Excuse me?
"Do you have a boyfriend?"
"No, why?
"I was wondering..."
"Because?"
"Well before I tell you why, I have another question" he said while getting up and sitting on the edge of the bed
"What?"
"Do you like Princeton?"
I froze.
"Um...I...why?"
"I'll take that as a yes. I asked because I think he likes you"
"How?"
"When I asked him if you two went out, he started to freak out, stutter and he wouldn't look me in the eye"
I didn't respond.
"Don't believe me?"
"Not really"
"It's okay. And don't worry, I won't tell him"
"Thanks"
"Gimme your phone"
"Why?"
"So if you ever need to talk about it, you can talk to me"
I dug through my bag and took out my iPhone. We traded phones and put in our numbers. As soon as we switched back Jacob walked back in with Prodigy and Roc. He stared at us for a minute before coming over to the bed.
"What did your mom want?"
"She wanted me to remove those two from the kitchen. They were trying to eat everything in the pantry"
"Hey, I'm on the football team. I need to eat" said Roc
"I was just hungry" Prodigy said
"Two bottomless pits" Jacob mumbled
Half an hour later, I decided it was time for me to go home. I looked at my phone, it was 8:10.
"I'm leaving"
"Why?" whined Jacob
I paused from putting my books away and gave him a look. "One, I have to work tomorrow. Two, why are you being a baby, I live like 10ft away from you"
"So, you could stay here like you always do"
"You act like you never see me at all"
"Might as well. You barricade yourself in your room so much"
I rolled my eyes. "Calm down. I'll be over after 3, okay?" I said while pinching his cheeks.
He slapped my hands away. "Alright"
I turned to Ray and Roc.
"When do you want to meet up again for tutoring?"
"Monday?" said Ray Ray
"Sure, just pick a period and I'll let your teacher know?"
"You can get us out of class?" asked Roc
"Yeah, once it's for something educational, you can skip class"
"Wow, I did not know that" said Ray Ray
I picked up my bag and headed towards the door. "Later"
I walked downstairs with Sparks right behind me. I scratched his head before I went through the door.
*End Flashback*
Isn't that nice of Ray Ray? Anyways continue :)
*Riley*
School was school. Classes went by like they always do. It was lunch now. The girls guilt tripped me into coming into the cafeteria today because while I was home the whole summer, they were at cheer camp.
I absolutely dreaded coming into the lunchroom because to me, it's utter chaos. Noise upon noise. But I did miss my little pom pom heads so that was motivation enough for me. I found them sitting around the table with the guys aka their boyfriends.
Lacey was light skinned with light brown shoulder length hair and brown eyes. There are freckles across her nose. She's the smallest one out of all of us (4'11) and absolutely adorable. She is a ball of energy. She's super sweet and caring. Lacey is originally from Chicago, but fell in love with LA. She goes out with Roc.
May is Asian. She was a transfer student straight from Japan. She's super pretty and has green eyes. She been here for a while but her English is still messed up sometimes. Her hair is black and is cut short, around her chin. It's actually been growing a little. When she was in Japan, she was into gymnastics and dancing. She's hilarious and I love hearing about Japan. She's one of the co-captains on the squad. She goes out with Ray Ray.
And finally, Gia. Short for Giavanna. She's Italian. She's outspoken and loud but not obnoxious. Just confident and wants to make sure you hear her. Which is why she's captain of the squad. Everyone listens to her and respects her and the result is her leading them to being state champs 3 years in a row at the cheer competitions. She has long curly black hair and piercing blue eyes. Gia used to live in NY and before that Florida. Her dad's a businessman, he follows the money. He promised they wouldn't move again before she was ready for college. She's with Prodigy.
Each of them has their own swag and we all seem to fit together. I don't how I'd get through some of my problems without them. And apparently I'm a major part of their lives too so we're stuck with eacother till we R.I.P.
But they weren't the only ones there. Amber made an appearence. Seeing her made me sick. She's the other co-captain on the squad. She practically useless. She misses practice a lot. And did I mention she was a hoe?
