"Hey, where did you disappear to yesterday? Kyle was looking for you," Alice asked as we sat down in the cafeteria and I shrugged.
"I was just around," I said and she looked at me suspiciously.
"Really? How come I didn't see you."
"I was hiding out," I said and seemingly she had bought it as she and Addie went on to update with the latest gossip.
"By the way, which after school activity are you choosing?" She asked and I looked up at her before taking a sip of the energy drink in my hand.
"I haven't decided yet."
"Don't forget the deadline is on Friday."
"Maybe you should just join the cheerleading team with us."
"Now why would I do that?" I asked over my food as she frowned.
"Yeah Alice. Why would she?" God, this clown show again, I thought rolling my eyes ignoring her.
"No, I'm thinking robotics or something," I said ignoring them and turning to Alice who looked amused yet apprehensive.
"Of course she's a nerd. I'm curious though how did you get Ryder's attention? Neither your education nor your family background is impressive. You're just another nameless person trying to gain attention through gossip. What right do you have to try and seduce my guy? If it weren't for Ryder's reputation you'd be invisible. I wonder how many more people you've whored yourself to or tricked just to benefit from their power? Isn't that true Alice?" She said and I could feel myself tense as I crushed the can in my hand. Was this girl looking to get hurt?
"Heather give it a rest. You're jealous she gained Ryder's attention. Just walk away, Heather?" Alice said defensively and I silently thanked her as I prayed that she'd just walk away before I lost my cool.
"Whatever. I'm just wondering what is so attractive about a whore like you?" She said and honestly she should have listened to Alice as I focused on my food. And that was before she did...it.
She'd managed to slander me so far and in front of all this people. I hadn't retorted but to mess with my hair and one of the outfits I bought with my own hard money. She'd crossed a line. Who gave her the idea she could insult and bully me any way she liked? I thought getting to my feet and sending two slaps onto both her cheeks and she looked caught off guard and stunned as slap marks streaked her makeup caked cheeks. Recollecting her wits she turned to me angry and pointing a red finger at me.
"You!? Who do you think you are to slap me!?"
"The name is Diana Peters and guess what!? I'll treat you to a drink too," I let out angry as I dumped the opened yet undrunk milk carton on my tray and both her and her cronies looked caught off guard as they looked at me horrified as the chocolate drink dripped down her hair and onto her white designer dress and her expression told me enough. Never met someone who stood up to her.
"Aaah!?" She howled as I heard some snickers and chortled laughs somewhere in the room. "How dare you splash me with milk!?"
"Eeh, you're too skinny. I thought you needed to add some ounces and to teach you not to go so far into bullying others," I said with a shrug and she looked mad as a few snickers rang in the room before she glared all of them shut.
"So what!? You're not the boss of me. I dare you to splash me again!?" She said and I rolled my eyes reaching for Addie's soda can before turning to her.
"You asked for it," I said splashing the orange soda onto her and she screamed horrified and for a moment I felt sorry for her. The result was something around the color of poop, I think.
"What are you two waiting for!?" She yelled at Henley and the other crony who looked frozen and I laughed. Was she actually going to set them on me?
"You've lost this round Heather," Alice said standing in front of me.
"Yeah, scram," Addie backed her and I let a sigh in relief I'm glad these two were on my side. And my jacket was mostly waterproof so the mess mostly involved at the back of my jacket and the floor.
"Sunshine, woah what the hell happened here," I heard Ethan call out and he looked at us confused as Alice helped me wipe off the gunk from my hair before his gaze fell on her and he snickered.
"Woah, who crapped on you!?" He asked and another howl ripped from her as she glared daggers at me.
"I will get you for this."
"What did I even do to you? We've never even met before last week."
"Do I even need a reason to hate you? I hate your face. I hate how you're trying to seduce my guy," she yelled in anger and I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. The only thing I got from her was that she hated me for my looks, which was more of a compliment than anything.
