I grabbed my plate with a mashed potato bowl with toppings, I was waiting for Camilla to get her lunch from the food court.
After the club, we continued our personal book club for a while talking about stories we've enjoyed and then she offered that we go to lunch together.
Spending time with her has been quite fun. She has good taste in novels and enjoys reading just like I do.
"So, let's go," Camilla said and I followed her to an empty lunch table. When we settled down, I continued our discourse.
"So how about Memoirs? Do you read them?" I asked and when she nodded, I continued "Have you read the Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank? It's a lovely book. Like you'd feel sad..." I said but I paused my sentence due to the sudden loud chatters and gasps that I was hearing.
It appears to be some set of guys walking in or more like, strolling in, like they owned the place and one thing I noticed about these boys at first glance is that they are breathtakingly gorgeous and hot- like-damn hot.
Gosh! These guys were given their looks to oppress and make people depressed because if not, how can they be so cute?
I guess their friendship was formed based on their good looks.
They were all tall and apart from the way they looked, the way they moved and laughed had a strong effect.
I guess they already know that though. If they didn't have a mirror, the people have already mirrored their look with the reaction they gave.
I am about to return my focus to Camilla but my eyes flicker back when I notice someone else. That guy?
He seemed to have walked in just now but he's now standing in between two other guys.
They pause at a table then they all settle down. And all these while and even now, my eyes stay focused on them, especially on him watching his every move.
Seeing where my gaze is focused, Camilla spoke "That's totally another world in this school. They are a group of guys: The one that has dark-brown hair is Pascal, beside him is Julian, then is David, sitting opposite Pascal is Caleb then Raymond," She said but I had already stopped listening to her after hearing the name Julian.
So his name was Julian, huh? I watch how he is showing the others something from his phone as he laughs. I am sure the sound that came out must be as perfect as his face.
"Hey! Were you even listening?" Camilla sneered and this brought my attention back to her.
I nodded and after giving me a hard glare, she began to take a bite of her grilled cheese sandwich.
"C'mon. Okay. sorry. I was lost for a while but I badly want to know things about how this school works. Please," I begged then she gazed at me.
"You made me look like a desperate gossip." She pouted then she went on "As I was saying, they're like BFFs, they are closed up to the rest of the population and only they know their thing. They are egotistical and the rich spoilt bad boys around here. Girls don't fawn, they run crazy over them. Julian is the owner of the school's son and in the soccer team so they get away with everything they do and surely get the special treatment. Pascal is Julian's cousin and he's also on the soccer team and David is the captain of the soccer team and the closest to the guys," She finishes off taking a bite of her sandwich.
But I wasn't surprised hearing all these things. From the way they walked in earlier, they had displayed all she just told me about. But wait? Did she say that they're rich spoilt bad boys? Like heartbreakers and jerks?
I begin to eat my food feeling uninterested in asking about the questions running in my head. That wasn't my business.
Apart from being the guy that I bumped into in the garden and here at school, I had nothing else with this Julian and would want nothing else to do with him.
"And yep, I forgot, add, that girl that just joined them is Mabel, she's with Julian but he isn't with her." She said then I looked back at their table.
A beautiful girl with wavy dark hair had joined in. She was now sitting beside Julian where David was. She was saying something but he doesn't seem to be paying attention as he is on his phone.
"What do you mean?" I said swapping my neck back to Camella with curiosity clear in my tone.
"He still sleeps around and rumours have it that it was their parents that paired them. Can't you see? It looks like a one-sided thing. He has given her a hundred and one reasons to end their so-called relationship. I think she should end it for her sanity." She added and with that, it has been confirmed.
He's a total jerk and a heartbreaker. What a waste of good looks. The good looks also go to the wrong guy or is it that it just comes along with all the bad attitudes?
"Have anything else you want to know about? Wait! I can also tell you about.." Camella started but for some reason paused, looking behind me with narrowed eyes.
Turning to see what's behind me, I nearly choked on my food. Julian?! Wait? what? Julian? Why is he here? And why's he holding his tray...Does he want to join us? No! No! No!
We don't even know each other.
Oh. Or...maybe he and Camella are somewhat close?
