FIVE
♛
Faye
THE NEXT PERSON TO ASK ME if Cole tastes like Hershey's I will stick my foot so far up your ass I could tickle your uvula." I met the eyes of every person crowding around my desk with a hard glare. "Do you understand me?"
Everyone scattered.
Ever since I stepped foot into class they've been bombarding me with questions about my and Cole's non-existent sex life and no matter how much I tell them we didn't do it the more incline they were to believe that we did.
The second bell rang, signalling for class to begin and Mr Addams walked in with a leather briefcase and a deep frown. "Everyone to your seats, please." He settled in and began taking roll. I zoned off for a while until the classroom door banged open and Arsen Cadwell stepped through. The Quarterback and Cole's best friend.
He was your cliché bad boy. Tattoos running up and down his arm, piercings with the leather jackets he wore instead of the school's blazer that was mandatory. I should add rule-breaker to the list. Then again, I'm not much better.
Mr Addams jerked his glasses up his nose and lifted an eyebrow- more like a layer of skin. "Mr Cadwell, you are late," he informed him.
Arsen acted like he didn't even hear him and made his way to the back of the class. A seat behind me with the rest of the football team.
Mr Addams sighed loudly then turned to the board to begin our lesson.
I'd say it was foolish of me to think I could get through this class unscathed with that stupid rumour going around.
A few minutes later, I got a paper ball thrown at the back of my head, then I heard someone hiss my name lowly. I spun around, "What?"
It was one of the football players, Coby I think his name was. "I wanna know when it's my turn?"
"Turn?"
He grinned. "Since, you let Cole tap it. We wanna know if you're sharing. He can't keep you all to himself. I'm free on Wednesdays but it's all up to you." He winked suggestively and I wanted to throw up in his face.
He and his army of tools laughed like it's the funniest thing they've ever heard. Except for Arsen. He looked bored. He always looked bored but what he doesn't always do is look at me. But I didn't even stop to analyse it because I was pissed-the-fuck off.
My fists clenched around my pencil and I'm surprised it haven't snapped in half.
I'm going to kill Cole.
I forced an innocent smile and even fluttered my eyelashes like a hussy. They ate it up. "Sure, I'm free on Wednesday. We could meet in the gym after school." His face lit up. "I'll bring the dildo."
His smile fell. "Huh?"
"You know, for your pussy."
A chorus of 'oohs' and 'burns' by the guys had me cracking a smile.
I even saw Arsen's lip quirk up at the sides a little until he found me staring at him and it disappeared.
At least I know he's not a lifeless statue.
I turned around in my seat just as the door opened again. This time it was the office secretary, Ms Suzy.
"Sorry to disturb your class, Mr Addams," She said. "But the principle has requested to see Faye Archer."
Every head in the class turned in my direction knowingly.
"Jesus, I didn't even do anything yet," I defended earnestly.
Mr Addams shook his head and gestured for me to grab my things and go.
Stupid school.
Stupid reputation.
I grabbed my things and headed out the door after Ms Suzy.
Her black stiletto heels clicked sharply on the white marble floors.
Ms Suzy was a no-nonsense type of woman, she took her job super seriously. A couple was making out against the water fountain. Ms Suzy flicked it on and the water sprayed all over them. They sprung apart, glaring at her. "Don't you have a class! Get to it!"
I stifled my snicker and hurried after her.
The AC in the office caressed my sweaty skin as soon as we stepped in. She gestured for me to wait out here. She patted down her short dark hair and brushed off some invisible dust from her pencil skirt before she pushed into his office.
Several minutes later, I was throwing pencils in the dustbin beside Ms Suzy's desk when she reappeared rather flustered I observed. She cleared her throat. "He would see you now."
I got up.
"Hey, where are all my pencils?"
I bolted in.
Mr Stratton looked up startled and cocked an eyebrow in question. I shrugged and plopped down in front of him throwing a leg over the chair handle. "It's been a while, Mr S. How's the wife?"
"She still hates me. If that's what you're asking, Faye?" He said flatly.
