Chapter 2 2

"YOU drop this," he says, handing it over to me -staring deeply into my eyes as I stare at his, his dazzling, enticing hazel eyes in the shape of an almond. I feel my eyes melting into his and my heart jumping up and down like it wants to burst out of my chest and reach for him. His lips look soft and tempting. "Um... Are you there?" He asks like I've been staring foolishly, but that does wake me up from his utmost beauty. My lashes flutter, and I take the book from him -hoping Tracy didn't notice. My eyes jam her. She's drooling at him, dreamily, like she sees only him.

Her shoulders fall as she takes a deep breath. Her smile is brood as an eagle. Her head cock to the side. She must feel like Alice in wonderland. That's her Disney tale. "Is she okay?" Morgan asks like Tracy is acting weird. Of course, she's acting weird. She's embarrassing me and herself. This guy might think highly of himself. "Haha," I laugh. "She's not fine, she acts like this when she's sick." She is sick, she has something called guys fever, Or should I say true love fever. All I know is she has relationship fever. "Right, Tracy?" I say as I nudge her with my shoulder. She startles "Uh?" She asks with wide eyes. I wonder how far her mind has traveled. Please keep your act together. She straightens herself, moving from the locker. She clears her throat. Guess she's back from wonderland. "I'm sorry, I was just..." She pauses and her eyes bores to him, again. Like she can't get enough of it. Maybe I was wrong, she isn't back yet. I smack my lips, knocking the novel on my palm as I gradually turn to Morgan. "O...k" I drawl, because this is a bazaar, and I feel like dragging myself and Tracy out of his sight. He wears a smirk face. Is this guy in any way enjoying all of this? Or making fun of my friend? "I guess I haven't properly introduced myself," he says. Oh, now he thinks we are so much into him that we want him to give us a proper introduction. I scoff as I face my locker, I shove the novel inside and close it. "You have, and we don't care," turning to him, I say obnoxiously. I fold my hands and lean at my locker, frowning at him. I'll admit he's handsome, but he is not my type. I only admire his hair. OK, a little bit than that, but I certainly do not see him as Tracy does, Like he's the only man on earth. To her, all handsome guys are the only men on earth. "I need you to," Tracy interjects, twirling her box braid, and I scowl at her. He looks at Tracy grinning. Gosh, his smile is as cute as his face. "I'm Morgan," he says, to Tracy precisely, offering a handshake. Tracy smiles back, shaking his hand. Morgan's palm covers Tracy's, not because Morgan's palms are that wide but because Tracy's hand is as thin as her body but in a slender way. "I'm Tracy...Tracy Peterson." Tracy says, putting down her head trying to hide her blush. Sorry, it's too late, you've taken out your swag about a minute ago. "Nice to meet you, Tracy. A beautiful name for a beautiful girl," he says to Tracy with both their palms still colliding. And my best friend is beaming like a sheepish coward. I look at both of them with shifty eyes. And the poor boy is caged to Tracy's hands as he struggles to be set free. He wanted to give a proper introduction and he did. "Um..." He glances at me, squeezing his hands from Tracy's grip. And those precious eyes of his are frantic. Don't look at me, I'm sorry, I can't help you, bro. And I can well remember I told you she's sick. "Tracy." I place my hand on her shoulder. This is getting out of hand. "Let go of his hand, please." My voice is as chirpy as possible. "Oh, oh, oh." she sounds like a siren, but I hope this siren is successful at waking her ass up! She lets go of his hands, and Morgan starts to squish his hand. He might probably include this as one of the biggest mistakes of his life. Tracy gaps, placing her fingers in her mouth. "I am so sorry, I didn't mean to..." She drops her hands and sighs. "I'm acting all crazy aren't I?" She says, gloomy. Oh no baby, you were acting more than crazy! Morgan scoffs, "It's okay, it was kinda funny though." He says grinning. I think this is the point where I say they both deserve each other, cause they have this one stupid similarity. THEY DON'T LEARN! "You are the first to amuse me since I moved in," he adds. Yeah she was quite amusing, wasn't she? but it didn't seem like it when his eyes were bored with frights. Next time