Just so things don't get confusing, I've decided to make a little scheme about the characters:
Girls group:
Elena Hall : main character
Caroline Forbes: Elena's roommate at the boarding school
Bonnie Bennet: friend, dating Rick Hugh's twin brother
Vickie Donovan: Matt's little sister
Cynthia Rose: in love with Tyler
Cara Stein: in love with Mason
Carine Fell: an annoying blonde
Boys group:
Mason Winter: Best friend of Elena's, head of the boys group
Matt Donovan: best friend of Mason and combat buddy of Elena
Rick Hugh: twin of Luke Hugh, a friend
Tyler Lockwood: a friend, sportsjock
Luke Hugh: twin of Rick Hugh
Others:
Ravi Indie: sweet guy in Elena's history class
Matt was already warming up in the gym when I arrived. I smiled when I thought Caroline, sweet little Caroline, had a crush on my friend. ''Why are you all of a sudden so happy?'' Matt asked, running laps. ''Inside joke. Run faster.'' I told him and crossed my arms, to look more strict. Apparently, it worked because he quickened his speed. Matt had found out about me training when the weather had been too bad to go outside. I had noticed nobody ever went to the gym between six thirty and eight so on good luck, I had trained inside school. Little did I know Matt had forgotten his towel and wanted to come and get it right at the moment I was practicing my kicks. He wouldn't tell anyone if I would teach him everything I knew. At first, I could beat myself up for getting caught but now I was used to having a buddy and I kind of liked the company. It also gave my ego a boost every time I knocked out a boy.
''And this year's fieldtrip will be to, '' The director spoke through the intercoms, '' the lovely woods of Forendale.'' A united sigh came from the whole classroom as we accepted a long and boring trip to nature and it's rain. On the inside, I was a little thrilled to be outside instead of having classes in the dark rooms. A tap on my shoulder made me look behind, it was Mason. His hair was still wet from the shower he had taken this morning, the drops left little spots behind on his T-shirt. ''You must be thrilled, our little nature freak.'' Mason winked and Matt, who sat next to him, sighed. ''I can't believe you really like that kind of stuff, it's all so boring.'' The blonde rested his head on the desk and pretended to snore. ''I don't like it. I like being in nature, sure. But I don't enjoy listening, '' I defended myself, ''to an overenthusiastic teacher for more than an hour. Trees are trees, I don't want to know the details. Let them be, that's what I say.'' The bell rang and class was over. I always waited until everyone had packed their backpacks, threw them over their shoulders and pushed each other to get through the small door. The guys did the same, they didn't like the chattering and noises of the girls. Mason stood up, so did I and the few who were still left. ''What do we have now?'' I asked Matt, he was in every class I was. Mason was a year older and had only a couple the same. ''History, hooray!'' Matt threw his hands in the air. It made me smile, even though I had seen it a thousand times because he did the gesture with every class we had. On our way, Matt was walking in the front with Rick, Mason behind them with Tyler and in the back, me and Rick's twin brother, Luke. ''What do you think about Vickie? Vickie Donovan? '' Luke asked. I frowned and looked at Matt, walking ahead of us. ''Matt's little sister?'' I shrugged. ''She's cute and friendly but I don't know whether Matt 'll like it if he knows you lust after his sister.'' Luke smiled and winked. ''That's why I tell you, not one of the boys.'' We walked past a giggling group of girls, who seemed to be happy to get a nod from Mason and Matt as we continued our way to the next class. ''Not even Rick?'' I asked, amazed. The two told each other everything, and knew everything. He must really fancy Vicky if he didn't want to tell his own brother about his crush. Luke shook his head and stuck his pink out. I shook it with mine, the symbol of secrecy. Our group split in half as we came across the next hall. Mason, Rick and Tyler went to the right, me, Matt and Luke to the left. On the end of the hall, were the girls, I felt obligated to go and talk to them again. I was already two days non-stop hanging out with the boys and had probably missed a lot of gossip and fun facts. Caroline was already gesturing I should join them. I looked at Luke and Matt and sighed. ''I know. Girls. Have fun. '' Matt said and walked further on his own as Luke said, ''I need to be in this room anyway.'' Luke went into the biology room and I went to the group of girls, who were whispering excitedly about something. All the heads turned to me and a blonde girl who's name I always forgot, pulled me into the middle. Vicky was standing next to me, Caroline on the other side, Bonnie and Cynthia, surprisingly without Cara, behind me. The rest of the blonde girls names, I didn't know. I was serious when I said the rest is all blonde, me and Bonnie were the only brunettes. Tragic, that's what I thought because Caroline was the only real blonde. ''We, '' the girl meant the whole group, ''have to ask you something.'' I narrowed my eyes and crossed my