Started With A Dare

❥ 0.2

0.2 | complacent

Showing smugness and pride;
Uncritical satisfaction with oneself.
(See: The game)

Summer

"You're late," the teacher sighs, peering over his glasses. Kallan breaks his eye contact with me and takes another step into the room.

"Sorry sir, I was helping someone to the nurse's office," he lies, throwing the teacher a convincing apologetic smile. I narrow my eyes at his tasteless excuse as he leans against the doorframe, sliding his hands into his pockets coolly.

"More like helping himself to someone in the nurse's office," I mutter under my breath a bit too loudly, unable to stop myself. Kat coughs back a laugh and a few people around me snicker.

"Something you like to share with the class, Ms. Hartley?" Mr. Lancaster asks, craning his neck in my direction.

Oops, busted.

"No sir, I'm sure the girl was very appreciative of his hospitality," I reply sweetly with an innocent smile. Chuckles flow through the class while the teacher raises an eyebrow at the word 'girl'. Kallan's head snaps back to look at me and I give him a pointed stare; his reputation was no secret to the school, much less, to the teachers I'm sure.

"Alright...don't be late again or else it's detention next time." Mr. Lancaster turns his attention back to Kallan and gives him an expectant look, "name?"

"Kallan Taylor," he replies, eyes still locked on mine. 

"Take a seat Mr. Taylor," Mr. Lancaster waves him away and continues his roll call. Kallan sends a quick wink in my direction and strolls to the back of the room. He slides into an empty seat beside his friends but not before winking at another red head two seats in front of him.

Please stop feeding his ego, I plead to the girl in my mind as she blushes and giggles.

Wrinkling my nose, I turn my attention back to the class, not wanting to lose another braincell watching Taylor and his antics.

I shift my eyes to the board and mentally grown as the teacher starts scrawling 'Hamlet' with a whiteboard marker. I swear that it's a ritual for all high school teachers to make their students read and analyse a Shakespearean tragedy; last year was Hemingway and I thought that was torture enough already.

Stifling a yawn, I lean back into my seat and grab a pen to copy down all our assignment and exam dates from the board.

The class goes by without much excitement and everyone hurriedly jumps up when the bell finally rings. I flip my textbook shut and quickly pack everything into my bag. Slinging it over my shoulder, I look over to Kat who was taking her sweet time.

"Hey," Joel walks in front of my desk, making my heart flutter a little, "how was Miami with your family?" I quickly flick my eyes over his outfit; he was wearing an oversized forest green crewneck with white chino pants. I couldn't help but notice the colours made his eyes look extra green today.

Realising I was probably ogling, I splutter out a reply. "It was good! Although I was stuck babysitting half of the time..."

"How was your break? Other than chasing after your dare," I quickly add on, wincing slightly at the last part.

"It was alright, we missed you around the neighborhood, it was awfully quiet without you blasting Maroon 5 and Taylor Swift all day long," he teases.

"Hey! My house is the quietest one on the street," I laugh nervously, feeling a flush crawl up my cheeks.