6 years later
I woke up as grandma slowly patted my head. "Wake up, honey" she cooed as I opened my eyes. I looked at her face, as she smiled at me dearly.
I smiled back as I sat up. "Good morning granny" I greeted her as she asked me to get ready for my day. I got ready and went downstairs. The entire floor was covered with the smell of grandpa's pancakes.
He's the best cook, I've known in my entire life. My feet took me straight to the kitchen where grandpa stood with a calm face. "Good morning grandpa" I greeted as he greeted me back with a warm smile.
I sat on the chair as grandpa served me the pancakes. They looked delicious. I devoured as soon as he placed the plate infront of me. My expression satisfied him. I finished my breakfast in silence as my phone rang. Elisa is here to pick me up.
I said a quick thankyou as I went out of the house. Elisa's Jeep stood infront of our house as she looked at me with a huge smile. I returned her smile as I hopped into the jeep. "Gurl you won't believe!" She started as usual.
Yep, she's the gossip queen. She knows every single gossip to ever exist in Manhattan. She's been my only friend since the incident six years ago. My grands did take me in, but they were no better than my mom. I could feel their fake gesture all over their face. It was obvious they didn't want me but they were responsible. Afterall, I was their daughter's "one nightstand mistake"
I learned not to care much. They provided me with a roof and that was enough. I'd often hear them referring to me as "mistake" during their conversation but I acted as if I never heard them.
"Thanks for giving me a ride" I thanked Elisa shyly. She rolled her eyes and said "As if we're not bestfriends" she called me her bestfriend, but I can't exactly place it there coz she's the only friend I have. There's no one else for her to compete. And I appreciated it that way.
"So you want the news or not?" She asked as she drove towards our college. "I'd rather not-" "It's about Ivan" she cut me. "Spill" slipped my mouth immediately. Ivan is my crush. I saw him on the first day of college and since then I can't get my eyes off of him. Yeah, many other girls had the same experience as he's the "popular guy" at our college.
He dated many of those girls as well, but I was too shy and insecure to ever reach out. I didn't want to be one of those other girls. So, I kept my feelings to myself. Only Elisa knew it.
She kept it a secret, even after knowing it's a huge gossip. It's nice of her. "Rachel and Ivan broke up" she stated with a victory smile. I sighed as I thought of them. They almost looked perfect with eachother. I don't know why they would break up, but it pleased my inner beast.
"Okay" I replied shortly making sure I don't sound too desperate. "It's your chance ,you know" she led the conversation forward. I started to say a no but she was fast. "I heard he's going to join the book club, babe it's a signal from freaking heaven!"
Okay, that was some heavy news. If he joins the book club I'll get to see him everyday. Wow, now this is a life I call luxurious. "That's nice" I said as she pulled into the college parking lot.
I got out of her jeep and waited for her to park. She walked towards me and said "Don't sound like you're uninterested. I know you are" she stated it as a matter of fact.
I didn't answer and waited for her to continue. "He's going to join and you're the president remember? So you'll get time to spend together. I know you can charm him easily. Go for it!" She encouraged me.
Fuck. I forgot, I'm the president. But wait what. How do I not know about someone who's joining my club? Okay maybe I was busy with the meetings and reading.
We walked into our first lecture as the conversation died. I reply occasionally to her news. I know she'll make a big deal out of it. After all they call her the gossip queen for a reason. She lived the drama.
Mr. Stans taught us about Shakespearean literature. Shakespeare, oh he's the second live of my life. Ofcourse first is Ivan. When I read Shakespeare, I feel like I'm lost in a world so ancient filled with fantasy.
Our lecture ended sooner than I expected and before I knew it Elisa was dragging me down the hallway with her. She's in the photography club. She loves to take photos. And I'm her model for no reason.
She says she loves the way I look so natural even at college that it's so delusional. I took it as a compliment. She said she didn't want to shoot girls filled with makeup. So I agreed.
We'd sneak into the studio when everyone was at their classes and today was one of those days. We made sure to re check the schedule because Elisa knew I was uncomfortable around others. She even promised that my photos were just for practice and she'd never show them to anyone.
I sat down on my the stool as Elisa set her camera and turned on the studio lights. Smoothly I pushed my head up and hands covering my body getting into the first pose I could imagine.
I've done it too many times for her that now I'm so used to her and her camera. She'd praise me with each photo making me feel confident. By the end of her photoshoot I collapsed on the ground letting my body loose.
