"What deal?" He crossed his arms together and stared at me, suspicious.

"Well, it's quite simple actually. Nothing that will kill off those few precious brain cells you got left."

He sighed, exasperated. "Are you going to say it or do I have to wait till you keep talking and finally say something intelligent? Now, will you stop being a drama queen and get on with it!"

"Drama queen? Me?" I gasped loudly and put my hand over my heart. "I find that such a big insult. My heart is aching so deeply at your cruel, cruel words."

He scoffed. "Heart? More like your huge-ass head."

I glanced behind me and I started looking all around me. Jared snapped his fingers, halting me from my search session and upon responding, I came across a confused looking Woods. "What are you doing?"

I stared at him, equally confused. "I'm looking for the mirror. You were talking to yourself, weren't you?"

Realisation dawned in his eyes. "Will you ever stop?"

"That depends, Woods. Will birds ever stop pooping anywhere they want to? Will mermaids ever achieve their dreams on walking on land? Will unicorns finally shoot out ice-cream from their horns? Will there ever be candy rain stor-" I blabbered on and then he interrupted me by clasping his hand over my mouth.

I tried yelling at him for his stupid action but everything that came out of my mouth was a failed attempt at speaking.

He grinned his crooked smile and removed his hand off my mouth. "Now, get to the point, little llama. What deal do you have in mind?"

I clapped my hands in excitement. "Well, we can have a bet. Whoever loses becomes the other person's slave for one week. The loser has to do whatever the winner says. How about it?"

He looked completely befuddled. He stared at me, assessing my face and the deal and raised his eyebrows. "What is this bet?"

I smiled at him. "Well, not a bet, per se. A match."

He looked even more confused. "A match? What do you mean?"

"It's very simple. A match means a match. Here I thought, that little tiny brain of yours could process this much. How disappointing." I tsked, shaking my head.

He glared at me. I rolled my eyes at his harsh demeanour and raised my hands. "Okay, okay. Relax, Grumpy. I meant a simple fighting match. Whoever gets thrown onto the floor first loses. A fighting match between me and you. No-one else. A match which will determine the winner and the loser."

He scoffed at me and his eyes raked me from top to bottom. "You think you can actually win against me?" His smirk grew even wider before he started chuckling, louder than ever.

I raised my head confidently. "Nope. I know I'm gonna win. So, do we have a deal?"

I brought out my right hand for him to shake. He stared at me, scrutinising me and said, slowly, "Let me get this straight. You want to fight with me? I'm Jared Woods. I can break you like a toothpick and no-one wants to mess with me. Do you understand that?"

"Yeah, the one and only last dying creature left of a particularly hideous breed of buttheads - Jared Woods."

He ignored me and continued, "And if you were to lose, you would be my slave for one whole week and you would do whatever I say, whenever I want. No matter how uncomfortable it is?"

"Well, sort of. One rule would be no dirty stuff," I said with a grim face.

He scoffed again, his eyes roaming my figure. "With a body like that, no guy would ever think anything remotely dirty-minded."

I rolled my eyes. "Har, har. Well, it's not like you are gonna win. When I win, you should obey my every command and come whenever I order you to come. I trust you will stay by the rules, Woods?"

"Of course, little llama. But, I'm still gonna win. We have a deal." He beamed at me in a mocking manner.

He brought out his hand and shook mine, all the while, grinning his mischievous crooked smile. I smirked at him. He may be the one laughing right now but he's under-estimating me. In the end, I'll be the getting the last laugh. This guy doesn't pick his battles wisely at all.

"But, we should keep this between ourselves. No telling others. It's our little secret deal," he said.

"Yeah, yeah. Whatever you want. So, our little bet or deal or whatever you want to call it will be straight after school in the gym. Meet you there, okay?"

"Fine by me. You better show up. Hope I didn't scare you off, little llama." He wiggled his eyebrows.

My lips curled upwards. "Arrogance looks ugly on you, Woods. Goodbye." I waved, walking away.

"You never stop, do you? Bye, little llama. Can't wait to thrash your little self on the floor." His voice followed me out.

I heard one last throaty chuckle before I left the corridor. If Jared thought for one second that he would win the match, he's got another thing coming.

My stomach grumbled loudly, reminding me that I didn't eat much for breakfast. I groaned slightly as I thought about how much I missed in French - it was all Jared's fault. But, I could just ask someone for a copy of the notes.

I couldn't really go back to class since I didn't have a proper excuse so that left one option. I was going to skip on class and go eat some food. Heading to a secluded part in school, I took out two sandwiches from my bag. When I was done, the bell had rung, signaling the start of the next lesson.

As I headed towards the class, I passed by the library doors. It had been two days since I stepped into there again so I pushed open the heavy swing doors and peeked through. A bespectacled figure waved at me from behind the desk; it was Mrs. Jean, the kindest teacher I've ever met. I walked across the tiled chessboard floor to the main reception area.

"Hey, hun. What brings you here?" She smiled, cheerfully.

I placed my hands on the counter and looked up at her freckled face. "Not much. Any new books?"

Her chocolate-brown eyes twinkled with delight. "As a matter of fact, they just brought in a whole stack of books yesterday. All in that corner." She pointed towards the shelves on the left side of the library.

I smiled happily. "Thank you. I can't believe it. New books."

