No Strings Attached

Chapter One | Strange Encounters

They weren't full of steam today at school. I've never seen them like this. They were always so close and cheerful, but now they're distant and angry at one another.

"You look dreadful," Scarlett states, kicking me out of my thoughts.

I try my best to smile but it falters. "Nothing." Scarlett looks where I was looking so I look down at my untouched fries. She whiplashes her head at me with raised eye brows. "What?"

"Were you just spying on Jesse De Luca and his pets?" Scarlett grins.

"No! Of course not!" Scarlett's face falls of disbelief. "Okay, maybe I was!" I throw my hands up in defeat.

The entrance bursts open with Raven and Violet walking in laughing. They spotted us then signalled us to wait because they're about to order their meals.

"Nice timing. Now I can tell them about your lover boy." Scarlett innocently sips on her water.

"What? No! Please don't because they're gonna make me talk to him," I beg for mercy. "And besides, look at him. He looks scary at the moment," I admit. I look back at the Grumpy Jesse.

"You can lighten his day! Ouu, another reason why to tell them!" She claps her hands together.

"Tell us what," Raven asks as her and Violet sit at our overly large table with trays full of deliciousness.

"That she has a secret crush on Jesse," Scarlett says as she bats her eyelashes. I groan and smack my forehead with anger.

Violet gasps. "Tips and tricks by Violet! Day one; say hello, day two; suck dick."

We roar with laughter. "Such helpful advice," I sarcastically blurt out.

"Always my pleasure." Violet winks. I roll my eyes.

"You always been such a good friend so we should repay you," Raven pushes.

"Repay me how? Money, food, or sex?" I eat my salty fries.

"Neither." Scarlett huffs.

"How about..." Raven looks behind her to face the lovely, yet miserable, boys. She looks back at me with humour dancing in her eyes.

Oh, c'mon!

"We get you to invite Jesse over for the party," Raven questions.

I whine, not wanting to face Jesse. "What if he doesn't want to come? What if he already has something planned? Oh! What if he's already invited by my stupid brother?"

They all look at each other questionably, dumbfounded. I sit back feeling relaxed because I know I will no longer be forced into talking to him. Unfortunately, they gaze upon me with an evil grin. Or I could possibly be wrong and have to speak with the hottie. Well, deep down I do want to talk to him.

"Doesn't hurt to try," Scarlett shouts. "You look amazing and you'll knock him dead."

"Raven?" I turn to her for help.

"Sorry kiddo." She ruffles my hair but I fix myself up. "Look! His dummies are leaving! Nows your chance!"

I watch as Christian and Timothy storm out. "Shit," I mutter under my breath. They could've been my ticket way out of this mess.

"Kay, look at me." I face Scarlett with a worried look. "Lick your lips a bit," she demands and so I obediently do so. Scarlett pinches my cheeks. I jolt up in pain. "You needed some colour." She shrugs a what-can-you-do shrug.

Violet pushes me off my seat. "Just act like someone else," she says.

"Yeah! Act all cool and sound... Hmm, sexy," Scarlett exclaims. "Now pop those big boobs of yours and sway your hips as you walk."

"This is too much to take in." I sigh.

"You'll be fine, Blair. Trust me," Raven says softly.

I take a deep breath then say, barely audible, "okay."

They gleam at me with such joy then shoo me away.

I sway my hips as I make my way to Jesse and pop out my chest to expose my cleavage. I'm standing at his table, not knowing what to say. He's across from me faced down at his lap, looking gloomy. He finally notices and examines me with elated eyes. I walk around the table next to him. My hand slides down the back of his neck. He takes a sharp intake of breath. His skin is hard and warm.

I wonder if he feels this hard every where... No! Stop! Don't you dare go there!

"I'm sorry. Have we met," he breaks the ice, looking up at me with wondrous eyes.

"No, but I'd like to." I sit next to him, my hand still planted on his shoulder. I like the feeling of touching him. It makes my insides go crazy, but I push the feeling away. "Say... What about tonight?"

He blinks twice with his jaw open. "Tonight," he asks, looking disbelieved.

"My friend is throwing a party tonight. Maybe we can talk later then," I ask before I bat my eyelashes. My finger is rubbing his black, long sleeved shirt. Back and forth. Over and over.

"Y-yeah. Sure," he stutters. I lick the bottom of my lips slowly. "What t-time is it at? Where is i-"

I remove my hand from his shoulder and put my finger against his lips to silence him. "Give me your number and I'll text you later with details."

He nods frantically. "Here." He grasp onto my hand softly, making the back of my hand sit on his palm. His slender fingers intertwine with mine. He pulls a pen out from out of no where then the ball of the pen begins to tickle my hand. "Perfect," he mutters.

I look at my hand scribbled with numbers. "So I'll text you later?"

"Yes." We both get up, ready to depart. "Oh! Sorry for not introducing myself! Jesse De Luca." He extends his hand out so I shake it.

"Blair Hills." Our hands are still connected, not wanting moving. His green eyes bore into my brown ones. He studies my face with admiration. I begin to feel my cheeks burn and my hands sweat.

"Until tonight, Blair." I nod. We let go and he leaves the restaurant.

He left me standing there, petrified. He left a scared, not-so-brave girl. I had no clue with what I was doing! I've only seen these kind of things happen in movies so I guess I tried to be like a wanna-be girl. But it worked! Ha! It did, indeed, surprisingly worked! But what a strange encounter.

I speed off to the table full of cheerful girls and shout, "I'm wearing my black dress tonight!"

Raven protests.

•••

Read, comment, and vote!