CHAPTER 10: Portia – Secrets Collide
I had finally realized what Javier was: a sociopath. Think about it: he lived like a hermit in a museum, stalked innocent girls who went to said museum after hours, and then had the nerve to think that those broad shoulders, curly black hair, Hispanic-heartthrob thing was working for him. But it so was not. Well, I mean, it was (I was after all, a sixteen year old girl who was quite fond of the opposite sex), but he was crazy if he thought that I was going to let that fact deter me from my initial instinct to stay away from him. Granted he seemed to only want to cause my irritation and not my demise, but one never knew the intentions of another. It was these thoughts that had kept me up all night instead of doing my bio paper that was now due on Wednesday, which is why I am sitting in the computer lab during seminar, which is what we at R.A.H.S call homeroom. It is the last class on Day 2, and is directly after aft. Well, for me anyway. My seminar teacher was Ms. Avery, who was not here today. The substitute was so happy that I had asked for a computer lab pass, giving her one less student to pretend to watch while she really talks on her cell phone, that she practically threw it at me and shoved me out of the door. I sat staring at my computer screen trying to describe the function of ATP in plant cells when a chair came sidling up to mine. It was Jordan. I was so not in the mood for yet another psychopathic guy right now. What I did want to know, however, was why all of the boys in my life right now seemed to take my annoyance and disdain for flirting.
"Portia, you look ravishing today," Jordan said. Ravishing? The basketball coach must have used that word or something, because I was sure that he could not have come up with it on his own.
"Oh, and I'm sure that you are only too willing to ravish me."
"Is that an invitation?" He leered lasciviously at me. I wanted badly to throw up right in the computer lab. In front of everyone. Then maybe he would take my abhorrence seriously.
"Can we not do this today? As much as I usually enjoy your impromptu badgering, I really have to get this done. Not everyone has a coach who will get her out of doing school work like you do." I smiled prettily up at him before turning back to the screen. Before I could type anything however, he swung my chair around to face him.
"Speaking of having people at my beck and call, you remember my father right, your father's commander?"
"How could I forget?" I knew where this was going. Bring on the round of vague threats.
"Then let me get to the point. I saw you talking to that guy last night. The one on the hilltop by the fountain."
"So?" I don't know what he thought that he had on me, but since I hadn't done anything that was his business, I was not concerned with what he thought.
"So, I don't think that daddy would like it if his little girl was being friendly with the enemy when this country is on the brink of war with the same one for which he serves. And I know that my dad would take too kindly to knowing that his son's ice-bitch of an ex girlfriend broke said son's heart to be with the enemy. Do you?" These threats were starting to get a bit ridiculous now.
"You would have to have a heart in order for it to break, Jordan." He put his deep chocolate colored hands across his well formed chest and feigned emotion.
"See Portia? That is something that only you know about me. Doesn't that prove that we were meant to be together."
"Since when is talking to someone being friendly? Because that is all that went on last night. Just talking"
"Is that why he was kissing your hand then?" He then took out his cell phone and showed me a picture of Javier kissing my hand. That picture, along with a phone call to his dad stating how I had ignored his warnings to each military family to avoid the civilians of this country, and my dad would catch hell. Satisfied with my dejected look, he sneered at me and asked, "Do we have an understanding?" He was already heading out of the computer lab before I got the chance to answer, because once again, he expected to get what he wanted. But I would be damned if he won again.
Two hours later, I had finished my paper and was heading back up to my room. I know that it is really irresponsible for the head cheerleader to miss practice, but seeing as how I had done so in order to do homework, I did not really think that my missing had really counted as ditching. When I entered the room, I found Caylee and Gessie on the floor eating a tub of chocolate ice cream and trying to glue pieces of colored sticky notes onto a giant poster board. They looked up when I can in, and offered me a tub of vanilla and a spoon.
"What is this for?" I asked, taking the ice cream and spoon.
"Daphne was in the computer lab during seminar. Saw the whole thing." I didn't have to ask Caylee to what she referring, because there was really one thing that had happened to me today. But really, didn't they have better things to talk about? I mean, I loved them, especially Caylee, but geez. Get lives, please!
So, what were you two fighting about anyway?" Daphne asked from her perch on my bed. She was painting her toenails and making a face at all of the sweets that the two girls on the floor were sharing. As one who aspired to be the wife of a pro sports player or rich old man, she had to watch her figure. Or something shallow like that.
"Nothing much. He was just issuing another round of ridiculous riddles that only he understands." She eyed me oddly, before moving her nail polish so that I could sit down. "What are they doing?" I asked.
"Gesse's getting started on some assignment. You know how she is. Always starts things a month ahead."
"For your information, Ms. Daph, it's due in three weeks. Not a month. And it's a flow chart for media production. Which you would know if you paid attention in class," she teased. Daphne rolled her eyes and then focused them on me.
"So, girl, guess what? I just ordered the sexiest pair of stilettos! Manolo's too! They should be here in time for Mariah Samson's birthday party at La Culpa." She actually giggled at me like a little kid, and it was hard not to laugh with her. She was great for de-stressing. When she wasn't being a bitch that is.
Caylee slapped the last piece of paper down on the board and then jumped up.
"Why don't we go to the mezzanine and watch a movie or something?" she asked.
"Oh, can't!" Daphne said nearly choking on a piece of ice that she was sucking on. "Drew will probably be down there and I'm kinda avoiding him."
"Daphne, you promised that you would break up with him," I sighed. This drama was really getting out of hand.
"And you promise to stay out of it," she said crunching her ice.
"Well, I'm sure in need of some cinematic therapy." Gessie said as she, Caylee, and I made our ways to the door. We were stopped when a knock suddenly sounded. I opened the door a crack, only to find Drew standing there.
"Hey, Portia. Is Caylee in there? I need to talk to about Daph—" He never finished his sentence because at that moment, Gessie had pulled the door all the way open so that Drew and Daphne were facing each other. Caylee's face going even white with fear was the last thing that we saw before Gessie and I closed the door and ran to the mezzanine.