Charlie
"Look, I don't have to tell you guys that you set an example for how boys at this school behave." Jessica was saying during her HO workshop to the team in our locker room.
Coach called me earlier today to inform me about this workshop. Apparently, they were planning it for a long time but didn't knew when to arrange it. And then they felt today was a good day, because it was Valentine's day.
And tomorrow was the dance, so they didn't wanted any incidents to happen.
I haven't decided if I even wanted to go to this dance. I didn't have a date yet, and wasn't even planning on asking anyone. But according to my teammates, one person has been searching for me since the morning.
After the incident with Betty on game night, I had successfully avoided her like she was a plague. She had tried to stop me many a times in the hallway and I always had a reason ready for her. I really thought that she would leave me alone after I snapped at her, but the girl wasn't backing away. The point is, she wasn't the person I wanted to go to the dance with. Even if the person I wanted was busy hanging out with another guy.
Whenever I saw Alex these last few weeks, Winston would always be there around him. Tyler would be there too, but he didn't glance at Alex the way Winston does.
And that was my only problem with him.
It was like the new guy didn't have any other friends apart from Alex and Tyler. He was in the yearbook committee, that's why he and Tyler became friends in the first place. And Alex was friends with Tyler so all of them hung out together. I didn't have a problem with Winston being just friends, but the looks he give Alex, damn.
Yes, I was jealous.
"I don't have to tell you..."
"So don't tell us." Luke interrupted Jessica and the boys behind me snickered too.
I was sitting beside Justin, as Luke and Diego sat on the bench infront of us. Most of the other boys were sitting behind us.
"Dude, come on." I snapped at him. "Show some respect."
I was the team captain, I had to keep everyone in check.
"What? She said she couldn't tell us anything we don't already know." Luke said while pointing towards Jessica.
"Well, considering you don't know shit, Luke, you might wanna rethink that." Diego stated, which made all the guys start laughing again.
"Come on." I said as I look behind me, but everyone just ignored me.
Then a loud whistle was heard which brought everyone's attention back in.
"Guys!" It was Diego. "Everybody just shut the hell up and listen to the lady."
Diego was a born charmer, no doubt, and Jessica understood it too because she took some time to get back on track.
"What I can tell you is this. Courage on the field doesn't mean shit unless you have the courage to stand up to each other when you're being fucking dicks."
Everyone was quietly listening to her talk now, even if there may be people like Luke who didn't give a shit about what she says.
Most of the boys on the team didn't like Jessica, seeing she was always against our sports.
When I first joined the team, I didn't understand her too. Monty had fed me with bullshit about her, and she was always trying to get the sports suffer. Like decreasing our funding and trying to cancel the homecoming game.
Then the HO committee actually sabotaged the whole game, and everyone got pissed. Even if we fought the Hillcrest team after she got grabbed by her breasts, there were people who believed that it was her own fault.
But one thing changed after the game. Jessica didn't targeted us much after that, on comparison to what she had done previously. I think it was her way of saying thank you to the team after she got attacked.
And then during the assembly with Hillcrest, the speech she had given got me respecting her. She stood their alone at first, fearless and determined, then more people joined her and I knew how much guts it would have taker her to do that.
But one thing's sure, even if I respected her, I was still afraid of her.
The girl can do anything.
"Or when you're bragging about that hot chick you were banging last night. Or calling us 'lady' like you're a gentleman, but really, you're just trying to diminish us."
Jessica gave Diego a look when she said that, and I also saw Justin glancing at Diego from the corner of my eye.
"Standing up to that kind of bullshit, that's what it means to be a man."
After Jessica spoke, the coach dismissed everyone. One by one, the boys started leaving and I also got up to go to my next class which happens to be History.
"How can Luke even talk like that?" Estela approached me, as we both looked at Luke who was leaving the room with Diego by his side. I'm sure he was saying something offensive just by looking at Jessica's face.
"It's always been like that." I replied, shrugging my shoulders. "Why do you think Jessica hates us so much?"
"Jessica doesn't hate you guys." Estela stated, but when I gave her look for that she immediately continued. "I mean... She hates the way certain of you behave. Given what happened to her in the past, she just wishes that the team members don't take everything for granted. Overall, she is actually a good person."
"You know, Estela," I replied, chuckling at her unneeded attempt of defending Jessica. "You really don't need to explain how Jessica actually is. I already know she is a good person, and even after what her committee did at Homecoming, I totally respect her for what she does for the betterment of the school."
"That's good to hear." Estela sighed, as we both glanced at Jessica who was now chatting with Justin. "Monty hated Jessica. And I'm sure he would've hated me too for joining the committee."
Estela and I have now become good friends, after weeks of hanging out. We sometimes studied together in the library as we had many classes together and are lab partners too.
She was genuinely a nice person, nothing like Monty, and she had also told me the reason behind her joining Jessica's committee.
After Monty got arrested for what he did to Tyler, Estela felt ashamed. She realised how much Monty changed over the years and she wanted nothing more but actually do something for the students here.
Most people think she joined the committee out of guilt, but she joined because she wanted to. Unlike most, she is actually doing something.
"You going to History?" She asked and I nodded as I grabbed my bag and put it on my back. "Save me a seat then. I'll be right behind."
I went to where Ani was standing at the doorway, who gave me a smile and handed me a pamplet.
Justin and Jessica were still chatting as I started looking at the paper in my hand. Then suddenly I heard Jessica taking my name.
"Charlie!" She exclaimed, looking at me while I gave a confused look.
Did I do something wrong?
"What?" I asked.
"Me and Charlie are going to the dance." Jessica stated as she gave me a look.
Okay. Wait what? When did this happened?
"We... uh... what?" I asked again, because I was really hoping that my ears were ringing.
"Yeah, we talked about it, remember?" Jessica asked, still continuing giving me a look which I was trying hard to decode.
As far as I remember, the last time me and Jessica talked one-on-one was when I still worked at Crestmont. After that whenever we met, one of our other friends would always be there.
And our conversation definitely didn't consisted of tomorrow's dance.
"No, but..." I started, and looked at Justin who was already giving me a knowing smile.
That's when I realised what was happening.
Jessica was using me to get back at Justin.
I knew they had broken up during the winter break, so maybe she wanted to show Justin that he wasn't needed anymore.
Should I tell her that she was probably choosing the wrong person for this?
I looked at Jessica who gave me a small but knowing nod.
"Okay, uh, yeah." I agreed, because clearly there wasn't much choice here. "Great."
"Great." Jessica nodded, and dragged Ani out with her.
"Shit, Justin, I didn't mean to..." I stared at their retreating backs then turned towards Justin. "I can tell her I can't go."
I couldn't still believe that I agreed to go to Valentine's Day dance with Jessica Davis.
"I'm just, like, really afraid of her." I confessed to him, at which he just chuckled at me.
"Dude, it's fine." Justin said, still slightly chuckling at my shocked state. "You should go."
"Are you sure?" I asked him. "I was sort of hoping you'd tell me not to."
He didn't said anything for a while, then patted my arm once.
"Good luck, man." Justin said, then exited the locker room too.
Guess I am actually going to the dance tomorrow.
×××××××××××××××
Honestly, I really think that Charlie and Estela would've had a great friendship. That's why in my book they are actually going to be good friends, even if Alex isn't trusting her much.
What do you think?
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