arms. Here it comes, I thought. ''We're making a Hottie List, the one you see in American movies, only, in real life, it never happens.'' She finished and the others nodded their heads as if they too thought it was a tragedy. I couldn't believe my eyes when she said she was going to make one. There was a reason people didn't see them in real life, it was a stupid thing. Putting numbers on my friends. I had thought she was going to ask information about Mason or Matt, or who had a crush on who, like they usually did. On the other hand, it would be a perfect thing to tease the boys with. Only the thought of me reading a paper and seeing their faces when I told them they were just a number to the girls, made me smile. ''I'm in!'' I said, followed by many cheers. A smile crept across my face as I admitted I liked feeling wanted by them. They were my little minions, but I would never take advantage of the girls. The blond hushed everyone and acted like we were planning a highly dangerous mission. ''Elena, you're the boss, you have the word.'' Just to play along, I gestured everyone to come closer and spoke in a low tone, nearly whispered. ''We'll meet tonight, at, '' I looked around and saw Caroline subtly shaking her head, so was Bonnie, ''Vickie's room. '' I didn't know who her roommate was but nobody minded if the cool kids hung out in their room, they felt honoured most of the time. ''At ten thirty, half an hour after the lights are out. Vickie, '' I looked at Matt's little sister and immediately thought of Luke, ''you don't mind it, do you?'' I asked her, to be sure. She quickly shook her head and smiled. ''At your service, '' She actually bowed, '' my queen.'' I kept a straight face and tried to be serious as I said, ''You can go now. You services are no longer needed.'' I waved my hand, and the whole group immediately broke up. Everybody went to their classes, so did I. I took a seat next to Matt who was sitting in the back. Our teacher wasn't here yet so Matt had a couple of boys around him who he was talking to. They all wanted to be his friend, because if they got to Matt, the easiest target of the popular boy group, they'd feel like royalty. Who didn't want that? As soon as the boys noticed me, a couple fell silent. Too shy to talk, how sweet. ''Hi there, Elena.'' Ravi was one of the sweetest boys I had ever met. Never did he walk past without saying hello or waving goodbye, never did he insult anyone nor did he curse. It was truly astonishing. ''Hi Ravi, do you like the school?'' I asked the new student. Only a month ago, had he walked through our doors for the first time. He was a kid that actually had a shot of making it to the boy's group. ''It's enormous, I had expected the school to be big , but this? Way over my expectations. '' He smiled and I could tell he was very impressed. ''By the way, you look good with your hair down. You should do it more often.'' I smiled, he was sincere when he gave someone a compliment, which made it even more pleasant to get one. ''Thank you. Now, '' I gripped Matt's hand and pretended to be a couple by kissing him on the cheek, '' can you all please let me and Matt be? We need to discuss some things, private matters. '' After two guys made some disapproving sounds, other approving ones, Matt rubbed his hand over his cheek where some of my lip-gloss had stayed behind. ''Gross.'' I frowned. ''Don't you like to be kissed by me, Elena, queen of the Gilbert Boarding School?'' Matt rolled his eyes. ''Funny you should say that, they call Mason the king. Get the picture?'' He drew two crowns with a heart between them. ''What will he think when he hears me and you have kissed?'' I sighed and didn't feel so thrilled anymore to tell him the girls plan. It was hilarious, but he had ruined the mood. ''Mason and I are friends, just like we are. Don't make it any more complicated.'' Matt made a disapproving sound but didn't say anything anymore. ''Now,'' I got excited again, '' you need to hear what the bees want to do.'' The bees was a code name for the popular girl's group. First, because they were all blond and bees were yellow. Second, they swarmed around me like bees did around honey. At last, they also followed their queen. I told Matt about the Hottie List and he actually grimaced. ''And you're helping them?'' He raised an eyebrow. Our teacher walked in the classroom, announcing herself where after we took our history books. ''Yeah, of course! Who better than to judge you guys than me myself?'' I winked and opened my book at the page we had last seen. Matt did the same and smiled. ''I'm wondering who will be on top.'' His tone suggested he already knew the answer, so did I. Mason was definitely the hottest guy in school, no one could doubt that. An idea formed in my head, something that would stir up the girls. I told it to Matt who almost laughed out loud but he agreed to do it. After history, I caught myself not remembering a word the teacher had said. A whole hour had I been thinking of the list, ranking the guys myself even though it was stupid. I also had been wondering whether Vickie liked Luke but he'd kill me if he knew I'd ask her. But I knew a way to make her tell me instead of the other way around.
