Hi, again 😊
Thank you for the lovely comment, it really motivated me to write.
I hope you'll enjoy this part 😊
And, of course:
All publicly recognizable characters, settings, etc. are the property of their respective owners. The original characters and plot are the property of the author. The author is in no way associated with the owners, creators, or producers of any media franchise. No copyright infringement is intended.
Kim spent the entire evening checking her phone and social media, waiting for disaster to strike. Two clicks on his phone and Paul could make her the joke of La Push High for the next few weeks. She tried to read, but not even the sexy scenes from The Outlander held her attention. She did the dishes, swept the kitchen floor and tried to watch TV, but her mom became suspicious and started prodding her into talking about how her day was, so Kim just went back to her bedroom and stayed there for the rest of the evening. Her only company was Maxine, her fat, orange tabby, who was technically an outdoor cat and was thus forbidden from galivanting around the house, but Kim sneaked her in anyways.
"You should have heard him, Max! 'I'm your best friend in this goddamned world'. The best jerk, more likely! Well, that doesn't sound right," Kim shook her head. "Anyway, I'm glad he got detention last week, he deserved it, that… that… ape!" She sank into her bed and faced Maxine, who was at the moment licking her own genitals. "What am I going to do, Max?" Kim sighed. Max blinked at her and just continued licking. So much for pets helping with anxiety. Kim had only one other option advice-wise, and that option lived in Seattle and had to be reached through phone or Skype. Kim pressed call and after a gazillion rings, it connected and her sister's face appeared on the screen.
"Sup, troll!" was the greeting Kim got. She rolled her eyes.
"Hey, Liz. Got a minute?"
"Got two, even. What's up?"
After a painfully detailed report on the events of the day, all through which Liz was painting her nails, Kim finally felt a bit lighter for sharing the story.
"So, let me get this straight, you're worried because some guy said he would tell another guy that you like him?"
"And show him a picture of my notebook, where I wrote my name and Jared's last name. In a heart."
"How old are you, 12? Who does that? Anyway, what's the problem?"
"Are you seriously asking me that?"
"What's the big deal, you like a guy. So, what. Hey, is Jared that Cameron kid, the basketball player?"
"What's the big deal, she asks?! I'll be publicly embarrassed, can't you see?!"
Liz just forwarded a link of one of Jared's Instagram photos. "That him?"
"How did you even find it so quickly? That's him, yeah."
"Damn, girl. The boy is fiiine. I see why you like him."
"And you can see why he won't like me. And why I'm screwed."
"Don't be a moron. If he doesn't like you, fine, but that doesn't mean that you are worth less than anyone else. He might be popular, but that doesn't mean that he's smarter or funnier or a better person than you are. It just means that you're different. Like, in the forest. There are so many animals, right? And they're all different. Like, there's a bear, big, strong and loud when it roars. There's also a ladybug, small and quiet and pretty. When you look at them, they aren't much alike, right? It seems that the bear is more important, based on its size alone. But they are both important for the forest. I didn't pay much attention in biology classes, but I'm pretty sure each of them has an important role. Like, bears, I don't know, clean up carcasses of dead animals, or some shit. And ladybugs eat other insects and protect plants in that way. It's like that for people, too. Not everyone has the capacity or interest to be popular, big or loud. But it doesn't mean that people who aren't popular won't be loved. The point is, someone will love you for being a ladybug. Just the way you are. If it's not Jared, well, what can you do?"
Kim didn't know what to say, so she just blinked. That her sister, who was always on the verge of flunking at least one of her college classes, was capable of such wisdom was always a surprise.
"That's… actually quite helpful. And mature. What happened to you?"
"What can I tell you, I'm growing older and wiser. Hey, I have a date in an hour, which top do you like best?"
Kim had to smile.
Being invisible had its advantages, as Kim soon found out. Despite the fact that the school was relatively small and there weren't many students, she managed to safely navigate the halls and successfully avoid Paul. He gave her several pointed looks in their shared classes, but didn't actually have a chance to talk to her, for which she was grateful.
As the day went on, she grew more and more confident that Paul wouldn't rat on her, that everyone would continue ignoring her and that her life could continue as it should, boring, quiet and private. But as she finished her lessons for the day and went to take her bike and go home, she realized that it wouldn't happen so easily. Because, leaning on her bike, like a large predator, was Paul Lahote. He looked bored and angry, like Kim was late for their meeting and he was tired of waiting. For a second, she considered turning on her heel and going home the other way, leaving her bike at the mercy of thieves, weather and Paul Lahote. She was about to turn and run, but then he saw her and the idea seemed stupid. She approached him.
"If I didn't know any better, I would say you were avoiding me today," he sneered.
"Well, contrary to popular belief, you're not so nice to look at. What do you want, Paul?" Kim choked a little on the last word. Her heart was pounding in her ears but she tried to stand a bit straighter and forced herself to stop fidgeting.
"You and I need to have a chat."
"About?"
"Listen, honey, let's not play dumb."
"Paul, I don't know what you're trying to get out of this. I don't have any money. And even if I did…"
"That's too bad, but I don't want your money."
Kim blinked. "So, what do you want?"
"You're going to do my schoolwork. This biology project, the essay that's due next week… that kind of thing."
"That's cheating."
"That's cheating," he mocked in a high-pitched voice. "If you ask me, it's a win-win for both of us."
"It's blackmail, is what it is." Kim thought about it for a second. He was blackmailing her and the right thing to do was to tell him that he could stick his offer where the sun don't shine. She was about to tell him off when Jared appeared with his arm around Sophie Jackson's shoulders, and something in Kim's stomach fell. Jared said something and Sophie laughed, tilting her head back, eyes gleaming. She was an angelic picture, but Kim wasn't fooled by it. If Sophie and Jared were together, it was sad, yes; but it was also dangerous. Kim had seen Sophie bully enough girls to know that if Paul said anything to anyone, Kim's biggest problem wouldn't be Jared, it would be Sophie.
As the pair passed Kim and Paul by, Sophie raised an eyebrow at them but Jared just smiled at them and nodded in greeting. Kim blushed, of course, and Paul ignored them altogether. As soon as Sophie and Jared were out of sight, Paul sneered at Kim.
"Seems that Lover Boy didn't wait for your declaration of love. You gonna cry? You know that Jackson's going to make your life a misery if she sees the picture? I've heard she's very territorial."
"You don't know that they're together," Kim whispered.
"You really are a baby," he scoffed. "Listen, I'm giving you a good deal here. I'm being generous. You're a smart girl, doing a bit of extra work will be a breeze for you. Think about it: I won't fail classes, you won't be murdered by Jackson, Lover Boy will stay clueless. It's a no brainer."
Suddenly, Kim felt so tired and small. At that moment, she wasn't a ladybug, a generous, plant loving insect. No, she was a dust mite eager to crawl into a pillow and never come out. Jared didn't and wouldn't know anything about her, Sophie would make her life a hell if she found out about her crush. And the only boy who had ever given her a compliment was currently blackmailing her. Feeling beaten and forced into a corner, she sighed deeply and stuck her hand out to Paul.
"I just want to highlight that this is textbook blackmail and that you're a terrible human being. Also, I won't be doing your work for you, but I will help you. Sort of like a tutor."
For the first time since she met him, he gave her a small smile and shook her hand.
"We'll see about that."