To be able to make it, you need to believe in it, and once you do, there’s a whole new round of applause waiting for you.
-SGiNE1 (it was just stuck on my mind so I put it there)
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As I was laughing internally over the big scene Mariana just made, my eyes couldn’t help but linger to Thomas, wondering if he was a part of those boyfriends of Mariana’s that slept around with Kathy. I really doubt it. Since middle, he and Kathy didn’t get along, but who am I to make assumptions? After all, I was the one cheating behind their backs, making up a new facade.
I was the one playing them all.
Someone tapped on my shoulder. I turned and came face to face with Jason.
“Well, seems like you’re stuck with us after all.” He smirked.
“Guess I have no choice.” I dramatically put the back of my hand on my forehead, making Jason chuckle.
“You’re a funny girl.” He said. Well isn’t it too late to figure that out? I internally rolled my eyes.
We begin to make our way to his table crowded with jocks. It was strange that the popular girls don’t sit with these guys, but they had their standard of perfect-plastic-unison to keep, that if you think about it, might just be broken right now.
“And there she is.” Brandon exclaimed, making all the guys turn their heads towards me. Urgh! How I hate too much attention, but in order to play this game, attention is exactly what I need to get.
“Hey, Tiara. Take a seat next to me.” Brandon pushed a young boy, probably a sophomore, off the chair next to him.
“Um... I think I’ll pass.” I frowned. I might be trying to fit in, but there’s no way I’m going to stand seeing someone get bullied. I know how that hurts, no matter who it’s done to. “And I think you should apologize.” I scowled, making my way over to the young boy who was now on the ground, his burger plastered on his shirt. I heard some of the guys laugh and I scowled at them. They quickly shut up.
I helped the young boy up and he smiled at me. That smile brought a warm sensation that flowed through me. The boy was cute, and he had dimples when he smiled. He kind of reminded me of Roger. I felt a pinch in my heart. Roger. I quickly shook that thought off and turned to the boy.
“Are you okay?” I asked. He nodded.
“Brandon, don’t you have anything to say?” A shocked Brandon stared at me. He looked like he had never been reprimanded for his actions. I bet he thought this was going to impress me. Boy, was he wrong. That just made me despise him more.
“Um... sorry.” He looked at me.
“Not to me, to him.” I gesture to the boy beside me.
“Sorry Nicolas.” Brandon cleared his throat and looked down as if embarrassed. I then saw a group of people looking at me with awe in their eyes and others were just plain confused. Well, I didn’t say I was going to make it easy for them to recognize my game. I’m the one in control of it, no one else.
“Well, my sweet Tiara, why don’t you take a seat next to me?” Jason said, pulling a chair out for me. I made my way over and the tension faded. Everyone had gone back to their own business and was enjoying their lunch, except Brandon who was still sulking in his chair. I rolled my eyes. Guys could act like such babies at times. The conversation at the table soon changed to this party Thomas was throwing on Friday night. Thomas has always been one to throw parties. None of them I was invited to, since he didn’t even know I existed.
“Tia, you’re invited to my party, you know. I’ll send you the address if you give me your phone number.” Thomas said, a playful smirk on his lips. The guys clapped him on the back and cheered me into giving him my phone number, which was instantly passed around the whole table. I wasn’t really happy about that. I didn’t want those guys calling me, and it’ll be very creepy, if you asked me. But the message was sent and all I could do was send dirty looks to Thomas for tricking me.
“Aw! Look at what you did man, you made Tia unhappy.” Jason cooed next to me. I just wanted to slap him.
I pouted my lips, putting on the you-can’t-resist-me-when-I-pout face. All the guys’ eyes were glued to me, or should I say, my lips.
“I’m sorry Tiara, but I couldn’t deny this opportunity to my boys.” Thomas said, eyes still glued on me. I de-pouted my face and frowned, putting on an innocent face.
“What opportunity?” I asked, utterly confused. The guys laughed.
“Oh, you’re so innocent.” Jason said putting his arm on my shoulder and squeezing me. When he let go my eyes were automatically glued to Brandon who had finally decided to stop sulking and join in on the conversation.
