"If you don't get up right this this second, I'm going to drag you out of that bed by your hair!"
Well what can I say, she's certainly a charmer. Please tell me its not just my mum that gets overly stressed in the morning and throws a paddy fit? I threw my duvet onto the floor and crawled over to my wardrobe. Don't worry, this isn't the part where you find I tragically lost my legs playing jump rope at nursery. I can walk, I just refuse to use my feet this early in the morning. What a waste of energy.
Anyway, my name is Eloise and I'm sixteen. My family is absolutely crazy, beyond crazy actually, but they we're also beyond help so I can't complain. There's me, my mum, my dad, my older brother Jamie and my little sister Esme. I'd like to say that I'm the only sane one in this house, but unfortunately I think the six weeks of summer have turned me slightly mad.
I jumped into my acid wash jeans, wriggling around to get them over my bum that i swear has gotten larger since the beginning of the holiday. It's not that I'm fat, I just wasn't a walking stick. Maybe that's why I've never had a serious boyfriend. I think the boys at my school like walking sticks. I'm not seeing it if I'm honest... Who wants to hug a stick?
When I was dressed I sorted out my hair and makeup, that was pretty easy. I'm a brunette and my hair is one of my only features that does as I say, its a miracle if I'm honest. I'm not the most patient person in the world and i'd probably end up shaving it all off it it gave me any hassle. Make up is easy too, I'd been blessed with the gene of clear skin so mascara was the only thing I bothered with every morning. I filled my schoolbag with all sorts of crap I'll probably never use, but it made me feel more prepared for the first day of the year.
Judging by the clock in the kitchen, I had ten minutes to eat my cornflakes until Riley would be here to give me a ride to school. Before you start over thinking like I do, Riley and I are strictly friends, nothing more. We've been best friends for as long as I can remember and since the day his mum refused to be his taxi any longer and he got his license, he has been driving me to and from school every day.
He is one of those guys who could have any girl he wanted. He has girls falling all over the place for him and following him everywhere... yes i know you were thinking it...even to the bathroom. I feel kind of sorry for him actually, I've often wondered if having a girlfriend would send them all running and he'd finally be left alone.
But then another thing you should know about Riley is that no matter how many girls swoon over him, he never pay attention to a single one of them. In fact, the only girls he seems to notice at school are me and my best friend Isla. I know for that very reason, that Isla and I are on several hit lists and should probably hire some super buff security guard or something if we want to live to see our twenties.
The doorbell rang which interrupted my usual unusual thoughts. I skipped to the door picking up my bag on the way. "Hey!" Riley said with a smile that reached his ears. I flung myself onto him like a child and crushed him into a bear hug.
"Somebody's missed me," he chuckled.
I rolled my eyes and walked over to his car parked on the side of the street. "You have no clue what's it's been like stuck in there for so weeks," I said pointing back to my house.
He shrugged his shoulders, "Well I was stuck my parents for six weeks too you know."
"Its different Riley. You were also in Spain surrounded by gorgeous foreign girls."
"So you're batting for the other side now are you?," he said, wearing his famous smirk.
"You're an ass you know that?"
"I know you love me really," he teased blowing me a kiss.
I scrunched up my nose in disgust and finally got into the car. No wonder girls go for him, he's flirts so much he doesn't even realize he's doing it anymore. Of course i knew it was friendly and harmless but the other poor souls didn't know that.
We spent most of the car journey talking about what we had been up to in the holiday. Since Riley had been away with his family for five weeks we had a lot to catch up on. We pulled into the car park and found an empty spot close to the main doors. Why walk any further than you have to? That's our motto.
"Lets get this party started!"
I frowned at him. "What?"
Riley laughed, "Forget it babe."
Babe? I scrunched up my nose for the second time today, following him into school. But it wasn't long until... "Riley, Riley!"
"How was your summer Riley?"
"I couldn't stop think about you Riley!"
"Riley I've missed you so much!"
I actually felt slightly ill I'm going to be honest, so much self respect they have. I rolled my eyes at random girls who were squealing at my best friend pointless comments about nothing. Stupid airheads. It was like being with a bloody celebrity! They'll have cameras next! They'd come back even more pathetic this year and I honestly thought that was inhumanly possible.
"Come on Riley, lets go and find Isla." I grabbed his hand and dragged him away from the flock of lovesick girls.
Isla was leant against her locker playing on her phone as she does every morning when we found her. She ran towards us with a cheesy grin and pulled us both into a group hug which blocked up the narrow corridor. "I've missed you guys soooo much!"
"We've missed you too," I laughed, hugging her and Riley even tighter. The bell rang for registration and we all split off into our different tutor groups. My tutor group was nothing special, it had its typical nerds, the popular group, the bullies and then people like me.
I found an empty desk towards the back of the room and made myself comfy while the register was called.
"Isabel."
"Yes Sir."
"Maddy."
"Yes Sir."
"Drew." His name bounced off the four walls and echoed through the room.
"Drew Mitchell.
"Here," he replied smoothly as he waltzed through the door and took an empty seat at the side.
"You're late Mr Mitchell, what's your excuse today?"
