I feel pretty good about this chapter!
"Yeah but I mean, you're kind of.. well.. no one really knows you."
Austin's words played through my head as I ran down the beach. I stopped and bent down, putting my head between my knees. My lungs felt like I had inhaled ice. My chest heaved.
"He's such a- he's such a twat! UGH! FUCK!" I screamed, noticing that a small beach house behind me had it's windows open. A dainty women poked her head out and screeched something in spanish, slamming her window shut behind her.
I waved at her in apology then sat down on the sand.
"But he's right, "I thought to myself, "I don't put myself out there.. and no one knows who I am.."
I sighed.
After a minute of self loathing, I smiled. "Well I guess it's time for a makeover," I said to myself.
I stood outside the school, feeling the butterflies trying to escape from my stomach. "Trish, I'm starting to think this was a bad idea." I said nervously.
"Ally relax! You look hot!" She said reassuringly. I looked down at my shorts. They were the kind that were so short that you could see the pockets. I had always thought that they had looked tacky, but they were, according to Trish, in style.
"I know, I know.. I just feel like I look.. I don't know.. trashy." I said, looking down to avoid seeing Trish. She had worked so hard on my new look, and I didn't want to upset her.
I mean, the makeup I could handle, She had only suggested wearing some mascara and maybe doing a vintage cat-eye thing. But the clothes? They completely crossed the line. For example, today. My shirt managed to show all of my stomach and some cleavage, too.
"Austin would probably like that..." I thought before I could catch myself.
The only reason I had done this was to spite Austin... to prove to him that he wasn't the only guy who took a second look at me.. if he even did.
"It's supposed to do that," Trish had said. "It's called a crop top."
Whatever it was, I was pretty sure it was against dress code.
"You don't look trashy, trust me." She bit her lip to keep from laughing at my choice of words. "Now get the hell in that school before I pick you up and carry you in."
I gave her one last weary look, then burst through the doors.
When my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized that the hallway was too crowded for anyone to take notice of me.
I felt the butterflies start to ease.
"Hot damn! Look at Dawson!" Someone yelled. I felt my heart jump into my throat.
Trish tried to catch my eye, probably to see if I was okay, but I ignored her and the boy who yelled.
I kept walking, avoiding eye contact and hoping I'd reach my locker before I started blushing.
Some other boys whistled.
I noticed Austin in a group of what I identified to be about half of the football team. He laughed at something one of his friends said. One of the more muscled boys pointed me out to Dez, which made them all turn my way.
"Is that Ally Dawson?" One asked.
"I'd tap that," Said another, licking his lips. I gagged and ignored him.
Austin glared at me from across the hallway.
Finally finding my locker, I sighed in relief. I opened it and quickly put my books in.
When I closed it, Austin was standing behind it looking pissed.
"What the hell are you wearing?" He demanded.
"Good morning, Austin." I said sweetly, organizing my books and avoiding eye contact.
"Why are you dressed like that?"
I stuck out my bottom lip in a pout, "You don't like it? I dressed just for you today." I winked, then tried my best to give a boy across the hall a flirty look, "Well maybe not just you."
"Ew. Never dress for boys." I mentally noted.
His face grew red with anger.
He opened his mouth to say something, but I cut him off. "Let's go to class, Austin." I giggled, linking my arm in his. He didn't try and pull away, so I lead him to our first class.
Austin didn't talk to me for the rest of health. It wasn't until we were in our next class, American History, that he finally said something.
He sat behind me in this class.
Scooting his desk up close to mine, he whispered in my ear, "Okay, I get it Ally. A lot of guys like you. Now you can change."
I responded airily, trying to ignore the feeling that his breath on my neck gave me. "Why should I change?" I asked, more confused than teasingly. Why did he want me to change? Did he think I looked bad?
I crossed my arms to hide my stomach.
"You shouldn't have to wear clothes like this to get people's attention," he whispered. "You.. you should be yourself." I turned around and raised my eyebrow.
He paused as if he had caught himself on something, then rolled his eyes. "I don't need other guys whistlin' at you while I'm your school assigned boyfriend." He smirked.
"I understand," I said. I saw him relax a little. "But I'm not changing. You can't tell me what I can and can't wear." I said firmly.
