Wednesday October 17, 2012
I woke up fresh the next day and early.
Today, I would show James that I was over him and that he could go screw himself. From here on out, there would be no more fantasies, no more daydreams, and no more giving in.
Honest.
I hoped that was the optimist in me speaking and not the delusional.
All right, let’s do this.
My closet, thanks to Mom’s pre-weightloss shopping, actually provided me with options I never would have considered on my own.
Meaning…. sexy clothes.
Shorts and tight tops were exactly what I needed.
I had a point to prove.
Why?
Because I made a choice, and whether it was the right choice or the sanest, it didn’t matter to me.
I know.
I know.
I know.
I.
Have.
Problems!
Call me stupid, a masochist, and even brain dead, it’s the choice I made. If played with, I choose to fight back and bring a certain ‘asshole’ to his knees, begging for my mercy.
“Annabelle.” Mom blinked as I entered the kitchen. “Good morning, sweetheart.” Her eyes followed me as I took a seat next to a shell shocked Katherine.
“Morning little sis,” I smiled at her and poured healthy cereal for myself. I held the box out to mom. “Is this cool? I’ll eat more than usual.”
Mom sighed and sat down, spinning a spoon in her coffee. “It’s my fault. I’ve been drilling your head for the last few months that you shouldn’t eat this and eat more things like the healthy cereal. I just…. I don’t…. I don’t want you going down a bad path. I pushed you too much. I’m sorry.”
“I won’t go down a bad path. I’ll switch from dieting to eating in moderation or something.” I promised her, pouring the two percent milk that was on the table. “You see, two percent milk.”
“Yes, that’s what we’ll do from now on. Healthy, but not scary healthy.” Mom smiled, and then took a sip of her steaming cup of coffee. She lowered her cup and eyed my outfit confusedly. “That’s some outfit….”
“It’s really hot today,” I replied, avoiding eye contact.
*~*~*
Waiting at our usual spot, Jenna’s jaw dropped as I headed towards her. “Um… who the hell are you and what have you done with my best friend?”
“Is it too much?” I pulled at the hem of my tropical printed shorts and my tight waist level peach colored tank top.
Jenna eyed my outfit for the thousandth time. “It’s nice, but it’s a little sexy for school.”
“I know,” I gulped. “I did it on purpose.”
“Why?”
“I made a choice,” I told her.
“You made a choice?” Jenna repeated, with no amusement in her eyes. “Another bad one again?”
“I don’t think so.” I blinked, taking a deep breath before continuing.
“Spit it out,” Jenna demanded, quietly.
“I made a choice last night,” I started, taking a sharp breath as my heart rate accelerated. “I’m going to fight back.”
Jenna’s eyes widened. She pushed off the pillar she was leaning against. “What?”
I gulped again. “I’m fighting back.”
“How?” Jenna grinned all of a sudden. “By dressing like a two cent hookah! Hey, I can be your pimp!”
“I’m serious!” I screeched, pulling at the hem of my shirt as she burst out laughing. “Is it really that bad? Have I gone too far?”
Jenna dimmed her laugh down and became serious. “Relax, I’m playing with you. You look awesome. Sexy as hell and I’m a little jealous, because I want your legs.”
I rolled my eyes. “Whatever.”
“Let’s do this, we have a school to conquer.” Jenna ordered, heading up the stairs with me trailing beside her. On the terrace I grabbed her bag strap as she led the way around our fellow classmates. Some were eyeing me peculiarly, especially the boys.
“Look at all the guys staring at you Anna!” Jenna hissed, ecstatic. “Should I yell out, ‘hot girl coming through’?”
I laughed at her comedic timing, feeling a hundred times better than yesterday.
“Work those hips girl.” Jenna laughed, walking away to her locker, leaving me standing by myself.
Here we go.
I turned and all I saw were warm brown eyes and a twinkle of amusement. Then I took in the rest of him and it was a boy I had been going to school with since freshman year. I forgot his name though.
He grinned, and eyed me funnily. “Hey, you’re new here?”