Mr Stratton and I had a very fulfilling relationship. I make him rethink his life choices on a daily basis and he tries and fails, to keep me in line. We give each other's life purpose, well him more than me.
He dug into a draw in his desk and retrieved a huge file. He dropped it on the table with a hard thud.
"Is that my file?"
"Nobody in the history of this great school has given me as much trouble as you Ms Archer. So much so, I have petitioned to get you expelled from here many, many, many, many times. But sadly the Board thinks that having you here is more of an asset than a liability considering your talents in the Arts." I see why his wife loves him so much. He's quite a catch. "I think otherwise, of course. You're a massive nuisance."
"I admire the faith, Mr S," I clipped sarcastically.
He rolled his eyes. "Back to why you're here." He flipped through the file, shifting papers and detention slips as he went. When he found the page he wanted he looked back up at me again. "I came to understand that you are not participating or haven't ever participated in any extracurricular activities, am I correct?"
I shrugged.
I hated participating in school as much as I hate pizza with pineapples on it— it's disgusting (school I mean). I only ever went to one game in freshman year for Hayle's first game as a cheerleader. Other than that, you would never find me at any of the social events, fundraiser or participating in any clubs. I just wasn't interested.
Now, if it's a social event with free booze then I'd consider it.
As for the clubs, I am not going stay back at school for an extra hour in a room full of antsy teenagers talking about shit I don't care about.
That's not me. I rather stay at home eat my rocky road in peace and watch The 100— now that sounds more like me.
"You are aware, Faye that if you don't participate in any clubs you can't graduate."
I stiffened. "Come again?"
"I know you heard me, Faye," he said exasperatedly. "I'd rather get dragged from a train by my earlobe than have to go through another year with you. So, I have taken the liberty to sign you up for the Newspaper as they are in need of a photographer and knowing your skills, I thought you'd be a good match for the job."
I blinked several times. Am I hearing correctly? Did I somehow died and ended up in hell?
"You can't be serious."
"Oh, but I am, Ms Archer."
"You signed me up for the Newspaper?! The Newspaper of all things! That club is full of weirdos. Do you know who's in that club? Gary Lambert. The same Gary who thinks he is a vampire. He fucking dresses like Dracula and wouldn't talk to anyone unless you reassure him you didn't have any garlic on you. Oh, and one time he even bit my friend Jordon because she opened the curtains in the Av Room." I shook my head stubbornly. "Nope. I am not going, sorry. Get someone else."
Stratton's lips curled up at seeing my displeasure. "Well, you have no choice. Either join the Newspaper Committee or don't graduate."
It's official, today sucks.
He had me cornered. No way could I not graduate my Dad would kill me. I fell back in my seat with a groan. "Fine, geez. I'll do it."
"I didn't doubt you wouldn't," he said with an evil smile. I swear he's out to get me.
He handed me the Newspaper club's flyer and shooed me out of his office. My hand was on the doorknob when he hollered for me again. I turned back. "Yeah?"
"I also signed you up to volunteer for a booth at the fundraiser next month."
Son of a bitch.
______________________
It was lunch when I left the office. I found our table all the way in the back of the canteen. I made my way, ignoring all the stares as best as I could. Apparently they weren't over what went on this morning. I pushed Hayley and Jordon's trays to the side and stretched out on the table. I'm pretty sure I am flashing the table beside us but I don't care. I'm having a shitty day already.
"Did I ever tell you guys how much I hate this place?"
"Yep. More than once too," Jordon said shoving my hand away from her fries when I started groping for it.
"I heard Mr Stratton called you in again? What did you do this time?" Hayley asked.
"Nothing special," I shrugged. "Just fucked the janitor."
"What?!" they both said in unison.
"Wow, sarcasm isn't in your vocabulary, I see." I chuckled. "He told me I couldn't graduate unless I participated in an extracurricular activity. Apparently colleges like seeing that shit on your application."
"I've been telling you that for years, but no. You never listen to me," Jordon said.
"That's not even the worst part. He's making me join the Newspaper."
Jordon frowned. "I'm on the newspaper committee."
