "Thanks, i'll Call you." he said and left, but not before winking at me.
"Okay, spill." Charlotte said to me, grabbing my hand when Alex and I caught up with them. "There's nothing to spill Char. A guy asks for my number and you're Already designing a wedding dress in your head." i tell her, shaking my head and she laughed. "Don't worry, i think what you mean is there's nothing to spill yet." she said to me. "With that imagination of yours, you'd make a very great scriptwriter." i said to her.
After that, we chatted about different stuff like all the events we were having this term: the spring dance, the annual swimming competition and most importantly, promise. Stiles put in a word or two from time to time but i noticed Alex was unusually silent.
After Charlotte and Stiles had branched off to their houses, it was just me and Alex because our houses were still further down the street. I couldn't take his silence anymore. "Cat got your tongue?" i asked him. He didn't reply immediately but when he did, he didn't look exactly happy. "So, you and Jake are friends now?" Well i forgot to mention earlier, Alex can be very protective sometimes. Take for example, right now.
"No, we're not but i don't see why we can't be." I replied. I saw something flicker in his eyes but it was gone so quickly i thought i imagined it. "Alex what's wrong?" i asked when he kept on being silent. "It's nothing, just that i don't trust him and....." he trailed off. "Hey," i said turning him to look at me "he's just some guy who asked for my number ok? not like he asked me out." "Well maybe not yet" he said looking at me. "It's ok, i can take care of myself and just in case you were getting a teeny bit jealous, no one is ever gonna take your place. You'll always be my best friend." i said and hugged him. "Jealous? me? now, i have no idea what you're on about." he said to me now smiling.
By now, we had gotten to my house. He kissed my hand, something he does everyday before i went in. "Bye." i said. "See you tomorrow." he replied and left.
That night, as i switched on my phone after completing my homework, i saw a message from an unknown number.
Unknown: Hey...
Me: hey, who's this?
Unknown: it's Jake.
Me: Oh...
Unknown: Goodnight, sweet dreams. (dream about me.)
Me: G'night.
Dream about him? This was going to be one interesting term, i thought to myself as i drifted off to sleep.