someone should please press a reminder button on me, so I don't ruin his fun. "Really?" Tracy coos. "Yea," he says. The smiles fix on their faces are weird and somehow annoying. A minute ago I was the one trying to save the moment from further embarrassment, and I'm just finding out that they are both enjoying it. "Oh no, I'm not watching this." Their prolonged eye contact chases me. I sashay to Tracy's car, and I pull the handle. Great, it's locked. I stand leaning at her car. A sun as hell is blasting on me, and my skin is drenching with sweat, and my heels are sinking beneath the ground, rising slight pains under my knees. This is all Lucian's fault, now I have to pair with Tracy on her ride. Being grounded isn't just the problem, but restricting me from riding my car is the worst punishment ever. I see the amuser and the amused at the school entrance corridor. They are facing each other, chatting. Can they please wipe out that smile off their face for one second? I march to them. I'm feet away, and they don't notice, Tracy does not notice. Not this week, we've got so many plans, and I can't be invisible to her now, I'm okay with next week. "Ahem Ahem," I try to get her attention, and she glances at me, but I know I haven't gotten it yet. "Oh my God! That's hilarious." She Mirth, but I consider it to be Mirthless. "Uh-huh," I say sardonically, as my blood boils. "Ahem, can we please go, now!" I half-yell. I did try to be calm, but this, all of this is fucking insane. And for Morgan not to see it, he is making fun of her. I take a deep breath, not to purge my anger any further. Both of them widen their eyes and stare at me like I'm a devouring lion. And if I am, I'd mail them right now. "Please can we just go?" I practically beg her. She nods with an approving smile, my best friend's smile. I walk away, and I hear her footsteps behind me. She Unlocks the car. Without hesitation, I pop on the passenger seat. Tracy waves at the wretched guy before entering the car. She drives off to my house. I press my password on the lockbox key placed at the entrance of my closet, and the door opens. I walk inside and stare at my impeccably organized closet. fashion is my thing. I go to where my gowns are and bring out a black flare gown, with a spaghetti strap, and show it to Tracy who seems to be busy with her phone. "What do you think?" I ask her, but no reply. I stand quietly scowling at her as she beams at her phone. She notices, "Am sorry...were you talking to me?" She asks as she tosses her braid behind her, and brings down her phone. "No I wasn't, I'm Talking to the third person in this closet...ooh wait, there's no third person, so who the hell will I be talking to?" She comes closer to me. "Sam, I'm sorry. What do you want me to do for you? Anything, I'm ready." "Nothing. all these clothes looks old-fashioned, let's just go do some shopping before it gets late." I toss the dress mindlessly on a rack. She raises her brows and presses her lips. She locks her fingers behind her and takes a long step toward me, that we are only a few inches apart. Something is wrong, that's her disappointing expression. She clicks her tongue, and I lower my brows. And my ears are less excited to hear what she's about to say. I have an idea but I hope that's not it. "Sam, first of all, your clothes are perfect, they are all beautiful..." She speaks like there is a but, and buts are not good in addition to a positive statement. "But..." There she goes. I shift back. "I can't go to the party." Her voice is low. I raise my brows, and I actually smirk. I have no idea why I'm smirking but I can feel my blood getting hot, and my head gives a brief ache. "Wait, what?!" I shout like I just realized what she means. Is she serious? We've been planning this get together party since the summer break, and now she says she is not going? At the beginning of every semester, we throw a school get together party. A party Lucian organizes. Though we don't bond with anybody, we just throw the party for fun. And now she's saying she's not going? She pushes her upper body back and holds up her palms against her face like she's protecting herself from my anger. I fold my arms and frown at her. Her eyes Search out through her fingers, and she slowly puts down her hands and leans forward, she fake chuckles. "You know Morgan likes fiction books." She tries to change the subject, only bringing in the point of the subject. But