She is a wannabe barbie in a black girls body. Blonde hair, fake eyelashes, hella makeup, you name it, it's on her. She thinks no one knows that she's had work done but you can tell. The proportions don't match her frame and it sticks out too much. Ugh and her voice. I don't know how Jake deals with that. She sounds like she inhales helium all damn day. Hearing her talk is torture.
As I reached the table, Ray Ray pulled out a chair for me. I was between him and Lacey.
"Hey everyone"
"Hey"
Like I said, Lacey is ball of energy and she may be small but she's strong. As soon as I sat down, she gave me a gigantic hug.
"Ow, Lacey"
"Sorry, I just missed you"
"I missed you too"
We all talked but I ignored Amber. And as usual she was looking at me stink but whatever. I was talking to Roc about his grades when I heard my phone go off. I dug into my bag pocket and checked it. A text from Ray.
DOMOKING: I heard about dis mornin. Anything I dnt no?
ISLANDSWAGG: No same.
DOMOKING: Need 2 talk?
ISLANDSWAGG: Yea. L8r
DOMOKING: K
I know you're probably thinking, he has a girlfriend, why are you texting him like that?
May knows. We've even showed her the texts from both of our phones. She has nothing to worry about, because Ray is like an older brother to me. He's been a big help to me through this, giving me a guys side of this and helping sort through my thoughts. And even the girls have gotten involved. Every once in a while, we'll have sleepovers at one of their houses and they'll help me vent and give me advice and sometimes joke about if me and Jake were together.
The bell rang. All of us have a free period, coincedentially. Me and the rest of the volleyball team agreed to have a practice this period. Everyone else would hang in the bleachers.
I seperated from them and went to the locker room to change. A few of them were already in there and we greeted eachother. This team is like a family and we trust one another completely. In a couple weeks we'll be holding tryouts for new players. Some graduated so we have spots to fill.
I put my regular clothes on a locker with my bag and put on my practice jersey and shorts, elbow and knee pads, and sneakers. I put my hair in a ponytail and grabbed my towel.
Walking out into the gym, I got blasted with the air conditioning. It just got fixed and everyone is pleased. It gets hot in here, especially if you play sports. The net was already set up and the team was already here. I was about to call the team so we could start stretching but I got interrupted by Gia shouting.
"Whoo, look at that body"
I looked over a her in the bleachers. She was laughing. I threw my towel at her. She shrieked and ducked. When she recovered, she stuck her tongue out at me.
Then I heard a whistle.
Coach Sutherland was in the middle of the court. She was an amazing coach and she treated us like equals but to an extent.
"Welcome back ladies. I hope you had a good summer, but play time is over. Let's go, strech and warm up"
We take this game seriously, but we still have a lot fun. We stretched then paired up for warm ups.
Then the real work started . Including me, the 6 starters were on one team and we played a mix of the backups and junior varsity players. I'm sort of proud to say no one likes to go up against me. It doesn't make it easier, it just makes it more fun because they have no choice.
Can you guess who won? Varsity of course! We didn't go too hard on them but we didn't go easy either. We took a break and then we were going to work out.
I walked over to the bleachers where my little audience was and climbed the steps. Gia had my towel and flung it at me but I caught it.
I dropped down on a seat and buried my face into the towel and rested my head in my knees. I was taking deep breaths when I felt someone poked my shoulder. I picked my head up and blinked from the light contrast. It was May.
"Here"
She handed me a bottle of water.
"Thanks"
I downed half the bottle just as coach blew the whistle. I went back down to the floor and started doing suicides with a couple girls. Others were doing mountain climbers, lunges, or high knees.
I did about a 100 suicides (I'm pretty quick). Coach says not to do one exercise for too long so I decided to do an new exercise I saw online.
I found a even space of wall and did a handstand with my back to the wall. I did 3 sets of 15 wallsupported pushups then 3 sets of 20 kipping wall supported pushups. After finished that, I pretty much collapsed on the ground.
