In homeroom, Dev assured Holly that she didn’t say anything to Alex and that he accepted her being ‘overwhelmed’. Holly felt bad that she was lying to him, but there was no way she could face him if he knew the truth. That she liked him. Really liked him. Even that didn’t seem right, like it wasn’t enough to describe how she felt.
It’s just the newness and strangeness of it all. It’ll calm down. She kept telling herself, but so far that hadn’t worked.
Stacey was still shooting daggers at Holly, and she didn’t understand why. The girls had told her she was jealous, but Holly thought that was nothing compared to the anger that could be felt rolling off of Stacey. There seemed to be more to her jealousy than people were aware of.
Holly thought she heard the word ‘bulldog’ coming from Stacey’s direction, but when she turned, Stacey was looking down into a magazine. When Holly turned again to Dev, she definitely heard ‘ruff’ like a dog barking. Holly, again, turned and Stacey looked down. A twisted smile forming across her lips.
“I’m going to smack her!” Dev whispered to Holly as she turned back around.
“Don’t bother, Dev. I’m sure she’ll get what’s coming to her.”
The rest of the day was uneventful. Holly had had her first class with Dev, as well as Alex and Ben but then A.Eng with just Alex. As Dev and Ben’s class was next door, Holly was still safe. The guys had walked with them, but Alex had stayed on Dev’s other side so she was between them and Dev had been keeping the conversation flowing so that Holly didn’t need to add anything. Holly had left for lunch because of her free period. Her day had been safe. She’d spent more time in Alex’s presence than the other days, and she had just about coped.
Her body had other ideas though.
Her legs were like jelly all day and the tingles she felt had her pressing her legs together every time she felt his eyes on her. As Alex had not tried to talk to her, she knew Dev had asked him not to push her. She’d said so herself.
Later on that day, she had a text conversation with Dev.
D: Hey girl! How are you feeling after classes today?
H: Good. Thanks for keeping the guys talking. I thought I might swallow my tongue if I had to say anything.
D: Haha! Seriously that bad?
H: You have no idea Dev. I could barely keep it together in Eng. I could feel him there. I was close to running from the room.
D: It’ll get better I’m sure. I’m here for you, honey. x
H: Thanks. See you tomorrow. X
D: Ok. Sweet dreams. ;) X
Wednesday, after homeroom, Holly made her way to Tech class and paused as she walked through the door. Ben and Alex were in her class, sitting at the back. Ben gave her a huge smile and waved. Alex smiled too, not as overboard as Ben, but there was something in his eyes as he looked at her. Holly managed a pathetic wave, her cheeks immediately flaming, and she rushed to take her seat to her left, next to the wall.
The lesson was to put a string of code together, using the provided software, and once complete a dancing kitten would appear on the screen. The only help they could have was from the teacher as he gave out some hints and tips before the lesson.
Holly knew it would take a few weeks to complete, and she was happy that the work was to be done individually. Less chance of awkward conversation with any of her classmates.
Holly was out the door the minute the bell sounded for next lesson, and her phone beeped.
D: Tener una buena lección de Español! :)
H: What? I understood ‘good’ and ‘Spanish’ :/
D: XD I said to have a good Spanish lesson.
H: Thanks. You’ve just earned yourself extra tutoring. :)
D: No problem. Alway happy to help.
H: Yeah, yeah. See you at lunch. X
D: See you then. X
Holly was glad when Spanish was over. She had come out of there feeling as though she had learned zilch. Nothing, zip, squat. She was becoming increasingly annoyed with the ‘teacher’ and knew it wouldn’t be long before another outburst in her class. She could feel it.
The girls met up and went to their table. The guys were absent, and Holly relaxed a little in their absence.
“Where are the guys?” Riss asked, looking around.
“They’ve gone to discuss their new training program with the coach. Because of the new schedules, their workouts have been messed up. Where they were going to their usual gym after school, sometimes they’ll use the school gym. Alex used to go to the gym on Fridays, but now he’ll be using this one.” Dev explained to everybody as they ate.