It was lunch time and the girls sat on their usual table, so did the boys. I saw Mason smiling at me and I waved back. There was, like always, a spot left for me. I wanted to sit there but I had made a promise to myself today to spent time with the bees. As soon as they saw me coming, they got excited , like little puppies who saw their bosses again after a long workday, and made room. I thanked the petite girl who had scooted over. ''So, '' I told them while unpacking my lunch, '' let's play a game. '' There were nine girls, including me, around the table. One brunette, Bonnie, and seven blondes. Caroline, the girl who's name I still didn't remember but it was Claire or something, Cynthia and Cara, Vickie, the petite girl and the one who always followed but never said a word. ''Who has a crush on one of the boys in this school?'' I asked them. Cara and Cynthia were the first one to raise their hands and I almost rolled my eyes. The reason I didn't was because I didn't like picking fights and tried to be polite to the Barbie dolls even though I couldn't stand them. So I forced a smile and told the others to also raise their hand. Everybody had a crush, I knew it because they didn't talk about something else. After a minute, all the hands were up and on their faces was an expression of love as they thought about that one boy they would never get. On the inside, I felt glad Vickie had also raised her hand, it meant Luke had a chance she fancied him as well. Bonnie was looking nervously the other way, if there had been one person I expected not to raise her hand, it had been Bonnie. I gave her a questioning look but she just shrugged. ''Now,'' I said, ''we're going to guess everyone's secret crush by asking questions that can only be answered by a 'yes' or 'no'. The word that may not be used is, '' I thought for a moment until I said, '' I ''. ''If someone says a name or ''I'', ''I continued, '' they can't ask any questions anymore until the next one. Understood?''
The eight girls nodded and looked a little scared. ''Who wants to go first?'' I asked but was interrupted by Bonnie. ''Wait a minute, '' she said, '' you didn't raise your hand. '' I sighed and explained in a very childish tone to her that if I hadn't raised my hand, I didn't have a crush. The eight girls looked in disbelief at me but didn't say a word. But my roommate of course, Caroline. ''But that's not possible. There is no one here in school you don't at least like? '' I shook my head and shrugged.
Half an hour later, most of the girls had confessed. Cara had Mason, Cynthia Tyler, the petite girl Ravi, the one who's name I finally knew thanks to Bonnie, Carina had Mason as well, which got her an ugly look from Cara and the one who had finally said more than one word had Rick as a crush. And , surprise, surprise, Mason was winning the race. The ones who hadn't admitted, were Vickie, Bonnie and Caroline. If I had known the consequences of this game at the beginning, I wouldn't have suggested to play it. Caroline and Bonnie got into a fight when Caroline had said she fancied Matt. Apparently, Bonnie had mutual feelings for the poor thing. Caroline ran off, crying because she wasn't one to fight. I packed my stuff and hers and went after her but not after giving Bonnie an angry look. She had overreacted, it was not like Matt was hers. Before I left, a hand grabbed my wrist. It was Bonnie's, she had changed from an angry girl into a nervous one. ''I-'' she started but couldn't finish. Cara rolled her eyes and continued for Bonnie. ''She heard you and Matt were a couple, in secret. '' My face must've looked very confused because Bonnie actually sighed in relief. ''Who told you that? I thought people only thought me and Mason were together.'' Maybe not the best thing to bring up right now, everyone knew Mason and I were close but almost nobody believed we weren't a thing. Except for these eight girls, they knew the truth because they believed everything I said. ''I heard you two kissed and got caught. ''Cynthia pointed out. Bonnie looked at me again, her eyes filled with fear. I patted her on the shoulder and told her nothing of it was true. But then I remembered the kiss on his cheek in history. I rolled my eyes. ''Want to know what really happened?'' Bonnie nodded her head and so did Cynthia and Cara. ''I gave him a kiss on his cheek, because he doesn't like to be kissed. It was to tease him.'' The two blondes with extensions way too long, 'oh-ed' because the news wasn't as thrilling as they had expected. Bonnies face lit up and I continued my path to a room filled with tears. Caroline, here I come. But when I arrived, Caroline wasn't the only one in there. The door was open a little and I looked inside. Matt was comforting Caroline, who had red eyes but wasn't crying anymore. I smiled and hoped she had confessed her feelings to him. They'd make a nice couple. Caroline was one the girls I didn't mind that would get a relationship with the boys. She wouldn't get jealous of me hanging around with her boyfriend all day long since she trusted everyone. Bonnie on the other hand, she'd probably kidnap Matt to a cave so no it wouldn't be even possible to give him a look.
If Matt was in my room, it meant Mason was alone in his. I didn't want to go back to the girls, even though I really wanted to know who's crush Vickie's was, so I went to Mason's and Matt's room. Plus they had a PlayStation, hidden of course. I knocked the secret knock and went in. ''Call of duty?'' He asked and I smiled. ''How'd you know?'' I asked and took a controller. ''Saw there was girl drama, knew you needed to shoot a few people and came here to start the damn thing.'' Mason had the first controller in his hands and I quickly switched his with mine. ''Hey! I'd like to be in control for once.'' He complained but didn't take it back. ''You're so easy boy.'' I told him and started the game.