SIXTEEN

"Hey Leia, what do you think has more calories?" a confused voice asked me, bringing me out of my thoughts that included a guy named Mason.

"Um..." I drawled out, staring at Ashley with a blank look.

Ashley slumped her shoulders and let out a long sigh, "Look Leia, if you don't want to hang out with me and Sara you can just say. I feel like we're suffocating you."

My pink tinted lips parted as a surprised look pushed the blank one aside, "Gosh no Ashley, no that's not what I want. I need some friends."

"Then what is it?" Ashley questioned, dropping the yogurt and milkshake onto the table.

I didn't really know myself.

All day Mason was on my mind and it was driving me crazy. The moment we shared together was so special and wonderful. He made me feel things and I didn't know what exactly.

Talking to Ashley and Sara about it could help me feel a little better and maybe even help me work out these strange feelings, but would they judge me? Would they judge me for thinking about the most gossiped boy in school?

"Leia!" Ashley yelled, yet again pulling me out of my indecisive thoughts.

"What!" I snapped before immediately planting a hand over my mouth.

Feeling guilty, I apologised and left the table with Ashley's and Sara's pairs of eyes following my stomping figure out the canteen.

Gosh, I needed to get a grip. Mason was taking over my brain. I even had the audacity to snap at Ashley when she did absolutely nothing wrong. I wasn't angry at Mason, or Ashley though. I was angry at myself. This mostly was due to pouring my heart out onto a guy who I literally met two or three weeks ago.

Even though I didn't tell him about my dad getting murdered or about me being beaten to a pulp. Those were my secrets that I hoped to keep to myself for a very long time.

As I hurried passed two chatty people, I accidentally barged into one of their shoulders.

"Excuse me!" A squeaky voice squealed, hurting my ears in the process. "Babe, she just banged into my shoulder with no apology!"

Spinning around grumpily, I began to open my mouth to apologise when I saw her.

Angela Herrington, also known as, sweetest girl of the year. Yeah sweet my arse. If I could, I would shout out "Fixed." every time she got awarded for it. But, unfortunately, my confidence was low. And I did not have a death wish.

With Kane being the doting boyfriend that he was, turned around to me and threatened, "You push my girlfriend one more damn time then you'll be seeing yourself in hospital!"

That surprisingly worried me. Kane's family was pretty powerful and he could get away with anything, and especially if Angela was on his side. Gosh, you did not know how powerful Angela's family was. Also, I had lost hope in humanity once my father was ripped away from me. I couldn't trust any one anymore.

Killing a father was the lowest of the lows. They didn't even blink. They just tore him away from me. They ripped my heart out from my chest and stomped on it like monsters.

I snorted aloud and bitterly said, "You think I give a damn about what your pathetic-self can do."

Taking a massive step towards me, Kane spat, "You wanna bet, nerd,"

Unfortunately, I was standing right infront of the lockers.

Flinching away at the close proximity between us, I started tilting my head sideways to not make eye contact with him or 'Miss Delightful'.

"Aww isn't that just adorable, Kane," Angela cooed in a mocking tone. "She's frightened of you."

"Yeah...." Kane trailed off, burning his eyes into my skull.

"Hey!" A distant voice yelled. It was quiet, but just enough to be heard. "What're you guys up to?"

I couldn't see who it was because I had an arrogant boy's face in mine, blocking me from them.

"Oh hello, Mason," Angela flirtatiously said.

If I could had seen Angela's face right then, I expected that she was fluttering her long, delicate eyelashes that were most likely coated with thick layers of mascara. Yep, thick layers.

Wait a second, did she just say Mason?

Trying to catch a glimpse at Mason's face, I slightly shifted my body to the side.

"Hey, Angela," his deep voice spoke, making my body melt into the lockers. "And Kane."

"Mason, are you coming to the KAR today?" Angela carried on flirting, making my eyes narrow into slits.

Go away, Angela. You already have a boyfriend. In fact, he's standing about three feet away from you!

"Nah, sorry Ange. I have some things to do," he awkwardly replied whilst scratching the back of his neck with a slight blush on his cheeks and a tinge of red on the tips of his ears.

More like someone to do...

Shut up conscience. Don't judge him so quickly.

My eyes narrowed even further if they could, when he called her Ange. Were they that close for him to have a nickname for her?

He calls you Craze. Your nickname is much better than freaking Ange. Any one can call her that.

My conscience was starting to annoy me. Craze was just short for crazy. He practically thought I was psychotic so shut up conscience.

"Oh what's that?" Angela growled. "What could you possibly have to do that's better than KAR? Hmm?"

"Be quiet, Angela," Kane hushed her. "Everything OK, bro?"

"Yup, couldn't be better," he sighed, lowering his head in...sadness?

"Is it your da-"

"Stop Kane!" Mason yelled. "Just leave it alone, man."

With that last statement, Mason turned his back away and stormed off. What was wrong with him? Daddy problems. Please, his dad wasn't bloody dead like mine. What could be worse than that?

Kane turned to me and whispered "You're lucky Mason didn't see you. He would have killed you because of what you did to Angela."

"Well then thank you so much for having a big head, Kane," I snarled. "Good bye and I hope to not see your big head again."

Slyly pushing passed Kane, I began to walk away, but right before that I sent a menacing glare towards Angela. It was that bimbo's fault that I was stuck there in the first place.

Whilst thinking about the conversation that Mason had with Kane, I decided to head to class. The bell was close to going anyway.

*

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*

Taking a deep breath, I headed into the Café. The delicious aroma of coffee beans and baked pastries greeted my nose. It calmed my nerves, which I was grateful for. If I had a visual representation of my nerves, it would be high. Very high.

Carefully walking over to the desk, I asked if I could speak to the manager. The waitress said I could and whisked through a door way to get the manager.

*

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*

"So you want a job?" The manager repeated my words, leaning back in her chair.

"Yes if you need more workers that is, Miss," I nervously said before biting my lip.

The manager's welcoming smile widened and nodded contently, "Indeed I do, Miss Owens. What days are you free for your interview?"

"Any day!" I happily exclaimed, shaking in excitement.

The manager wrote on her note pad and tore it off before handing it to me.

Date: 9/11/16

Time: 10:30

"Thank you ever so much for giving me a chance," I thanked her, clutching the paper in my hands.

"It's alright just be on time and dress appropriately then I'm sure you'll get this job," the manager smiled sweetly.

Grabbing the door, she sent me out so that I could go home.

Smiling, I exited the Café. I almost skipped all the way home because I was so elated. I finally had a chance to have a job and pay for my car to get repaired. I could even get a new one if I got a good salary and worked my hardest.

It seemed my life was heading into the right direction, but for how long would it last? Eventually, someone was going to find out about me being parentless.

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Ooh, what's going to happen next? Not all stories can be filled with sunshine and butterflies. I'm so proud of myself that I uploaded because it feels like I know where I am going with this book. Please be patient though. Who knows how long it'll take for another update? Because I definitely don't know.

Anyway, feel free to COMMENT and also please VOTE. I would love to know some people are enjoying this.  See you soon my lovelies <3

Gem Gems