A little time warp to the Thursday of next week, third period Leadership.
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For the past week I had slowly flirted more and more with poor Graham, the guy who had asked me out last year, and even after I turned him down still continued to like me.
True, I felt bad for toying with his emotions, but it was something that had to be done, but so far it wasn't working, at least as far as I knew.
I glanced over at Ethan, who was working on some paper and almost sighed aloud. Even though I was being terribly mean to Graham by leading him on, I felt more upset over the fact that I was flirting openly with him and yet Ethan didn't notice at all.
"You know, Graham, I really have to work on my history homework, so yeah." I said un-tacitly, and grabbed my shoulder bag and fished out my homework that was due in twenty minutes.
It was a review so it was quite easy, and I finished it right before the bell rang.
There was the customary rush to get out of the classroom, and I lagged behind, hoping Ethan would say something, but I was wrong. Only Graham stayed, asking if he could walk me to my next class.
"No, it's all the way on the other side of the school. See you later." I said quickly, and left.
It took hardly any time at all to get across the school to history, and as I shoved my paper in the turn in tray I realized that I had been practically running to get here and that I was breathing heavy.
I made my way back to my seat and waited for Abby, Kelee, and Christi to show up.
They were surprised to see me already there when they walked in a minute later, but didn't mention it. They were more eager to hear what happened today in Leadership. Christi and Kelee had already been informed of what I was doing, but only because of a slip on my behalf last Tuesday.
"So…has he done anything yet?" Kelee asked impatiently, referring to Ethan.
"No…all he does is sit there and work on homework or something. It's like he doesn't even realize I'm there." I said dispiritedly.
They stayed silent for a moment.
"What if he thinks you're just being nice?" Christi mused.
"Yeah! You need to flirt with other guys, make it a little more pronounced. Besides, I've seen you try to flirt before and it isn't that pretty." Abby said, and the girls giggled.
"Oh ha, ha." I rolled my eyes at them
"It's the truth, Katey. You need to actually make it known." Kelee said seriously.
"Well when am I supposed to do this?" I demanded exasperatedly.
"Right now…" Christi said, spinning me around in me chair to face the boy who just sat next to me, Aaron.
I twisted back to them and whispered "Are you insane? I'm not going to flirt with my friend!"
"Its good practice so shut up and do it." Abby said, and pushed me back.
Luckily for me Aaron talked first.
"So what's with all the whispers over there? Secrets?" he asked tauntingly.
"And if they are?" I asked, lifting one corner of my mouth into a little grin. Damn, that came too naturally.
"Well then why don't you tell me." He asked.
"Because that would defeat the purpose of calling them…secrets." I said, and made my eyes squint just a tiny bit to give them a glassy look that made them seem to gleam, like I knew something he didn't. It took me an entire summer to get that down, and I figured now would be a good time to start using that skill.
"It can't be that much of a secret if they know." He said, and I smiled teasingly.
"Yes, but they're the only one's who can…ever…know…" I said, my voice dropping its pitch ever so slightly, making it almost a sensual whisper. I leaned forward a bit, squeezing my shoulders in just a little to make my chest more noticeable.
I saw Aaron's eyes just, for the briefest of moments; glance down, as though he was reading the front of my shirt that read, in pink scrolling writing against the thin white cotton that showed the white outline of my bra, 'Wicked.'
"But…" his voice had gone just a tad bit husky, same as Ethan's had that crazy night…but I shoved that out of my head, not wanting to think of how embarrassed I was, and still am. Aaron cleared his throat ever so quietly "that isn't fair, now that you've told me… I'm intrigued."
"But that would mean having committed the second sin…greed for knowledge." I said, squeezing my shoulders just a little tighter.
"But…you've forgotten the third…" he began after glancing down again, but was cut off by the tardy bell and then Mr. Barnes calling the class to order.
I leaned back in my seat, barely concealing a grin. Aaron had openly admitted to the third sin, lust.
I felt a tap on my shoulder from Kelee, who sat behind me. "My God, woman," she whispered in my ear "did you take classes or what?"
My grin widened; at that exact same moment out of the corner of my eye I saw Aaron looking at me with third sin written all over his face.
