"Eight... Nine... Ten.. Ele... Okay, I can't do it."
Cecilia broke her pose, which comprised of standing on her hands, while doing a perfect slit with her feet in the air. She'd been able to maintain the position for only 10 seconds, but even that was a whole new record. If she practiced daily, she might just be able to climb up the pyramid in the cheer leading squad.
The better cheerleaders always made sure she stayed at the base of the pyramid —just like she was at the base of the popularity chain— and her shoulders ached after every practice. She needed to move up fast, if she didn't want her arms to be immobile by the time she finished highschool. However, with her current pace, that was likely to happen... In the next three lunar years.
Beyonce's "Spirit" began blaring, causing Cecilia to grab her phone from the cupboard. The caller ID identified the one ringing as Angus, her boyfriend of there weeks. A smile broke out on her face.
For Cecilia, Angus had happened so unexpectedly, it felt like a dream. Before him, no boy had looked at her in a romantic way. Sure she was pretty, but not in the way that drew the attention of people. Even though her style was enough to exempt her from the nerd category, she got her fair share of teases. As for her hair, Cecilia was of an unmixed black race, so her hair was as tough as could be. To save herself the stress of combing it, she wore her hair in simple standalone braids.
The first time Cecilia had noticed Angus, he had smiled at her from across the gymnasium. It was the first day of high school, and orientation for the freshers of Hill Crest High —Cecilia couldn't stop herself from developing a crush on a boy she didn't know, with a cute smile and pretty eyes. Two years later, Angus became her study hall partner, and things heated up from there.
"Yellow! This is Cissie speaking. Drop a heart if you love her." Cecilia chippered.
"Hey Cissie."
Angus' gloomy tone alarmed Cecilia. Usually, whenever she acted silly, he laughed. He usually loved her funny side, but not today. Adjusting her tone to fit his, she said,
"Hey. Is something wrong?"
"Look. Cissie. Let's end things." Angus replied.
His words sent a dagger through Cecilia's heart. She hadn't fully comprehended the words, and she didn't want to. She just wanted them to be a lie.
"No you don't. We just started dating!"
"Yes! And I thought things would be different once I started seeing you, but... I'm sorry Cissie, but you're just not my type."
"You didn't even take the time to know me and you've already decided I'm not your type?" The words came out of Cecilia sounding sadder than she intended.
"I really am sorry. It's not you. It's me." Angus said, even though he didn't seem to mean it.
"Yes. It's all you."
Cutting the call, Cecilia threw her phone on her bed and collapsed on the floor. Tears were freely running down her face now. Angus had broken up with her, and of course he'd used the lines right out of the book.
A part of Cecilia had often protested having Angus as a partner, as he was too much of a star catch for her. She just couldn't handle him, talk less of keeping him. No matter how much she tried to deny it, a tiny voice in her head always reminded her of her place. It still hurt though. Angus didn't have to rub in the fact that she was too "lame" to be his girlfriend.
"I'm heading out!" The door opened ajar and a head poked into the bedroom. "Whoa! Are you okay?"
Cecilia looked into her elder sister's black eyes. Barbara appeared worried. Even with a scowl on, she still looked perfect. Her short fluffy hair was styled straight, and she had on minimal makeup, yet she was breathtakingly beautiful. Cecilia didn't know how Barbara did it without even trying, but her big sister could give men a run for their money. How she wished she was that pretty.
"You okay Cissie?" Barbara asked again.
"I'm good." Cecilia said as nonchalantly as she could.
"You sure?"
"Ya."
Barbara didn't look convinced, but Cecilia was glad she decided to drop the topic. When it came to respecting privacy, her elder sister knew the reigns.
"I'm leaving for work. Want a lift to school?" Barbara asked.
"No thanks." Cecilia answered. She wanted to be left alone.
"Okay then. I'll drop off Cyril at kindergarten. He's pretty excited for his first day." Barbara studied her little sister's long face. Something was definitely up with her. "You can talk to me about anything, you know?"
"I know."
"I love you."
This warmed Cecilia's heart, and she genuinely smiled. "I love you too sis."
Clicking the door shut, Barbara left, and Cecilia was alone once again. Her thoughts went back to Angus' insensitive breakup, and tears threatened to take over again, only stopped by the alarm clock, which struck 7:50 am. Cecilia had only 10 minutes to get to school, and she had just ditched her fastest ride. At this point, she didn't care much. All she desired was to grieve her new found singlehood.
With her braids packed in a simple ponytail, and her most comfortable sneakers —which she was sure didn't fit her outfit— put on, Cecilia began walking to school. By car, the distance to Hill Crest High was about 8 minutes, but on foot it took well over 30 minutes. By the time Cecilia arrived, all bells, from the first to fifth, had rung, and the hallways were empty.
"Late are we, Miss Jones?" A lanky man with a prominent bald spot, frowned at Cecilia.
"I'm so sorry Principal Gusto. I swear I didn't plan on coming late." Cecilia promptly apologized.
"I've heard that more times than I've heard activist rant about global warming." Principal Gusto said, rolling his eyes. "I'll pardon you this once, because it's your first time. And brighten up would you. You look terrible." He walked away.
Trust the never smiling principal to take a jab at you whenever he could. Cecilia laughed sarcastically. If only Angus had been just as honest from the beginning, then she wouldn't have had her heart broken in two. For the three weeks they dated, he'd made her feel special, almost like he loved her. And she had fallen hard for him. Or had she?
The question hit Cecilia abruptly. Had she really loved Angus? Or was she just unhappy because she was alone again? On further analysis of what she was feeling, Cecilia discovered she was mostly devastated for her broken pride, but a part of her heart still ached. She groaned, and proceeded to her locker.
All this self analysis was giving her a headache. She needed Samuel, the one person who understood her, even more than she understood herself, but he was away on a family gathering. He did have a habit of picking the worst days to be absent.
After picking up the books she needed for her next class, Cecilia slammed her locker shut. In the distance she caught sight of a couple locking lips. It was surprising Principal Gusto hadn't spotted them yet. He took pleasure in disrupting teenagers and their raging hormones. If the couple up ahead are caught, they would be severely punished.
On getting closer, Cecilia got a better look at them. Her heartbeat accelerated. She knew the boy. Oiled chestnut hair. A tall, well built frame. There was no doubt, he was Angus. And he currently had his tongue deep inside the mouth of a beautiful blond girl.
TEASER: CHEER LEADING PRACTICE GOES DOWNHILL AS WELL.
A/N:
Hey readers, this is my first book on webnovel, and I am begging you, please show it love, if you are enjoying it. Kiss potion is actually a series of nine books, but I decided to publish all the books under one book. I'm sorry, I do not have a regular update pattern, but I promise to update often. Please support an upcoming author.
Thank you ~