“No,” I grinned. “I’ve been going here since freshman year. I know who you are.”
His eyes widened. “You know me? How come I don’t remember you? I’d remember a cutie like you.”
“I know you, but I don’t know you, if that makes sense? I don’t remember your name.” I shook my head grinning, feeling my heart beat faster at the term of endearment.
“Josh,” he replied, eyeing me in flirty way. “And you are?”
“Annabelle.” I replied, like ‘duh’.
His jaw dropped. “Annabelle?”
“Yeah?” I said.
“I remember we had Bio last year, last period. You changed so much,” Josh mumbled, barely coherent. “You didn’t look like this before.”
“Duh,” I grinned at him. I checked the hallway and the popular crew hadn’t arrived yet.
“Where did you come from?” he murmured behind me, “It’s not my birthday till March.”
This was crazy.
The attention was making me feel weird.
I stifled a smile on route to my locker. “I’ve been here all this time.”
“Better than ever, right?” Josh grinned, adjusting his backpack strap as I opened my locker. “What class do you have now?”
“English.” I answered, changing notebooks. “And yourself.”
“Yeah, what’s your next class?” A familiar voice mocked, making my entire body freeze. In a matter of seconds, everything around me went quiet. I closed my locker and turned slowly, coming face to face with a pair of angry green eyes and a row of backward baseball caps with their arms crossed.
One.
Two.
Three.
Holy shit!
“Well, what class do you have next…. Studmuffin?” James sneered.
Josh’s face went stony.
“I asked you a question, and you’re not answering me.” James stood in front of Josh, eyeing him sternly. “So it makes me think we got a problem?”
“No man,” Josh murmured, taking a step away, without another glance at me. “We don’t have a problem.”
“Then don’t ever let me see you near my girl again.” James threatened quietly, his jaw clenching roughly. “Got it, bitch?”
Josh nodded and raced away, escaping into the surrounding crowd. After that, it was like everything went into slow motion. The guys around James began their celebrations. They fist bumped him, while others slapped hands with him. He grinned widely, eyeing them and nodding like he proved his point.
And it was time to prove mine.
This was it.
Taking a deep breath… “You’re an asshole.” I told him, taking a step closer towards him, eyeing him sternly. “And I’m not your girl.”
The hallway became a whispered frenzy. The guys behind James eyed one another incredulously, like they couldn’t believe what I’d just said. I went there, in public, again.
I placed my hand to my waist and tilted my head to the side, waiting for him to say something. But he didn’t say anything. He just stood there, gazing blankly at me. After a few seconds the warning bell rang and the crowd dispersed. The Kings murmured their goodbyes and fled the scene, leaving James and I, in our little stare-off.
“You look nice today,” he murmured all of sudden, stunning me.
I looked nice today?
He wasn’t supposed to be saying these things to me. He was supposed to be ignoring me forever. What was wrong with him? He couldn’t keep any of his promises, good or bad.
I shook my head, feeling my heart go BOOM. He was trying to trap me again with his famous soft gaze and heart melting tone.
Not this time….
“Don’t talk to me.” I murmured and walked around him towards English. I felt his body close behind me.
“Look who’s all strong today. What happened? Had a good pep talk with your crazy best friend from the swim team?” James sneered behind me. “Girl power, right?”
“Screw you,” I hissed, eyeing him deathly before heading into class and leaving him with his stupid face in the hallway. English was almost filled, and horribly, there were only two seats left, and they were together in the back row beside the window.
Great…. now I’d have to ignore him for an entire period.
Note to self, get to class faster from now on.
Since James liked sitting next to the window and I walked into class first, I gladly took the seat next to the window just to piss him off. Before, when things were less hostile between us, I would have gladly given that seat to him.
But not today…. there was no mercy today.
I struggled not to laugh as James took the seat next to me.
“You’re in my seat, Fireball.” James stated as I took my notebook out of my bag. I kind of knew he was going to say that and I had a witty response to fire back at him, but him calling me ‘Fireball’ again left me enraged…. making my blood boil.