Maybe this would be more fun than I had imagined.
-Flash over to leadership, Monday of the next week-
After last Friday when I had flirted with all the boys in class who were single, I suppose you could say I was the most popular girl in the class.
I had virtually manipulated them in the same way I had with Aaron, and, I hated to sound so vain, but they fell at my feet like I was Aphrodite or something.
"So Katey, are you available for tonight? See a movie or something?" David asked hopefully.
I cocked my head to one side as if to think about it for a second. "It sounds like a load of fun, but I've already promised Michael to go out tonight."
"What about tomorrow night?" he persisted.
"Hmm…" I said slowly, pulling up one side of my mouth in a little grin. "Alright, I think I could do that."
My week was slowly booking up, and I absolutely loved the attention. I hadn't been so noticed in…ever! I hadn't ever been this popular with boys. I suddenly realized why the preppy girls acted so snotty; it was because they thought they were better than everyone, and I was actually starting to relate to them.
"So Katey, would you like to go see a baseball game Saturday? The Yankee's are in town, and my old man has season tickets behind home plate." Chris said. It was incredibly tempting, but I had to baby-sit that night, so I couldn't do anything. But it would still be fun to lead him on. By now I had gotten used to leading them on a wild goose chase, and found it a little fun.
"I don't know…" I said teasingly "I heard the Yankee's weren't doing so well this year, and no one wants to see an easy game…"
"Oh, the Yankee's are up to scratch this year…it's be a close game, I'm sure of it." He said, almost sure that he had me convinced.
"Nah, I don't think so…what if it rains?"
"It won't rain, what's his face on Fox news said it was going to be clear all week." Chris said, and you could almost tell he was beginning to doubt his earlier guess.
"Yeah, but you know weathermen, they say it'll be the hottest day of they year and it turns out snowing!" I said, raising my eyebrows at the end of the sentence, making the guys laugh a little. I felt like Scarlett O'Hara, the belle of the barbeque; or in this case, classroom.
"But it's worth a try, don't you think?" he asked, and I cocked my head to the side.
"You know, I'm sorely tempted to, but Saturday I'm all booked up." I said, and he got this crushed look in his eyes, that made me want to take back what I'd said and just plainly say that I couldn't.
"How about Sunday, then? Go out to Cold Stone?" asked James, and I suddenly felt sick of all of this attention. I hated having to agree or say no, and I hated not having some time to think and be myself instead of some airhead.
"Sorry, I'm all full, for the rest of the week, too." I said, and the guys all looked disappointed.
Sure I lied, but I think that a date tonight, tomorrow, Thursday and Friday were quite enough for one week, thank you very much.
In a very timely manner the bell rang just then, and the guys left me to go get their things.
I sighed and slumped off the top of my desk and into my chair, exhausted. Keeping up this act all day long was more tiring than any play or musical could ever be.
I leaned over and grabbed my bag to toss it over my shoulder, but when I looked back up from the floor, I saw Ethan looking right at me. My face grew hot and my insides started up the Macarena.
I averted my eyes and stood up, striding from the classroom, ignoring the boys who were calling after me.
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After school by the parking lot was where I waited for Clair, instead of at my locker like usual. I had been getting my jacket out of my locker when Clair came up to me, breathless. She said she had to go somewhere, and to wait out front for her.
I had agreed, but now I was curious as to just where she had gotten to. It was a half hour after school, and the parking lot was emptying.
My curiosity got the better of me, and I went around the side of the building, looking around for her.
She couldn't have been inside, because students who were not in clubs or whatever were kicked out ten minutes ago.
I rounded one side, and walked towards the side of the gym lobby wall, going around the corner. The place still gave me the chills just thinking about that freezing cold night when I had been…handled by that freak. I had intended to hurry up and get past the transformer courtyard, sure that she couldn't be there, but what I saw made me stop dead in my tracks, and my heart feel like it was going to rip right out of my chest.
Of all the types of betrayals there were in the world…this was the last one I could ever expect to see from my best friend in the whole world, who I had shared all of my secrets with.
Making out with Ethan was the absolute last thing I could have ever imagined Clair doing.
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