On My Way To Mr. Right

Chapter 13

"You're the girlfriend of the team captain of the soccer team. Adrian is his best friend. Before you, they had clear respect for each other. Even when you were in the picture, Damien respected your relationship. You and Adie have been going out for months. He courted you for a year. Why would he suddenly cross the line and snag you? It's not like he's trying to get in a fight with Adrian on purpose, right?"

"I—"

"Well, it was the girlfriend. And, was his best friend." She smiled cheekily. I threw a pillow at her, chuckling.

"Okay, I see. But what's your point, Hails?"

"What if someone sent Damien to split you two off?" Her eyes widened. It was almost comical. She was pretending to be a detective of some sort. The only thing not funny about this was that she was, in my case.

But even so, what she's saying is a possibility. But, it's not possible, is it? Damien would never put his friend on the line, and for what? More fame?

"What could Damien possibly get from all that drama?" I asked Hailey, bewildered.

"I'm not quite sure. What could have possibly set Damien off? That he'd risk his reputation and friendship? Maybe money?" She suggested.

Who'd pay to split us up? Is someone insecure? That's silly. I don't think someone would do that to us.

"What did we ever do to make someone mad enough that he'd send Damien to break up me and Adrian?"

"Don't ask me." So she doesn't know. Why did she even have to put that idea out in the open?

"That's crazy, Hails. Who would do such a thing? And why Damien, huh?"

"I....don't know. But, I'm just saying." She started munching again and I had to roll my eyes at her. There she goes again. Giving me crazy theories and ideas, then just telling me to forget them! It's not that easy, you know. Because I, for one, never forget. And that just makes things harder.

Hailey left at dawn the next day. She still had a train ride home to get to, and it was barely minutes past 4. I gave her a ride to the train station but hurried back to catch some more sleep.

I woke up at seven and began to prepare according to my routine.

I'm on my way to school, bringing my papers with me. I have finished my English papers and I'm going to submit them today. But I'm thinking that before I do that, I may have time to give Kenny Hastings a slap with my five-paged paper. Which I did last night.

I know, I'm too intelligent for my good.

I passed by Damien's locker and saw him lip-locking with some redhead. What do I expect from a player like him? He's a bad boy for a reason. I guess I thought he'd have more decency to go somewhere private. I thought wrong.

I stopped by my locker, dropping in all of my papers as I'm going to submit them this afternoon. I am such a good student. Because of what Kenny Hastings said yesterday, I made an extra effort to finish all my homework that was due next week and make sure that I rubbed this in Kenny Hastings' thick face. Well, I hope the second part. I did all this work because I wanted to prove her wrong.

"Hey Charlotte," Bea chirped, coming from nowhere.

I beamed at her, happy for the company. "Hey Beatrice, what're you doing?"

"I was thinking we could go swimming tomorrow."

I gave her an 'are you crazy look. It's the middle of December. Who goes swimming in winter?

"In a pool, duh."

"That makes it better?" I asked, unsure. Swimming in a pool and not in a pool sounds the same to me. They're both going to be cold.

"It's a heated pool, dummy." She lightly punched my arm and I winced. She's a strong girl.

"Where? When? Who with? Why?" I deadpanned as I walked to Science.

"Wow, you're so eager Charlotte," she commented sarcastically. "Tonight, my place."

I furrowed my brows. "Since when did you have a pool?"

She sighed. Did they have a pool? I'm not sure. "We've always had one, Lottie. So are you coming or what?"

I nodded my head. I guess it will be more fun than spending another weekend in my room. I need to get a social life. Or real-life at least. "Why are we swimming anyway?"

"Because it's fun!"

I grimaced at her enthusiasm. It's still too early to be happy. It's like seven-fifty. Students should be happy when it rings five o'clock. TGIF. "Beatrice, what's the catch? Why are you inviting me over?"

It wasn't exactly normal for us to come over to each other's houses. We do spend a lot of time together. But not in our homes. We'd go out on holidays and summers and hang out and whatever. Because most of them weren't allowed to bring friends over. And it sucks. James and I are the only ones with cool parents. Our parents rock! So, if Bea was inviting me over to their place, I'm sure there's something in the bigger picture. Like a catch or a job that I should do. I just hope it's not going to be hard.

"Nothing, Charlotte. I just want you guys over. Is that hard to believe?" She feigned pain. Like she could trick me. I knew her very well.

"B, when was the last time you invited us over?" Like never.

"I did! Third grade, okay?" She exclaimed and I had to stifle a giggle. She's cute when she's flustered.

"You asked me to bring your homework over. Then you sent me home. That doesn't count." I told her with a smirk.

"Doesn't matter."

Okay, what do you need me for, Baxter?"

"You got me, Char," she raised her hands in surrender. "Dad told me to bring some friends over. He wants to meet you guys."

It seems so sketchy. "That's not a very convincing lie, B."

"It is not a lie, Charlotte. Dad wants you to come." She seemed genuine and sincere. Maybe it's no lie. But it's still not believable enough.

"Are the others coming as well?"

"Yes, they are. Well, except for Ross."

"Well, that's understandable, I guess. So you told them before me?"

"Yes. Does it matter?"

"Why doesn't it matter?"

"You're a hardhead Charlotte. And I knew that convincing you wouldn't be easy since you're not a big fan of my sister." Oh yeah, Trixie. I forgot about her.

"I have to see the brat?" I said with disdain.

"Char, I just need you to be nice to her."

"So you do need me for something."

"Oh shut up, smartypants," she rolled her eyes. "Just at least when dad's around."

"Beatrice, I'm offended. You're telling me I'm not nice?" I feigned shock and pain.

Trixie is Beatrice's brat of a sister. She's thirteen but she acts like she's some stereotyped cheerleader. When really, she's just a skinny grouch. Let's just say that we're not very fond of each other.

"Just suck it, Charlotte. We're going swimming!" She giggled excitedly and I can't help but feel the excitement as well.

"I don't like swimming with spoiled little witches," I complained.

She frowned. "I don't like you calling my sister a witch."

"But she is one!" I protested.

"Still," she sighed. "Charlotte, she's just a messed-up preteen. She's just confused."

"Confused or not, I still don't like her. Besides, I didn't even call her bench. I said 'witch'."

"That's okay as long as you don't get on each other's throats." She beamed.