When I first came to Houston, and when it came time to select my classes here at Westfield High School…who am I kidding? The counselors didn’t even let me choose my classes. They basically gave me my schedule, and hoped that I’ll just shut up and deal with what they gave me without any complaints.
The only thing keeping my mind off of the terror of what’s coming at me in P.E. is Draco as he walked me to class. He tried to comfort me by holding my hand; he knew why I hated this particular class, and it’s staring at me right now as she stood by the door to the locker room.
Hayley Jones, the one person I would’ve loathed even if she didn’t try to steal my boyfriend, stood there, chatting with someone I didn’t recognize, flipping her blond hair repeatedly. But as we got closer, I realized that it was Nicholas Bates.
“Yes. I was asked to be on TV, but I totally turned them down. It turned out to be a flop.” She enunciated, loudly with her obviously pathetic attempt to try, once again, to make Draco jealous. I could see that she was batting her made up lashes, but her blue eyes remained the same—cold.
Nicholas didn’t seem interested, but he did put on a good show feigning interest. “Really? That’s too bad.” He said, his voice smooth and alluring.
I watched as Hayley giggled before flipping her long, blond hair, and entering the locker room. But I could see the mean look she gave me before she walked in, and before Nicholas turned on his heel and walked away, ignoring my existence. But I could’ve sworn that out of the corner of his eyes he was giving me a meaningful look (the move was so quick it could’ve been nothing for all I knew).
“What was that about?” Draco asked, confused.
I shook my head. “Nothing, that’s just Hayley, being Hayley.” I muttered unwillingly.
“Oh.” He muttered, quickly dropping the subject. His lopsided grin appeared. “Good luck in basketball.”
“Thanks for the heads up.” I said, glad he’s making good with his mind reading abilities.
Before I could turn to head into the locker room, he wrapped his arms around my waist, pulling me closer to him, and bent down to kiss me. Once again, I couldn’t help but feel my insides met with this kiss. And, like the last time we’d kissed, the bell rings, causing us to pull apart, and go our separate ways.
I stumbled into the locker room, only to see Kristen Wright, my…um, friend/enemy, waiting for me by my locker. Even though it’s been five months since she broke away from Hayley and her clique, I’m still on the fence about her being my friend. I haven’t even told Raven and Josh about her rebellion, and yet, she hasn’t revealed anything worth divulging to Hayley…yet. So, I guess that makes her my frienemy. Though, sometimes I wonder if she’s just feeling sorry for me, due to my mother’s condition (which she heard from her mom who works with my mom). But I decided earlier that I wasn’t going to find out. for all I knew, she was divulging all of Hayley’s weaknesses and secrets to me, being her ex-best friend, she’d know everything about her.
“Did you hear? We’re playing basketball today, but don’t worry, I’ll be on your team.” She said the moment my hand touched the combination lock.
“Thanks.” I mumbled.
I carefully got dressed in the required uniform as I listened to Kristen’s plan to humiliate Hayley, of course I was already in love with the plan, but my mind was somewhere else. Wondering why in the world would someone like Nicholas Bates would have any interest in being with someone so cruel, and ruthless as Hayley Jones?
If everyone else in this school had a brain, they’d see how disinterested he looked while she babbled on about her so-called “perfect life.” Or maybe I was imagining the look I saw on him earlier. No, it couldn’t be, and I certainly wasn’t imagining it. The look was as oblivious as the gang activity here at Westfield.
I shook my head, and quickly got back into the conversation with Kristen when I said, “Did you see Hayley flirting with this new guy?”
She shook her head. “No.”
I rolled my eyes. “She was basically telling him made up bullshit about her boring life, but I could tell he wasn’t interested in her.”
“No way!” she gaped, her brown eyes going wide.
“Way.”
Kristen opened her mouth to ask for more details when Coach Kennedy blew her whistle, and ordered us into the gym, ending all conversations. Kristen and I reluctantly followed the group of girls into the gym, keeping our distance from Hayley in order to avoid anything that might come from her—which is usually something that’s in the pain and misery category.
It didn’t take long for the entire class of twenty girls to be divided into a team with ten each. Once again, Coach Kennedy was smart not to put Hayley and I on the same team, remembering the last time that had happened, and the argument that followed the time I “accidentally” caused the softball to hit her in the face. I was glad that I wasn’t sent to the principal’s office for that, and everyone else—except for Hayley—pretty much acted like it didn’t happen.
“Begin!” the coach yelled before blowing her whistle, and the game quickly began.
Due to my five foot eight height, I’ve automatically been placed as my team’s rebounder, but that doesn’t make me a good player. Despite my having no athletic abilities, I did my best regardless—blocking some of the shots the opposing team tried to make, using my height to my advantage. The only time I ever did mess up, is when I was dribbling the ball across the court, after Kristen had passed the ball, when Hayley decided to stick her foot in my path, causing me to trip and fall. What’s even more or less surprising, the coach didn’t even call it as a foul, and of course, it looked like I tripped over my shoelaces so my team was less than pleased. That is, all of them except for Kristen, she knew better.
When I finally got to my feet, I could see that Kristen had intercepted the ball after Hayley’s failed attempt to make a three pointer. Quickly, I made a run for the basket, and thankfully, Kristen saw the opportunity for me to make a lay-up shot and score for our team. After dribbling the ball pass the opposing team who were blocking her, she passed it to me, and instinctively, I jumped, flexed the muscles in my wrists, closed my eyes and hoped that the ball won’t bounce off the rim.
The sound of my team screaming with excitement was enough to confirm it, and I quickly got back on the defense as the game continued.
