I woke to my alarm at 6:30am and groaned, hitting it once and lazily getting out of bed. Why must school be here already?
I sat in front of the mirror, doing my natural makeup and brushing through my hair. I decided to wear my boyfriend jeans that sat comfortably on my hips with a belt to hold them up. They were ripped nicely at the front part at almost the whole length. I pulled on an old Arctic Monkeys tee that had definitely served its purpose to me over the past year.
Grimly, I headed to the bathroom, I was about to pull the door open when it was pushed from the inside and out walked Alex Parker, half naked.
If last nights events hadn't occurred and I didn't despise him, then by this point a pool of drool would be gathering at my feet, but that was not the case.
He stares me down and I returned the glare, his harsh features didn't soften, but he motioned his head for me to follow him. If I was honest, I had no idea why I was wasting my time on this sadistic excuse of a person...though I should cut him some slack with what he was going through, but he had no right to talk to me like that.
He lingered around his drawers, fumbling with the chipped corner and looking anywhere but my eyes. "I apologise for last night." He mumbled quietly.
"Excuse me?" I folded my arms, resting my weight on one hip and allowing my right brow to do its daily yoga.
"Listen I don't say sorry often so just take it." His lips curled tightly over his teeth for a quick moment before returning to his locked jaw.
Was that supposed to make me feel grateful? that I was worthy of a mumbled half hearted apology?
"You don't get to do that." He looked at me, brows furrowed as I gritted my teeth.
He watched me and when he didn't speak I took the opportunity to explain my self to the dumbass.
"You don't get to insult me of my personal family issues then act like you're not the bad guy." My heart raced with fury and I then noticed the remains of the smashed lacrosse trophy by the door.
"Don't expect another apology." He spat.
"Screw you and you're half hearted apology!" I stomped my foot like a child told they had to go to bed at seven PM.
I was aware of how childish that was, but that was what Alex did to me. He got under my skin.
"What more do you want? I already said sorry!" Was this his way of reasoning?
"Shove your apology up your ass. I'm sure you like it up there since your heads so far up it!" I yelled and marched for the door.
His hand, still heated from the warmth of the shower, caught my arm at my elbow and spun me back to him.
His eyes remained hard for the first few seconds before turning into the soft leaf color I'd come to know well recently. He sighed, getting ready to swallow his pride. "I really am sorry okay Maxy?"
Although I felt like I shouldn't forgive so quickly, I couldn't help it. I sighed. "forgiven.."
~~~
The moment I stepped foot in the halls of West Vale High my best friend, Casey, rushed over, squeezing me tightly and babbling all too quickly about the latest drama while I pretended I could make out everything she was saying.
I fill Ed my locker with the books I'd need later on as Casey carried on with 'who Kyle McCall supposedly hooked up with the other night' of course, I had already heard these from Kyle himself and knew it was all rumors. Kyle didn't hook up with anyone and was becoming agitated that he hadn't done so for a fair few weeks. Though he could get any girl he wanted with a simple dazzling twinkle of his eyes, he confessed to me that any normal girl just won't do.
"Are you having fantasies?" I asked Casey suddenly with a perky voice and she clasped her mouth shut. "You are! You wish you were the girl he 'hooked up with'!" I made sure to make the speech marks with my fingers.
She copied my hand gesture "why?"
"Because Case, Ky didn't hook up with anyone the other night, confirmed by yours truly okay?" I grinned at her and I knew she was grateful she had someone on the inside of their clique.
"Ky?" She laughed loudly and I rolled my eyes , I had no idea why I shortened his name.
I was startled out of the laughter when my locker slammed shut and my eyes snapped to my opposite side where Grayson Ledger carelessly leant against the locker beside mine.
"Awe babe, did I scare you?" He grinned playfully and I narrowed my eyes.
"Awe babe, your face scares me every day." I smiled back innocently even though my childish come back sounded like a 6th graders insult.
"Careful Maxy, you almost hurt my feelings." He winked and held a hand to his heart. A weird sense of déjá vu hit me and I crinkled my nose.
"You sound more like Alex every day." I rolled my eyes again and began to walk down the hall, Grayson following.
He skipped ahead a few steps and walked backward in front of me. "You mean Alex sounds like me?"