“Don’t call me that,” I hissed, eyeing him sternly. “You never call me that again, you understand?”
His jaw clenched. “Stop acting like a bitch.”
My jaw dropped.
Um…. excuse me?
What did he just call me?
Before I could fire back, the bell rang and Mr. Doors shut the front door loudly, motioning everyone to stop talking.
I closed my mouth and shook my head at him as he started to smirk.
Asshole!
“Okay, class, let’s pick up where we left off yesterday.” Mr. Doors began the lesson and I positioned my body so that James would face the side of my back. As class went on, I was beginning to question his intelligence level. James started making strange grunting noises on the down low.
Then it got worse. And when I say worse, it was more like, ‘I can’t believe it could get worse’ kind of way.
This guy had no shame.
At all.
“Oh James…. more,” James moaned quietly in a soft feminine-like voice. “I want you, James.”
My jaw literally dropped to the floor.
What was he thinking?
DURING CLASS!
What was wrong with him? He was such a stupid asshole!
While Mr. Doors lectured loudly at the front, I could hear giggles from the students sitting around us. They could obviously hear James moaning. It took everything I had to not get up and hit him. I had to stay calm.
“Baby, you make me feel so good,” He kept on going in the same hushed feminine voice. “Harder…faster, do me faster…..make me explode right now.”
The bell rang and I quickly stuffed my notebook into my bag.
I shook my head, desperately trying to keep my side to him so he wouldn’t see my heated face. I knew my face was turning red. After a few moments to collect myself, I faced him. He sat, leaning into his chair with a smirk on his face.
“What?” James sneered quietly. “You got something you want to say?”
I exhaled through my nose. “Yeah, I do.” I got up from my seat and leaned into him. “You’re an idiot.”
“Anything else?” James’ face became serious.
“There are too many things I want to call you right now.” I leaned back. “But I have to get to second period.”
James got up and stood beside me, eyeing me firmly. “That’s too bad,” he murmured. “I like it when you insult me.”
His fingers found their way to my bare arm, instantly resulting in intense shivers that I had to restrain my body from showing. I gave him a scowl, grabbed my backpack and rushed out of the room.
Note to self…. don’t stand too close to James in fear of his toxic…. yet alluring touch.
Damn it!
*~*~*
By the time it was lunchtime, I noticed more ‘boys’ looking at me funnily. I hadn’t seen Josh since this morning, and thanks to James, and because I was almost positive I didn’t have any classes with Josh, I probably wouldn’t see him again.
I entered the cafeteria and its loud soundtrack collided into me instantaneously, making me flinch. I found Jenna at the same table as yesterday, but decided to head straight for the lunch line. I was actually starving today. Using every ounce of courage to walk into school looking like ‘not’ me had been draining, then adding dealing with James this morning, and I was low in fuel. As I took my spot in line, the guys in front of me stopped talking all of a sudden. I knew who they were, but I didn’t really ‘know’ them.
“Hey…. Anna right?” And apparently they knew me too. I glanced up at the tall red head in front of me, his blue eyes shining as he smiled.
“Yeah, um…hi.” I stammered back, eyeing his two other friends who were too busy scanning me.
“I’m Derek, don’t know if you remembered, but we had Chemistry last year.” Derek grinned, taking a step closer. Before I had a chance to smile and reply my own memory of him, a mocking voice spoke out first, clearly interrupting our conversation.
“No way!” Peter’s annoying voice exclaimed beside us. “You had Chemistry with our Fireball last year too? What a small world.”
Our Fireball? I scowled at Peter, who stood with his arms crossed and a sneer across his face, as if he were assessing the situation.
Douchebag!
My heart raced as my sight trailed behind Peter. A few feet behind him stood Tom and Roy. They were busy holding back a very angry looking… James?
Tiger’s mad. I closed my eyes and turned away, groaning.
“My name isn’t Fireball…. it’s Anna.” I stated, eyeing the idiot squad with a stern look. “And I’m not their anything.”