“So they can’t eat lunch?” Kayla asked.
“I think they’re eating in the Phys.Ed department. So they can go over everything.”
The girls continued to eat, and Kayla checked Holly’s nails for her handiwork.
“They still look awesome.” Kayla said with a smile.
“I can’t wait for swimming.” Said Dev as they walked to the Phys.Ed department.
It was situated at the back of the school, with its own separate buildings and pool room.
“Me either” Kayla agreed.
“Is it wise to eat and then swim?” Holly asked.
“We don’t do much for the first twenty minutes. Just some technique work, before doing laps.”
“You’re not swimming?” Riss asked as they girls noticed Holly getting changed into her track pants.
“No, I’m running track instead.”
“Why? I thought we all had to swim.?”
“I ran at my last school and before I started here, my Mum asked whether I could carry on instead of swimming.”
“I’d rather swim.” Said Kayla. I don’t like running one bit.”
“I like to run. I prefer to be outside.” Holly said, and she was glad that the girls didn’t ask her any more about it. She would tell them eventually, but not for a while yet.
“Oh. Well I guess we’ll meet up afterwards?” Dev asked, looking a little upset that they weren’t having their lesson together.
“Definitely”
After their showers, the girls were getting their things together when they heard Stacey talking.
“He just doesn’t know he wants me, yet.” She said. “He’ll cave soon enough.”
She sounded certain of that, and she gave a little ‘hmph’ for good measure.
”Just leave is Stace” another voice said.
It sounded like Cerise, Stacey’s friend from homeroom.
“There are more fish in the sea.”
“No!” Stacey spat, her voice snapping. “Alex is by far the hottest guy in this school, ever. He’ll be mine ,eventually.” She said, so sure of herself.
Holly and the girls walked around the wall separating the changing area from the mirrors, where Stacey was talking. A few other girls were there too.
“He’ll come around. They always do.” Stacey looked like a little secret was attached to her statement, as well as her smug smile.
“I wouldn’t count on that.” Said Dev as she stepped closer to Stacey. “Alex would never go with you. You’re just too self absorbed to admit it to yourself.”
“Wow. Here comes the protective sister. Do me a favour, Fuck off and mind your own business.” Stacey snarled at Dev and Holly could feel her hands curling.
“Alex is my business, So fuck you.” Dev said as she took another step to Stacey.
“Oh don’t worry, sweetie…He will.” Stacey and her friend laughed and then turned their attention to Holly. “Aww, here comes the new girl. All the way from boring England.” She snorted.
Holly narrowed her eyes at Stacey. She knew she couldn’t hit the girl because she would get suspended, and she didn’t want her Mum and Dad brought into the school.
“Oh, cat got your tongue? That seems to happen a lot to you doesn’t it? Or is it just with Alex?”
What the hell? How did Stacey know what happened with Alex? Only Dev, and Alex, know.
”Aww, do you wike him ‘ittle girl?” Stacey said in a condescending, childlike voice. “Are you hoping that his tongue gets tied up…in your pussy?” Stacey laughed again and Dev was about to step forward when Holly stopped her.
“Don’t waste your breath Dev.” Holly whispered and motioned for Kayla and Riss to back off.
“Go and run along, little girls. And don’t worry. I’ll take real good care of Alex…and his tongue.”
Holly’s blood was boiling at that point, but she didn’t want to fight her at school when she had only just started.
“Wow.” Holly said as she turned to face Stacey, stepping in closer to her. “You really are a sweat, aren’t you?” She said as she smirked, nastily at Stacey.
Stacey looked slightly confused, but then smoothed her hair down.
”Thanks.” She said and snorted a bitter laugh. Holly took another step forward and looked right into Stacey’s eyes.
“Oh that wasn’t a compliment.” She said, her voice low and threatening.
Stacey’s face paled but then quickly regained composure.
“What the fuck does it mean then? She snapped with a snarky look.