A couple girls came and helped me over to the bench then Gia, Lacey and Maya came running down to me. I layed flat on my back on the bleachers and closed my eyes.
"Are you okay?" asked Gia
"Yeah. That was the first time I did that and it sucks"
"You shouldn't push yourself that hard"
"I'm fine. Can one of you get Coach?"
"I'm already here, Ashford"
I opened my eyes to look at her. "Can I be excused from gym next period to use the weight room?'
"Sure, but before that I want you to get a couple ice packs from the nurse"
"Okay"
She left and went back over to the other girls.
"Can you guys help me?"
"What do you need?"
"Lacey, I need you to go tell I'm tutoring Ray next period. May tell Ray that we're having our talk next period and Gia, I need you to get me the ice packs"
As soon as I finished they split up. When May was finished, she came back down and sat with me. I managed to be able to sit up but my arms and abdomen were still hurting pretty bad.
"Are you sure you're okay?" asked May
"Yeah"
A few minutes later Gia came running in with 4 ice packs. They put me to lay back down and one ice pack on my forehead, one on either arm and the last one on my stomach. I flinched when it touched me.
A little while later Lacey came back. She told me that Mr. Anderson said that was fine and we talked for a little bit. Close to the end of the period. Everyone came down from the bleachers and left except for Ray. He left to change and then came back and helped me to the weight room.
In the weight room I spotted him while he bench-pressed. It was silent for a while until you he asked me, "So what happened?"
He put the bar down and sat up. I walked around and sat on the floor in front of him. "We were talking and then he mentioned Amber. He noticed how I was irritated and asked me what's wrong. I told him that it was nothing and tried walked away"
"Keep going"
"Then the she devil called so I left. He caught up to me and wanted to know why I left. I didn't answer him right away but I told him I didn't want to say anything that would make him mad or insult Amber 'cuz I know she's important to him. But he told me that I'm important too and how he doesn't want to lose me"
"Anything else?"
"I started crying and played it off as one of my mood swings"
He chuckled. "Liar"
I rolled my eyes.
"Well he told us about it and is gonna talk to Amber to see what's going on"
I snorted. "Like she'll tell the truth" I closed my eyes. "What does he even see in her?" I said quietly to myself but apparently Ray heard me.
"I don't know. Personally I think he's just using her"
"Using her?"
"Yeah"
"How?"
"You know I think he likes you so I think he's going out with Amber as a cover to hide how he really feels"
"Why?"
"Maybe 'cuz he thinks you don't like him in that way"
"Or my best friend just has a bad taste in girls"
We laughed.
"That I can agree with"
{Skipping to the end of school}
Dani and I drove home. She left a hour later to go to the movies with her friends from middle school. I was in my room doing my homework when I heard a knock at my sliding glass door.
I walked over and pulled the curtain back. There stood Jacob with two bags of food. I slid the door open.
"Didn't I give you a key?"
"Yeah, but I needed help with the door"
I stepped out of the way to let him pass. Jacob pulled out Chinese food cartons, soda, and other stuff out of the bags.
"So what were you doing before I got here?"
"Homework"
"Really? -_-"
"You acting like I gave it to myself or something"
"Whatever. Now that I'm here, homework doesn't exist anymore"
"And what are we going to be doing?" I said while laying on the couch
"Acting the fool"
And that's exactly what we did. We watched movies, ate, played music like we were at a party, ran around chasing each other like we were still 5. I always have fun when he's around.
By the time we settled down it past 10. I made him help me clean up and then I went to go change into a striped tank dress with some short shorts underneath.
"Are my clothes still where I left them?" Jacob asked
"Yes"
Jacob leaves clothes here for when he spends the night. I have some at his house too.
He had put on a white wife beater and basketball shorts.
Ever since we were little, whenever we stayed the night, we slept in the same bed. It never really occured to us that it might look weird, we just got used to it.
I was in love with my bed. It was a round one. To my surprise it wasn't that hard to get down here or set up. My mattress is perfect, it was on the softer side and you'd just sink into it. My bed stuff (sheets, pillow cases, etc) were skull and bones. The only bright thing on my bed was this pillow Jake got me. It was a round green peace sign.
