Choosing Bad for Mr. Stephenson (Boys of Chicago Series #5)

Chapter 5

Clayton:

Good morning!

I stared at the message from the devil as I rode with Genius to school. My car is still in the car shop and I don’t think Dad had been doing something about it because it’s already been more than a week that I have been hitch hiking with my brother.

He must probably not want me to get the car again because it would only make me drive to places I shouldn’t be in. Like clubs, to be specific.

“Are you bored?” Genius asked me.

For sure, he also doesn’t like having me in his car. He’s probably itching to ride with his girlfriends. He must think that I am a nuisance.

“Why don’t you get my car?” I asked him.

Genius raise his brow while his eyes are focused on the road. “Your car is ready, Tracy. Dad just told me that you shouldn’t drive for now.”

My jaw dropped at what he said. I knew it! Dad wouldn’t let me drive! I knew he would never let the car stay in the shop for too long. He’s trying to punish me and he’s winning it!

“I thought you already know that,” my twin said. “You know Dad. He’s not the type to tell you he’s punishing you. You think he cares about you but the thing is he’s already giving you what you deserve.” He snickered and I clenched my fists.

“I deserve?” I asked in disbelief.

Genius glanced at me quickly. “You were always partying, Sis. I think Dad only wants to cut it down a little before he sees his only daughter get involved with the wrong man.”

I froze at his words. I feel like he is talking about Clayton all of a sudden. Genius doesn’t really care nor pay attention to my life but I know how protective he could get. Once he knew about what happened between me and Clayton, my days of freedom are over.

My phone vibrated again and it was another text from the devil.

Clayton:

Do you like coffee or hot choco?

I sighed and ignored it again. He’s been sending me texts all weekend. He’s not even stopping even though I never replied to him.

It’s so annoying.

“Who’s that?” Genius asked, pertaining to the person who sent me a message. “Is that your new fling? Or did you finally make progress with Donovan?” He sounded like he’s teasing me and I know that he is.

I rolled my eyes and kept my phone inside my bag instead of responding to him. When I saw that we’re already headed to the parking lot, I couldn’t help but heave a sigh of relief. Finally, I’m going out of his car.

“I have classes until seven. Just text me if you’ll wait up,” he told me as he parked the car.

I looked at him and sighed. “I’ll probably just ride with Miles or Ivana,” I replied. “My class would end at four.”

And I don’t want to wait for three hours. Tracy doesn’t wait.

Genius shrugged before unlocking the doors. “Alright, just make sure you go straight home or else, I will tell Dad about your obsession on Donovan.”

I glared at him and he stared back at me, unapologetic. He gave out a meaningful grin and I scowled at him. “Are you really my twin? I don’t think I shared the same womb as you!”

He laughed and opened his door. “Shared the same womb but not the same placenta, sis,” he beamed before getting out of the car.

I sighed and got out as well and walked straight inside my department’s building.

I pursed my lips in a thin line as I felt some students looking at me as I walked along the hallways. I narrowed my eyes at some of them before I looked at my clothes. I’m wearing a shay cropped top, a pair of ripped jeans and a pair of nude pumps. My wavy hair is down to the middle of my back.

I rolled my eyes when I realized why those girls are looking at me. They must have seen a goddess for the first time. I sighed hard before I felt my phone vibrating inside my bag.

Clayton:

I’ll be waiting for you in front of your classroom. See you!

My eyes widened when I realized what he just texted. I read back his previous messages and realized what I had just ignored. What the hell?! I should have skipped today.

I wanted to go away but realized that it was already too late because I could already see my classroom. I could hear women cooing as I approached closer.

“Isn’t that Clayton Stephenson? The basketball star player?”

“He’s holding two cups of coffee! Is he courting someone from this class?”

“This is the first time that I saw him here! He never comes to this building!”

I rolled my eyes and tried to enter the classroom without being noticed by that annoying man. He can’t see me or else—

“Tracy!”

Oh, damn! I heard another round of gossips when Clayton called me amidst the sea of people in the hallway.

I stopped on my tracks and faced Clayton. He’s wearing a white V-neck shirt under his varsity jacket, a pair of faded blue jeans and his Jordans. I shook my head internally. f**k! This is not the time to check him out, alright!

He immediately narrowed his eyes when he saw my clothes. I looked down at my outfit. I am wearing something I usually wear.

“What are you wearing?” he asked.