I return my gaze to my food unbothered settling for that option. He Or his businesses aren't my concern. Yes, I still stand on the ground that he's mesmerizing but apart from that, everything else about him is a zero.
"Now, that's hostile because I came here for you," He said but I don't still get it. Is it me he's talking to?
He comes to sit opposite where I am and I clarify "Me?" I asked and he nodded, a charming smile breaking on his lips. Well, if that's what he uses to get girls, then, he just failed, since these things don't work on me.
"Yep. I realized that I didn't call get your name." He said and when a girl behind me gasps, it's then I take time to study the room.
It's only a few people that are focused on us watching our every detail but even at that, I feel uncomfortable. After hearing what Camella told me about him, the last thing I wanted was to start hearing rumors saying :
Oh, the new girl and Julian have something. Maybe they dated before or hooked up Or are currently hooking up.
No! Never! My clean image meant a lot to me.
I stand up, disinterested in the food on my table, and signal to Camilla that I am leaving.
"Jessica," I uttered and with that, I turned on my heels and left him sitting there probably wondering what he did wrong.
...
Today has been a long day and one hell of a day for the first day. My head was on the headrest of the seat as my driver accelerated.
I picked up my phone to check on Belinda since I wanted to stop by her place.
Since, oddly, Monday is a day when I don't have much to do. No French lessons, piano lessons, painting lessons, or SAT lessons, apart from weekends, this is the day we hang out a lot more. So, today can't be an exception. I won't let the fact that I changed schools become a barrier.
"'I'm close to your place. Hope you're around?" I texted her. I dropped my phone by my side and when it beeped a reply, I checked it.
"'Thank God you're coming, I need your help over here. I was planning to come over later. Hurry,"'
Before the driver passed Belinda's house, I stopped him. Well, even if he had passed, it wouldn't be a big deal since her house is just a few blocks away from mine.
I dashed out of the car and walked to her gate. I keyed in the code to the sliding gate and it opened the passage for me.
As I entered, what welcomed me was the lovely scent emanating from the flower petals all around. That was one thing that I and Belinda had in common. Our love for flowers and nature.
As I pass her pool, I see Mrs Howard, her mother lying on a sunbed with her eyes glued to a magazine.
"Good day Mrs. Howard," I greeted her walking past her but I still caught her words.
"Oh, hell, yeah. Today is a good day. And, you guys shouldn't try leaving. Belinda is grounded." She said and I grinned. What did that girl do again?
I open her brass antique door and head to the living room. When I don't see her there, I head to her room.
Luckily, as I dash in, I see her standing with her hands on her hips, looking perplexed. Her floor-ceiling wardrobe was opened, her French bed was covered with different sorts of dresses and sheo boxes were all around.
I guess it was an outfit selection problem she was having.
Noticing my presence, she turned smiling. "Jessica!" She beamed and I hurried towards her.
"Aren't you grounded?" I asked wondering what she wanted to pick an outfit for.
"Yep, but it's not me that's taking myself out. It's my mom. We're going to my cousin's wedding but I don't want to wear the dress she bought for me, I am still angry with her." She grunts and I laugh at her.
"What did you do this time?" I asked sitting on her bed and she came to sit beside me, looking disheartened.
"Actually....it's about Sandra's issue. My mom felt that it was unfair for me to get punished and I go free. And when she brought that up, I felt bad. I am so sorry that you had to go through this." She said and I smiled at her gesture. I grab her hand entwining it with hers.
"It's fine. It's not our fault. It's not yours that my dad decided to react the way he did, that's the way he is. And about Sandra's issue, we were just defending ourselves. Never blame yourself for any of our mess and besides, you said you're coming, so it's no longer a punishment. You know changing school comes with some fun too," I said and with this, she dragged me into her embrace.
After a while of hugging, we broke our embrace then I went over to her wardrobe and started looking for a suitable dress for her. She always loved looking her best during family functions to intimidate her aunties that not-so-subtly mocked her mother about being a spinster.
But if it was up to me, I'd tell her not to stress herself since she didn't need an overly extravagant look, to be beautiful or get attention. She was born that way.
From her hour-glass body, to her copper red hair, her clear and smooth skin, then her pretty face with high cheekbones, full lips and wide-set of eyes.
Everything about her screamed I am Belinda Howard and I am that girl.