"Huh?"
"I was here first princess." I spotted Jace at the end of the hall awaiting us.
"Ah but I knew dear Alexander first. I beg you not to become as much of an egoistic jerk as him." I frowned at the thought of dealing with two versions of Alex, I couldn't cope.
Grayson sucked in a sharp breath "don't let him hear you call him that... You know there's more to him than the 'egoistic jerk' right?"
"What's he gonna do? Cry into his pillow at night while whispering profanities?" I laughed and shook my head. "You're right, on top of that he's an airhead." I skipped down to Jace who seemed to be growing impatient.
"I have to skip school today. If anyone asks, you didn't see me!" Jace told us while throwing one strap of his backpack over his shoulder.
"Why?" I asked.
"You'll see...lets just say I left Principle Foreman a nice welcome back present." The smirk each of the boys shared in common spread across Jace's face.
"Right...I don't even want to know what you did. " then it struck me.
"Was Alex by any chance involved in this little present..?" I asked warily and my suspicion was confirmed when the sly smirk grew wider.
"Gotta run." He flashed his teeth at Grayson and I before strolling back out the doors.
"ALL STUDENTS TO THE MAIN HALL."
I sighed, recognizing the irritation in Mr Foreman's croaky voice as we made a swift turn and headed for the hall. Students filed in, still talking loudly like the social butterflies most of them were. I sat in an empty row where Casey, Grayson, Alex and Kyle sat with me.
I could only imagine Casey's excitement being wedged between Kyle and Grayson. Though Kyle was turned to me and Grayson to Alex, she seemed content just being in their presence.
Once the humming of conversation went quiet, the principle started.
"Welcome back, students of West Vale high. I wish I could say it was a pleasure to see you all and be surrounded by you all for yet another term, but it seems the pranksters have already struck and this term, I will not take it!" He pressed the remote and on the screen a startling image appeared.
Principle Foreman held up a messy stack of paper, red faced as the students started to laugh.
"I do not deem this to be an appropriate act! Nobody wants to see your bums printed out a million times!" I sniggered slightly before shaking my head and turning my attention to Alex who was already grinning and burning a hole into my temple. I shook my head and turned back to the front.
"Who is responsible for this childish act?!" foreman boomed.
"I do not appreciate this image plastered to the walls of my office! Nor do I appreciate the usage of the school printers for this prank! Well I'm putting my foot down. Whoever is responsible for this will come forward before the end of the day. If you do not and I myself find out who did it, you will be suspended!" My mouth dropped open and I looked over to Alex once again, but he didn't share my worried expression, he was still grinning mischievously, clearly proud of his successful prank.
~~~
By lunch, obviously nobody had owned up to the prank and I doubted Alex or Jace would. I sat at the table with Alex, Grayson and Kyle, ignoring the looks of surprise and envy I was receiving. - I guess nobody knew that over summer I'd spent time with their heart throbs.
"So why did Jace leave but you didn't?" I bit into my apple and crinkled my nose at the sour taste, proceeding to put it back on my tray.
"Makes him less of a suspect." Alex shrugged.
"Besides, Tara doesn't start school until tomorrow and it's about time he swallowed his pride and went to see her." Kyle added. Finally!
"So" Alex started, he popped another grape into his mouth. "Think I have a 'fit bum' Max?" He winked and my cheeks flushed the ugly red colour against my usual pale skin.
"You wish." I replied after blankly staring at him for a few seconds.
"You know you want it." His tone was playful, but it still made me want to cringe. I rolled my eyes.
~~~
I made my way to last period, tired and wishing I could be home already. There was no way in hell I could deal with math right now, especially since I was in so much of a rush this morning I never got the chance to drink my coffee.
Sitting in my usual seat, I mentally prepared myself for an hour of boredom since I had none of my closest friends in this class. I tried to ignore the whispers and stares I was getting from various other students. Jeesh what was wrong with them?
That was when someone tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to face a short girl with lovely caramel skin, soft brown eyes and wavy long black hair. I had never spoke to her before but I recognised her as someone Casey was friends with. Camille I believe her name was?
"You're Max Carrington right?" Her high cheerful voice was kind and made me instantly smile a little.
"I am." I replied.