The cafeteria’s restaurant door popped open and the lunch attendant stepped out. “Next ten,”
“We don’t want any trouble,” Derek’s friend said, pulling Derek away from our messed up little group.
“You can thank me later.” Peter grinned, putting an arm over my shoulder. I nudged him off and watched them walk back to their table, as if nothing happened.
Groaning in frustration, I headed into the restaurant before I lost it.
I grabbed a salad and water bottle from the fridge. Derek and his friends were waiting for the lunch lady to finish their hamburgers.
“Hey Derek,” I called.
“Don’t,” I heard one of his friends murmur.
Don’t what?
“Yeah,” Derek answered anyways, ignoring his friend’s warning.
“Sorry about that, those guys are crazy.” I laughed, trying to make the situation a little lighter.
“Crazy about you, obviously.” His friend said loudly. “You’re obviously off limits, so, we’re just not going to go there.”
“I’m off limits?” I repeated, confusedly. “I’m not off limits!”
“You are,” Derek stated. “That James guy was about to pop a vein. We had a two-sentence conversation and he was charging at us with his boys holding him back. Sorry Anna, it’s not worth it.”
“Whatever.” I murmured. I paid for my food and exited the restaurant. I eyed the popular table, making eye contact with the idiot squad who were smirking with one another. I headed to Jenna’s table and plopped down, huffing out my frustration.
“What happened now?” Jenna groaned, pulling away from her conversation with Dana.
“He’s a mind fuck.” I sighed. “And it’s annoying.”
Jenna snorted. “Do you want me to kick him in the nuts for you? I’ll do it right now, in front of everyone.”
Everyone at the table burst out laughing, including me.
I stopped laughing and sighed.
“He’s having a hard time letting go and it makes no sense.” I told her quietly, but not quiet enough because Dana’s attention was now focused this way.
Dana’s blue eyes met mine. “I know what it feels like.”
“Roy?” I said, remembering Jenna saying something about Dana and Roy having a fight last week.
“I can’t believe him!” she hissed, staring over my shoulder. “I can’t believe him! Right in front of me.”
“What? You can’t believe who?” Jenna asked, looking in the same direction as Dana. Her eyes widened. “No! I can’t believe her.”
“What?” I muttered, twisting my neck to see what they were staring at. The baseball team and Donna’s ‘hot’ girl crew were sitting together. My sight trailed down the table, two people catching my eye, halting the trail.
Roy… and Latisha?
Roy’s arm was over Latisha’s shoulder. Her dark blonde hair was pushed to the side, showing her lovesick expression.
“He’s…he’s,” Dana stuttered. “I can’t believe him.”
I turned back, facing her and Jenna.
“Dude, I can’t believe Latisha.” Jenna shook her head, still looking shell shocked at she glared across the cafeteria. “Whatever happened to swim team members for life?”
“She’s a traitor!” Dana growled, and then got up from the table in a huff. “I’m not taking this crap. They’re going to know! He’s going to know, you don’t mess with Dana Marie Kosopolos like that!”
“What are you going to do?” I almost screeched as she rounded the table. Everyone at our table was looking at her, wide eyed, jaws down, and shocked as hell.
“I’m going to confront them!” she growled.
“Now?” Jenna grinned, fist pumping her approval.
“Hell yeah! Just watch me.” Dana growled, marching towards the popular table.
Jenna grinned, pounding the table enthusiastically. “This is going to be epic.”
How is this happening? I thought as I stared at the back of Dana’s swim team jacket as she charged determinedly.
I thought I was the one fighting back today?
Apparently it wasn’t just me who was ready to bite a certain asshole’s head off, an asshole that wasn’t James for once. Roy was the designated asshole today… or hour.
Roy’s arm dropped from Latisha’s shoulders immediately upon seeing Dana steam roll towards them.
“Roy, what’s the matter?” Latisha asked. We heard only because the cafeteria became suddenly quieter.
“I’ll tell you what the matter is.” Dana growled before Roy could get a word out, not that he could even if he wanted to from the way he looked.
