I stared at my phone as I slowly ate my cereal wishing I could skip school. Last night kept playing in my head, making me feel worse every time it did.
Why did I have to snap at him? It was just a joke. A game. A dare.
A kiss.
I pushed the thought aside and cleaned up before getting ready to walk out. I got out, closed and locked the door behind me.
As I started walking I saw Zach's car drive.
I felt my stomach turn at the sight yet again remembering last night.
God I'm such a kid with the way I reacted. Does that mean I do mind if he has my first kiss? But why would I? He's just a friend.
I sighed again not liking the situation I've been getting myself into. I just wish we can both forget it and continue as we always have.
I got to the school and opened my locker, putting in what I didn't need and taking out what I did when I saw someone walk up to me.
"What do you want Ian?"
"A 'good morning' would've been nice."
I rolled my eyes and felt a small smile come on.
"There it is."
I looked at Ian confused.
"What?"
"A smile. You looked pretty depressed when you walked into here."
"Really?" I patted my cheeks. "Sorry about that."
"It's no problem. Just promise me you'll keep a smile on from now on. A frown doesn't look good on you."
I looked at him and genuinely smiled receiving a small smile from him too. I quickly looked away and closed my locker.
"Shut up. The sappy stuff doesn't look good on you."
He laughed and we started to walk to class. He lightly placed a hand on my shoulder as we walked. I smiled at Ian but stopped when I saw Zach from the corner of my eye. He was staring at me in anger. I couldn't help but lock eyes with him, completely confused as to why he was looking at me like that.
What is he mad about? Can't be because of last night, right?
I felt a hand on my shoulder and looked over at Ian.
"You okay? You're staring at the popular in confusion."
I looked back down at my books in hand and cleared my throat.
"Yeah. Just thought how annoying it would be to be a part of that."
Ian laughed yet again.
"Yeah. I feel the same way."
He slowly removed his hand before we continued to class. The whole time I felt as if Zach was watching me.
I got to my seat and looked at Ian in front of me.
"You sure you're okay? I mean, that smile of yours still hasn't come back."
I shook my head.
"Sorry. Just thinking about something."
Why did he look so mad?
"Did something happen last night?"
I looked at Ian a little shocked. He looked away when I did.
"Never mind."
He walked over to his desk and sat down completely ignoring what just happened.
Okay, him asking that was odd too. Everything that's been happening has been pretty odd. Why is that?
I got my stuff out for the class and started working on the assignment, not really able to focus on the topic at hand. And that wasn't really good since it was my French class.
I felt my phone buzz and I couldn't help but check it. I slipped it up onto my desk using my book to cover it and looked at what could have sent me a notification.
It was a text from Zach.
I looked around a bit before opening it and looking at what he could have sent.
Zach- 'Who was that?'
I rolled my eyes.
Really? That's what he was mad about?
Me- 'A friend from the club. Why?'
I looked up to make sure the teacher wasn't looking or coming towards me. I wasn't worried about my other classmates seeing me since they were all doing it themselves.
Just as I looked back, he answered.
Zach- 'Why were you guys so close? Is he the guy you like?'
I rolled my eyes. He's acting like a jealous little girl.
Me- 'He's just a close friend. I can have friends, can't I?'
Zach- 'close friend my ass. he was touching you! and why was he looking at you like that?'
Me- 'It was just my shoulder. Chill out.'
Zach- 'So he can touch your shoulder and not get you to freak out but I dare you for a kiss and you panic?'
I was starting to get a little angry now.
Me- 'He lightly touched my shoulder. you asked for a KISS.'
Zach- 'We've known each other since elementary school. You've known him for like two years. See the difference?'
I groaned. What's his deal?
Me- 'Just chill, will you? stop texting me.'
After I sent that I turned off my phone and shoved it into my bag.
Why is he being a jerk about this? He's seen me with friends before. What's wrong with things now?
I was getting angry and felt my foot tapping furiously. I saw a couple people looking at me and tried my best to stop. I took a deep breath and played with my hair a bit.
I just wish last night didn't happen.
I did my best to ignore what I was feeling and Focused the best I could on my class work. I couldn't help but look up at Ian a couple times as if wishing I could talk to him about this.
Before I knew it, the bell rang for lunch and I started heading down when I ran into Ashley and her boyfriend AJ seeing them all lovey dovey.I gagged a little at the display but pushed through it and smiled as I walked up to them.
"Hey Ashley."
She gasped.
"Jessica! Oh my god, you would not believe it! I know that Ian does have a crush!"
"Why would I want to know that?" I asked, extremely confused. I looked around to see if he followed me and overheard them.
"Uh, cause it has to be you? Why else?"
I rolled my eyes.
"You know, you sound like a fourth grader right now."
She looked up and groaned.
"So? I don't care. All I want is for you to get him to ask you to the Winter Formal and then we can go together as a double date! Right, AJ?"
She looked at him with her sparkly glow from how excited she was. AJ, being the sweet guy he was, broke at her charm and sighed in defeat.
"Yeah. That sounds like a great idea hun."
She jumped up and hugged him.
"Yay! Now all we need is for him to ask you Jessy!"
"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Wait just a second. Even if he were to ask I'd probably say no. I'm not into him like that. Also, don't call me that."
"Aw, c'mon Jessy," she started completely ignoring what I said. "Just say yes for the dance. If you really hate it then you don't have to go out with him."
"How is that fair to him?"
