Tick, tick, tick.

I was staring at the clock as the final seconds of seventh period ended. For some reason, I was excited to see Jack. My stomach was basically in my throat. When the bell finally buzzed, I hopped out of my seat, without being dismissed.

Mr. Reynolds looked at me, frowning. "Excuse me, Ms. Collins. You have not been dismissed yet,"

I muttered an apology, falling back into the morphed, plastic seat.

"I cannot say how proud I am of all of you, the test scores were amazing! Have a nice night, I'll see you tomorrow. Oh, and Ms. Collins? Please stay after class. I need to have a word with you."

I sighed, watching everyone file out of the room. When everyone was gone, I walked up to the old man's desk. "Yes, sir?"

He looked up from his thick glasses. He pushed them back with his middle finger. "Macy, you are an amazing student. One of the few that get to graduate early. But dear, with that privellage comes a price. Studying, working, and trying your hardest. Now I know what you kids like doing. I was a kid too, believe it or not," He chuckled.

I shifted my weight on my foot. "Not to be rude sir, but what is this exactly about?"

Mr. Reynolds took his glasses off. "I have been seeing some slacking coming from you, Macy. Is there anything causing that? Stress? Boyfriends? Friends?"

I held back a laugh. "No, sir."

"You can talk to me. I'm your teacher! We can be friends,"

I shook my head. "I'll try harder, sir."

"Thank you, Macy."

I murmured a 'yeah', and walked out.

I walked up to my locker, taking my phone out.

I shot a text to Jack. 'Hey, sorry. A teacher was talking to me. You in the parking lot?'

I grabbed my books and put them in my Jansport backpack.

My phone buzzed. 'Yeah. In a blue little car.'

I shut my green locker. I shoved my phone in my purse, walking away.

I heard a door slam behind me.

"Macy?"

Oh, no. I started walking faster, ignoring him. Why couldn't he just let it go?

"Macy!"

The faster I walked, the closer the footsteps came at me. I took a deep breath and turned around. I tried smiling, but all I really wanted to do was grimace. At least I was in the front of the building.

"Macy," Oh, but he was smiling. He even blushed like we were flirting for the first time.

"Taylor." I said, dull.

He noticed my frustration, and started to frown. "How's it going?"

"Listen, Taylor. I have to really go-"

"I'm sorry, and I miss you."

"I don't really care."

He blinked at me. "Oh."

"I'm with Jack now," I said. I stopped, widening my eyes. If there's anyone you DON'T want to tell about dating an adult as a minor, it's your crazy ex boyfriend.

Taylor's eye twitched. "With him? I thought you were just friends?"

I swiftly turned around and walked.

"Macy!" He yelled at me, desperate. "Macy Collins!"

Did he think yelling my full name would actually get me to turn around? Only my mother did that. And sometimes Macy, but it had no effect.

I ran out of the school, right into Jack's rental car.

I gasped for air. Running wasn't exactly something I did. Even running 100 feet had an effect.

Jack looked at me, smiling. "You okay?"

I saw Rian in the back seat. I smiled at him, waving a quick hand.

He grinned, leaning back. "Hey, Macy."

"I'm-" gasp. "not-" gasp. "a runner."

"What were you running from?" Jack asked.

I looked at him. I didn't think he'd like hearing 'a crazy ex-boyfriend', so I just shrugged.

He started to drive.

"Where are we going?" I asked, finally finding breath.

Rian piped up, "Back to the hotel. I had to go to the airport to buy a plane ticket."

My mouth fell open. "Oh,"

So he asks me out, and leaves? Typical boy.

"Jack's not going. He's staying here for a while," Rian said. "It's just me. My girlfriend wants to see me."

I take my last statement back. "Oh. I didn't know you had a girlfriend."

He nodded. "Yeah, Cassadee Pope."

"That name is ODDLY familiar."

"...She's from Hey Monday."

"Oh that's it! One of my friends was using her as an example for..." I stopped myself from going beyond creepy. "Never mind. When are you leaving?"

"Monday. You still have four more days left of me, Mace. I know you won't stay away. I mean, who does?" He smiled, smugly.

"Go away, Rian! She's mine." Jack glanced at me, giggling.

When we got upstairs to the hotel room, Alex came running out of the bathroom. "I BURNED MY HAND!" He yelled, holding a thin, black straightner.

I threw my backpack on the ground. I gave nod towards Zack, who was reading a book. "'Sup."

He smirked in my direction.

For some reason, I felt at home. Like, this was where I always belonged. I always knew I loved Jack, I was just too afraid to act upon it.

But yet, as the happy thoughts were in my head, so were the worried ones. What would I do if it was all of them leaving, not just Rian? How would the relationship last, when I barely get to see him?

Maybe once I was out of school, I could take a year off before going to college. Maybe I could hang out with him for a summer, or go on tour with him. Was he even allowed to have his girlfriends come with him on tours? Was it, like, a boys get away thing?

I pulled my books out as I sat on an empty bed. I needed to study, regardless of hanging out with Jack or not.

He came over and laid next to me. "What is that?" He pointed to a picture in the science book that I held in my hands. I giggled at him. He reminded me of a small child.

Were you supposed to think of a boyfriend like that?

I shook my head, getting rid of the thoughts. I just needed to be happy right now, savoring the moments I had left with him.