Pure terror.
I chuckled at the sight of him. Who’s cocky now?
“Baby, it didn’t mean anything. I didn’t do anything with her!” Roy stammered, getting off the bench, trying to embrace Dana. She ducked his arms quickly and leaned over the table, getting right into Latisha’s flabbergasted, lip rippling, reddening face.
“Roy,” Latisha stammered, trying to duck her head to the side, but Dana wasn’t having it, making sure her face was the only one Latisha saw. None of the ‘hot’ girls were getting up to defend her, in fact the entire table slid down, as in away from Latisha.
She was officially on her own.
“This is better than going to an amusement park, I swear to God.” Jenna giggled, deliriously. “Today is the best day ever.”
Latisha pushed off the bench and tried to stand next to Roy, but he quickly stepped away from her as if she had a contagious disease. Roy reached out for Dana, but she wasn’t having it.
“Don’t touch me, cheater.” Dana growled. She pushed off the table and marched right back into Latisha’s shocked face. “Whatever happened to the oath we made at the beginning of the swim season? Whatever happened to swim team members for life?”
“I didn’t cheat on you!” Roy exclaimed, eyeing his boys for back up. Their heads were down. I guess James used the bro-code quota for the week.
“You dumped him!” Latisha screeched, eying the entire room.
“I told you Anna, there’s a fight every other day here.” Jenna reminded while my eyes never left the dual. I was kind of glad I didn’t start anything earlier. The whole cafeteria watching was a little different than a portion of the hallway watching.
“Whatever happened to girl code?” Dana growled. “I thought we were closer than that.”
“Babe,” Roy tried to step in but Dana put her palm in his face.
Latisha smiled all of a sudden and said something quietly. Dana nodded and came back to our table. She grabbed her bag and left the cafeteria.
“Okay, what just happened?” Jenna exclaimed as the entire room slowly went back to normal. Latisha sat back down, looking anything but contrite.
“Where did she go?” I asked.
“Maybe the bathroom. Let’s go.” Jenna got up and I followed behind with every girl on the swim team. I was glad to leave behind the hectic, James ridden cafeteria. In the hallway, Jenna pulled out her cellphone. “I’m going to text her.”
Seconds later, her phone beeped. “She’s in the bathroom beside our lockers.”
“Dana?” Jenna called out once we were in their bathroom, not mine. “Are you in here?”
“I’m here.” Dana sniffed.
“Dude, what happened?” Jenna asked, going to the first stall closest to the exit.
“She said last weekend during their getaway that she and Roy hooked up.” Dana cried. “We’d barely broken up, and it wasn’t a serious breakup and he’s already hooking up with other girls!”
I barely knew Dana, so I left the washroom to her and the rest of the girls from the team.
My phone rang once I was in the hallway. “Hello?” I answered, eyeing the quiet hallway.
“Annabelle Simms?” Shelby screeched, violating my ear. I had to pull the phone away from my ear because it hurt.
“Yeah it’s me,” I said after a second to recoup. “Why are you calling me at school Shelby?”
“The club is having a little soirée tonight out on the golf course and I need you to come in for a couple of hours and help at the lemonade stand.” Shelby informed.
“I don’t work on school nights, I already spoke to Rob (General Manager) about this before school started.” I told her.
“I know, but Maria called in sick and we need another person from 4pm to 6pm. It’s regular pay, but the tips should be good.” Shelby said.
“Fine.” I told her.
She grunted from the other end. “Fine.” she mimicked and hung up.
“Bitch,” I murmured, texting Mom about working tonight.
“Annabelle?” A familiar voice called me as I pressed send and looked up. Roy jogged down the empty hallway towards me. “Is she in there?”
I bit my tongue, unsure if I should answer.
“Please,” he murmured, looking somewhat sad. “I’ve got to talk to her.”
Oh, now he wanted to talk with her. Well, it’s too bad for him, the time for talking was officially over.
Unless Dana wanted to…then it was totally back on.