“Google it…” Holly said, keeping a straight face. “…And don’t forget to look up the ‘boring British’ version.”
Stacey’s mouth popped open as Holly and the girls turned to leave.
“Oh my God! That was fucking awesome!” Squealed Kayla.
“Did you see her face? I thought she was going to pee herself.” Said Riss.
“I wanted to smash her face in!” growled Dev, obviously still angry with what Stacey had said about her brother.
“Not in school.” Holly said, shaking her head, as the girls turned to her.
“I’m so angry!”
“Believe me, I wanted to punch her, but is she worth getting suspended over?”
“I guess not” Dev said as she huffed.
“If she touched you, then self-defense would be acceptable” Riss said with a thoughtful look.
“I wanted her to, just so I could…agghhh!” Dev roared in frustration.
It was lucky that it was the end of the day. Dev was pissed, and she’d put up with Stacey for two years. Holly had only put up with her for less than two weeks, and she knew it wouldn’t take much more of Stacey’s shit to tip her over the edge. She took a deep, calming breath.
“Thanks for backing me up.” Dev said to Holly.
“No problem. There’s no way I was going to let her get away with that.”
“Thanks girls, I knew you were ready for a fight.”
“Girl, we’ve got your back no matter what.” They said.
“You guys are the best. By the way Hol, What’s a sweat? Here, it means ‘like’. Like ‘I sweat you’ means ‘I like you,’ or ‘I’m hot for you’.” Said Dev
“Yeah if you talk like an ass.” Added Riss.
”I hear ya! What does it mean in Liverpool?”
“It means a very promiscuous person. Or a big slut for short.” Holly said with a wide smile.
“Wait till Stacey finds out!” Dev laughed loudly. “She thanked you!”
“I know… and that makes it so much better.”
The girls laughed so hard that they gained few strange looks from some of the students.
Alex was waiting in his car for Dev, when the girls came out of the building, all giggling. He watched as Holly turned and got into her car. She glanced at him, a smile still on her face and his heart stopped.
She was so beautiful.
Her face all lit up with her smile, the sunlight sparkling in her eyes. His haze was broken when Dev got into the car, smiling like an insane person. He turned back to Holly, but she was already driving away.
“Oh my God, Alex, you’ll never guess what!!”
Alex listened as Dev told him what happened in the girls’ changing rooms. Stacey mocking Holly’s shyness and then she seemed to skip because she looked at him and then said “anyway” which usually meant she was missing something out on purpose. Dev then told him what Stacey said about her using his tongue and his stomach rolled.
Gross.
“Holly stood up to Stacey…for me?” He asked. Happily thinking that maybe she liked him even a little bit.
“Of course! You’re my brother, and she was backing me up too.”
“I guess.” He said as his happy feeling was gone.
“You should’ve seen her, Alex…” Dev continued. “…Holly called her a sweat and Stacey actually thanked her!” Dev threw her head back and laughed a huge belly laugh.
“So, what is a sweat?”
“A big slut!” Now it was Alex’s turn to belly laugh. He definitely would have loved to have seen that!
Kyle and Ryan had asked about what happened with Stacey, but Dev had said Alex had told them to stop. So after that, they hadn’t mentioned it again. They just looked at her as if they were dying to make a comment.
Holly had gotten stares from other students, and they were whispering but she didn’t care. Stacey wasn’t going to say those things about her Alex and get away with it.
My Alex?!
Holly’s brain had already made her mind up that Alex was hers. Well that just made things worse for Holly.
Thursdays classes with Dev, Alex and Ben were difficult. Holly was red faced even when she hadn’t looked at his beautiful features. But, when Dev and Alex had a free period, Alex had said ‘Bye Holly’ as they left and she’d only managed to barely whisper “bye…Alex”
“Let’s go.” Ben had said when they went to their A.Calc class.
Stacey had been absent from Social studies but that was a good thing. Holly was in no state to deal with her that day.
Friday was much the same as Thursday. Alex had wanted to talk to Holly so much, but after what Dev had said had gone down with Stacey, he was sure that she might be feeling a little embarrassed that he knew what she had done for him and Dev.