"Damn, it's tiring" I muttered as she packed up. "If you don't wanna get caught lift your ass up and let's scram before anyone sees us" I got up lazily.
We sneaked out of the room as usual and I went to my book room. Okay, time to face the reason why my heart skips a bit everytime.
Elisa winked at me as I entered the hall leaving her to attend her next class. I took a deep breath as I closed my eyes tightly to remind myself to be calm. I didn't realise that I started walking until I hit a hard wall.
"Ahhh" I yelled holding my head and looking up. Okay it wasn't a wall. It was guy. An unknown guy? I fixed my glasses as I looked at him. "Don't fly with your eyes closed birdie" a deep voice rumbled from his chest.
He looked scary, yet handsome. He had light green eyes with hints of golden in them. A jaw so sharp that it could cut paper so easily. His chocolate brown hair rested messily on his forehead as his full lips held a small smirk. His fine bisceps were visible from the shape of his black tshirt.
He cleared his throat as I realised I was ogling him up. I quickly looked down and said a pety sorry getting inside the room. God damn, why was I looking at him like that?! He's not anyone special.
"Woah, you're red" I heard Cassy, the incharge of the newbie team say. I quickly wiped my cheeks. And looked at her fixing my glasses. "It's just really hot in here" I gave an excuse.
She looked behind me and smirked saying. "You feel hot or it was someone got?" She questioned wiggling her eyebrows. "You never told me someone newly joined" I said changing the topic.
She rolled her eyes as she stated the obvious. "I did but you were busy with the book report obviously" Ahh okay, I see. "Um okay, is everyone here?" I asked her. She looked at her check board for a moment before nodding.
Cassy, is a Cassy. Watched Euphoria?
Yep, she's that bad bitch. Just a small difference. She's into book sex more than having sex. Her long black hair makes her look almost magistic. She's just so attractive. Out of all the females in this college, the ones that I've seen ofcourse. Cassy is the most beautiful and bold one.
It's like she's holding power on the tip of her finger. She's a president material rather than a incharge one. I don't why she never stood up for president elections. If she did, I would've been working under her rn.
But somehow, this female provides me a sense of security. As if she'd protect me. She's nice and cute and all sun shiney but when it comes to authority, she knows exactly how to handle every shit out there.
And damn, the way she handles herself, there's no doubt half of the college dudes fell for her. Nevertheless she's not interested in any. Like it's obvious, her aims and goals are higher than just a college jock.
"Let's meet them then" I said walking up to the podium. She gave me this huge smile of motivation. I tried to calm down. My nerves wouldn't just let me calm. The aura of the room was dense and it made me want to run away.
Yes, I know I'm a president of a book club. But I'm the most introverted extrovert ever. I get nervouse when I see new people expecting a good ass motivation from a lost person who I don't know how got elected as the President.
I took a deep breath again as I took off my glasses, I'm blind without them. As long as I can't see their faces I can't get nervouse right? Well I was wrong. As soon as I looked at them, I got even more nervous thinking what are their expressions.
I quickly put my glasses back and started saying. "Um Good morning, today I'm going to announce a small something. But before that I'd like to welcome a few new members" I looked down at Cassy's list.
"Jeffery Renolds" I said looking up. A dark guy of about 6 feet stood up and looked at everyone with a confident smile. "Hey everyone, I think the girls who read books are quite interesting so I joined this club" he said winking at the crowd of girls who were supposedly blushing.
I sighed. Ofcourse, why would he join? Look at him, holding a skateboard inside a bookclub. "Anyways, Thankyou, you may sit down" I looked at the list.
Ivan Winston. It said.
"Ivan Winston" I said already feeling the warmth on my cheeks. Ivan stood up gave the most charming smile as he looked around saying "I recently read The Pride and Prejudice and I feel this sudden connection towards books so I thought why not explore it with the help of experienced once" he said gesturing towards me.
That left me speechless, I couldn't breath. I felt a hitch in my throat. He stood there looking at me. His eyebrows scrunched up in confusion when I felt a small nudge from Cassy. "Someone has a crush" she said sheepishly.
"Um yes, thankyou, sit down. Uh next is Zoey Monroe" I said as she gave her introduction. I called out a few other names. It was time for the last one.
By now I felt as if I could run out of the room.
"Xavier Black" I said when no one stood up I felt confused. "Um Xavier Black?" I repeated.