03: CHAPTER THREE
TELL me why I haven't strangled Ethan yet.
I try to calm down my breathing as I twist my lock around and shove my textbooks inside. I'll show him. If he wants a piece of this, then I'll give it to him!
Blackmail is low, even for someone as pretentious as him. I still have no idea how he's managed to rope me into this, though I think we can all agree that my stupidity is to blame. I'd say it's pretty much convenient that I forgot we had a Biology test today. With so much going on in my life, my biology test had completely slipped my mind.
After all, it's rather bothersome having to hang out with Crystal and her pack of wild animals, looking for jobs online, and calling and texting my mum everyday per request.
The phone calls haven't gone too well, but then again what did I expect from my dysfunctional family? My father hadn't chipped in with a text; not that I'm expecting him to anyway. He's expressed many times that if he could go back in time, he would've used protection. It makes me wonder whether he'd do the same thing for my older sister, Sabrina.
Needless to say, her and I don't get along too well. Everything for Sabrina is a competition, and she's made it her life mission to prove that I'm the definition of a 'lazy, stuck up whore'.
I'd like to think that what goes around comes back around; and this was proven when my father caught her sneaking out at 3Am for a late night booty call. Nothing to me in this world is more amusing than the look of utter contempt and shock she had when she found out that I was the one accepted into this school, not her.
That's one thing in my life that has gone right, or has it?
Because there's nothing more worse than finding out you have an unexpected test that you haven't studied for, and therefore have decided to succumb into the lowest of the low: cheating.
I'd like to think that I've never cheated before one a test, but there's a first time for everything.
Nothing can explain the overwhelming feeling of utter mortification that coursed within me. Truth be told, I almost started sobbing aloud when I sat there as the teacher walked around the room and handed us our test papers. I'd like to think that I'm one of the only students in class who actually pay attention to what the teacher says, but as I sat there drowning in my own pity party, I realised that half the questions on the test weren't even in the book!
My misery quickly subsided into unadulterated rage, and so I succumbed into the lowest of the low when it came to students: cheating.
I was so focused on the teacher walking past that I hadn't realised that Ethan Marshall was sitting in the table across from me; and that his green eyes were deadset on me. I quelled him with a death stare, but I couldn't help but allow myself to be scared for an infinitesimal moment. He wouldn't snitch on me...right?
My suspicions were proven right once the bell rang and everybody was on their way out. While I was too busy packing up my books, I couldn't help but overhear Ethan speaking to the teacher in a hushed voice. I had to strain my ear, but I could slightly make out Ethan asking our teacher what would happen if a student cheated. Mrs. Reed had spluttered out angrily until Ethan explained it was a hypothetical question. He looked straight at me and I felt my heart sinking into my stomach as I dug my nails into my palm, cursing his very existence.
If you can't tell already, cheating at this school has very horrifying consequences. That doesn't stop the ample amounts of student from cheating, however.
I murmured expletives underneath my breath as we both headed out of the classroom. As he prepared to leave, I dared myself to reach out and grab his arm. "How could you do that?"
Ethan had cocked an eyebrow cooly. "Cheating is against the rules. You of all people should know that."
"Says the guy who uses his phone in class!" I raised my voice.
Ethan just continued to stare at me, which made me grow a little self-conscious. "I won't tell the teacher that you cheated," he started.
"Good," I bit back.
"But I need you to do something for me." His lips turned upwards into a roguish smirk as he noticed the irritated look I gave him.
Are we in kindergarten or something? "That oddly sounds like blackmail," I replied back.
Ethan hoisted his broad shoulders in the gesture of a shrug. "Take it however you want." He began to walk away, but I moved quickly on my feet and attempted to catch up to his pace.
"And what exactly is this thing?" I inquired as we both started to head down the stairs.
"I don't know yet, but I do know that I specifically need you and only you," he answered.
"I'm not going to let you walk all over me," I snapped, fuming on the inside. "And you know what, I don't even care. Go ahead and tell Miss." And with that, I threw him one final exasperated look and walked off.