He had almost reached out to her when they had A.Eng. He had to put his hands into his pockets to stop himself. It was getting harder to resist. Just walking past her desk, he could smell her hair. Walking to class with her, Dev and Ben, he’d stayed on the other side of Dev, instead of Ben, just so he could be closer. He would try to get next to her, next time, to test the waters. If she looked uncomfortable then he would move.
All of the strategizing was giving him a headache. He wanted to take her hand and walk down the hallway like a normal couple.
Shit! I’m getting too carried away with myself.
They hadn’t spoken properly, and there he was, imagining them as the happy couple strolling hand-in-hand… He was losing it. Cold showers were helping only so much, but he couldn’t deny what Holly was doing to his mind, as well as his body.
Monday rolled around again, and Holly kept her head down. Spending time with the girls, shopping, over the weekend had been fun. They’d even gotten some studying in, making sure that they’d gone to Holly’s house this time. The builders weren’t there over the weekend, so Holly felt it safe to take Dev to her house.
Dev had been an instant hit with her parents and had chatted nonstop about school and how well Holly was fitting in. When they got their books out, Holly had tried to concentrate, but her mind had been otherwise occupied by a very tall, dark, and extremely gorgeous guy.
Brown eyes…perfect white teeth…lips that were designed specifically for kissing and hair that she wanted to grip…
“That dress that we saw was gorgeous. It’s a pity it didn’t fit. It would have been great for our birthday party.” Dev said from beside her, Holly coming out of her Alex fantasy.
The girls had been looking for outfits for Dev’s and Alex’s eighteenth birthday, of which Holly had been invited too; of course. Dev had seen a beautiful red bandage dress and the store didn’t have her size and there were no more in stock at any of their stores. Holly had planned a special surprise for her after that.
“I’m sure there’ll be something perfect for you. We’ll just have to go again.” Holly said, trying to lighten Dev’s mood.
She’d really loved that dress and was still upset she couldn’t have it.
When the girls made their way to their English classes, Holly saw that Alex was already there. He smiled at her when she walked to her seat, and she managed to smile back.
Kind of.
She couldn’t multi-task that well, what with the weak knees, flushing cheeks, and erratic heartbeat.
When A.Eng ended Holly had Spanish. Which annoyed her because the teacher still insisted speaking only in Spanish even though the other students had found her class difficult too. Holly was making her way to A.Calc class when she heard it.
“You fucking bitch!”
Holly turned and saw Stacey steaming towards her. She’d been missing from homeroom, and Holly wondered when she was going to show up.
Holly just smiled.
“Yeah, Stacey? You want to talk to me about something?” she asked innocently.
“I looked up what up what you said, you fucking cunt”
Holly hated that word. Where she was from, if you used that word, you had to be extremely good friends or family with someone to get away with it, or looking for a smack in the mouth. Stacey would be getting the latter.
“Did you now?” she asked as Stacey stopped in front of her.
“Yes I did and I should fucking slap you!” Stacey was furious.
“For telling you the truth? That I said you’re a sweat? Would you have preferred me to say ‘big slut’?” Holly asked in mock confusion.
There were audible gasps in the hallway as the students there had stopped to watch what was going on.
“Please do” Holly continued as she stepped closer to Stacey. “I just need an excuse to punch your face in.” Stacey’s face paled, and she swallowed. “I don’t know whether it’s worth a suspension, but the more I think about it; the more I don’t give a shit.” Holly snarled.
Stacey took a step back.
“You’re a fucking psycho.” Stacey was visibly shaken from the unexpected retaliation that she obviously wasn’t used to.
“Am I now?” Holly asked her voice calm. “There’s only one way to find out, Stacey. Do it. I. Dare. You”
Stacey looked Holly up and down.
“I wouldn’t risk breaking a nail on you.” She said as she quickly turned and stormed off.