She shrugged. "That's kind of what AJ and I did. I had a crush on him, sure, but he wasn't too interested so I said 'one date and if you don't like it then I'll back off'."
"Not everyone is like you Ashley. And frankly, that's a good thing."
She rolled her eyes.
"Anyway, I think he's been meaning to ask you out for a while now. So just at least say yes to that, okay? I don't think we could handle losing him before the competition."
"Oh, so you just want me to accept to keep him from leaving the club?"
She looked to the side and tried her best to hide her smile.
"Maybe. But seriously," she looked at me, locking eyes, giving me a straight face. "Give him a chance. He really has a thing for you."
She backed up and smiled brightly again.
"Then again I'd love to see you guys together. We could have double dates!"
I groaned at that. AJ gave a nervous smile. He was always super sweet, doing everything he could to treat Ashley like a princess doing what she wanted. I'd love to have something like that, I mean, who wouldn't?
Ashley smacked his arm playfully and he grabbed her waist in response making her start to laugh. I sighed as I watched them.
"How do you have so much energy and passion for things?"
"What do you mean?" Ashley asked, not looking away from her boyfriend. AJ smiled and I watched him look at her with deep care.
Damn them. They're so cute it's unfair.
"Well I'm going to get something to eat before lunch ends. You guys have... fun."
Before Ashley could say anymore I walked off to the lunchroom and got something to eat. I sat down at an empty table and pulled out my phone, starting to scroll through some random website not actually wanting to eat just yet.
I saw movement coming toward me and looked up.
I froze.
It was Zach.
He got to my table and threw a piece of paper down to me before walking out of the lunch room.
What is he thinking? Did everyone see that? Is he trying to get me killed?
I looked at the piece of paper and picked it up, unfolding it to read what it said.
'Meet me in the gaming room after practice. We need to talk.'
Why couldn't he have just texted me that? Why can't we meet at my house? Why in the club room?
I crumpled the paper and got up throwing away my food and the paper with it.
I'd lost my appetite. I felt so anxious and I just knew people were looking at me. Just what was he thinking?
I went to reach over for my phone when I remembered that it was in my bag and off. Maybe that's why he did that. Because I wasn't responding. But again, why couldn't he have just waited?
I bit at my thumb nail and went to the bathroom. I stood at one of the sinks and stared at my reflection. That's when I saw her.
Emma stood behind me, arms folded with her two henchmen, Tasha and Sabrina by her side.
Emma had blonde hair that stopped at her shoulders and was fairly skinny. She was the cheerleader captain so it was expected for her to be skinny. Tasha was the sassy black girl you always saw in mean girl groups on tv. She currently has long braids and bright pink acrylic nails that popped out against her skin. She was the taller one of the trio but Emma was still the leader. And then there was Sabrina. She was usually nice but still hated me like everyone else. Red, curly hair and freckles all over her pale skin.
I felt my heart beating hard against my chest. Of course she saw what happened. Dammit Zach this is all your fault!
"So you're the bitch taking Zach away from me."
Emma said those words as a statement and not a question. She knew he was hanging out with me.
"I thought I told you before to fuck off."
I looked down at the sink and tried my best to calm down. Today has already been a shitty day. I didn't need this on top of things.
I quickly turned around and pointed my finger at her.
"So what? He can have friends if he wants them."
I could tell I was shaking a bit. I hated to say it but I was a little scared.
She didn't like the way I pointed my finger at her. She got angrier at the sight and pushed my hand away.
"Listen here, freak. Zach would never willingly hang out with someone like you. Back off before things get worse."
She started to walk off when she stopped.
"Do it," she whispered to Tasha and Sabrina and before I could react I was on the floor. I could hear Emma walk out and curse under my breath. Tasha grabbed me by the hair and pulled me up before Sabrina took a good look at me right in my face.
"What'll it be, freak? Your nose or ear?"
She tugged at my septum piercing and I could already feel tears in my eyes.
"C'mon hurry up and yank one out. This bitch is heavy."
I looked up at Tasha and how she gripped my hair tightly by the scalp to hold me up. I was surprised she could do it with her long nails but she was having no trouble at all.
I could feel Sabrina playing with my piercing and I knew she was about to yank it out. I closed my eyes in preparation for the pain when the bell rang.
"Shit," Tasha muttered as she dropped me. I fell to the ground yet again wincing at how I landed. "Let's go Sabrina, it's no use wasting time with her."
"Aw but I was just about to get to the good part."
"Who cares we can't be late to class again or we'll get shit from the coach."
Sabrina rolled her eyes and stood up.
"Next time I'll take that piercing of yours. I'm sure it would look better on me anyway."
With that she spat on me and walked out with Tasha closely behind. I stayed there for a second before slowly getting up, stumbling a bit to get my balance. I looked at myself in the mirror and saw my makeup smudged a bit from the few tears that left my eyes. My hair was a mess. I did my best to set it back down but it was no use without a brush.
I sighed and got some water to help flatten my hair down.
I didn't want to go to class. I just wanted to go home. Fuck Zach. This was his fault. What was he so upset about anyway? Some guy? He's never acted like this before. What the hell?!
I slammed my fist on the sink.
I took a deep breath. I looked back up at myself in the mirror and felt it was good enough to go back out in. My hair was still a mess but I didn't care at this point.
Zach wanted to meet after school then we sure as hell meeting up. He wants to talk then we're fucking talking.