*Beauty*
Will's lips were emblazoned in my mind.
I could still feel them lightly brushing my own, sending spurts of heat down my spine. The place where his finger had splayed over my back still sparkled with electric currents, as if he was touching me all over again. Then I remembered the way his lips had hovered over mine, breathing minty breath onto mine as he inched closer to kiss me...
Woah.
Ellie Kent, will you be my girlfriend?
Squeal!
I bit my lip, aware that I was now blushing a new shade of red.
Oh, Will.
For the past eight hours of Gemma and Layla's victory party, my mind had been on Will. He flooded my mind and made it impossible to think about anything else.
Will was my boyfriend.
William Johnson was my boyfriend.
I couldn't breathe.
I frowned as I remembered the way his voice had darkened on the phone when he said he had to go.
It had sounded off. Had something happened?
I blinked out of my daze as I noticed someone had sat down next to me.
Justin Markson leaned towards me. Beneath his varsity jacket, like the others, he was splattered with paint. His hair, however, was perfectly combed, as if he'd spent hours fixing it. He looked a little irritated and the bruise growing on his neck beneath pink paint confirmed the reason why.
Gemma had been pretty boastful in describing how she'd shot Justin with her bazooka while he ran away.
I giggled, imagining it.
Justin grinned. He stretched his arm around the chair behind me, leaning closer. "You disappeared on me during the festival," he said, his voice low.
I frowned, shifting slightly away from him. "Uh, yeah, I left early," I replied.
I scanned the heads behind him, searching for Gemma or Layla.
"It was sad," he continued, "I wanted to hang out. You looked really hot that night."
This is so awkward.
He flexed, an arrogant smile sliding over his face. "Sorry about this morning, with the paintballs." He shrugged. "You know, I get really into the game."
I blinked, trying to remember what had happened before I met up with Will.
Then the memory of Will, hovering inches away from me in that tiny alcove pulsed in my mind. And abruptly, I was blushing again.
Justin's grin widened. "You still look pretty hot though, with that outfit."
Okay, I am officially uncomfortable.
I stood, stepping away from him. "Why don't we, er, chat later? I have to go somewhere..." I trailed off as I weaved through the students, away from him.
"Later, babe!" he called.
I heard wolf whistles from around the room.
I shuddered as I dodged the crowd of East, and some West, students, all splattered in paint. Finally, I pushed through the restaurant doors.
The sound of laughter and squealing dissipated slightly as the doors shut behind me. I stepped out into the cool night of the parking lot, allowing the breeze to blow back my hair.
It was now ten o'clock. Gemma and Layla, along with the footballers and cheerleaders had spent the last eight hours celebrating their victory.
Will, I really wish you were here.
My gaze honed in on a silver Honda pulling into the parking lot. Not Will's car.
Before I looked away, the car parked and a girl stepped out. My stomach turned into anxious knots as I recognised the girl's tall frame: Catherine Wilson.
Nerissa Chang stepped out of the driver's seat. She groaned as soon as she looked at the restaurant. "I should have thought so," she whined, her voice carrying across the empty parking lot. "Layla always does stuff like this."
Catherine groaned, her expression irritated. "Great! The barbie dolls are throwing a party."
I watched the way she pushed a strand of her long mahogany hair behind her ear and wondered how Will didn't have a crush on her. She was beautiful.
At that moment she glanced up.
I flinched as she scowled at me.
Well, she still hates me.
Then abruptly, her scowl disappeared. A smirk slid across her face. She held up a finger. "One second Nerissa," she said.
Then, with deliberate calmness, she walked across the parking lot to stand a few feet from me.
She was taller than me, closer to Will in height. Her eyes--brown--nailed me in place as she tilted her head. "Congratulations on your friends' victory," she said, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "Who knew barbie dolls were so good at paintball?" she tapped her lips, pursing them in thought. "Or they could have just flirted with everyone until they won."
Anger raced up my spine. "They didn't," I snapped. "Don't talk about them like that."
She raised an eyebrow. "You grew a spine?" she tilted her head. "I saw Will today by the way. Did you know we met up?" She leaned closer, enunciating every word. "His house is absolutely gorgeous, isn't it?"
My heartbeat slowed. She'd gone to Will's house? Today? Before or after I'd spoken to him?
Duh, Ellie, you can't be the only girl whose been to Will's house.
Her words must have hit her mark because her smirk grew. "I didn't know he worked out so much. I mean, when he isn't wearing a shirt, he's built." She sighed.
My eyes widened and my heart stopped altogether. "What?"
She'd seen him shirtless?
Now she was grinning, her eyes glinting. "Oh, it's nothing serious, he just took off his shirt is all." She pouted. "I thought he would have told you, considering you guys are seeing each other."
I blinked rapidly. Will had said he didn't have feelings for Catherine.
It was probably a misunderstanding.
It had to be.
