Blair
"Have you finished your subculture project?" Nolee absentmindedly asks me as we stand next to my fashion studies class.
Today's bubblegum flavor is apple.
"Yup."
"We need to choose an outfit for Lia."
With my eyes zoning out in boredom, I nod. But my mind begins drawing out a fashion template of Lia's clothes I want her to wear at Hudson's party.
"Something that will hug her curves—I swear that girl hides that incredible body under those baggy clothes, not that I hate baggy clothes, baggy clothes for the win—for once, I need the boys to faint over how beautiful she is." Nolee casually recites her inner thoughts.
And I couldn't agree more. We need to make our cute little virgin butterfly into the most beautiful and hot butterfly to ever flutter.
Then, the perfect idea for her clothes pops into my head.
"I think I might have the perfect outfit for her."
Nolee turns her body towards me.
"What are you wearing?"
I turn my body towards her.
"I'm going for the y2k aesthetic." I'm so excited about my outfit. I made it myself and it uses the most delicate pink fabric ever.
"Sounds cute."
"Like me." Hudsons' annoying voice makes me roll my eyes. Why is he always around me?
Nolee chuckles, eyeing the boy behind me.
"See ya later."
I watch her walk to her cheer practice. Lazily, I turn around and face the skater boy.
"Go away."
A stupid smirk plays on his full lips.
"Give me a kiss, and I'll fly away."
One day, I will drown his fuckboy ass in the Pacific Ocean.
"Take a hint, Rexroth."
"Of what?" Hudson takes a step closer, "You wanting me so much?"
I giggle, deadass giggle.
"Is that a joke? Because it's hilarious."
"It's a fact."
"Fact my ass."
"Like I always say, I'd tap that." Hudson bites his lip, and for a moment I'm hypnotized.
The vision in front of me is in slow motion, a need like no other burning inside me as I watch him tease me so crudely. Hudson knows how to utilize his model-boyish features. Those blue eyes glimmering with playfulness and those swollen, pink lips are kissable. I could kiss him for an eternity—
Fuck. This fuckboy makes my angel-demon turn into a demon-demon.
"Thirsty much?"
Hudson chuckles.
"Oh, come on, sweetcheeks. I've heard you got it on with Michael, can't you give me a chance?" Hudson's voice drips in desire and frustration. Sexual frustration.
I don't want to know how he knows I hooked up with Michael but whatever. Getting it on with Michael was a drunken mistake. I was drunk, he was drunk, I flirted, he flirted. One thing led to another, I ended up waking up in his bed after his party.
Michael is a fucking cocky, crude jerk. More than Hudson and Sage combined. But he's a monster in bed and too fucking attractive.
Hudson leans his head against the wall, mimicking me. We stay there for a moment staring into each other's eyes. It's peaceful, the blue in his eyes is like I'm staring at waves in an ocean on a deserted island, crashing and glimmering under the sun. They're so bright and energetic, just like him.
"Never in a million years." I chew on my lip, my voice a quiet whisper. There's a ghost of a smile on my mouth but I fight against it.
Hudson grins, twirling a strand of my hair.
"We'll see about that."
I blink.
"What do you want, Hudson?" I'm awfully calm thanks to his soothing touch.
"I need a favor." Hudson confesses.
My eyes round, my thoughts darting to very obvious, very obscene concepts that flash like red flags whenever Hudson opens his mouth.
"What kind of favor?" Cautiously, I ask.
Hudson softly laughs.
"Not the kind you're thinking of, pervert."
I breathe in relief.
"Whatever."
"I need a playlist. I accidentally deleted my music after Michael's party. I know you're real fucking good at making crazy playlists. Could you help a guy out?" Hudson looks so genuine with his boyish smile.
For a moment, I'm captivated by the fact that he appreciates my music taste and the effort I put into making my playlists. My playlists are the craziest. Flavor and diversity are what I love. Most people who throw parties, ask for my help creating a playlist. Michael's party, the party where Nolee nearly stripped, my playlist was full of dirrty, hips-like-Shakira, The Hills type of songs. No wonder Nolee stripped.
"What's in it for me?"
"Anything you want, sweetcheeks."
I pout, lost in thoughts.
"Mmmhmm." Yes. I just like to give the boy a hard time.
"Is that a yes?"