The rest of lunch time passed really quickly while I was having fun with the boys. I figured out that they weren’t the self-centered jerks that I thought they were before. But I still kept my guards up, but I couldn’t help but warm up to them.
After lunch, Thomas and Jason had a small argument about who was going to take me to my next class. Talk about immaturity. When I saw how big of a fuss they were making I decided to let both of them take me. Urgh…boys, once you give them an opportunity they become so clingy.
As I walked in between Jason and Thomas, I couldn’t help but sigh. How was I going to handle the both of them? I needed them, that’s for sure, because if I get respect from them, I get respect from half of the school. The other half belonged to Mariana.
We entered the Science class. Everyone was chatting. Some looked at me and the guys, but either than that, everything seemed normal enough. The guys took their seats and I was left standing beside the door, trying to find an available seat. Jeez, thanks guys! I thought, my tone laced with sarcasm. Then I heard a very masculine voice behind me. The voice made a shiver run down my body. It was a throaty, bed voice, which could only belong to; I turned around, a very hot guy. He was young, but older than me, maybe in his early twenties. He had a broad chest and very muscular arms. He had really dark hair and green eyes, and the playful smirk on his mouth just confirmed how irresistibly hot he was.
“May I help you?” He asked me, but I was too engrossed by his beauty to answer. How could a guy be this hot?
“Um... I-I...” I stuttered, I didn’t know what to say. Urgh! Stupid me. He’s probably going to think he’s affecting me, which he was, but he didn’t need to know that.
“I’m Mister Mathews, but you can call me Ben. My dad is the real Mister Mathews anyway.” He gave me a warm smile. Ooh, so this was the famous Mr. Mathews. I mean, Mr. Mathews son. I mean, Ben.
“Ok. I’m Tiara, but you can call me Tia.” I smiled, keeping my gaze locked with his. He was really tall and I had to incline my head a little to look at his face.
“Ok, Tia. Why don’t you take a seat next to Kevin here?” He gestured to me where Kevin sat, still keeping his gaze on me. I turned my head, breaking from his gaze, to look at the seat he had gestured at. As I made my way over to Kevin, a nerd a recognized from my old life, I could feel Mr. Mathews stare on my back. I smile.
The class began, and surprisingly enough, I wasn’t bored at all. Ben had this way of capturing peoples’ attention. Girls were drooling, but seriously, who could blame them? The guys were focusing, which was a big thing for them. I found myself hoping the period wouldn’t go by fast, because I couldn’t get enough of Mr. Mathews’ sexy voice, but unfortunately the bell rang. Almost every girl groaned. I said almost because I didn’t.
I took my time packing my stuff. Almost every student was out, except Thomas, Jason, me, and of course, Mr. Mathews. Jason and Thomas were running out of things to do while trying to wait for me.
Once I was done, Jason came next to me, sliding his arm around my shoulders. He really never learns, does he? As I was about to open my mouth to comment on this, Mr. Mathews called on me. I felt Jason freeze. Why? Thomas, who had already left the room, was standing next to the doorframe. He and Jason shared a look I didn’t understand.
“Guys, would you like to leave Miss. Palmer and I alone? Please.” Ben said smoothly. There was a moment of silence before Jason finally answered.
Alright Ben, but don’t forget, she has classes to go to.” They left, leaving me alone with Ben.
“Um... Mr. Mathews, you asked for me?”
“Yeah... um... I just wanted to know how your day was going.” He gave me a sheepish smile.
“Um... it’s been fine, thank you.” I bit my lips and felt his eyes trained on them.
“Ok then, I just wanted to know how you like the school so far, since it’s your first day.” He blushed. I couldn’t believe I was making a strong, super hot, guy blush. Man, I must be fine! I thought, dragging out the ‘I’ in fine. He was acting like a hot guy around my age, you know, the cute, shy type.
“Thank you for your concern then.” I smiled.
“Ok, I just wanted to be the first to say that if you need anything I’m here.”
