Weeks had passed, and now I was walking down the hallway with my school bag slung over my shoulder. The girls were all dressed up, carrying new expensive bags, phones, and a complete makeover. It wasn't anything new; they were the rich kids, after all.
While I had my old bag, it wasn't torn or shabby; it was just considered old in comparison to those who changed their wardrobes every week. My hair was in its usual ponytail, and my makeup was simple, as always.
I walked straight ahead, my mind fully focused on getting to class, but I came to a stop when I saw Jake walking towards me. We hadn't seen each other or spoken since I left the resort. I had stopped myself multiple times from texting him; I really wanted to ask how he was feeling, but I also didn't want to bother him. What made me feel worse was that he hadn't made an attempt either. Then, I figured he was still upset.
But now he wore a smile as he approached me; in just a few weeks, he looked even more attractive. His whole aura had a warm vibe, and when he called my name, my heart raced. I shouldn't be feeling this way, but I was.
"Hey," I muttered with a little wave as he approached me.
"Crazy day, isn't it?" He looked around for a short while before returning his gaze to me.
"I don't know what you mean; it seems like every school year."
"Maybe, or it might also be that I am graduating soon." He stated, and my shoulders stiffened. I had completely forgotten he was a senior and would be leaving before this year ends.
"I guess that's something to look forward to," I replied. It's good news; who wouldn't be happy about it? At least Samantha would also be out of sight, and my life would almost go back to normal. Yet, I wasn't entirely happy about it.
My gaze shifted behind his shoulder, and a frustrated sigh escaped my lips. Of all the things I wanted to see this morning, it wasn't Samantha who now walked towards us with a grim look.
Jake noticed me staring and turned; his expression flattened when he saw Samantha. He also didn't seem happy, and that was a relief, I think.
"It's been a while, Jake; you've really outdone yourself," Samantha's words slipped through her lips in a seductive tone, causing me to clench my fist. She was giving him a compliment, but it felt like there was more to it.
She walked casually toward him and made a move to place her hand on his shoulder, while I took a step back. He caught her hand, a hint of a glare visible on his face, even though he tried to hide it; it was pretty obvious. He gently removed her hand, making it clear that her advances were unwelcome.
She chuckled. "Oh, I forgot; you have a girlfriend. I must have been mistaken when I thought she was just a temporary distraction, just like the rest."
My lips pressed into a thin line as I knew what she meant. Samantha wasn't stupid; she knew Jake too well, and she was right. Although he said he doesn't have feelings for her anymore, it still doesn't change the fact that was the reason we pretended to date.
Just as I was about to tell her that we've broken up and clear the air, Jake spoke before I could. "Mind the way you speak to my girlfriend, Samantha. We are already in the past, just like you wanted." He said, his voice low and stern, his gaze not once leaving hers. But what caught my attention was the fact that he called me his girlfriend, especially when our deal was off.
It should be over by now. I was expecting hints of our breakup all over the school.
I wanted to voice my thoughts, my lips parted, but I decided to leave it for later, especially seeing how defensive he was in front of the girl he once broke down for.
Samantha's smile didn't leave her face, but she also didn't say a word, just watching as Jake wrapped his arm around my shoulder and pulled me closer to him as we walked past her. He didn't look back, and I didn't either, but I could feel her piercing gaze.
With Samantha now out of sight, I pushed his arm off me and took a step backward. "What was that for? Why did you tell her we were still in a relationship? I thought it was over by now."
He leaned back against the wall, his legs crossed as his left hand nervously slid to the back of his neck. "I panicked!" He sighed. He tilted his head backward before returning his gaze to me. "Samantha has been acting strangely; she knows something, and I don't think it would end well if we reveal it now."
Now, I was panicking. What does he mean it wouldn't end well, and how the heck did she find out? Could it have been Owen? It couldn't be; he's on our side, but with the way he had been acting, what if?
I didn't know. This was making me feel lightheaded.
I sighed. "I don't like this, Jake." But I don't hate it either.
"We'll just hang out as friends, probably closer." I shot him a glare, causing him to laugh. "You don't have to do anything, Piper, just don't deny that we're dating." I nodded, a part of me relieved that we would still be close.
As I made my way back to class, I spotted Matilda standing in front of our classroom entrance. But she wasn't alone; he had his hand wrapped around her waist, pulling her closer to himself as they make out.
She had her arms around his neck, and they were engaged in a passionate kiss. At least she had the courage to display affection in front of the class, openly, while he had his hands on her.
He nibbled on her lip, and their kiss grew deeper and more intense.
Could I say I was jealous? I might be. I hadn't even had my first kiss yet, and there she was. I didn't even like the guy; he wasn't right for her, but what could I do?
Taking a deep breath, I turned to avoid drawing attention to myself. Instead, I bumped into someone who had been standing beside me.
I rolled my eyes when I saw it was Ethan, expecting one of his usual snarky comments. However, my gaze remained fixed on him, and I noticed he wasn't looking at me; he was focused on something behind me.
His usual smirk was gone, replaced by neither a frown nor a smile. His jaw tightened as he stared intensely at whatever was ahead. If I didn't know him so well, I might have mistaken him for Owen.
This was weird; he was acting nothing like Ethan. I followed his gaze, which led to Matilda, and then I looked back at him. He still hadn't acknowledged my presence.
I watched as his fist clenched before he turned to leave, without uttering a word. My brow furrowed. It shouldn't be what I was thinking.
I turned my attention back to Matilda, whose eyes opened as she smiled at her boyfriend. However, her gaze met mine, and I could see panic in her eyes. It was as if she was hiding something, even though she had mentioned their relationship to me countless times. Sometimes, I even felt irritated by her constant reminders.
She quickly pushed her boyfriend back. Why would she? It's not like I cared. This wasn't something new; I had seen it quite often, a daily reminder of my single ass.
"Piper," she walked over to me, and her boyfriend stroked his blonde hair while adjusting his tie with the other hand.
"I'll see you after class," he said, wiping his bitten lip with his thumb, a smirk visible on his face. "Piper," he waved at me, and I nodded in response. I wanted to punch him in the face, but I did nothing and watched him walk past me.
"How long have you been there?" Matilda asked, feeling embarrassed.
"Not long enough to care," I replied blankly, but I knew someone who did.
I walked past her, and she followed behind until we were both seated. Her face was still flushed red, obviously still thinking about the kiss. This was definitely not the best time to tell her about Jake and me.
The class bell rang, and slowly, the empty classroom was filled with students. Out of all the familiar faces, one stood out the most. It was a new face, yet it seemed familiar.
I heard faint murmurs as he stood in front of the class, his sapphire eyes scanning the classroom. Girls giggled; he was cute, no doubt, but just an average compared to Jake. Damn, why was I still thinking about Jake?
I pushed those thoughts aside as I continued to stare at this familiar face. He had one ear piercing and dark curly hair. He was giving off a bad boy vibe, which was probably why the girls were trying so hard to get his attention.
I kept staring at him, trying to figure out why he looked so familiar. When he locked his gaze with mine, he smiled, and I just knew I had seen him somewhere before, but where?