"Well, I'll say this is my face. If you have any problem with it you can take it up with my mother and father. I can't change that. And for the record, try to take it out on either of them and I can't promise not to use my fists," I said and she turned away from me with a huff walking out of the cafeteria with whatever dignity she had left leaving a hum of chatter following her and I turned back to the table as they looked at me in shock.
"Wow!? Just wow," Alice let out shaking her head at me.
"I think I just got a lady boner," Addie said as I sat back down. "But just saying you owe some juice."
"Sunshine, I'm so proud of you. You stood up to your first bully," Ethan said pinching my cheeks and I rolled my eyes.
"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be with your boyfriend?" I teased and he smirked at me.
"Oh, you know how he is. He missed me too much he got sick," he said and I laughed knowing it was far from the truth and that it probably didn't make sense.
And yet I'm still greatly surprised he actually listened to me as much as I used under handed means. I'd bribed him with a kiss if he stayed home. I'm not sure if it worked though but I'm glad either way he didn't come to school looking the way he was.
"But despite that, I brought you your favorite," he said in a sing song voice handing me another packet of Oreos.
"You spoil me too much," I said and he laughed slinging an arm around me before I registered the curious gazes on us.
"Only the best for my Sunshine," he said and I rolled my eyes.
"When did this happen?"
"The idiot dragged me out of bed at midnight."
"But you enjoyed our night," he said and I glared at him before I realized what he was playing at when I saw Kyle's scrunched up face.
"You must be talking about when I almost strangled you for ruining my sleep," I said sweetly and he let out a chortled laugh.
"Obviously, you know better than I do," he said getting to his feet and I smiled. "Anyway, I have to go take care of my sick boyfriend. See you around Sunshine."
"He doesn't mean that right?" Addie asked staring dreamily at him and I shook my head amused. "He's too dreamy."
"Nope," I said despite the fact that I had my doubts at times. "But I have to go guys. Big research assignment."
"Extra credit?" Alice asked and I nodded.
She was the only other person who knew my situation other than Ryder and Tess. And honestly being a few weeks away shy of 17 could be the worst position as of now. And so is being a 16 year old in a senior class. I'd always been smart, or so I figure, and being homeschooled my studies were fast-paced than usual and would have skipped a couple of grades and would already have finished school, but I much preferred to enjoy high school or at least the last two years of it and life before subjecting myself to work or further studies, or if you care for the long version my father didn't want me growing up too fast.
"Yeah, I'll see you guys later," I said excusing myself to spend the rest of my time in the library before my last period and I was off towards Ryder's.
Not because I wanted to but it was only because I had already been home last night when I realized my music player was missing and the culprit was texting me in the middle of the night.
"I must be seeing things," was the first thing the pregnant lady in front of me said when I said I was here for him and I looked at her confused before she grabbed pulling me inside. "When I saw you the other night, I thought I was going crazy. But you're back and you look so pretty."
She said and I forced a smile as she cradled my face.
"Oh my God, I was wondering when it was going to happen," she said excited hugging me and I didn't know how exactly to respond but this was before Ryder rescued me from an embarrassing situation.
"Kay, I love you but let the girl breathe," he said and she let me go before smiling sheepishly as he put an arm around my waist as I noticed the changes almost immediately. It's a wonder what you can do with some ice and good enough rest.
"It's finally happening," she squealed and I looked at them confused wondering what they were going on about.
"Don't get any ideas, Kaylee," he said and before turning to me. "Aren't I going to get my kiss? I stayed in bed all day. Just like you asked."
"I don't know. I have no way to verify that and you are here, not exactly in bed," I mused out loud and I could see his jaw dropped from my peripheral vision and Kaylee burst out laughing.
"But I.. I was coming to get you," he said with a pout making me laugh as I patted his cheek and I moved away from his reach.
And yet as I left later that evening, I couldn't help but press my lips softly against his cheek. I'm a lot of things, but I'm not one to break a promise not how silly they seem and I pretended not to see the huge grin that appeared on his as I walked away.