seriously, how is that my business? I lower my brows and push back my head. She sighs and edges past me, and I turn to her as she does to me. "OK, " she sounds audible, with a hand gesture of calming her nerves. "Morgan asked me to come with Him to the bookstore." I suspected he was the reason, but I wasn't sure because she normally does not go out with guys on the first day. Knowing Tracy, she is the one who asked him out. Is she that naive about true love? "ugh! seriously?! You are ditching me because of that wretch you just met?!" I groan. "Come on, I need this. He might just be my dream guy." What is with her and these dream guys? "You can't be serious Tracy. Enough with all this your dream guys, you've been with like five of them in just a month and none worked out for you," I tell her abruptly. I'm losing it. She opens her mouth to say something, but I jump right in, "you know what? You can go, but I know you'll come back crying, telling me how much of an asshole he is! And this time I'm not going to listen to your Bullshits!" I pause, staring at her with parted lips. That's harsh of me. That's what happens when I hold in my emotions for too long, I just lose it. Tracy is quiet but her tears are not. Her mouth is wide open. her moist eyes are dripping at me. She wasn't expecting that from me, and neither was I. But at least she now knows how I feel about her dream guys. "It's good to know how much you care about me," she says sadly and walks out of my closet. I hear her leave as my door opens and blasts shut. God, what did I do? I didn't mean to hurt her, I was just...I sigh and fall on an Ottoman behind me. It's already 8 p.m. I call Lucian to come to give me a ride since my mom won't be, plus Tracy is mad at me. Lucian is all I have. I just received his text that he's outside my house. I go to my window to see if he's outside. I see him stalling beside his red Toyota Avalon. He's looking good in his black stylish suit, with his blond hair styled forward. I must say his appearance is far from his behavior. I look at myself in the mirror to be sure I look good, even if I don't feel like going to the party no more. I brush my hair and apply little makeup. I'm wearing the flare gown since I didn't buy any new ones. Not that I don't have nice clothes, I just like getting new things. I put on decorative heels that go with my dress. I walk downstairs, thinking about everything I and Tracy said to each other -I grimace at my thoughts. I get down, I see my mom seated in the living room and staring at her laptop, with a coffee mug held in her hands. She looks up at me, and her eyes shine with amazement. She gasps and puts the mug on the table. "Honey, you look so beautiful," She says as she stands up and walks toward me. She's also dressed, but casually, and my mom's casual is the most beautiful. She brushes my hair away from my face. "Are you going out?" I ask her. She pauses, then takes a step backward. "yeah I am, and I'll be back before you know it." "Where to?" I ask. This changes her mood. Even if her smile wasn't sincere, at least she was smiling, and now she's not. "Can you stop asking me questions? You are the child and I'm the mom, so I get to ask the questions and you to answer them." She hides the anger in her voice, but not the strictness. "Whatever," I say and walk past her. I don't care what she does or where she goes, as long as she doesn't die. I only asked because I felt the need to. "Who is going to rid you there? I don't see Tracy around." I stand still for a second. Is she gonna do this now, interrogate me? I turn to her and see that she's still backing me. I sigh "I won't be going with my car, and that's all you need to know." "Well honey, I'll need to know more than that." She slowly turns to me. Authority is written all over her face, and well, she's using it. I want to shout and scream at her, I want to unleash this anger inside of me. I take a deep breath. "It's Lucian, he's waiting outside for me." My mom's face brightens at the mention of Lucian. She has always liked him beside the fact that he's an adorable friend. Something that has to do with James, Lucian's dad. "Why is he outside? He should have come in." She proceeds to the front door. "Mom, he's probably avoiding your disturbance." I stop her by saying this, and it's true. Lucian hates the fact that my mom is into his dad despite knowing he is still married to his mom, well James