sweet tooth s.p

11

         I kept thinking about what Cheryl said. I had denied any Serpent liking me but she had rolled her eyes.

"You didn't hear what he said in the hallway to Reggie. He likes you." Cheryl had quickly gotten out of the car.

"Try to be nice to them, Cheryl." I couldn't help but yell to her. She gave me a slow nod.

As the sky grew darker I was still surrounded by homework. I started at my writing paper and added to it.

     Love is a complete obsession. You get wrapped up in the quest of wanting them to want you. To notice you, to validate you. To want you the way you want them.

I stared sadly at the paper, annoyed that he was even interrupting my writing. My black sketchbook was thrown on the floor once I entered my bedroom earlier. What game was he trying to play?

By 9:30 it was dark out so I headed to Reggie's fully prepared to ask him what Sweet Pea had said to him.

"Hey there, Vi." Reggie smiled as he got into the passenger seat of the Mustang. I tried to smile at him but it was full of nerves.

We drove with our playlist blaring, I was more relaxed by the time we got to the quarry. Basically running to the spot by the water with Reggie.

We threw down the blanket trying to flatten it out, "I swear every time you touch it you ruin it!"

Reggie laughed at my control freak ways as he finally gave up and laid across it. He stared up at the sky while I crawled over to him.

We laid silent for a moment just staring into the bright sky.

"Ash?" His voice was quiet, the tone made me turn to him in concern.

"Are you fucking that Serpent?" I couldn't help but frown at him.

"What? No." Reggie gave me a small smile of relief before nodding slowly.

"Just seems like you got a crush on his Southside ass." I couldn't bring my eyes away from his profile. Angry and embarrassed.

"Reggie, don't call him that. I'll leave you here." I was being serious, I hated when he insulted the Serpents. He laughed a little.

"Why not? He calls you worse." I frowned and sat up to look at him.

"What are you talking about, Reggie?" He smiled up at her.

"Seriously? Nobodies told you? He's always saying you're easy, a bitch, freak, you name it and he's said it." Reggie puts on a sympathetic face as I feel as if my heart was ripped from my chest.

I just stared at him. My heart was beating hard and I couldn't help but feel like I was going to cry. Why would Sweet Pea say that? We hadn't slept together? I hadn't been anything but nice to him and his friends.