“Ok then.”
“You can go now, I don’t want you to be late.”
“Oh, no worries, if it comes down to that, I’ll just say that it was entirely your fault.”
“Huh, so you’re already selling me out?” He asked, amused.
“That’s right.” I lifted my chin, proud of myself.
“Ok then, we’ll see if you can do that while I’m kissing you.”
“What?” I asked. He took two long strides towards me, wrapped his arms around my waist and kissed me hard. I was totally enjoying this. He cleaned off his desk with one swift movement of his arm and put me on it. Then he started kissing me again; kissing my neck, biting my earlobe, making me shiver in pleasure. He grinded on me, making me feel the hard bulge in his pants. I couldn’t believe little, old me had turned him on. As he started kissing down the alley of my breast, Thomas came in and saw us, an unreadable expression on his face.
Oh, I’m just kidding. None of that happened.
Jason and Thomas had led me out of the classroom while Mr. Mathews was cleaning up his desk.
Now, we were heading to gym class. I had figured out that Jason and Thomas had the same classes as me after lunch break.
We entered the gymnasium. Everyone was heading to the locker rooms to change while I headed towards the coach to get my gym clothes.
“Hey there!” The coach’s voice boomed through the gymnasium.
“Hey, coach Martin, right?” I asked, looking at my schedule that had the name of every teacher I had class with.
“Yes, yes, that’s me. And you must be new, am I right?” He looked at me. I’ve known coach Martin since I was a freshman and I was glad to know that he was still here, looking better than ever, but I was mostly glad that he didn’t recognize me or I would’ve been screwed.
After receiving my P.E. clothes, I went to the locker rooms to get changed. As I passed the boys locker room to get to the girls one, I heard someone say my name.
“I’m telling you man, she looks familiar, like I’ve seen her before.” I recognized Brandon’s voice. Oh no, this is not good at all.
“Who cares, dude. All I know is that she’s fucking hot and I call dibs on her. So you all better back off.” Thomas said.
“Oh, hell no, Thomas, you already have Mariana, this one is mine.” Jason exclaimed.
“It’s always yours or his, why don’t you let her choose.” A guy said.
“Oh, shut up Mikey.” Jason said.
“No I have a better idea, why don’t you play rock paper scissors for her.” Another guy said, making some guys chuckle.
“Oh, Jesus Christ. No one really cares about what you think, Nick. And stop saying random thing it’s really getting on my nerves.” Jason said annoyance slipping out of his words.
“No, he’s right. Let do it.” Thomas said.
“See someone cares.” Nick said.
“What?! Are you stupid or just plain dumb? You seriously want to play rock paper scissors for her?” Jason said. While I let out a small chuckled. This situation was just hilarious.
“No I wasn’t talking about Nick’s offer. God no! And I would probably lose so. I was thinking about Mickey’s. Let her choose. May the best man win?” Thomas said. “And by the way Nick you can stop sticking out your tongue now.”
“Urgh... fine then, may the better man win.” Jason responded.
“Enough guys, let’s just go. She might end up choosing neither of you and you’ll just be wasting your time. Plus a girl like that must have a boyfriend.” Brandon said.
“So? I don’t mind a challenge.” Jason said.
“Neither do I.” Exclaimed Thomas.
“Neither do I.” said Nick.
“ Again Nick, shut up.” I hear most of the guys say.
“Okay, fine. I’ll shut my hole; I don’t want any dick’s in it.” Nick responded.
“Urgh…Nick, stop with your stupid comments.” Someone said.
“Yeah. Now let’s go.” Brandon said again and I heard footsteps coming towards the door. I panicked and ran straight to the girls’ locker room, leaning on the door once I was inside. The girls gave me weird looks as if I was crazy for barging in like that, but I couldn’t care less. All I could think about was the conversation I just heard. Not the fact that the guys were betting on me, but that Brandon had figured out that I might not be who I claimed to be so fast. That frightened me to death. Will he figure it out? Will I be discovered?
There was only one other question lingering on my mind.
Can I seriously play this game?