Popularity Cost Me (Reposting and in the process of editing)

Chapter One: Introduction To High School

On a good day, I'd walk to school with a smile on my face. The sun would be shining and hell, maybe a few birds would sing. But the thing I loved most of all was turning down his street and stopping at his house.

Grayson would run out the door, his hair a mess and his shoelaces not even done up. You'd hear his mom yelling at him from inside the house that he was going to be late, but he didn't really care. He'd run up to me, that stupid little smile on his face and wrap his arm around me.

My last good day was two years ago. Although, I'd never admit it to anyone, especially not to him. The boy I left behind.

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My arm was lazily stretched along the car window as I yawned. Music was slowly pouring from the car radio, another one of her favorites, as she called it. Looking from the corner of my eye, I watched as Nova steered the car with ease, her face relaxed.

"Ready for the first day of school?" I asked. She quickly glared over at me, pursing her red lips.

"School is the last thing on my mind," she gave me a small smirk, like I knew what she was thinking.

She quickly turned the wheel, bringing us to our final destination. Just as her fingers pushed the car into park, a notification echoed through the car.

"Only seven o'clock in the morning and people are already starting to text me?"

I watched as she brought up her Gucci purse into the front seat, looking for her phone. No doubt, it was the latest Iphone, shining in a glittery gold case. Taking her phone in her perfectly manicured fingers, I watched as the screen lit up with over ten texts.

"Who does he think he is?" Nova screeched from beside me.

She stared down at her phone, never taking her big blue eyes off of it. Craning my head from the passenger's seat in Nova's car, I strained to see who was texting her. Thirteen messages in total sent consecutively, each more serious than the last.

Nova, we need to talk.

Babe, why aren't you answering me?

Hey, I heard something about you and wanted to talk about what happened.

I know you're reading these. The read receipts don't lie, bitch.

You're just trying to hide from me, aren't you? Trying to hide what you did to me over the summer!

Who the hell is Kevin? Is there something you didn't tell me?

Nova, I can't believe you. I just heard that apparently you and this Kevin guy are a thing now. Yet, you never mentioned that to your boyfriend! Why don't you come up to me and tell me that in person!

Apparently you two made out at a party and have been together ever since. Made out at a party huh? Is that all it takes for you to fall in love with someone. Pathetic.

You know what's funny? All this gossip about you is hilarious. I'm hearing all kinds of things about you and this guy. You've only known each other for three months, apparently you've had sex with this guy and you're looking to get eloped. I'm not too sure what I believe now, especially with you being a backstabbing liar and all.

You know what else I can't believe? That you cheated on me again! I'd write all kind of nasty things right now because I'm so angry, I could probably beat this boy toy you have to death. But, I'm gonna save my anger for you, so you can see just how terrible a bitch you are.

Cheater.

Liar.

If you don't come to school today, I'm just going to talk to this Kevin guy. Have fun watching your new boy toy get beaten up like a little bitch.

For a moment, we simply stared at the phone screen, both of our faces gaping with shock. From beside me, Nova quickly brought one of her hands up to her head, her eyes simply staring at the screen.

"What are you going to do?" I muttered, looking up at Nova's face. Although she was surprised, there wasn't a single speck of fear in her eyes. Slowly, she turned her head towards me, a smirk on her face.

Without a single word, I could feel the fire burning deep within her, emotions bubbling just deep enough so I wouldn't be able to see them. Yet I knew they were there. 

"Honey, are you underestimating me? I'm going to burn that twerp in hell, where he belongs," she spoke softly, a condescending tone escaping from her lips.

I watched Nova for a moment, taking in what she just said. Her dark brown hair was tied up today in a bun, leaving her blue eyes in full view. Those same blue eyes that enchanted me since the moment I met her.

Back then, I thought that this would be fun. When I'd started ninth grade, I'd seen her, strolling the halls. She looked invincible, beautiful and everything I wasn't. To me, Nova was a greek goddess that I hated yet desired to be like.

"Nova, please tell me. What are you planning?" I pleaded, part of me simply wanting to know. Yet another part of me was simply frightened by the things she would do. Acts that she wouldn't hesitate for even a moment to perform. A bomb just waiting for the right moment to explode.

"Now, now, River. Keeping it secret is all part of the fun." she paused for a moment, noticing my worried glance. She gave a soft sigh, her eyebrows raising ever so slightly.

"Don't worry. It won't hurt him too much." A smile erupted on her blood red lips and I almost expected an evil cackle to follow. Yet, thankfully, there was none.

"Nova, just to clear this up for you, you're the one who cheated on him. He should be angry. But this," I motioned to Nova with my finger, "this is just crazy."

Nova simply stared at me, distaste in her eyes. A heavy silence came between the two of us as she simply stared at me, her blue eyes seeming to judge each inch of my entire existence. Slowly, she pursed her lips and without a word, swung open the car door and stepped out.

From the car window, I watched as she straightened out her back, before beginning to inspect her well manicured nails. To some people, Nova was the queen bee. To others, she was the most feared girl in the entire city. And they weren't wrong. Oh boy, they definitely weren't wrong.

Sighing, I unbuckled my seatbelt and got out of the car. Slamming the door shut, I walked over to Nova. Her hands were on her hips, the stance that was generally only used for someone of power equal to the President.

But in a way, she was just like the President. Except, instead of controlling the country, she controlled the entire school.

Some people would ask me why I was such good friends with Nova. The girl that everyone thought was so manipulative and rude. In reality, there was two main reasons. One, because she's the reason how I became popular. And two, she's the only person who helped me when Grayson left.

All around us, people began milling into Copper Grove High. School buses and cars fought to get a spot at the front of the school, as mobs of people slowly edged into the building. But, all the while, their heads would turn over their shoulder. Their mouths would move as they whispered into their friends' ears, talking about the things we did over the summer or why the hell we had more Instagram followers than the entire school combined.

From behind me, Nova cleared her throat, impatience clearly written on her face. I turned to look over at her, looking at the girl I saw in front of me. Nova Kerensky, the definition of perfection and grace, bottled up to look like a model from a Gucci ad. But there was also something else, something she'd never show to anyone. Not even me.

Because in the end, there was never a celebrity or well known politician who didn't have a few well kept, dark secrets up their sleeves. And Nova was no exception.  

"Come'on, River! You don't want to be late for the first day of school," she purred, beckoning me to follow her.

Here's to another year putting up with Nova. Bless my pitiful soul.