I tried to focus as sweat continued to drip from my face, and avoid all the puns Hayley kept shouting oblivious to the coach. And for the millionth time, just like I do everyday since I’ve arrived, I began wishing that I wasn’t forced to take this class.
“Hey Willa Mae! Tokyo called, they want to know why Godzilla’s not attacking.” Hayley called with a loud, obnoxious laugh.
“Hey Hayley! Harvard called, and they’re not accepting you, or your money because your comebacks are so 1980s. They also said you look nothing like Reese Witherspoon.” I retorted with a firm voice, and I could hear some laughter all around me after I spoke.
“Good one.” Kristen said, still laughing.
When the coach finally blew the whistle, ending class, it was when my smile finally returned. Because I knew the sooner I get dressed, the sooner I’d see Draco. It wasn’t until Kristen and I reached our lockers when I felt something tapping on my shoulder.
“Heads up, evil witch twelve o’clock.” Kristen whispered urgently, her gaze faraway and filled with fear.
I turned my attention to see Hayley, making a beeline toward us, her face showed nothing but pure, unadulterated anger. I gulped, already afraid of what she’s going to do. Her ice-cold blue eyes darted between Kristen and me repeatedly, and I couldn’t control the fear that coursed through my veins.
“What do you want now? Come to make fun of the obvious again?” I asked, my voice marred with sarcasm.
She didn’t answer at first; she just kept glaring at us, the anger still there.
Kristen sighed. “Are you going to talk, or what?” she asked, annoyed.
“You’re just jealous.” Hayley finally muttered.
“What the hell are you talking about?” I asked, the annoyance already creeping into my voice.
A smile formed on her face, and I quickly realized that it’s not a good sign, especially when she turns her attention to me. “Well, of course you’re jealous of the fact that there’s a guy in this school that’s way better than you’re boyfriend. And you’re jealous ‘cause you can’t have him, ‘cause he prefers me and not you.”
I internally rolled my eyes at her statement. If only she could see the disinterest within Nicholas’s eyes.
I carefully controlled my voice, making sure all the laughter I wanted to hurl at her wasn’t there when I said, “Hayley, you really need to know how to read people.”
Her reaction was not a big surprise—she gawked at my words, obviously not believing a word of it. “We’re you dropped on your head? I absolutely know how to read people, and I could tell that Nicholas Bates is definitely interested in me.”
Maybe I misread his expression, but either way, I know what I saw, and he looked anything but interested in Hayley Jones.
“Hayley, why don’t you leave us alone, or we’ll make you.” Kristen muttered, her right hand clenched into a fist, and waving it in front of Hayley’s face.
She raised her hands in surrender, backing away when she said, “Fine. Don’t believe me. But if any of you try to steal him, I will come after you, and make you pay.” The threat was real, and it was enough to give me goose bumps.
After Hayley went off toward her locker, Kristen quickly switched from her threatening façade, and back to a normal teen. “Well, that went well.” She muttered as she opened her locker, and pulled out her belongings.
I laughed as I quickly changed out of the tacky uniform, and back into my jeans, t-shirt. Afterwards, I gathered my backpack, and exited the locker room, not caring that the final bell hasn’t even rang yet.
But I don’t care.
Instead of Draco waiting outside the locker room, Nicholas stood there.
“Are you stalking me?” I asked incredulously, annoyed.
He seemed appalled by my words. But he quickly shook his head. “No, why would I do that?”
“Well, you and I have the same English class. Afterwards I keep having the feeling of being watched, and I come here to find you talking to the world’s least favorite villain. Now…” I trailed off, the anger closing up my throat, and refusing to let any more words come out.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” He said innocently, his expression went blank.
“Just…forget it.” I blurted, walking away toward some water fountains far away from Nicholas.
I pulled my long auburn hair back with my hand, before taking a long sip of water. Moment later, I felt someone behind me, but I continued to drink like an alcoholic with an unlimited supply of beer.
“Are you okay?” a voice asked suddenly, causing me to almost choke on the water.
I turned around, planning to tell that person to leave me alone, only to stop in my tracks. Draco stood there, smiling that lopsided grin that always melted my heart.
“I’m better, now that you’re here.” I said as I gently grabbed his hand, and he begins to lead the way toward the parking lot.
The comfort of his hand in mine reminded me of the normal days, when it’s just us. Just feeling the instant skin temperature change from cold to warm was enough to make me feel calm, cool, and collected—in other words, easily making everything that had happened in gym not long ago disappear.
I smiled to myself as those repressing thoughts slowly disappeared. The sound of the bell ringing was enough to cause me to jump, but at the time, we’re already by the door that leads to the parking lot.
We waltzed through the doors, and out into the bright, and sunny day—a normal occurrence here in Houston. And, I once again find myself peeking up at Draco to make sure he’s still there, still fearing the sun might hurt him. Even though I’ve seen him out in the sun almost all the time, but with all of the vampire movies that are out there showing that they’d only come out at night, and with Draco out in the sun, it made me question everything I knew, especially after seeing him still in one piece after walking out on a beautiful day like this.
He was smiling down at me when I looked up at him.
“Still believe that I’ll burn up?” he teased.
I couldn’t hold back my laughter, especially since he knows it’s true.
“A girl can’t help but worry sometimes.” I admitted sheepishly, an impish smile forming on my face as I felt the blush enter my face.
After walking the short distance to my car, he quickly kissed me, and walked toward his car, leaving me breathless and stumbling toward my car as always. I had to hold on to the car’s frame for support as I got inside.