My attempt at the whole don't-mess-with-me-attitude failed miserably. Ethan had me right in the palm of his hand and he knew it. Every time we had Biology, he'd look over at me purposely when he asks the teacher a question. If she even knew I cheated, it's over for me. I'm already behind and slacking as of now; I can't afford to lower my mark anymore.
I wish I didn't care about my grades as much as I did; but my family has made it clear they'd shun me if I miss out on this opportunity. Plus, I had nothing but my intelligence going for me. I better use it to my advantage and not fool around.
It's been a few days since the incident and I'm still feeling apprehensive. Ethan hasn't told me what he wanted yet and it's really starting to get on my nerves.
I'm sitting outside in the courtyard for lunch today alone, because if I had to see Taylor or Martin's annoying faces one more time, I would seriously lose it. The duo have noticed made it their life mission to make sure that I'm miserable, which is funny because I'm so accustomed to the pain that their words don't even bother me anymore.
I take a seat beneath a tree for shelter, and pull out a book to read called Sanctuary Bay. An all time favourite.
I'm surprised, to say the least, when Ethan Marshall comes strolling past heading in my direction. His friends all look super confused, which is extremely justified by the way. People that come from families like that just don't associate themselves with kids on scholarships. It's all a little cliche, and pretty stupid if you ask me. But I guess that's the way things work around here, and me protesting isn't going to change a thing.
"Can I help you?" I keep my eyes trained to the book in front of me.
Ethan is frowning as he stares at me. "Why are you sitting all alone?"
Something about that particular sentence struck a chord. The way he said it, his voice was coated in pity and I absolutely hated it.
"Why do you care?" I don't realise how aggravated I sound until the sentence hung in the air.
"You still haven't responded to my initial question," he notes. He takes the book from me without permission, which earns an annoyed huff from me.
I watch as his narrowed eyes scan the pages with disinterest. "You're such a nerd," is all he says as he hands me my book back.
"How does reading a book make me a nerd? If that's the case go tell that to the thousands of Harry Potter fans," I riposte.
Ethan holds his hands up in mock surrender. Then, he peers over at me with an unreadable expression on his face. "Are you going to formal?" he questions.
My face scrunches up. "Who would I ask?"
"I can help you find a date if that's what you're worrying about," he says.
My eyebrows rise. "Where is this all even coming from? We barely know each other." And besides, finding a date is not the most thing I'm worried about; it's the fact that I have absolutely nothing to wear. When my parents announced that I was leaving to Australia on a scholarship, I wasn't aware I had to pack a prom dress.
Ethan's lips quirk upwards. "Just a nice guy helping out a fellow classmate."
I resist the impulse to roll my eyes. "You and the word 'nice' shouldn't be in the same sentence," I retort.
"But do you have anyone in mind that you'd like to go with?" he asks seriously. My features contort into a frown as I sit there and think hard.
"I don't really like anyone," I finally say.
Ethan says, "Hmm. Well, let me know when you change your mind." And with that, he gets up and leaves.
Why does he care so much?
As soon as the bell rings, I'm one of the first people to get to my locker. Luckily for me, I've managed to snag myself a top locker instead of a bottom one, which is a huge bonus if you ask me.
While in the process of grabbing my books for period five and six, I hear the sound of Crystal and Taylor from behind me. As usual, they're chatting away about formal. Although I convince myself that I don't want to go, this lingering feeling at the back of my mind tells me to. I don't know why. Maybe it's because I know I'm going to be sitting in my dorm room cursing my self for being so unlikeable. If only I was more charming, then I'd snag myself a date.
I push these negative thoughts to the back of mind as I close my locker shut and turn on my heels. While in the procedure of swinging around, I bump into a figure and almost scream in frustration as my papers fly to the ground. The person who I bumped into turns out to be Josh, and he kneels down to retrieve my stuff. My cheeks start to warm up as I hastily grab his phone for him, praying to the lord above that I hadn't cracked the screen. I would say it's easy to replace, but it turns out Josh is on scholarship here like me; though he didn't have to travel across the globe considering he was born and raised here.