I raised my brow. I was right. He was looking at my outfit. “Clothes. What’s wrong with them?” I deadpanned.

He looked at my back and saw the stringed design of my top. He lowered his head on my ear. He’s obviously pissed at something and I don’t think it is necessary if it’s because of the clothes I’m wearing. I’m confident in it and I don’t give a damn on his opinion. “Are you even wearing a bra?” he asked with conviction even through the whisper.

I glared at him. “I am. What is it to you?” I am starting to get annoyed at him.

I saw him roll his eyes at me before taking a deep breath, as if it could calm him. He looked like he’s trying to suppress something.

“I got you coffee,” he said in a calmer manner as he handed me one of his Starbuck’s cup.

I raised my brow at him. I shrugged and took the coffee. “Thanks,” I uttered and was about to enter the classroom when he held my elbow.

I looked at him. He’s a little too clingy, isn’t he?

“Reply to my texts,” he said in an authoritative manner.

I scoffed. “I already gave you my number, Clayton. Replying to you is too much.”

His jaw clenched. “Never mind, then. Whether you reply or not, I’d still bombard your phone with calls and texts anyway…” he said with a smirk.

I glared at him, triggered and about to splash the hot coffee in my hands to his face. Damn it!

“I’ll see you at free period, baby.” He grinned at me and messed my hair before leaving me in front of the door to my class.

I shut my eyes and shook my head before entering the classroom. I pursed my lips in a thin line as I could see my classmates looking at me like I did something wrong.

Samantha Niel is also gawking at me like I did her something wrong. What the hell? I shrugged at all the stares and walked to sit beside Ivana who’s smiling at me widely.

I placed my things on the table. “What a morning,” I uttered as I sat on my chair.

Ivana looked at me, still smiling widely. “Who is that?” she asked in an amused tone.

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Who?” I’m not dumb. I know she’s asking for Clayton.

“That!” She pointed at the door where I was talking to Clayton earlier.

I sighed. “Just someone…” I didn’t want to elaborate. It’s not like he’s important anyway. But knowing Ivana…

“He doesn’t look like just someone! Everyone’s gushing about him the moment he stayed there, holding two cups of coffees in his hand while waiting for someone! Apparently, he’s waiting for you!” She pointed at the coffee on the table.

“What?” I asked in disbelief. “So, he gave me coffee? So, what?”

Ivana looked at me meaningfully. She knows me so well. I know what she’s thinking. She wanted to probe about it and I have to stop her before she even starts.

I shook my head. “I don’t want to talk about it!” I insisted.

She continued to give me that meaningful look but I tried to shrug it off. I shouldn’t be affected. I could tell her about my one-night stand with Clayton but not now. I was just so intoxicated that night. I couldn’t even think straight. I don’t want to think about it but then seeing that asshole does me nothing good.

The looks directed to me stopped when Cyrus came in. For sure, even though we’re so used to seeing him, he still got the hype. All these girls still sigh dreamily whenever they see him.

I rolled my eyes when he sat beside Samantha. Hmmm…this is normal but then I still get upset that he’s closer to her than me or any other woman in the campus. Like, what did he even see in her? She’s not even pretty!

Cyrus suddenly turned to me and my eyes widened when his beautiful eyes caught mine. I immediately looked away and took a sip on my coffee.

“Hmmm…he looked at you,” Ivana whispered.

I sighed and turned to her with narrowed eyes. “He caught me looking at him and you seem happy about it,” I said with conviction. “He probably thinks I’m his stalker,” I mumbled under my breath.

“Aren’t you?” she asked back and I glared at her. Is she my friend or what?

She chuckled. “You look like a cute little kitten in front of him. That doesn’t seem so Tracy of you,” she teased me and I gave her another death glare.

But well, I cannot blame her. She’s seen me with boys. I have always been so confident of myself. I usually take the wheel. I am the captain of the relationship. Boys follow me and not the other way around. But with Cyrus’ case, I don’t think I can grab the driver’s seat. He seemed so dominating that all I could do is to submit myself to him.

“He’s always with Samantha Niel.” Ivana added salt to my wounded heart.

I know. Damn it.

But then I haven’t told her about my encounter with Cyrus. He told me that I’ll look more beautiful in the clothes I am comfortable in wearing.

It was just a brief encounter. And for most of the people, it wouldn’t mean anything. But because it was my encounter with the Cyrus Andrew Donovan, I couldn’t keep it out of my head.