With a light giggle, I walk into my classroom, waving to the pretty-boy.
"Bye, Rexroth."
Nolee
"Go wildcats!"
"Take a ride."
"On the wild side."
"Go Wildcats!"
"The victory is ours tonight!"
"Awesome!" Happily, I cheer, shaking my pompoms. The giddiness of having created and completed a simple routine for the newcomers, getting me high.
For the past week, Bonnie and I have been creating a simple cheer choreography that will allow the newcomers to show their abilities and spirit.
"Hopefully, this isn't too hard for the rookies. They'll get a gist of what we're about and they can show off their personal skills." I grab my water bottle to soothe my thirst. The weather is so freaking hot today.
"Can't wait for them to bring it on." Krystal blows her hair out of her face, her cheeks red from the heat.
She looks adorable with her black hair tied into two ponytails. And I just realized I called Krystal Franco cute.
That's the last thing she is.
Krystal Franco may be the best cheerleader on the squad after Bonnie and me and her energy and enthusiasm may be one of a kind but the girl is a bitch. She's always mouthing it off with the other girls on the team, she's late to most practices and she misses some too. Krystal doesn't follow rules, she comes and goes whenever she likes it.
"I can't wait for the championship games." Bonnie sings.
Focusing on cheerleading is all our priority. The cheer competitions are happening soon and we need the championship. But the football championship is what we need. Not only is the football team practicing their hardest, we, the cheerleading squad are busting our asses to create the most powerful and prideful choreography for the endgame.
Talking about football, my eyes flicker to Zack. The players are lined in offense and defense positions, Zack stands behind the center, ready for the ball. As soon as he catches the ball aimed at him, he looks around for his runner backs or wide receivers, but before he can hurl the brown ball, a player from the defense team body slams him.
Oof.
I visibly cringe at the sight of that, it looked painful.
Zack curses, stands up, and takes off his helmet as their coach calls for them.
"Zack looks hot." Bonnie swoons, admiration dripping from her sultry voice.
Something green and evil tugs on my chest.
"Looks like you've got hots for the quarterback." Cloe teases her.
"Too bad he's into Nolee." Krystal grins.
"He's not into me." I mumble, already so over this conversation.
Why does everyone think that Zack Mackenyu is into me? Just because we glare at each other, insult each other playfully, pull pranks, send snarky notes during classes, check each other out at parties, does not mean we have something between us. He's just a competitive QB who loves making my life unbearable...and a little exciting.
"Girl please," Bonnie crosses her arms, she's a feisty girl with long wild curls in the color of honey and blonde, like a lion's mane, "Have you seen the way he's been thirsting after you. That boy is whipped and desperate for your cat, just give him a chance."
Did this girl just say...cat as in...my—Oh, dear Lord.
"A chance at what?" I scoff because the thought of hooking up with Zack is making me feel some type of way, "Feeling me up like the pervert he is?" Of course, I'm only joking.
"How exactly am I a pervert, Rumi?"
Zack's deep voice near my ear freaks me the fuck out. I twirl around and glare at the QB for creeping up on me like that. Was he listening to that conversation? Under the glowing sun, Zack's naturally tanned skin looks mouthwatering, sweat looking like dripping honey. I just want to run my tongue over that neck—what?
It's those hazel eyes that look like pure honey that make me think perverted thoughts.
Ugh, I need to stop checking him out.
Taking a step back, I can breathe again. Zack's proximity always makes my knees weak.
"Oh, I don't know. The fact that you can't keep your hands to yourself, always throwing creepy remarks my way, eyeing me up like I'm a piece of meat, sending me perverted texts, and might I add fuckboy snaps—I can carry on if you want, Mackenyu."
I'm not exaggerating in the slightest when I say that Zack Mackenyu sends me those photos. The ones where he's showing off his perfectly toned body, abs, and all. Or the ones where he's biting his lip. Or the one where he's showing a smoldering gaze—but let's face it, no one can do the smoldering look better than Flynn Rider.
Periodt.
I don't hate them, in fact, they make the butterflies in my tummy rage with desire.
"Don't use that smart mouth with me," Zack smirks, dimple popping, "Put it to good use, like kissing me."
I bite my tongue.
"You're thirsty, you need water."
"Just thirsty for you, bubbles."