"Sorry," I mumble as I stick my hand out for my stuff. Our fingers touch and I feel the warmth of his hand radiating off him as he grabs his phone from me.
"Don't worry about it, I should've seen where I was going," he says in his usual deep voice.
I just gape at him. The Josh apologised to me? The same Josh who treats everyone like complete and utter crap even when it comes to his best friends?
When I finally regain my composure, I push myself back up and dust off my clothes. "Well, see you," I mutter, wiping my clammy hands on my uniform skirt.
I step aside and he happens to move along with me too. With a nervous chuckle, I move my feet in the other direction and he does that as well. This continues on for a while longer before Josh grows tired of my antics and places his hands on my shoulders. "Stay here," he says with a tinge of amusement to his tone. His piercing blue eyes twinkle and he swerves around me, removing his hands from my shoulders. As he walks in the opposite direction, I puff out a weary sigh.
Well that was something.
I feel someone's eyes on me and I turn my head to the side. Crystal's brown are trained on me and one of her thick eyebrows rise. "Did you just have a moment with Josh or am I seeing things?"
I throw her a flat look. "I wouldn't call it a moment..."
Crystal's wide lips split into a suggestive grin. "Whatever you say," she responds in a singsong voice. "I ship it though."
"There's nothing to ship!" I snap. "I wouldn't ever like someone like that. Ever."
Crystal's grin slowly drops and she peers at me curiously. "You don't know him like I do. He's been through a lot. He's an asshole, yeah, but aren't all high school boys?" She sounds defensive.
"No matter how much a person has gone through, that's not an excuse for them to be a jerk," I retort as we both start to head to Chemistry. Thankfully, Crystal drops the subject and I can finally think in peace.
There's no way I'm falling for Josh. It can't happen and I won't let it underneath any circumstances whatsoever.
But he's funny! my mind protests.
No, he's not. Actually, come to think of it, he is. Josh is the main one who cracks jokes at our usual lunch table. Half of the time, his jokes are offensive and are deeply frowned upon.
He's cute! the voice in my head chirps.
I'm not blind or stupid. Josh is good looking, there's no denying that. But there's many guys out there who are good looking and nice; an attribute that Josh unfortunately doesn't share.
So if he was nicer, you'd like him? the voice strikes back again. Ugh! I start to stomp my way to Chemistry, directing a glare to the floor. What is happening to me?
While sitting in Chemistry, my thoughts drift to Josh. I try my hardest to stop thinking about him and his piercing blue eyes but fail to do so. That's the thing about me; the minute a guy shows me a slight amount of interest, I start to fall for them. Maybe it's because the other gender rarely paid attention to me, or maybe it's because I'm prone to developing crushes rather quick.
Whatever it is, it made me very aware of his gaze fixating on my back while we were sitting in Math. My anxiety levels hit the roof and I kept trying to blend in with the seat, though that was near to impossible considering my height of 5'8. I'm easily one of the tallest senior girls in this school, and usually I'd take pride in something like that, but when you're trying your best to be inconspicuous, it proves to be a rather hard task.
When class finishes, I'm very well honoured to state that I'm one of the first people to rush out. Although I gain curious looks from people, that doesn't stop me from practically racing to my locker and thrusting my books inside. Finally I could go back to my dorm room and get my much awaited beauty sleep.
I can't help but roll my eyes as I spot a bunch of girls throwing their arms around each other in the gesture of a hug. You're going to see each other in two days, I want to shout, but hold my tongue at the last moment. I don't want to get anymore hate than I already do.
I swallow thickly as I hear Josh's voice from behind me. Jesus, since when did I get so aware of his presence?
"Bye Allison," a voice slices through my thoughts. My head snaps upward and I find myself staring at an inquisitive Ethan. Gosh, I truly hope he didn't notice me gawking at Josh for a good minute or two.
Because I'm so caught off guard, I manage to lamely chuck him a wave instead of forming a brash rebuttal like I usually would. This earns me an odd look in return, and once Ethan turns around to say goodbye to a few of his friends, I allow myself to cringe.
When did it all stop making sense?