Chapter 4, aw yeah! :D
The next morning was my second day at Coates. An Asian girl who looked about my little sister Bridget's age was asleep in the other bed in my new room. I groaned as I threw off my blankets and padded into the small bathroom. I looked at my reflection in the mirror and grumbled to myself when I noticed the bruise on my face from where Drake punched me. I brushed my hair and teeth and glared at the uniform before slowly (and with a lot of muttered curses) put it on. I looked at myself in the mirror. I looked like a f**king schoolgirl in these clothes. My hair looked all right, but I wasn't at all flattered by the skirt, blouse, and blazer, and I couldn't change it more without looking like a total slut. I added mascara and eyeliner, then put some concealer over the bruise. Somewhat satisfied with my appearance, I went to get my shoes and head down to breakfast.
"I'm Penny," said my roommate, looking up at me with half interest and half nervousness. I nodded, and Penny relaxed a little. "I can lead you to the cafeteria, if you want," she offered.
"Sounds great," I said. Drake probably wouldn't attack me again if I was walking with a younger girl. Then again, if he really was a psychopath, he probably wouldn't have a problem with it. I thought it might not be best not to tell Penny that, though. She quickly put her shoes on and led me out of the dorm. We passed through a few more indistinguishable hallways and finally ended up at the cafeteria.
She went to sit with a few other girls her age, and I got on line to get a bowl of cereal. I felt like I was being watched, and turned around to see Drake's eyes on me. I shot him a look and turned back to get my breakfast. I still didn't know what to think about him kissing me last night. I tried not to think too much about it, but I couldn't help but be puzzled about why the psychopath had suddenly decided NOT to kill me. I walked over to the table where Caine, Diana, and Drake were already sitting. I said hi to Diana, glared at Drake, and took a bite of cereal. The three of them got to talking, but I kept quiet, not really interested.
"I can't wait to beat up that kid this afternoon," Drake grinned. "It's going to be great."
"Wow, Drake," I said with mock admiration, "I wouldn't have expected to hear that coming from someone who's afraid of girls." Drake's eyes narrowed. I held his gaze, challenging him. Caine looked at me like I was stupid, and Diana just laughed.
"So that's what it is!" Diana went along with it. "I knew there was something he was afraid of, but I have to say, I was expecting something much more terrifying, like bunnies."
"What did you say about me?" Drake said, his voice calm but obviously restraining a spitting rage.
"I said that Drake Merwin, the big bad sadist, is scared of girls." I retorted, not backing down. I wasn't going to let him win. No one went up against me without getting their sorry a*ses handed to them on a platter. Even Drake wouldn't stand a chance.
"I am NOT!" Drake yelled angrily and stood up, and a few kids looked over from where they were sitting.
"Really?" I asked mockingly. "That wasn't the impression I got when you went running away from me last night after wetting your pants. Forgive me, I must have mistaken your bravery for terror."
"You lying B!TCH!" Drake screamed, but the damage had already been done. Caine and Diana were laughing hysterically. Everyone else in the room was staring and even starting to whisper and giggle. "I'll show you scared," Drake said and grabbed me by the uniform tie. He yanked me towards him and crashed his lips against mine. All laughter ceased almost immediately. I tried to pull back, but his other hand grabbed my waist and kept me still. He pushed his tongue into my mouth, and after a few seconds I stopped fighting. When he finally pulled away, I straightened my tie. Drake glared at all the onlookers, who quickly stopped looking on.
"What the hell was THAT!" Caine asked loudly, staring at us in shock. Diana looked like she could either die of laughter or disgust.
Drake ignored him. "Well?" he asked me. I looked him up and down, and I thought I saw him almost blush.
"Not bad," I said approvingly, then turned and left the cafeteria with what was left of my dignity. As I walked away, I heard Diana speak.
"That, Caine," she said, beginning to laugh, "was Drake attempting to express love."
News travels fast at Coates, so it hadn't even been an hour before Drake and I were called to the principal's office. We sat in two chairs across from his desk and waited for him to say something. The principal glared at us. I glared back, not at all intimidated. Drake just sat sprawled in his chair like he knew the room very well. He grinned up at the principal, challenging him, mocking him. "Isabella," the principal began, "I heard that you and Mr. Merwin engaged in some questionable activity in the dining hall this morning."
"You heard right, then," Drake answered calmly, smiling. The principal's eyes narrowed, but he took a deep breath and spoke calmly.
"Mr. Merwin, if you don't mind, I think I'll ask the questions to Ms. Dahiff. Miss, is there anything you have to say for yourself?" I looked at him, then at Drake. Drake wiggled his eyebrows, and I decided to go along with his act.
"Not really," I said with a smile. "I think you and Drake already covered it." The principal glared with me and gave up the politeness.
"You listen to me, Miss Dahiff," he said, leaning closer. "I have no time for any of that at my school. I am letting you go without punishment because I believe Mr. Merwin here is the instigator and you're new, but if anything else like this happens, I will call your parents. Do you understand me?"
"Of course, sir," I said, standing to leave with a mock salute. "But really, calling the people who wanted me away from them? That seems like a bit of a harsh punishment, don't you think?" I smiled again and walked out as he sat back in his chair in frustration and began to lecture a still-grinning Drake.
I waited outside for Drake to come out. Not that I cared what happened to him, but it beat going to class. I still didn't know how I felt about the kisses. Now that I thought about it, it probably wasn't anything meaningful. Drake was just trying to show his superiority, and he was a psychopath. Maybe kissing me was his way of convincing himself he wasn't afraid of girls.
Or maybe it was just teenage hormones. More and more recently I'd noticed guys looking at me differently. I thought I was somewhat attractive, but not in a conventional way. I sort of just threw on clothes and glared at anyone who made fun of my appearance.
But then, what Diana had said, about Drake trying to express love: could that even be possible? Could a psycho have a relationship with a slightly-psychotic person? I seriously needed a laptop. Here was yet another puzzling question Google could solve in an instant if my parents would just get me a freaking computer.
"F**king a*sholes," I muttered darkly, glaring at the floor.
"Who, Caine and Diana?" said a voice from behind me, and I resisted the urge to jump. I turned and glared instead. It was none other than Drake. "Tell me about it. Diana is such a goddam b!tch all the time, it really p!sses me off."
"I was talking about my parents." I said with an extra glare. Drake just smiled and put his arm around me in a friendly way. I punched his stomach and he backed away then slapped my face in retaliation.
"Now, if you want to fight for real, don't you think it would be smart to not do it in front of the principal's office?" he asked, annoyed but still smiling.
"Oh, I thought you would want to fight here," I shot back, "You know, just in case fighting a big bad girl was too much. You could always scream for help." Drake glared, and I saw all the humor leave his face.
"Shut the f**k up, you b!tch." he said darkly.
"Make me, b*st*rd." I smiled back sweetly, fluttering my eyelashes flirtatiously. Then I decided to make this even more entertaining. "Or, you could just kiss me and walk away, since that seems to be your new tactic,"
"Funny! But weren't you the one who walked away last time?" I tapped my chin, acting like I cared enough to remember. Drake looked pleased with himself, sure he had won. He really needed to learn that beating me wasn't that easy.
I stood on tiptoes and kissed him on the lips gently, nothing passionate, just to taunt him. "Well, then now it's your turn," I said with a smile, and waited for a full ten seconds before Drake turned and stormed away. I smirked as I watched him walk away, and then turned to try to find my way back to my classroom. I was still completely and utterly lost.