The bell rang and I left him sitting there furious. I was starting to feel more comfortable in this outfit, and I liked wearing it. Not because of the attention, but because I just liked my body in it. I wasn't enviously skinny or dangerously fat, I just liked it.
I pranced to my next class. Thankfully, all of the attention that my outfit had gained me was now dying down. I twirled blindly, running straight into another student.
His books and papers were scattered in a pile on the floor. Instantly feeling guilty, I lowered myself onto the ground to help him pick them up.
"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to hit you like that. I honestly didn't even see you," I rambled on as I picked up his things.
"Oh no, it's fine. You just weren't paying attention, that's all." He said cheerfully.
Although he meant to sound forgiving, I felt a hint of accusation in his voice.
"I wouldn't say that I wasn't paying attention..." He looked up at me, raising an eyebrow.
"Okay, I totally wasn't watching out, you're right."
He laughed, "It's alright."
I handed him his last book and we stood up in unison.
"I'm Elliot, by the way." He smiled sweetly, showing off a set of perfect teeth.
Now that I was standing, I could get a better look at him. He was taller than me, but only by a few inches. His hair was cut neatly and pushed back off of his forehead. In all, he was gorgeous.
"I'm Ally," I said, smiling back at him awkwardly.
"I know," He nodded.
I gave him a questioning look but he ignored it, "So do you have plans for lunch today?"
"Well," I tried to think of how to explain my bizarre health assignment to him.
Giving up on it, I replied rather solemnly, "I do, actually,"
He frowned, "What about tonight for dinner?"
I thought about my study date with Trish, "I'm booked for tonight, too."
He raised his arms in defeat, "Okay, Okay. I can take a hint."
"No! No, it's not like that. How about tomorrow night?"
He smiled, "Sounds like a date."
The bell rang and he pointed behind him, "That's my bell. See you around." He smiled at me once more, then left.
I grinned giddily.
Maybe I should text him later... Wait... UGH! I mentally kicked myself for not getting his number.
I sighed, and opened my spanish binder, deciding to use the beginning of my free period to study.
Out of nowhere it seemed, a pair of perfectly toned arms wrapped around my waist.
"Who's that guy, babe?" Austin whispered in my ear.
I tried to shove him off. He laughed and gripped me tighter, "You're not playing your part very well, bride-of-mine."
"We don't have to do this all the time, just around Hemberly."
He rested his head on my shoulder and sighed.
"Mmm, you know I would do anything to get a rise out of you. Bonus points to piss you off." He laughed.
"Austiiiiiin," I whined. He grazed my neck with his lips. I shivered. He made me feel electric, which both terrified and excited me.
Austin paused to look up at something. I looked up, too, following his gaze, which landed on the swiveling hips of Kira Starr, who had just passed by us.
"I'll be right back," He gave me a quick kiss on the cheek and then ran to catch up with Kira.
I scowled. "And now he's off to make some other girl feel electric to get an easy lay,"
I thought about what their conversation must be like.
"But Austin, aren't you with that other girl? The one you had your arms around?"
"Oh God, no! Not even if you put a gun to my head! She's just my partner for that lame health thing."
"Oh, good. You could definitely do better."
"Like with who?" He would smirk at her.
She would blush and giggle, then poke out her breasts. "Maybe... me."
I stopped torturing myself and continued studying spanish.
A few minutes later, Austin's arms had once again woven through my arms to my hips. This time, he held me against his body.
I looked up at him, realizing just how much he towered over me. I thought about the mere few inches Elliot had on me.
"Strike out with Kira?" I asked coldly.
He raised an eyebrow, "She copied my homework in first period. I just needed it back."
"But you were staring at her."
"Yeah, she walks kind of funny. I think she does it on purpose."
Oh.
"But thanks for the protective wifey status," He laughed into my neck, giving me that electric feeling once more.
"Whatever, I just didn't want Hemberly to get the wrong idea."
"Like you did." He accused.
I pulled away from him and grabbed my books. "I've got studying to do."
As I walked away, he yelled to me, "Maybe we should be friends, Dawson. It would make this assignment easier."
I ignored him and kept walking, unable to keep the smile off my face.
"He's such a loser," I murmured to myself.
Thank you for getting me to 100+ reviews! Let's go for maybe 125 for the next chapter? Tell me what you think!