"Bubbles? Boy, you have lost it playing under this heat."
"Maybe you can help me cool off."
"I think the fuck not."
Zack laughs at my reaction, biting his lip as he gazes at me in amusement.
"Are you coming to Hudson's party?"
I pout.
"You know I am."
"Just don't strip this time," Zack teases as he steps closer and leans in, his hot breath sending my heart in a wild chase, "Or I might have to personally shut down the party."
Lia
Xavier is seduction dipped in sin. The character that he carries makes me wonder if it's all a façade or a distraction. No one can be that attractively tempting. It's like he has this magical ability to cast a spell on girls, hypnotizing them with his ethereal eyes, oozing sweeter-then-honey words, touching like he's worshipping the Goddess of Love.
I don't know why I'm thinking about him, but last night was interesting. Xavier and I have never spoken to each other but rather shared stares, intense, dream-like stares. Thanks to Zack and Hudson being frenemies with my girls, Xavier knows about me.
And thinking of Xavier, I wonder how the cute little puppy is doing. I just want to cuddle up with the fluffy cloud.
"Lia."
Lost in thoughts has me jumping in surprise at Sebastian's voice next to me. The boy laughs at my reaction, coming to stand in front of me.
"Sorry, didn't mean to make you jump."
"It's okay."
"Ready?"
"Yeah."
Sebastian and I make our way toward Lake Bellevue University's library.
As if luck is playing with me, Xavier is outside the building. A pretty brunette with a mini-dress on with her back against the brick wall, in front of me. The girl giggles, her eyes looking at the boy like he hung the moon in the sky.
Xavier leans into her, whispering. Without even having to look at his otherworldly face, I just know he has that smirk on his lips. The one that makes his dimple pop.
Ugh.
I wish I could walk past without making it obvious that I was watching him with his—I don't know—but again, luck is playing with me. Xavier locks eyes with me as I walk past him, the jerk has the audacity to smirk at me all the while the girl in front of him is yapping away. He's obviously not paying attention to her.
More bad luck happens when I hear the girl say the words my place tonight.
Good for her.
I don't judge women for exploring their sexuality. My best friends are so confident about theirs. I don't see the bad in it. Slut-shaming confuses me and angers me. People have to be the dumbest of the dumbest to hate on someone for being confident in their sexuality just because they're feeling insecure or are simply ignorant.
I've read over a thousand books and the main female character always slut-shames other girls and I hate that stuff. I have yet to read about a female character who doesn't hate and slut-shames those other girls.
But other than that, I love reading romance novels because my life has no romance in it.
Lake Bellevue University's library is magnificent. Three floors over-flowing with books. Everything from the furniture, to the flowers, is a shade of brown. It comforts me, especially on rainy nights when I'm stuck here studying. At night, the warm glow of the lights is so soothing that I could just sleep here—but that'd be weird, of course.
Our spot is on the third floor, in a corner.
"I've picked a few books for you," Sebastian places a bundle of books on the table before me, a grin on his mouth, "You already know which one I'm doing."
I Know What You Did Last Summer. Of course.
My heart warms at his cute smile. Sebastian has chosen books from authors like Dan Brown, Stieg Larsson, R.L Stine, Christopher Pike.
Seeing a Christopher Pike book in its true form is surreal. The use of vivid colors and slasher font is so 80s. The copy looks like an original.
Sebastian and I talk over which book would be good for me to read and analyze. We talk about Dan Brown's Angels and Demons and Funhouse by Diane Hoh—a book I might be considering choosing.
We stumble upon discussing The Secret Path by Christopher Pike. The characters in the book and how it's written. Then Sebastian adoringly tells me how, as a kid, he used to get nightmares after reading horror books.
I love horror books. Hypothetically, I'm not scared of horror books or movies but hypothetically.
My time with Sebastian is comfortable and something new. The way he passionately talks about the books is adorable and makes him hotter than he already is. Smart boys are always hot.
Between books and hushed moments, we share sneaky glances at each other, with goofy smiles from the baseball player and blushing cheeks from me. It's weird being alone with a guy. I've never been in this situation before. It feels...good.
<3 <3 <3 <3
"What are you doing tonight?" Sebastian asks as we leave the library and head towards the campus cafeteria.