He shrugged his shoulders. "I lost my pants."
A group of girls at the front giggled which sent a smirk to Drew's face.
"Well try not to lose them tomorrow Mr Mitchell."
"Will do Sir, will do."
I'd forgotten to mention Drew. Ok... maybe I hadn't exactly forgotten. Maybe I'd just tried to avoid it and I know its really petty because I've been told hundreds of times but he drives me round the bend. I glanced over at him and saw he was shooting daggers in my direction. God, someone woke up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, last time i checked i wasn't Hitler. He's an ignorant cocky ass and doesn't deserve to be mentioned.
He thinks everyone loves him just because he is gorgeous, not me. Or Isla for that matter, he's just someone we have to deal with from time to time. Unfortunately it's hard to avoid him since him and Riley are practically brothers, but we try our best and thankfully I've never had to endure any classes with him. Ten minutes in tutor was enough thank you very much. You'll be glad to know my little rant is over.
After the new schedules had been given out, we left the room and headed to our first class, unfortunately for me it was Biology. Its pointless let's be honest. Our bodies work just fine, we don't need to know why or how or when enzymes work best, and under what conditions. And if I wanted to study plants I'd just go outside and cut up a dandelion.
I sat in my seat twirling a piece of hair around my finger when the asshole decided to show his face. And I didn't mean the teacher by the way, I meant Drew. Looks like Biology is going to be my worst subject this year after all. He sauntered in and took a seat on the back row with the populars. So didn't see that one coming.
Geez. Why do teachers have to drone on and on? Blah Blah Blah...
Yes we understood the first time.
Ok shut up now.
This is great...
I'll just close my eyes for a minu...
"Eloise!" I jumped, cursing as i hit my knee on the desk. Is he trying to give me a heart attack. Whoops...I'm guessing that was a little longer than a minute. I'm just hoping I didn't leave a pool of dribble on the desk. I looked down to check. No, I'm all good. The biology teacher was still glowering at me, it was actually starting to scare me, he looks like a demon.
He continued to talk. "I'm going to put all of you in pairs for your first assignment of the year. I want no moaning about who you are paired with, I have matched you up carefully by ability. There will be absolutely no negotiations. Jessica and Tom you will be working together. Charlie and Millie."
I heard them both make a noise of disapproval and begrudgingly move to sit together.
" Riley and Isla."
They high five each other and both gave me a luck of apology. Great... looks like I'll be stuck with a freak.
"Drew and Eloise..."
What?! No no no no no! Not Drew! This is bad bad bad. Drew moaned from behind me, stupid ass.
"Find an empty desk with your partner and then you need to discuss when you are going to meet up weekly after school to complete your work."
As if spending time with him in school wasn't bad enough, we were going to have to see each other out of school as well. I was given a weighty folder full of all the information for our assignment. I walked over to Drew's desk and reluctantly sat down opposite him.
I tapped my fingers on the desk, "So...When are you free after school?"
"can you stop that," he growled.
"Stop what?"
"Tapping your fingers. Its irritating."
"Well I'm sorry. When when are we meeting then?"
He didn't look up. "I don't know."
"How do you plan on doing this if you don't know when your free?"
"I don't care."
He was already starting to wind me up now. "I'm sorry, have I done something to upset you?" I'm pretty sure I look ridiculous when I'm trying to act mad.
"I don't know, have you?"
I narrowed my eyes at him. "Whatever, if your going to be like this you can do it on your own." I dropped the folder onto his fingers and heard him swear under his breath. I stood up smirking and left the room just as the bell rang. There's only one positive that came from that. I didn't make myself look like an idiot, still not sure how that happened. I was so annoyed with him! What the hell had I done to deserve that? I hope I broke his fingers...
I bought my lunch and went over to where Isla was sat.
"Lucky you with Drew hu?" She smirked.
"Yeah lucky me..."
"I know you like him really."
"I do not!" I snapped at her, and immediately felt guilty.
"Relax Eloise I'm just joking"
I felt relief wash over me, "On the bright side, you're with Riley!"
"Yeah I'm pretty pleased I'm not with some weirdo," we both burst into a random fit of laughter. Riley and Drew walked over to our table. I froze and closed my eyes. Please don't sit by me, please don't sit by me, please don't... damm. He sat down and I resisted the urge to look at him. He leaned in towards me and whispered in my ear.
" You broke my finger." I looked at his little finger that was thickly bandaged up. Yes! Result! I chuckled under my breath and saw Isla was also trying not to laugh.
"What?" Drew between us in confusion.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean... well I did... i meant to drop the folder on you... well not exactly... its just... I just didn't mean to break your finger," I lied. Wow Eloise could you have been any smoother?
"Ok. Well I don't accept your apology."
"Ass." I picked up my rubbish and threw it into the bin on my way out of the food hall followed my an amused Isla that had clearly loved every minute.
"I can't believe you broke his Finger oh my life that is brilliant!"
I smiled and wheeled around to face her. "I'm pretty impressed if I do say so myself."
We threw our books into the rubbish tip that was supposed to be the locker we shared and then caught up with Riley who was loitering outside.