The other students stared at Holly and then some even began giggling, at Stacey’s expense. Holly knew this because she heard ‘I thought Stacey was going to cry’ and ‘I really wanted Holly to punch that skank’. Holly turned to make her way to class, and she almost bumped into Ben.
”That. Was. Amazing!” He said, quite stunned. I’ve never seen her hightail that fast. You are officially my new hero.” He said whilst raising his arms up and down in a mock worshipping grovel.
“Could you please keep this to yourself?” Holly asked, but knowing it was in vain because the other students had seen everything and would have spread the gossip around eventually, anyway.
“Seriously?” Ben whined. “Don’t do that to me Holly.” He put his hand on his heart. “I need this…please…I beg you.”
Holly rolled her eyes and walked beside him.
“Why did I bother to ask?” She muttered.
“Yay!” he said as he got out his phone.
She could see this biting her in the arse.
Holly was glad for lunchtime. The students had been talking about her during A.Alg class, and she was getting irritated by their childishness. Yes, she’d stood up to Stacey and said some things to her. But, you’d think that it had been the highlight of the school year the way they were behaving.
The girls were sat at their usual table and there were students hanging around, close by. Probably to see what the ‘girl who scared off Stacey’ would do.
“Hey bruiser” Ben said as he plonked himself down and stealing a potato chip from Dev’s lunch.
“Hey!” she shouted and he winked at her. Which shut her up and, Holly noticed, made her blush a little.
Alex sat down, and Holly saw that he’d purposely sat on the other side of the table. He was opposite to her. She was glad she’d worn her mirrored sunglasses, as it was a bright day, but also because nobody could see her eyes. She could look at whomever she wanted, without them knowing.
Holly dropped her head and smiled a little.
“There wasn’t actually any fighting you know.” Kayla stated.
“I know, but trust me. There didn’t need to be any” Ben said and he smirked at Holly and she rolled her eyes.
Not that he could see them. Holly glanced at Alex, and she immediately blushed because he was looking right at her and smiling his usual sexy smile. She wanted to kiss it right off his face…
“Hellooooo” Ryan said, to get her attention.
“Sorry, what?” Holly said. Glad, once again, for her glasses.
She’d been staring at Alex, and the rest of them had just…disappeared.
“I said you stared the crap out of her. You know, instead of scared?”
“Yeah I know” Holly replied with a twitch of her lips. “I just didn’t think it was funny.” And then, Holly smiled at Ryan.
Everyone cracked up, even Alex. It was deep, hot, sexy Spanish music to her ears.
“You wound me girl. You really wound me.” Ryan said wiping fake tears from his eyes, which did make Holly laugh. Not a full on laugh, just a giggle.
She noticed Alex stop and look right at her again, as if he were paying attention to just her.
“I need to text Em.” She said to Dev and got her phone out. Holly knew she had to act fast, or he might know what she was up to.
Alex was busy texting on his phone too. That was good. It gave Holly more time to stare at his lips, but flushed when she licked her own…at the exact moment he looked up at her.
His eyes focused on her mouth, and his lips parted.
Shit! Busted!
There was no way he could’ve known she was staring at him. Was there?
For the rest of the week, there were no run ins with Stacey and the buzz had quietened down. In fact, Stacey was nowhere to be seen, other than homeroom.
Holly had found it easier to talk around Alex, but it was still bad if he spoke directly to her. She was a mess. Luckily, he seemed to be keeping it to a minimum and she knew she had Dev to thank for that.
During Friday’s homeroom, Stacey sat in her usual space and just glared at Holly and Dev. Holly gave her a smile and Dev had to stifle her laughter.
“Her face!” Dev said as they leaned in to whisper to each other.
“Will be mush if she messes with Alex again.” Holly said as she glanced back.
“Ooh, getting territorial are we?” Dev said with a wink.
“No.” Holly said defensively. “I just know he doesn’t want her and she’s practically forcing herself on him. It’s disgusting.”
“Tell me about it.” Dev agreed with a nod. “Anyhoo, I noticed there’s an improvement between the two of you. I know you don’t really like to talk about it much, but I think it’s great.”