I hug Funhouse to my chest, already excited to read through the book.
"Nothing," pouting, I gesture to the book in my arms, "I'm probably going to start reading this tonight."
Sebastian looks lost in thoughts.
"I was thinking that maybe you'd wanna go to Nature Berry's with me?"
I stare at Sebastian in confusion with a little excitement in my stomach. Nature Berry is my favorite place to hang out with my best friends. One, I have my girls there with me. Two, the atmosphere is cozy. Three, the food!
"Yeah, I would," maybe I won't need my book-boyfriends soon, "Oh my gosh, Nature Berry has the best cookies and cream milkshake and don't even get me started with their chocolate frozen yogurt."
Sebastian chuckles.
"I'm happy you're excited."
Now I'm more excited than reading Funhouse tonight. Oh, God. What will I wear? What will we talk about? What am I going to order? What if he kisses me—no, we're just two people casually hanging out.
Yeah.
"Lia," Sebastian pulls me from my frantic thoughts, "Come sit with me."
Where are Nolee and Blair? We usually sit together. I guess Nolee still has her cheer practice and Blair is busy with her runway project.
Reluctantly, I follow Sebastian to a table occupied by, I'm assuming, his friends. I'd hate to interrupt, that's why I'm nervous. I don't want to make his friends feel awkward.
Anxiously, I sit beside Sebastian, and instantly, I feel intimated by all the eyes on me.
Oh my, why are they all so good-looking?
"Who's the cutie?" A guy with hazel eyes and messy black hair switches seats and settles himself next to me, slinging his arm around my shoulder.
A blush rises to my cheeks.
Sebastian sends a look to his friend and pushes his arm off of me. There's a little animosity between them that seems natural but I could be hallucinating.
"This is Lia, we're in lit class together. Lia," Sebastian smiles at me, it's boyish, "These are my sad excuses of friends."
"Fuck you." A guy with blue eyes and blonde hair playfully reacts.
"I'm River." A guy with chocolate eyes and caramel hair introduces himself with a charming smile.
The guy with blue eyes and blonde hair winks, causing my blush to deepen.
"Caleb."
"And I'm ready to have you under me." The hazel-eyed friend leans in dangerously close to my face and smirks.
Whoa, dude. Chill.
"Kirsan, man." Sebastian's voice is threatening, effortlessly making Kirsan move away from me.
Kirsan scoffs, a little slyly and the two share an unreadable stare. The animosity I felt before becoming visible. Do they not like each other or what? They're friends, right?
Kirsan has something menacing about him. I feel nervous and iffy next to him.
"Sorry bro, she's cute as hell." Kirsan grins at me and I try not to squirm in discomfort in my seat.
"Sorry about him, Lia. He doesn't know how to treat girls without thinking with his dick." The jab is aimed at Kirsan and the boy looks amused but he's sneering.
Kirsan gives me a once-over with heat in his eyes.
Umm...I might have to call in my girls if this one even so much as looks at me wrong one more time.
"Coach wants us on the pitch by eight am tomorrow." Sebastian says to his friends.
"Ugh, so goddamn early." River groans.
"I don't even know what eight am looks like." Caleb deadpans making me giggle.
Because it's true. Mornings are disgusting. I hate waking up in the morning. I get cranky if I don't get my sleep.
"So, baseball huh?" I tilt my head to look at Sebastian, "Do you have games coming up?" I'm only asking because I know championship season is coming up—as Nolee has told me.
"Yeah, the playoffs for the state championship," Sebastian ruffles his hair, "Practices are exhausting."
I praise all sports players. They dedicate their time and energy practicing. To be better, to be stronger, to be the best. Their passion and spirit are admirable.
Elijah practices till late, conditions like crazy at the gym, and diets like a holy nun. To better his play, Elijah continuously watches videos of NFL players and games, to pick up techniques and plays—I don't know much about football.
Whenever he comes back home, I play football with him. By play, I mean letting him wring me like a wet piece of clothing. But whatever helps him.
"I'm practicing tomorrow, if you want, come to the pitch." Sebastian gives me those heart-melting smiles that no girl—or boy—can resist.
And for the nth time today, we're lost in the moment staring at each other. Wordlessly, with only smiles on our faces.
Sebastian is making me giddy and excited for something I don't even know is happening between us.