The Boy Next Door

Chapter Sixteen

The lame fresher classes were over, exams were done, and the last day had arrived, a few weeks earlier than the other years. They had sports day, and we had activities all over the place, so the school was more crowded than I would have preferred. But seeing as I could do what I wanted with my time, I could keep away from those I didn't want to see.

The media department showed films; the cooking department made cookies; the drama had a show. You get the gist. It was a free choice and meant to be fun, not that I would call walking around alone fun.

Since Olly left in a huff, I was left in my own company, but it was nothing new. Except for a change, I enjoyed the peace and planned to use it to mull over how I would fix things with him. I didn't get very far when some girls approached me. At first, my butt fell into my mouth as I panicked, but they were genuinely friendly and kept me company.

Where had they been the entire time? I questioned. I should have asked them, seeing as I had never noticed anyone other than my social group. It was then I realised how oblivious I had become. I was wrapped up in my world of wanting to be popular and utterly obsessed with wanting to be like Lauren.

I spent the remainder of the day with these girls. I enjoyed playing badminton in the sports hall, playing music on the keyboards, and making heart-shaped cookies. And despite seeing Sophie's eyes scolding me in the cafeteria, I was happily surrounded by like-minded girls. I didn't look at her or speak to her again.

I was sitting watching the last fifteen minutes of the football game before school finished, hoping Olly had spotted me from across the field. I still wanted to walk home with him and hoped he did me.

Something hit my back, taking my attention from the match. Mila put her hand on the skateboard that had knocked me and pushed it back across the concrete.

I watched it roll over to a group of lads surrounded by sets of wheels, a cloud of smoke and a glorious array of black and red clothes.

When a foot stopped the white, chipped board, my gaze rose, halting on the face staring right back at me. My jaw dropped, my throat was as dry as sandpaper, and my stomach flipped. Never had I seen an expression so evocative, so mesmerising. What was more taunting was that it looked familiar. He looked familiar. Freshly sculptured by heaven yet dressed for hell. But he couldn't be. I had no idea who he was or where he and his crowd came from. But I did know that group looked more my style than Lauren ever did.

"He is so dreamy, isn't he?" Mila said, pulling my gaze back to her.

"Huh, who?" I said, clearing my throat.

"Er, Olly, who else?"

I glanced back behind me, and the group was gone. My heart fell back into its rightful place, and my smile returned to Mila, then to Olly.

Mila was kind and pretty, and I liked her denim skirt and vest top style. She was no skinnier than me, wore little makeup with shiny lip gloss, and her hair was in high bunches. I could only hope I would feel as confident as her one day. She was the kind of friend I could have done with all along. It was disappointing that I had only just met her, but I was glad I'd had the chance too, and we swapped numbers to get together in the summer.

"He keeps looking at you," she said as Olly caught my eye before running back for the ball.

I bowed my head, pulling a daisy out of the grass. "We argued earlier, and we haven't spoken since."

"Why? What happened?"

"He asked me to the prom, and I told him I wasn't going."

"Are you fricking kidding me? Why would you say no to him? Are you insane?"