Ugly Secrets, Pretty Lies

Twenty

A hand reached over my shoulder and slammed the locker door shut. I barely got my hand out in time. I hiked my backpack up my shoulder and turned around, coming face-to-face with Blake. I blinked rapidly, backing from him until my back hit my locker, the coldness of it seeping into my thin shirt. Great. Way to go, Quinn, getting yourself trapped early in the morning between the arms of a sexy Greek god. 

Hold on, what  did I just say? I need to check myself into a mental facility.

"Hey, Crimson," Blake said, resting one hand on either side of my head and trapping me.

"Hey, stranger," I replied flatly, not looking at him. No emotion at all in my voice. Point to me.

Blake chuckled. "I thought we already settled the fact that I'm not a stranger?"

"When? I don't recall." Actually, I do.

He closed his eyes, then opened them again. "You have a short memory, Crimson. Yesterday during English."

"Ohhh, that time," I said sarcastically, still not meeting his gaze. Probably burning holes in my head already.

He leaned in closer and I draped my body as far back as I could.

"We are in school," I said through gritted teeth. "And I don't care if barely anyone is around. Now get the fuck away from me and let me go to class."

Blake really laughed then. "Crimson, the bell isn't due to ring yet for at least 6 minutes. How badly do you want to get to class?"

"That badly." Gears started turning in my head.

"How?"

"This." I raised my knee, and before he could react, kneed him in the balls as hard as I could. Blake let out a low moan of pain and moved back from me, clutching his family jewels. I stepped away from him and smirked, blowing a rogue strand of dark hair from my face. "Next time, you better do what I say if you value your little friend."

Blake recovered enough to glare at me. He straightened slowly. I turned around and speed-walked away from him, not wanting to face the bad boy's wrath. I fought back a laugh. Bad boy's wrath. Right. One, just get away as fast as possible from him right now. I left him behind, swearing at me at the top of his voice. Gonna be his problem if a teacher comes by and finds him swearing at an innocent girl trying to get away from him. Innocent girl. I snorted and crashed into somebody, stumbling back, my books falling to the floor.

"Whoa, watch where you're going!" someone said.

I straightened myself and glared at the person in front of me, finding myself glaring at a tall boy. A hot boy. 

"You watch where you're going too then! You made me drop my books, bastard!" I bent down, gathering my books up. The boy crouched down too. "What are you doing?!" I said, as he took one of my books from the floor. 

He rolled his eyes, handing the book to me. "Helping you, what else?"

"Okay, thanks. Bye." I snatched the book from his hands and stood up. He stood up too, but didn't leave. He stared at me. "What?" I said, annoyed. 

"Are you always so rude to strangers?" he asked.

"No," I admitted. "But hey, you bumped into me and don't say I was the one who bumped into you. So that gives me every right to be rude." I stared back at him, taking in his wavy mop of blonde hair, piercing eyes, and toned body, his black shirt stretched tight around his body. 

"Done checking me out?" the boy asked, amused. 

Heat creeped up to my cheeks as I looked back to his face. "I wasn't checking you out!"

"Sure," he says, dragging out the word. "Who are you anyway?"

"No, who are you?" I said. "I've never seen you around before."

"If you must know, I just transferred here yesterday so I'm new and I'm starting today. My name's Thomas Daire."

"Hello, Thomas," I said. Can't help but say his name's just as hot as him. God, I really do need to get myself check. What's wrong with me lately?

"And you are?" Thomas inquired.

"Quinn Campbell," I answered.

"Nice to meet you, Quinn." Thomas grinned, offering me his hand. 

I arched one eyebrow. "My arms are rather full at the moment so even if I wanted to shake your hand, which I don't, I can't."

Thomas drew his hand back and laughed. "Blunt, aren't you? I like that in a girl." He winked at me, a strand of hair falling into his eyes. 

I tried my hardest not to blush, which is pretty hard right now. "Right. Well if you're done, you best get to homeroom. Bell should ring any second now," I mumbled, avoiding looking at him. 

He nodded absentmindedly. "Can you show me to homeroom?"

"Depends if we have the same one. Whose your teacher?" 

"Mrs. Penn."

"So we have the same one. I'll show you to homeroom."

"Fingers cross we have at least one same class," Thomas said, flashing me an award-winning smile as we started walking down the hall.

I snorted. "Don't count on it because I certainly won't."

He placed a hand on his chest in mock hurt. "Ouch, chérie, that hurt."

I rolled my eyes, smiling just slightly at what he called me. Normally I would've beaten up the guy who calls me sweetheart, honey, or any of that. But hey, he said it in French and I'm a sucker for anything French-related. 

"You're French?" I asked. 

Thomas nodded, flashing the smile again. "Half. From my father's side."

I wrinkled my nose. "Thomas doesn't sound like a French name."

"My mother named me."

"Oh. Figures." 

We approached a door with Mrs. Penn's name on it. I pushed open the door and went in, motioning for Thomas to follow. He did. 

"Sit anywhere. But don't sit next to me," I told him, walking to my usual seat; last row, the seat 2 seats away from the middle seat. 

Thomas raised his eyebrows but said nothing. Point for him. He slid into an empty seat a few seats diagonal from me and leaned back. I sat down in my seat just as the bell rang and students came pouring in. I didn't catch a ride with Lily and Harper this morning and they knew since I texted them this morning. I wanted to walk; it clears my mind. Harper walked in, followed by Lily. Thank God we're in the same homeroom if not all the same classes. And then the devil walked in, flashing his signature smirk at me. 

*

Hello, my lovelies! A new guy's in town! *smiles slyly* 

Drama, I just love drama! Okay, not really, but I sort of like writing it. Hehe. 

Anyways, enjoy!

- Hollis