"What's up with all that tension between you and Drew?"
"God knows with that kid..."
"Eloise..."
I frowned, "What?"
"nothing."
I picked up my sports kit and headed over to the changing rooms.
"Its mixed Dodge ball today," I heard a girl whisper behind me.
Fantastic. After I was changed into my sport kit that in my opinion revealed too much leg, I scanned the line of boys and spotted Drew and Riley whispering to each other and giggling like girls.
Our sports teacher is the scariest lady I've ever seen. I'm not even sure she is a lady. She shouts at everything that breathes and blows the whistle so loud its left ringing in your ears for the whole afternoon. She's one of those women that should be put in a metal cage competing in the hammer throw or shot put. I'd love to see the damage she could do. Any way, back to it.
Drew and Riley were picked out to be team captains, no surprise there really. This happened every lesson. The boys would get picked out first, then the girls, and lastly, the freaks and the... larger ones. No offense to them. They really don't help themselves.
Riley picked first and then Drew. Riley, Drew, Riley, Drew.
"I'll take Eloise."
I smiled and walked over to Riley's team next to Isla. She was still buzzing from Drew's broken finger which i was still proud about. When the teams were done, we spilt and started the game.
For the first day it was violent. In fact, violent was an understatement. What happened to all these health and safely rules? I'm telling you... this game should be banned. I'm guessing everyone had a day like mine and wanted to let out all their anger with stupid assholes like Drew Mitchell.
My height gave me the advantage of dodging in and out of everyone without getting hit. It was just me and Riley left on our side and the other team were dropping like flies too. I caught out a red head girl and threw the ball back to their side, smacking someone else on the back of their legs.
"I'm out!" Riley shouted.
I panicked "What?!"
Riley ran out of the game and left me alone. I was OK at dodging the ball, the whole aiming thing was another story. I heard people chanting my name, no pressure Eloise. I picked up the ball and aimed at the last person stood in the game. He turned around. Drew...
He threw his ball straight for me and I dodged out the way.
"Common Eloise, hit me." He smirked.
I flung the ball from my fingertips and it missed him by at least three meters.
"Good aiming there princess."
I threw the second ball, aiming better this time but he dodged out of the way yet again.
I cursed under my breath. "Show off."
"What was that?"
He picked up another ball and aimed at me, but again it missed me. The whole hall was now so silent I'd forgotten we were still being watched. We continued to throw the ball at each other but every time we either dodged or missed. Neither of us were giving up that easily. That was the only thing we had in common.
He turned around to pick up the second ball and I took this to my advantage, I took the other ball from behind my back and threw it straight at him. It hit him square in the bum! The whole hall burst into an uproar of cheers. Drew did not look the least bit happy, well he did get beaten by a girl I suppose.
Everyone began to circle me and I got lifted into the air while they continued to chant my name. Drew completed the walk of shame, scowling at me whilst I only returned a smirk.
When I walked into the changing rooms everyone was gossiping about my win. I have to say, I felt pretty proud of myself. I certainly wasn't going to let him forget this anytime soon.
Isla jogged up to me and shouted in a high pitched voice, "That was AMAZING! You just kicked Drew's butt!"
I laughed and bowed dramatically, "Well.. what can you say!"
We waited for the bell to ring outside the changing room doors.
"I'm just popping to the loo." Isla said and leaving me by the doors. I nodded my head and waited where I was.
I was busy in my own little world as usual when Drew approached me sending my cheeks pink. This was a first. He grabbed my wrists roughly and whispered into my ear. "You better not hold this against me Eloise because if you do I swear to god..."
"Drew what the hell do you think you're doing, get off of her!" Riley barged past and pushed Drew out of the way. Breathe Eloise. Breathe.
Drew looked at me with pure venom his eyes and walked off in the opposite direction.
Riley looked even more petrified than me. "Are you OK?"
"I'm fine, honest." It obviously didn't sound very convincing. "Can you tell Isla I left. Thanks Riley, I'll be at the car."
I didn't wait for him to answer. Instead I left when the bell went and waited in the car park for him to come. surprise surprise, Drew shoved past me when I had my back to him knocking my folders out of my hand. That was no accident of course... he didn't turn around to help me pick them up; no he just carried on walking.
"Your an ass Drew."
I heard him grunt but he didnt turn around. Ugh! I hate him so much. This biology project is going to be a disaster, I thought to myself.
Riley wasn't long and I followed him to the car.
"I told Isla what happened and she said she hopes your OK. "
"I'm fine, I don't know why you're so worried. Its only Drew."
"I know. But you should have seen the way he was looking at you, it scared me."
I frowned at Riley in confusion but he didn't catch on and I count be bothered to ask.
When we got back to my house I asked Riley to come inside but he made some excuse about visiting his grandma. I waved him off like I do every day and then went inside. The second I opened the door I heard my sister screaming and mum shouting at her chasing her around the living room. Welcome to the mad house.
"Hi mum, bye mum!" I ran upstairs and decided to start on the biology project. With any luck I might be able to do it without Mr cocky two shoes.