“Is she in there?” Roy asked, his eyes pleading. “I need to explain, I need to tell her I’m sorry.”
I took a deep breath and against my common sense, I spoke back. “I think it’s too late for that Roy.” I murmured. “She’s devastated.”
“I didn’t cheat.” Roy assured. “It was a dare.”
“What was a dare?” Dana called as the washroom door slammed open.
“No Dana, don’t talk to that douchebag.” Jenna urged, trying to block her but Dana slid by her and stopped beside us.
“Latisha got carried away. I pecked her for a second, and then, all of a sudden her arms were around me tightly.” Roy tried explaining.
Dana cringed at the description, looking away. “Why didn’t you pull away?”
“She grabbed my shirt with all her strength, the only way to get her off was to push her. I can’t push a girl.” Roy explained. “All I thought while she kissed me was you.”
Even without looking at Jenna, I knew her eyes were rolling in disgust and shock. Shock only because Dana was falling again. Roy took a step closer to her and whispered something as his hand caressed her arm, making her eyelids flutter momentarily.
Watching their reconciliation was weird.
Roy grabbed Dana’s arm and pulled her down the hallway, passing an open mouthed Jenna, who for the first time since knowing her, couldn’t muster out a sentence.
“I can’t believe this?” Jenna murmured after few seconds of silence, as we watched Roy delicately lead Dana out the front doors to the front terrace. “She fell for it.”
“Where’s Roy?” A screechy voice demanded from behind us. We all turned in unison, finding a red-eyed Latisha with most of the ‘hot’ girl crew behind her.
Donna was missing.
“He’s outside with Dana.” Jenna told her, and then eyed me with amusement in her eyes. “They’re having a heart to heart, right Anna?”
“Yeah, they’re having a heart to heart, probably getting back together as we speak.” I told a now wide-eyed Latisha.
Before Latisha could say anything, Jenna got in her face. “Whatever happened to swim team members for life?” she hissed, shaking her head. “You took an oath.”
“She broke up with him.” Latisha’s lips rippled, giving pleading looks to the girls on the team as they circled around her.
“So,” Jenna grimaced. “Your actions have consequences.”
“What are you talking about?” Latisha stammered.
“What I’m talking about?” Jenna sneered, eyeing her fellow swim team members funnily. “It means you’re out.”
“I’m out.” Latisha cringed, sounding confused.
“Out of the brotherhood,” Jenna announced, with a sound of approval from the girls around. “No more swim team members…. for life.”
“Like I care, I was never friends with you guys anyways.” Latisha scowled. “You’re just jealous.”
Jenna’s eyes widened. “Oh really? Who between the two us rocks a one piece swimsuit better?”
Silence.
Latisha’s jaw clenched.
Jenna smirked, tilting her head with attitude. “That’s what I thought. Girl, please! You know my thighs don’t jiggle like yours.”
“Screw you,” Latisha murmured, looking uncomfortable.
“Oh really,” Jenna mocked. “We’ll see how you feel when I get Ronald from Yearbook Club to cut your ho face out of the official team photo. And yes, I totally slut shamed you there and no, I’m not sorry I did it.”
Latisha’s jaw dropped. “You can’t do that.”
Jenna smirked. “Just watch me.”
“You people are ruining my life!” Latisha cried and ran into the bathroom with her friends following behind her.
“Why is she such a bitch!” Latisha’s angry cry echoed out, making us all laugh.
Jenna grinned and opened the washroom door. “Because, that’s my job. Now hurry up and do some more shady stuff so I can make your life an even bigger living hell. You’ve awakened the evil inside me.”
“You’re mean,” I chuckled at her.
“Thank you! Nicest thing you’ve ever called me.” Jenna grinned back, letting the door close behind her. She leaped into her team’s arms and they cheered for her. “Jenna! Jenna!”
“Yes, yes, I am a God. Bow down to me now.” Jenna sang.
I grinned at the whole lot of them, feeling for the first time today…. happiness.
Sixty percent better.