4. Confusion
1170 Words
It is now time for PA, and you can just imagine my sigh when I notice my former biggest bully, and my self-proclaimed tormentor, chatting together animatedly. I hate to admit it but they look good together.
They look like a couple, and the thought alone is enough to drive a dagger through my insides for some reason.
Why am I even jealous? I muse. He is not my boyfriend. Hell, he threatened to make my school year a living hell.
“Watch out,” someone yelled.
I am sadly not quick enough to dodge the ball. Indeed as I snap out of my thoughts, I can see the basket ball already merely inches away from my face.
I close my eyes and brace myself for the impact that never comes.
I open my eyes cautiously, and there standing in front of me is a tall brown-haired brown-eyed guy whom I could swear I have seen around before.
“Oh, Andrew!” I exclaim as I recognize him.
“In the flesh,” he winks at me.
“Thank you for stopping the ball,” I tell him softly, blushing to my utter and complete dismay.
“No problem, sweetheart,” he retorts with a small smile.
Did he just call me sweetheart? You can bet he did. And you can bet I am looking at him appalled. I have never been called that. I have never even been teased that way. I am not merely a virgin who never kissed a guy, I am also an airhead who never pays attention to what’s happening around her most of the time. Ergo, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that I am so shell-shocked.
“Uh-oh,” he says awkwardly after a moment, “your boyfriend is coming and he doesn’t look too pleased.”
I frown at him in puzzlement, and then turn to look in the same direction he is staring furtively.
I only see Ryker approaching.
“I don’t have a boyfriend,” I tell him, rolling my eyes.
“Well, I wouldn’t tell him that if I were you,” he lets out a small chuckle.
But I don’t find what he said funny and thus cannot bring myself to laugh along with him.
“What are you implying? I am not scared of Ryker,” I say in a tone that is louder than intended, than what is probably necessary.
“Yo Sammy,” Ryker’s voice reaches my ears before he comes right into my personal space, crowding me. “What did you just say?”
A tight smile stretches my lips and I find it hard to breathe.
“I…” I inhale deeply before trying anew, “I didn’t…” I dampen my lips, thinking of what to tell him. “I didn’t say nothing,” I mumble in the end, like the coward I am.
“Anything,” he retorts, his cobalt blue eyes hard as they settle on me.
Anything? What does he mean? I am more than confused when I say, “I beg your pardon?”
“I didn’t say anything, not nothing,” he says nonchalantly. “Double negation and all that.”
Did he seriously correct me? What’s wrong with this guy? I wish I could get inside his head and figure him out.
“Yes, that’s what I meant.” I tell him, my tight smile still plastered on my face.
“I thought I heard differently though,” he taunts as he leans down so his face is level with my own.
I giggle nervously, “You probably heard wrong.”
He raises a challenging eyebrow and I hold his gaze stubbornly… until he bursts into a fit of laughter.
And suddenly, it feels like I can breathe again. As if the burden that had been weighing down on me has been lifted.
“You sure are something else, little girl,” he teases me before straightening up.
I am not sure what he means by that, but I am not going to bother asking. He probably won’t give me a satisfying answer anyways.
“Oi, pretty boy, don’t think I forgot about you,” Ryker then says, addressing Andrew no doubt, and I see the latter pale ever so slightly. “Thank you for the hand. Much obliged. I’ll take it from here.”
I wish I could speak up and ask him what he means yet again but I can’t. I am such a scaredy cat!
“Come with me,” he then instructs me and I go after him obediently, following him into the changing rooms, but not before casting Andrew a glance.
He must have caught me for he thundered the moment we were away from prying ears, “Why did you look at him when I asked you to come with me?”
“Nothing,” I pout. And the gesture truly didn’t mean anything, it was a save-me reflex, I guess.
“I hate liars,” he announces, his eyes boring into mine.
“I am not a liar,” I almost feel the urge to stomp my feet. I may be many things but I am not a brat and thus I repress the urge.
“Right,” he scoffs.
“Okay, you’re right. I lied to you when I said that I didn’t say anything,” I sigh in resignation. “I obviously did, and you obviously heard what I said. Why must you insist on making me admit it?” I explode.
I realize only too late that I probably shouldn’t have spoken to him in such a tone.
If his glare is of any indication, I am positively certain he is pissed.
“Did you just yell at me?” He raises an eyebrow.
His words are chilly and I almost wish he would yell back.
“I’m sorry?” I say timidly, unsure of what to say or do to appease him.
“Sorry? Sorry just won’t cut it, little girl,” he retorts cynically as he crosses over the distance separating us.
He raises his right fist and my eyes widen in fright before closing on instinct.
He hits the wall next to my head, and I startle forward, opening my eyes.
My breathing is labored as I look into his troubled blue eyes.
“What are you doing to me?” I hear him say, although I am not sure he is addressing me. It feels like he is soliloquizing.
And then, his lips graze mine in a kiss that is so soft, it is startling.
My first kiss just got stolen by the bad boy of the high school. What has become of my life?!
- Writer