We both got on the bed and there was still space.
{In the middle of the night}
I randomly woke and felt like I had to go to the bathroom. When I tried to move, I felt something stopping me. I reached out to touch it and found out it was Jacob's right arm holding on to me. Tightly too but not enough to hurt me.
For some odd reason this always happens. And I always have to wake him up so that can move.
I turned on my light I had hanging above my bed. It was just enough for me to see.
"Jacob" I said while shaking him
No response.
"Jacob" I said shaking him a little harder.
A grunt.
"Jacob" I said shaking him but then I got the idea to pull his hair.
I grabbed a fist full of hair and tugged on it.
His eyes opened up enough to glare at me.
"What have I told you about pulling my hair?"
"Not to. But you wouldn't get up when I tried to wake you up the normal way"
"What did you want?"
"You to move your arm. I need to pee"
He released me and I got up and went into the bathroom.
Coming back out, it looked like he went back to sleep. I got back in bed and turned the light off.
"What time is it?"
I jumped a little. I thought he was asleep. I looked at my clock.
"3:30"
"Okay"
After that I really think he was out. I was laying there getting sleepy when I felt his arm around me again. I found that weird because after I would have him move his arm, he never put it back.
I got curious and made it seem like I fell asleep. I felt and heard him move closer. I was trying not to laugh because his hair was tickling me.
Then I felt his hand on my stomach and the funny thing is, my dress has ridden up. I'm not sure how long it stayed there because I fell asleep.
{Skipping to 6}
Jacob
When I woke up. Lee is always still in bed when I'm about to leave. As I got off the bed, she came out the bathroom wrapped in a towel. I could see her bra straps over the top.
"Hey"
"Hey, what are you doing up?"
"I have to go into school early. I have two projects and a paper to work on"
"Mind if I come with?"
"Not at all. But why?"
"I don't know. Just feel like it I guess"
"Okay. Get ready, 'cuz I'm leaving soon"
I went to shower and got ready. I was wearing a Nirvana T-shirt and cargo shorts with black and white converse.
We got into her car. Before she pulled off I asked, "Can we go to McDonalds?"
"Yeah"
I paid for everything despite her protests. She had 3 sausage, egg biscuits with cheese and orange juice. I got a couple McGriddles and coffee.
We reached the school at 7:15.
Barely anyone was here. I followed her to the library. The librarian doesn't come til about 11 so we ate in here.
When she was finished she pulled out this huge binder and started writing furiously.
I just watched her while I ate. She works really hard. That's all she ever does really.
"Is there a reason why you're watching me so hard?" she asked without looking up
"Is there a problem with me looking at you? These are my eyes, y'know"
I could see her roll her eyes but she was smiling at little.
Time passed and school was going to start in 20 minutes. Lee packed up her stuff and we walked out of the library. We wandered around and then I remembered that I needed to go to my locker.
As we reached my locker, I saw Amber waiting for me.
I walked over to her. "Hey babe"
"Hey" she said and leaned into kiss me
When she pulled back, I saw her glance at Lee. "Hi, Riley"
"Hi Amber"
You could feel the tension.
"Look. I'll see you later, okay?" Lee said
"Alright"
She walked away.
"Finally, she's gone. Why do you hang out with her anyway?"
I looked at her funny. "Why are you being so rude. First of all, she's my best friend and second if it wasn't for her, we wouldn't be together"
"I know that"
"So what's the problem?"
"She's just so...different. She doesn't fit with people like us"
"What do you mean?"
"She's a goth nerd. I'm a cheerleader and you're a singer and dancer. One of those things doesn't belong. And besides she's just weird. No one knows anything about her parents and she always has her nose in a book"
"Don't talk about her like that"
Every now and then me and Amber would argue. Sometimes about little things but nothing like this.
I opened my locker and searched for my history book.
"Why are you always defending her?"
I slammed my locker shut.
"Why are you always insulting her? What did she do to you?"
I stormed off to class.