𝚃𝚘𝚛𝚗- ᑕ0ᗰᑭᒪᗴ丅ᗴ

ch 5: sunny

I had to get away from Nate after lunch; I couldn't believe he had been so mean to Mitch.

As I sat in one of the rows of computers in my Media Immersion class, I shrank in my seat a bit, seeing Tristan walk in.

He was talking to the teacher for a moment before they both headed for a shelf.

Two of the girls in the row in front of me started talking, swooning over how cute they thought Tristan was.

"That's him! That's Karl O'Connell's son."

"Who's Karl O'Connell?"

"Are you dense?! He's only one of the best receivers in the country. He just got traded to the Patriots."

The girls were silent for a moment, probably watching as Tristan left the classroom, taking whatever he needed with him.

"Okay... dibs. He is way too hot."

"Wait-- I just looked it up. Jordan Prescott and Karl O'Connell were traded as a tandem together...?"

"Whatever that means."

"Prescott... Isn't there a new girl in second period named Prescott?"

I rolled my eyes after hearing myself become the topic of conversation, realizing these girls had no idea I was in the row right behind them.

"Who cares? She's probably a bitch. Like-- just because your mom got knocked up by a football player, doesn't make you special."

I was just about to check this girl when the guy seated next to me spoke up.

"Lyssa, just shut up."

Both girls scoffed then turned around, shocked to see me sitting next to the guy that had just called one of them out.

"Just because someone's here that's more interesting than you doesn't give you the right to tear them down."

"Whatever, Casey. Nobody was talking to you anyway."

As the two girls turned back around in their seats, I looked over with a small smile on my face, tucking my hair behind my ear.

"Thanks... Casey, right?"

"Yeah... and it's no worries. Those two have been mean girls since the fourth grade."

Casey nodded towards the two blondes in front of me and I could only imagine what growing up with them must've been like.

"Must've sucked..."

✨

Casey was actually really cool. We talked a little more in class and then on the way to our next class, which we had together.

"So, how are you liking Bristol High so far?"

I shrugged while giving him an awkward smile.

"I don't know. I mean... aside from girls like Lyssa and Jazzie... it's been... okay, I guess...?"

"Just okay?"

"Well, I know it's only been like-- three days--but it's been way easier for my brothers to adjust here."

Casey stopped in his tracks, and his eyebrows were knit together when I looked back at him.

"Wait-- your brothers?"

"Well-- okay, not technically. But, I've known Tristan and Nathan since basically forever."

We continued our walk to our next class and as I kept stealing glances of Casey, I noticed the weird look on his face hadn't gone away.

"Everything okay?"

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just... The O'Connell's-- they're like your brothers?"

"Yeah."

"Hmm."

This time I was the one who stopped. I gave Casey a confused smile as I yanked his arm back gently.

"What?"

It seemed like he was avoiding my eyes; he was looking over my shoulders, down the hall... anywhere but at me.

"Casey, what is it?"

Once he sighed, he finally looked at me, a weird look of shame and embarrassment on his face.

"I know you say they're like you're brothers, but that's not what I've heard about either of them."

"What do you mean?"

"Word on the street is... they're both telling guys to stay away from you. Apparently, you're off-limits."

🖤