"Camille." She smiled, her lovely cheeks forming dimples. Thought so. "So what's the deal with you and the boys?" She asked me, that's when I understood she was not trying to become my friend, she was just trying to find out the latest gossip.
"The boys?" I repeated, amused.
"You know who I'm talking about don't you?" Her face appeared frozen into her smile.
"Obviously." I muttered incoherently.
She frowned for a moment at my attitude then returned to her perky smile. "So what's the deal?" She asked again.
"There's no deal."
"But-" I was relieved when she was cut off by miss Bloomers 'good afternoon class'. I turned in my seat and faced forward to get on with the work.
The hour went painfully slow, doing algebraic questions was not on my to do list today. The moment the bell rang signalling the end of the day I was up and making my way to the door way before anyone could stop me.
"Hey you!" The voice clearly didn't know my name "Are you dating one of the boys?" A blonde girl dressed in a short skimpy skirt and a crop top asked me. Her face was caked in orange makeup, she looked as though she was wearing a push up bra and her irritated tone and facial expression didn't do her any justice. Rebecca Farrell was co captain of the cheer leading squad, how stereo typical if you asked me.
"No." I rolled my eyes for the millionth time today and shoved past her.
"Why are you even talking to the boys? I thought it was vaguely known to those that actually pay attention to you that you don't get along with them?" Another girl ask me, this time I didn't even recognize her. If one more person asked me about 'the boys' I was going to claw my own eyes out.
"Are you the reason Alex Parker isn't texting me back?!" Ah Jeez. A brunette girl stood in my way, glaring at me fiercely.
"It's not my fault he's not talking to you." My patience was wearing thin and I couldn't deal with another fake girl drooling over the boys I unwillingly befriended.
"Well I think it is ." She moved once again to block my way and I was about to tell her he was most likely avoiding her because she was desperate and annoying and was in great need of a facial, but Kyle's arm soon slung around my neck and distracted me.
"Hey Jessica, a problem here?" Kyle faced her and Jessica's face lit up into the biggest fake smile I'd ever seen.
"Not at all! I was just complimenting Max here on her gorgeous..." She looked me up and down "...shirt..." She crinkled her nose and I rolled my eyes, muttering curse words about just how fake this Jessica is.
"So nice of you Jess. I'll call you sometime yeah?" A warm smile appeared on his face and she nods eagerly, seemingly forgetting all about Alex as she ran off excitedly squealing to her friends.
"Are you actually going to call her?" I looked up at Kyle in disgust as we made our way to my locker.
"No way...been there, done that. It will just get her off our backs for a while." I frowned because at any other point, I'd make a comment on how boys shouldn't get girls hopes up like that and lie to them so easily. But I was in no way going to stick up for Jessica.
"Anyway" he said as I pulled out my bag from my locker, filling my bag with the books I won't need for tomorrow. "Have you heard? You're the most talked about person at the school today. That and the whole butt prank shenanigan."
"Oh I haven't noticed." I let the sarcasm seep into my comment.
"Why would people be talking about me anyway?" I asked. I didn't quite understand what's so exciting about a girl talking to them, lots did it all the time.
"You're hanging out with the boys that every girl in the school wants to get with. Everyone wants to be you." He told me.
"Big headed much? I don't want to 'get with'Â any of you by the way." It wasn't probably best I cleared that up.
My eyes swept over Kyle McCall after the words left my lips and I quickly confirmed to myself that yes, if he lulled a few sweet words to me and looked at me with those eyes, I would be weak at the knees - with any of West Vales bad boys, bar Alex Parker of course. I could never. I would never.
"Well that's a lie. Everybody wants to, including you." His huge ego was really starting to irritate me.
"Am I that transparent?" I made sure that my comment was once again full of sarcasm and he chuckled.
"Kinda. The boys and I know you have the hots for Alex and he has the hots for you, there's no denying it." My cheeks flushed red again and we headed for the exit.
"That is not true!" I claimed.
"He tried to kiss you." Kyle pointed out.
"He actually fell." I corrected him and he chuckled again, muttering about how blinded I was.
~~~
"So how exactly did Jace 'make it up to you'?" Tara pulled her legs into the crossed position, facing me as we made our own conversation while the rowdy boys kicked around a football at the bottom of Jace's back yard.