is not exactly with his wife cause he cheated on her with my mom. When I was fifteen, I and my friends caught them making out in my mom's bedroom. It was just three months after my dad died. She's so pathetic. She's just a few feet away from the door. "Whaaat? he loves me," she drawls, turning to me. "Whatever, I have to go," I say, walking to the door. I hate the fact that she sees nothing wrong with her attitude, and I don't want to remind myself of it. "Oh yes, you do." she beams as I get to where she is. I slowly shake my head and proceed outside. As I come out, Lucian startles, and finally relaxes after realizing it's just me. "God you scared me," he says. His hands on his chest as he calms his heavy breathing. "How?" I know how, but clarity is sincerity. Poor Lucian. Since he saw his dad cheating on his mom, things have never been okay between them. He never told his mom because he didn't want to see her in tears, heartbroken. "I thought it was your mom." Lucian straightens, still leaning on the side of his car. I smile and strut toward him. "And if it was?" I keep asking questions I know the answers to. Standing in front of him, he slides his hand into his pockets. "Well her generosity is not that pleasant to me." He sounds upset, but his face tells different, as he gives a big smile which seems genuine. "It isn't for me too," I say quietly, Feeling sorry for him. He walks round to the driver's side, opens the door, and pops in. I know he isn't okay, but he never lets himself be sad. I wish I'm like that. Strong and happy as he is. I open the door to the passenger seat and get in. He starts the gas and Zooms off. "So what happened between you and Tracy?" He asks with a glance at me, his hands riding the steering. If it was someone else, lying would be an option, but Lucian knows me too well to tell when I'm lying. I suck my teeth. "She went out with the new guy. I can't believe she ditched me for that wretch." I hiss. I was harsh on Tracy, but she was equally harsh to me. It's unfair to throw me to the side and act like I'm invisible when she meets new guys. "Wait, what?" He smiles "Is he into Tracy? he's kinda cool." He sounds excited. Does he even know what this means? Of course, he sees nothing wrong, he's not the one who will soon be sleep-deprived. I tilt my head and furrow my brows. My eyes bulging out. I wasn't expecting this from Lucian, especially when he knows how Tracy's relationship ends. "Are you serious right now? She went out with a WRETCH!" How does he not see anything wrong with it? He gives me an unsteady gaze, his mouth parted. Looking like I just screeched his Brain and it's about to explode. "Why do I have a feeling you don't like this guy?" He sounds like all of this is normal and okay. First of all, this isn't about me not liking him. Why the hell will I like him? He's way below. His only gain is that he's handsome. There are lots of handsome guys. But seriously, I've never seen anyone like him. Secondly, Tracy is out on a date with him on their first day of meeting, and let's not forget how that is going to affect me. "Of course, I don't like him!" I say with open palms. Like It's obvious and there's no reason for me to. He looks at me and grins, then back at the road. Shaking his head like I'm too much of myself. "If you ask me, I'll say he's handsome and looks friendly." Wow, on his first day he's already stealing my best friends. How can he say that about a guy he has known for less than seven hours. Plus, is Lucian blind? Didn't he see Morgan's shabby wear? Oh yeah, I remember, Lucian does not care about anyone's status, he's friendly to everyone. But I can't be like that. don't judge me, I grew up this way. We get to the party, there are a lot of people outside the hotel, all dressed flashy and beautiful but not as beautiful as mua. It's more like the party is held outside. As me and Lucian stride inside, I feel everybody's eyes on me, and them murmuring how beautiful I look, but I'm kinda used to it. Being the most popular girl in school and the richest teenager in Seattle, is my golden spoon and I will never lose it. I still remember how the eyes adoring me right now were mocking me. And when I don't talk to them I'm being superior? They are all haters, and as they adore me, they envy me. We get inside. A dark wide-crowded space, with glimmering lights of purple, blue and red, sparks, reflecting most shiny dresses. Pop songs blasting