"You know, it's really cute, this crush you have on him." She touched my hair, brushing a loose strand behind my shoulder. "It's too bad though," she sighed.
"What's too bad?" I breathed.
She met my gaze. "I doubt he likes you back. He probably thinks he does. But once he gets to know you..." her hand fell from my hair. "He'll realise how he really feels. He'll get bored and move on. Will...he's special. He needs someone that can provide him with mental stimulation, that can keep him interested." She shot me a pitying look. "Intellectually, well, you just don't match up. You're not good enough for him."
Pain lanced through my chest.
"Just think," she said. "How much do you even know about him? Did he even tell you about his family? Or why he moved here seven years ago?"
I didn't respond.
I was rooted to the ground with my lips sown shut.
Why had he moved here?
"I thought so." She grinned. "Girl to girl, I'll give you some advice. He's going to break your pathetic desperate little heart because you will never be good enough for him. Eventually, he'll replace you with someone in his league." Her smile dissipated and she stared at me with pure unadulterated hatred. "So, just give up. Ok?"
She scanned my expression before she flashed me a vicious smile and turned away, heading back to a curious Nerissa.
"What was that?" Nerissa asked, her gaze flickering back and forth between us.
"Just girl talk," Catherine chimed back. She slipped back into the car. "Let's get out of here. I think the stupidity of all the barbie dolls is contagious."
Nerissa frowned as she slipped back into the car. Catherine shot me a smirk before they pulled out of the parking lot.
I bit my lip. I could feel my eyes burning.
She was right.
She was completely right.
I wasn't good enough for Will. And I didn't know him the way she did. I knew next to nothing about his family. I hadn't even known he had a brother until last Saturday.
I rubbed my eyes as hot tears slid down my cheek.
I wasn't good enough for him.
I'd known that.
I just hadn't anticipated it would hurt this much.
*
Madison and the girls dropped me off at my house at eleven.
I shuffled into the house, my mind replaying Catherine's words.
I nearly jumped as I noticed Dad on the couch. He wore his reading glasses and was peering at his computer screen. I rarely saw him wear his reading glasses. He never wore them in front of my mother. For obvious reasons.
He looked up as I walked in. "Hey, sweetie," he said as he turned back to his laptop. He yawned.
I attempted a smile. "Hey," I replied.
He frowned, and then looked up, squinting at me. "Are you alright sweetheart?" he asked. Then his brows furrowed. "Is it that quarterback?" he growled. "I still have some skills from the old days you know, so if--"
I laughed, waving him off. "No, dad, that isn't it."
I bit my lip as I considered telling him about Will, the guy I would never be good enough for.
Finally, I just sighed. "Don't worry about it."
He frowned. Then his eyes widened. "If it's about your mom, I know she gives you girls a lot of pressure, but she means well."
I smiled. It was sweet that he was trying to help me.
"That's not it dad. Don't worry."
He huffed, pouting. "I can't understand you girls. I really hope the baby will be a boy."
I laughed, rolling my eyes. "I doubt it, but good luck."
He smiled and the skin around his eyes crinkled.
"You should go to bed," I said, my eyes flickering to the time.
He glanced at his watch. "Still waiting up for Tessa." He yawned again.
"Alright, goodnight." I gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Sleep soon."
"Goodnight sweetheart."
I turned and headed up the stairs.
The moment I entered my room, I crumbled onto my bed.
Catherine's words nagged at my brain, warning me.
Yet, no matter how much her words repeated themselves, Will's face floated to mind. I could remember every detail of his smile, the stretch of his scarlet cupid bow lips, the way his eyes glittered beneath his glasses. The sensation of his fingers on my face.
Maybe he would break my heart.
But I still wanted to be with him.
More than anything.
I fell asleep to dreams about Will.
The rest of the week passed painfully slowly. I didn't see Will at school, excused for his university classes.
Finally, Saturday morning dragged sluggishly into the present.
I barely slept the night before, too excited for the next day. By 6:00 am, I was already awake, staring out the window in anticipation.
The time ticked by ridiculously slowly.
And--finally--6:15.
The embodiment of perfection turned the corner, jogging down the street.
This time he did something different.
Once he reached the centre of the street, a clear view from my window, he paused and glanced up.
My heart stopped.
The clouds split, catching him in a shaft of sunlight.
My heart palpitated in my chest as he slicked his dishevelled hair back. With no glasses, his lashes fluttered as his emerald eyes glimmered tenfold, billions of facets glimmering beneath the sun rays. Then his lips stretched, transforming into a magnificent grin that lit up the entire street.
Oh my.
Then, he reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone. My heart pounding in my chest, I watched as he typed something. He glanced up, his gaze meeting mine as he made a gesture to his phone.
It took me a few seconds to understand what he was saying. I scrambled for my phone, quickly swiping open the screen.
Will's message: Come down?
*
Hello wonderful people! I hope you liked the chapter!
I'll try to post again soon.
God bless
xxx
Yemi Everest