Ever since I was small, my parents had read all sorts of books to me every day and ever since then, not a week has passed by without me trying to find a new book to read. Books were a necessary part of my existence; I couldn't possibly live without them.

Even though the school's library was quite vast in size, it didn't have quite so many interesting books but they were good enough. New books came in, once in a blue moon. So, to find out that the library actually stocked up on new books was the greatest news I'd heard so far.

Laughing lightly at me, Mrs. Jean teased, "You can go ahead and read them but don't you have class right now?"

I pouted and cajoled. "Well, I have two lessons of Maths with Mr. Groyce and then I have Study Hall. I already know what we're doing for class. So, please?" I shot her my best puppy-dog eyes.

She grinned at me. "Well, hun, you're in luck. Mr. Groyce called in sick today. Go ahead."

I started jumping up and down excitedly. "Thank you so much."

I ran towards the shelves under the fiction section. There were rows after rows of neatly lined books with their spines facing outwards, arranged alphabetically. I picked out a book by one of my favourite authors, John Grisham and walked towards the seating area.

Plopping down on the comfortable leather arm chair and with the muffled silence warming me, I immersed myself in the book. I was so consumed in my reading that I didn't notice the time pass by and the annoying chime of the bell was all but a distant sound lost in the abyss. Whenever I start to read any book, all noises and distractions just fade away into nothingness.

Someone tapped me on my shoulder, breaking away my intense concentration on the book, and I looked up half-annoyed and half in disbelief. My irritated gaze melted into a look of confusion as I met the familiar chocolate-brown eyes.

She grinned at me. "I'm guessing you were too caught up in that book to notice that it's lunch time."

"Oh," I mumbled as I looked around. There were few students scattered around the tables, reading books of their own. I had read through the full three periods but I didn't finish the book. Time sure flies when you read good books.

I smiled at Mrs. Jean and stood up, stretching my cramped legs. I handed her the book I was reading and few others as well as my library card so that she could check out the books. She smiled at me, handing me back the books at the counter.

"When you read a book, you get really caught up,. You didn't even notice that fellow who came in here and started releasing gas. The smell and all that noise - it was disgusting." She started shaking her head sideways. "It's a mystery to me how you didn't notice that. Everyone ran away and you were just there, reading your book as always."

I started laughing really loudly, ignoring the glares and mutters from the other students. I remember Claire once telling me that when I read a book, I would not even notice a dying man, if he came and said his last words to me. I giggled and shook my head sideways. Oh, the power of books.

Finally, it was my favourite time of the day. I had taken five steps into the chaotic cafeteria when I spotted a tall, dark figure making his way towards me. I smiled and Zach opened his arms, ready for a hug.

Zachary Shaw was the football team vice-captain, playing for most of his life. He was a goofball, his blond, wavy hair and soft, hazel brown eyes adding to his attractiveness. With his lean shoulders, he was taller than me. He crushed me in a bear-holding hug.

"Can't breathe," I gasped out, hitting him on the back.

He let go off me and grinned. "You're so adorable, Lexi." His grin faded. "Where's Claire? She told me not to pick her up today and I thought you were going to do it. But, she wasn't there in any of the classes."

One more thing about Zach was that he was Claire's boyfriend for about nine-and-a-half months. To me, he's like my brother. An idea hit me. I knew the perfect way to cheer up Claire.

I grinned at Zach. "Listen to me, Zach. Your cuddle bear,"-he rolled his eyes at me-"needs you. Something err, came up. It's better if she told you."

"Why? What happened?" He titled his head sideways, confused.

"It's something from our past. It's the perfect chance for you to be a swooping hero and save your mighty damsel in distress," I explained. He looked even more confused.

I coaxed, "Just go to her. Hug her and tell her you'll be there for her. Trust me."

"Uh, okay?" he asked, raising his eyebrows and looking at me in complete bewilderment.

I puffed an exasperated sigh. Sometimes these jocks never get the message no matter how many times I say it. Kind of like Jared. Numbskulls. Only one way to make them understand. I have to resort to other methods.

Imitating his football team's coach's voice, I yelled, "Mr. Shaw. What the heck are you doing standing here, boy? Get your stinking presence out of here and to Miss Claire. Move it, boy. Do I need to tell you twice?"

He took a step back and hung his head, reeling in shock but he responded immediately. He saluted me, jerking his head upwards and yelled, "Sir, yes Sir. I will not make you disappoint- wait, what? I get it. Bye, Lexi."

He ran away from me, out of the cafeteria, going towards the parking lot. I waved at him and chuckled. One less thing to worry about.

All of a sudden, students gasped as Coach Reeds, the man whose voice I just imitated, barged through the cafeteria doors looking around. I ducked my head and sneaked quietly through the swarm of students who were running away from the burning rage of Coach Reeds. One thing I knew for sure is that in his dictionary, the word 'understanding' doesn't exist.

I made my way out of the cafeteria and towards the school's courtyard. Usually I would sit with Claire and Zach but now they were both gone so I was alone. I walked towards the old, oak tree in the corner that had been in this school yard for as long as I could remember.

The fallen, leaves carpeted the ground and in their many different colours, it seems like a unique tapestry of autumn. A few leaves crunched under my foot as I sat down, the tree providing a comfortable shade.

I opened my bag and ate the rest of my sandwiches while gazing at the out-stretched hands of the tree. Sighing, I picked up my phone and called Claire, knowing she was anxiously awaiting my call.