"Well he did the overly cliche 'throw pebbles at her window' scene, but I'm not into the whole cliche story tales, so the ones that landed on my window sill, I threw them back at him, successfully hitting him a few times of course" She grinned in delight and I couldn't help but laugh.
"Okay so then what?"
"He climbed up the tree and sat on the ledge, to which I decided i'd lock my window shut. So he cursed and acted a baby for a few minutes as I pretended I didn't hear him." She told me. I couldn't help but grin in awe as I realised that yes their relationship may be crazy, but to have a guy willing to spend his time like this on a girl was a guy worth keeping. I couldn't help but wish I had a boyfriend like Jace, but I didn't feel jealous of Tara in the slightest way.
"Carry on.." I leaned closer.
"Then all of a sudden he started singing really loud, making the words up as he went along. - he's a terrible singer by the way." she laughed and I joined in.
"He was basically apologizing in an extremely bad home made song. Going on about how he's a jerk and doesn't deserve as many chances I give him, but needs another. Then he was babbling about all the thing he loves about me." She beamed in delight and in a completely weird way, that was the cutest thing I'd ever heard.
"So I let him in and..." She raised her eyebrows two or three times and I burst out laughing.
"Okay I get it! No more details please!"
The others joined us around the fire now, warming there hands on it as it was getting slightly nippy the darker it got.
"So what are you guys going to do? If you get caught you two will be suspended." I changed the subject and the two exchanged glances, however they didn't seem phased in the slightest.
"Maxy, do we ever get caught?" Alex answered and my thoughts took me to the last day of last term, where he so rudely ruined my favorite sweater. Just after our little verbal fight, he was called into the principles office and I remembered thinking about how it wouldn't be long before each of the boys were expelled.
"Yes" I scoffed. "You guys are on the verge of being expelled never mind suspended! If he finds out it was you he may just straight out expel you on the spot!"
"Chill, he won't find out and he won't expel us. We're two of the best on the lacrosse team and Foreman loves winning." Jace told me, however I did wonder just how much nonsense Foreman would take before he gave up the winning for simply a well behaved school.
"Okay Max, you seem awfully stressed...how about a little something to ease that?" Grayson smirked and held up a clear bag.
"Drugs?! You've got to be kidding me! No way." I shook my head furiously.
"It's only a little and it's not like we're pot heads, we hardly do it I swear." Kyle held his hands up by his head and dropped them after speaking.
"Alexander Parker! You do drugs?!" I stood up and moved in front of him, placing my hands on my hips.
"Not a lot! Chill out its fine! Try it." He placed his hands on my hips and my first instinct was to slap them away, but he did it again anyway, this time pulling gently so I fell into his lap.
He held up a joint Grayson had rolled and lit and placed it inches from my lips. I looked at Alex, unsure and he urged me to try it. Bad influence much? And my mother wanted me to be friends with him...if only she knew.
I moved my lips to the joint and breathed it in, coughing and spluttering after as the gang laughed. "You'll get used to it." Tara laughed, taking the joint from Alex's mouth and smoking some herself. They passed it between themselves and I listened to how their stories became more and more bizarre.
"Alex I think it's time we head home." I told him and he groaned.
"Fine Debbie downer." He rolled his eyes and stood up.
We waved bye and headed out the gates and down the empty streets.
After having a few puffs of the joint, I admit I felt a little fuzzy, but it seemed Alex was worse.
I listened to his stories and questions and theories that were crazy, I was amused and actually found it rather hilarious until he stopped laughing, stopped walking and looked at me.
"You didn't want me to kiss you." Alex was stood, his face mere inches from mine despite him being a whole head taller than me.
I sucked in a harsh breath.
"What?" Of course I'd heard him, but I didn't know what to say. It was the drugs talking. He had no idea what he's saying. He didn't even want to kiss you, right?
"You didn't want me to. How could you not want me to?" His eyes were dull and bloodshot, from the drugs and nothing else.
"You pushed me away." A small crease appeared in his eyebrows. I felt his hot breath on my lips which made them tingle.
"You fell..." I whispered though I knew how stupid it sounded to fall onto someone's lips.
"Did I?" He asked, his eyes flickering from my eyes to my lips, my breathing hitched.
What?