Only it wasn’t for Holly. She wanted to be able to talk to Alex without losing her ability to speak. She wanted to behave like a normal person around him and not a quivering, hot flushed, wreck.
“Yeah, maybe”
“You guys get along so well when you do talk…”
Holly cocked an eyebrow at Dev.
“…Ok, the times, the few times you’ve spoken. But…shit” Dev shook her head and her expression saddened.
“What is it Dev?”
“Look, I know I can’t say anything but I think you’d be perfect together. You look good together too, and you know how I feel about girls and my brother.”
It was true. Dev had told Holly all about girls using her to get to Alex. Holly had been shocked, and then angry, and then furious. She would never…
“The other week, when you sat next to each other at lunch for the first time. It looked…perfect.” Dev blew out a sharp breath.
“Better?” Holly asked with a smile.
“Better”
“You’ve been holding that in, haven’t you?” Holly began to giggle at Dev.
“That obvious? It’s what I think, and I’m entitled to my opinion.” Dev said, her nose in the air.
“That you are.” Holly felt better knowing that her best friend was rooting for her. If only she knew what was going through Alex’s mind…
History class came, and Alex could feel Holly’s presence even though she sat at the back of the room with the rest of the girls.
“Gym next?” Ben asked.
“Hmmm?” Alex said as he was brought out of his daydream.
“Gym. For free period.”
“Oh yeah”
“Man you’ve really got it bad.” Ben said as he leant into Alex.
Alex’s eyes snapped to Ben.
“What?!”
“You know” Ben smiled at him.
“Know what?” Alex tried to play dumb.
“Don’t try to deny it dude. Ever since she started here, you’ve been acting different and your spacing out sessions are becoming more frequent.”
“I don’t know what you mean.” Alex said as he turned back to his desk, but knowing he couldn’t hide from Ben.
“We’ve known each other for almost twelve years.” Ben said. “Don’t think I didn’t notice this man.”
Alex didn’t say anything. He knew Ben would have seen it immediately. He’d even said, he didn’t go to the gym because of a certain ‘tiny girl’” It was true, Holly was a tiny thing, but she was also in perfect proportion. Well from what he could tell. She hid herself under loose clothing and even more when people looked. Yes. She was a perfectly perfect, beautiful, gorgeous girl.
“It’s about time a girl caught your eye dude. Holly’s a great girl.”
Alex looked to Ben at the mention of Holly’s name.
“That obvious huh?” was all he said.
“To me…definitely. I’m surprised Dev didn’t notice.”
“She did. I applied the code.”
“Dude!” Ben almost shouted. “You can’t do that shit to girls. Their whole lives run off this stuff, man! I wondered why she was looking as though she was going to explode.” Alex turned to Ben.
“It applies to you too.”
“Aww man, how am I supposed to play cupid now?” Ben whined.
“It wouldn’t make any difference anyway. She’s not into me.” Alex felt his chest ache as he told Ben what he thought.
“Are you kidding me? Dude, are you blind?”
“No”
“Well you must be, not to see it” Ben pointed at his eyes.
“See what?” Alex frowned.
“I bet Dev knows, so maybe you should ask her.” Ben smiled.
“I’m asking you. Has she said anything to you?
“No, but I’m guessing she says plenty to Dev. Ask her. But, the way she looks at you when you’re not looking…man it’s something.”
“Really?” Alex said a little too loudly.
“Boys, keep it down and pay attention.” The teacher said from the front.
“Sorry” they replied and looked back to their work.
Alex risked a glance back at Holly and, sure enough, she was looking right back. But so was Dev, or was she looking at Ben? He just smiled and turned back, shifting his eyes to Ben who was now batting his eyes at Alex. He shook his head. It was a good job Ben sat with his back to Holly, or she may be punching him in the face.
After class, the girls hung back and they guys went to the gym. Alex wanted to wait, but the girls would be going in a different direction than they, so he and Ben took off.