“I wonder what he sees in her?” Ivana asked under her breath.

“Exactly,” I replied before rolling my eyes.

Maybe he really should get his eyes checked. Can’t he see that there are a lot of better girls that Samantha around him? Me, perhaps?

We both stopped badmouthing Samantha when the professor came and started another boring and repetitive lesson.

I only did two things every time I am in this class. Stare at Cyrus. And glare at Samantha. It’s only either of the two.

I could only breathe a sigh of relief when we all heard the bell ring. The professor stopped lecturing and instead gave us a topic for another write up. We all whined but she was so firm and even gave us one last look before heading out of the room.

I stayed on my seat and saw Cyrus standing up. Samantha followed and he even helped her to stand as if she couldn’t do it on her own.

I rolled my eyes before hearing Ivana chuckle beside me. “Are you just going to glare their way or do you want to eat lunch?” she asked me.

I looked up to her and saw her looking at me with teasing eyes. “What?” I asked back and she just shrugged.

She turned to the direction of Cyrus and Samantha and shook her head. “They’re leaving. Let’s go. Miles might already be waiting for us in the cafeteria,” she told me. She nodded at Cyrus’ direction. “Try your luck with him next time.”

I sighed and gathered all of my things before watching Cyrus and Samantha happily talking while walking out of the room. I pursed my lips in a thin line before standing, slinging my bag on my arm.

Ivana smirked at me. “You’ve dressed up today. Let’s put on rampage,” she told me before we headed to the cafeteria.

***

“So, you mean, Clayton Stephenson, the god of basketball, my type, the bad boy of the campus, gave you coffee this morning? And he waited for you in front of your room?” Miles asked in shock and disbelief.

I don’t know the truth about the adjectives he used for Clayton but he’s right about him giving me coffee this morning.

I nodded and sipped on my mango juice. “You’re right. He’s annoying,” I told him.

Miles rolled his eyes. “What annoying? You’re the one who’s annoying here, Trace!” he exasperated. Ivana nodded and looked at me boringly. “That man is even better than your Cyrus!”

I sighed and looked down at my food, ignoring his remark. It doesn’t matter what they say, though. My eyes are already fixed on the prize. And that’s Cyrus. Not Clayton.

That guy’s just annoying—frustrating even.

Miles continued on his Clayton praise and Ivana was happily listening to him. They seem to be so interested in Clayton. Do they want me to set them up?

“He’s so handsome, especially when he’s sweaty,” Miles said dreamily while Ivana giggled, seemingly imagining what Miles just said.

I sighed and rolled my eyes. He’s not that bad when he’s sweaty. I’ve seen him like that once when we first bumped into each other.

I felt my phone vibrating suddenly and I prayed hard that it wouldn’t be Clayton. But I was wrong.

Clayton:

Have you eaten lunch?

I rolled my eyes. Whatever. He can text me all he wants. I am not obliged to reply. But he sent another text.

Clayton:

Are you just going to read my texts and totally ignore me?

I narrowed my eyes on the screen. Is he here? Can he see me?

Clayton:

I can see you. I’m inside the cafeteria, too.

I pursed my lips before looking around. That devil definitely loves playing with me, huh? He thinks he can continue doing that when I begin my revenge? I don’t think so.

“Are you okay?” Miles asked me.

I nodded and smiled before turning back on my screen and typed in a reply, for the first time since he started texting me.

Me:

Where are you?

He replied as fast as the lightning.

Clayton:

Near the entrance.

Clayton:

Thanks for replying, baby.

I sighed and rolled my eyes internally.

Me:

Whatever. I just hate it when someone is watching me secretly.

I looked at the entrance and saw Clayton smirking my way. I narrowed my eyes at him before my eyes landed on Cyrus and Samantha laughing while walking inside the cafeteria.

My blood immediately boiled at the sight of them. They look happy and I’m freaking bitter about it. I still don’t think they match. And I will never think of that ever.

“Oops! Someone’s jealous…” Miles singsonged.

I looked at him and glared and he and Ivana just smiled at me unapologetically. I scoffed and rolled my eyes.

I was still trying to calm myself when my phone vibrated once more.

Clayton:

Don’t be jealous of that. He’s not even half as handsome as me.

I jeered at his text before laughing.

Miles and Ivana looked at me with narrowed eyes and I just shrugged.

“Let’s just eat,” I said before laughing at Clayton’s text in my head. Silly.