out from invisible speakers, and nearly everybody is dancing, while some are making out on couches. Red cups litter all over the tables. Lucian's pathetic side friends call him, and he responds to them, leaving me all alone. I try walking to the bar but with every step I take there's always someone who steps in front of me telling me how beautiful my dress is. Despite the tight crowd I am still noticed. Finally, I get there and sit on a chair at the counter. I order Rum, and in no time the bartender gives it to me. As I sip from it, I look around the hall, everyone looks so happy, as they hop to the song. My hearing drum is either dancing or pushing out from my ears, All I know is I'm not comfortable with the loudness. It's like a teenagers' nightclub, a crazy night. I falter by the moment. Maybe it's because Tracy is not here, I've never been to a party without her. We always come together. If she was here I wouldn't be sitting, because she would have probably dragged me to the dance floor and forced my body to move. After some time, Lucian comes and sits next to me, I can perceive alcohol in his breath. "Why are you sitting here all alone?" He asks and orders a cocktail. Hasn't he had enough already? "Are you seriously asking me that?" He ditched me and he's asking me such. "You should mingle with someone, there are lots of people around Sam," he says, and I look around again and see no one by my standards. "You can not possibly mean that." I sip from my cocktail "Sam, for once just stop being superior. It's just for one night. Or you can come hang out with my friends." I look at his so-called friends sitting in a circle on the left side of the hall, conversing and giggling, and whatever it is they are talking about, can't be good. "I'll pass." "Come on, what's the worst that can happen?" he says it like what happened the last time wasn't worst at all. "Being in a bikini with my pics all over Roosevelt's high school page," I growl. He scratches his head and wraps his hands around his glass cup. "I know...and nothing happened to you, right? I mean you are still you." He's right to be unsure of what he's saying. "I'm not allowed to ride my cars for two weeks Lucian, two whole weeks! And you know my cars are my babies and I miss my babies." I look at him from the corner of my eyes as I sip from my cocktail. He furrows his brows like I'm crazy. But seriously, I love my cars, that's why my mom sees it as an effective way to punish me. Argh! "I should bounce before you say more weird things." He thumbs over his shoulders and tatters to stand up. He toddles to his friends, leaving me alone, again. I don't want to believe he's drunk because he sounds sober, but I know soon he'll be drunk. After a few hours of boredom, I see how drunk Lucian is, and I know he's not in a good shape to drive, don't think he's thinking about going home. I walk up to him, where his ridiculous friends are. A long couch and a single sofa, plastic cups litter all over. girls wrap around Daniel's arms, while Veronica smirks at how drunk Lucian is. "I'm leaving," I say from a distance. He stands up from the chair he was sitting in and staggers to me. His friend's eyes focus on us. Veronica is now frowning at me. While Daniel croaks, enjoying every bit of this. I'm not looking at Xavier, I can't afford to have eye contact with him. "you...you are just so fu-fu...full of yourself," he slurs, with his hands vibrating all over. "Lucian you should stay here, you are in no position to drive." I ignore what he just said, cause I'm more concerned about him. "What are you saying? Are you in any way saying I'm drunk?" He teeters closer to me, and I shift back a little. His breath is awful. "I'm never drunk," he adds. "Okay fine, I have to go then." As I'm about to leave, he pukes on me. "Ugh!" I groan. As if this night couldn't get any worse. Everybody starts laughing at me like they have all been waiting for this to happen, especially his so-called friends, they are the loudest. Daniel and Xavier carry him and lie him down on the long couch close to them. I stand in embarrassment and awkwardness. Hanging out with Lucian makes me squirm. I look around me to see if there's anything I can use to wipe off this mess. I see a hand giving me a small towel, I take it without looking at the face. I wipe the mess off me. I turn to thank the person. Stupefy, it's the so-called Morgan. My heart shockingly skips a beat.