Friends With Benefits (COMPLETED)

FRIENDS WITH BENEFITS *1*

CHAPTER ONE (Paige)

I tip-toed down the hallway while keeping a look out in all directions. Everyone was in their classes, and I had to do this without getting caught. It was still early in the day, and all the classroom doors were closed, the hallways empty and quiet. I reached my destination and took a deep breath. I could hear Ms. Parke through the closed door, her monotone voice was going over the different ways in which Shakespeare hid his themes in his work. She took a moment to turn her back towards the class as she scribbled something on the chalkboard, and that was my cue.

Peeking through the little window on the door, I searched the rows of students for the one person that I'd come for. When I saw the midnight black hair, ruffled by the constant shoving of his fingers through it, I couldn't help but smile. Just at that moment, he saw me as well, and I widened my eyes to let him know he had to hurry. If Ms. Parke decided to turn around any moment now, I was bound to end up in detention... again.

That wasn't going to be an issue though, because the object of my affection cleared his desk and quickly shoved his things into his bag. I took a deep breath and knocked on the door. Ms. Parke stopped writing and turned to look at me, instantly, there was a frown on her face as she recognized me. Before she could even open the door, I took a step back and put on a brave smile.

"How can I help you Paige?", she asked sternly. She was clearly not impressed that I had disturbed her mid-lecture, it didn't help my cause that this wasn't the first time either.

"I have to go home early because I'm not feeling well, and the only ride I have is Nate- um, Nathaniel. Could he please be excused, Ms. Parke? I promise he'll be right back."

As I pleaded, I made sure I put on my most believable almost-ready-to-puke expression, and even added a little hand to the stomach action to further enhance the act. I prayed she wouldn't see through my farce, while mentally cursing him for putting me through this yet again.

After what felt like an eternity, and what I could have sworn was an eye-roll, she sighed and motioned her hand towards Nate.

"Alright, Nathaniel, go on then... and be back as quick as you can".

He didn't hesitate, jumping out of his seat and almost knocking over his desk as he rushed towards me. I held back a laugh as he grabbed me by the arm and pulled me out of the classroom. We nearly ran out the back doors and out into the fresh air, and his laugh got louder as we neared the parking lot. I waited for him to stop and look at me.

When he did, my heart dropped and I felt a weird fluttering inside my stomach, the same reaction I'd had since grade school and when I'd first laid eyes on him.

Nathaniel Price. My best friend. The hottest guy I'd ever known. And I was secretly in love with him.

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(Nathaniel)

This class couldn't possibly get any more boring than it was at this very second, with Ms. Parke slowly, and painfully, reading aloud from Shakespeare's "King Lear". It seemed to me as if I had heard the same words come out of her mouth a hundred times already. As if it were all some cruel joke she was playing on us, trying to see how many times she could re-read the same lines until someone would run out the door screaming.

My foot rapidly tapped on the floor out of frustration as I looked at the clock again, wondering where she was. I desperately needed her to come bail me out, there was no way Ms. Parke would allow me to use the restroom as I'd already misused that privilege several times.

I shoved my fingers through my hair, a habit that was becoming increasingly worse as each day went by. I could use a haircut pretty bad, but little miss I-always-get-my-way wouldn't let me cut it and I was willing to obey instead of risking her wrath. Apparently the long strands falling over my face "suited" my style. Her words, not mine. I couldn't help but smile a little as I imagined her pouting, her eyes widening and her forehead scrunching up.