The Program

Chapter 9

A/N: I feel bad now because I left you all hanging with that last chapter :( Well, here's a new chapter! Enjoy :)

*Connor's POV*

I woke up the next morning, still in the clothes from yesterday. I quickly took a shower and got dressed. I grabbed an apple from downstairs to eat for breakfast then headed back upstairs to make sure I had all of my stuff packed and ready for school.

Once that was done, I brushed my teeth, then grabbed my bag from my room. I ran back downstairs, out the front door, and across the street to Ms. Simmons' house. She had called last night to ask me to walk Mariella to school this morning. I got to her front door-out of breath-just as Mariella opened it. I bent over, gasping for breath. Damn, I'm out of shape.

"Don't do that. You're gonna throw up and then I have to clean it. Stand up and put your hands on top of your head," she ordered. I did as I was told. I saw her for the first time that morning. She was in her school uniform and wearing a pair of black socks. Her hair was a mess, and still kind of wet. She was still beautiful as ever.

"You can come in," she said, "I still Have to brush my hair and put my shoes on. I also have to eat something."

"I can make you a bowl of cereal while you brush your hair," I suggested.

"Nah. I'll just have an apple or something. Could you grab one from the fridge and wash it for me though?"

I nodded while she ran back upstairs. I walked into the house (closing the door behind me) and walked to the kitchen. I grabbed an apple, washed it, then waited for Mariella. She came downstairs with her bag on her shoulder. Her hair was fixed and she had her shoes on.

"Toss me the apple," she said. I did, and she caught it. She then took a bite out of it. "Let's go," she said, her mouth still full.

We walked out the front door and to the school. I was freaking out the whole way. Did she know that I overheard her talking to Lexie last night? Should I tell her? No I should just let things play out.

When we were almost there, Mariella said, "Thanks again for the guitar," she threw her apple core in one of the many bins lining the sidewalk. We were almost to school.

"No problem. I just could tell that you missed having yours."

"Well I did. So thanks."

I heard the bell ring. "Shit! We have to hurry. We have like three minutes."

We ran the rest of the way to school and quickly dumped our stuff in our lockers that we wouldn't need, then headed to Maths.

*Mariella's POV*

The more I thought about it, the more I found it strange that Connor had lent me his guitar. I mean it's not like he HAD to or anything like that. Then again, I was immensely glad that he did. It just felt nice to know that I had a true friend here.

Connor and I had made it to Maths just in time. I kind of wish that we hadn't because it was really boring today. The teacher just went around and checked that we had done our homework, then we did an activity that involved those words so that he could make sure we knew them.

When I got to Biology, Jack was already there. I sat down in my seat in front of him, took my stuff out, then turned around to talk to him. We mainly talked about random stuff like what we had for dinner last night and how hard we thought the homework was. Both of our lab partners weren't there yet.

"I just really wish you were my lab partner. Mine is kind of a slacker," Jack said.

I looked up at the clock. We still had two minutes before class started. "Give me just one moment," I said. I got up and then went to the teacher, Mr. Morgan.