"Exactly." She shoved me off the table and I laughed hard catching myself before I face planted on the floor. I flipped her off then plopped down across from them.
I couldn't help it when my eyes found them in the middle of the cafeteria.
Cole and his inner circle was surrounded by a crowd of cheerleaders and football players. I noticed everyone was watching their table as if they were God's greatest blessing.
Girls fawning over the boys and guys with envious scowls. It was pathetic really that a bunch of teenagers could have so much effect on the student body like this. They could wash their ass in the school's fountain and these fools would drink it up like holy water.
Siting besides Cole, and practically dry humping his leg was Reyna.
Queen Bitch. Captain of the cheer squad. Jordon's sister.
Reyna and Cole had a special relationship and when I say special, I mean she is the only girl in the school he's ever fucked more than once so now she thinks she's the chosen one or some shit. Even crowned herself the Queen of the Academy.
But as much as she tries to weasel herself into their close-knit group, she'd never gotten far and it's obvious she hates it.
Our eyes locked across the cafeteria and a slow evil smirk graces her evenly-applied red lips. Slowly she grips Cole's jaw, turning his face to her and plants one on him for everyone in the cafeteria to see.
What is this?
Is she marking her territory or something?
Does she actually think I care? She could fuck him in the middle of the cafeteria and I would care less.
I think people are forgetting the fact that we hate each other and all the messed up shit we did to each other all those years ago. Just because I caught a ride with him this morning, they think we're official.
I almost laughed out loud at that.
I swiped Hayley's cokes from on top of her tray I popped it open and saluted her with it before chugging it down.
My little way of saying 'Go fuck yourself, bitch.' And she got the message. Her eyes turned hard but she was still eating Cole's face.
After a good ten minutes of them making out and me getting uncomfortable. From the corner of my eye, I saw Cleo and Reyna rise from their seats.
"Um... why is my sister coming over here?" Jordon asked looking over my shoulders. I shrugged nonchalantly but I knew what was coming.
"Hello, Jordon and Jordon's friends," Reyna said sliding into my bench. Cleo on the other side of me.
Ahhh, the popular mean girl intimidation strategy. This is going to be good.
"What do you want Reyna?" Jordon asked irritably.
"So, I can't check up on my little sis once in a while."
"This is once in a while cause you never do it," Jordon muttered but it fell on deaf ears, Reyna had turned away from her and had given me her full attention.
"This morning I heard the funniest thing about you, Faye. Cleo, you remember what it was?"
Cleo nodded twirling my hair around her index finger. I didn't like the way she was watching me like I was a snack she couldn't wait to devour. "Yup. Something about Faye and your Cole hooking up over the summer. Just about the weirdest shit I ever heard because he's your boyfriend. Isn't that funny, Faye?"
I swatted her hand from my hair and schooled my face into a mask of indifference. Better to act casual in these kinds of situations. It pisses them off when you don't care.
"Well for one I agree with you there, which is a first for everybody because we both know your IQ is lower than my body count."
Hayley and Jordon snickered across the table and I smiled back innocently. My guests, however, weren't all too happy with my joke.
Reyna leaned forward, so close I could see the green specks in her eyes. She looked savage. "You're fucking pathetic, Faye. I know all those years ago you acted like you hated him just so you could have his attention and you got it. But listen closely when I say this, bitch. Cole is mine. He was always mine and no bitch with split ends and no tits is going to take him away from me. This is a threat, in case you are wondering. Stay the fuck away from him or I will end you." Her eyes sparkled with a promise and she actually scared me then. She stood up rather gracefully in her six-inch stilettos and winked at Jordon. "You have a good lunch."
When she was gone Hayley let out a breath. "Damn that was tense as fuck."
My mind was still reeling with what just happened. Did I just get threatened to stay away from a boy I didn't even like?
What happened to me last year till now? When did this become my life?
I caught Cole watching me with his usual stoic indifference. He'd seen me and Reyna's little showdown. What he thought about it, I didn't care to find out. I got up with Jordon and Hayley and headed for class early. The cafeteria became suddenly stifling.