Don't Catch Me!

Chapter 1 - Unannounced Arrival

Chapter 1 - Unannounced Arrival

It wasn't even the first day of term. It wasn't even the first day of the week.

There he was.

He was just there.

Like an uninvited guest in the back of the classroom. An extra student. Without an announcement from the teacher, without the fanfare from the administration, he just arrived. No introductions, just there, in the back of the science lab, like he belonged there.

Weird.

I noticed him. I elbowed Elise. She was half asleep on the lab bench trying to avoid recognition, a theme she had adopted since she had discovered that being enrolled in Biology wasn't 'cool'. Needless to say, this attitude of hers wasn't aiding her grades or her social standing. But that was Elise.

I instantly regretted my elbowing. Elise might find him more interesting than I really wanted her to find him. After all, she was blonde and well endowed with all the attributes that sold glossy magazines.

"Fran, this better be worth it. I was reliving my vacation in Angelés-sur-Mer" she said with an atrocious attempt at a French accent. Even I cringed.

I fumbled my pencil as I tried to avoid her probing eyes. No. I gave in. I always gave in.

"New boy back bench," I mumbled in the hope she would write him off as a nerd and not even bother to pick her head off the desk.

Alas. She looked and that was it. She was interested. And well she should be. He was gorgeous. His hair was brown. No, not brown, but chocolate - in a variety of cocoa intensities - dark to milk. It hung at angles and at odd lengths, almost like he had left it to his little sister to play hairdresser and had been content with the aftermath. Yes, he emitted that arrogant confidence that meant he could do whatever and wear anything and still look unbelievable.

Yep, Elise was sitting bolt upright, really looking now, searching for the fine details, looking for the imperfections. I glanced shyly over to him. He lifted his head up from his examination of the graffiti on the table, the soft curl of a smile disappeared as his eyes flicked between us. This face dropped in what looked like surprise but quickly recovered to take on a hard edge. His eyes were the perfect blue to contrast with the browns of his tresses and his face was strong with all its features perfectly proportioned and aligned. He was handsome. He was more than handsome. He was hot.

Damn. Why did I have to go and draw her attention to him? But then again it was only a matter of time before she noticed him. Before they all noticed him.

Why was he here, this new boy? Why was he not introduced?

Weird.

Nothing happened at Links Park High School without an announcement from the establishment, that was just the way things worked.

He obviously was skilled enough to fly in under the radar. Cool. That just made him more elusive, more dangerous, more notorious and therefore more desirable. Elise was clearly coming to the same conclusion as her lips curled into a sly smile, she dropped one shoulder and flicked her hair. Here we go, I sighed, I'd seen it all before and knew where this would end.

I slumped to the desk. If Elise was interested then there was not a chance in hell that I would be a contender for his attention. After all, how could I compete with Elise? And if Elise was looking, it stood to reason that Jessica, Elle, and Heather would also be keen to be up close and personal with him, whoever he was.

Elise was my friend. We had been friends since we were flat chested and gangly. It was just that when these characteristics changed for Elise so did her priorities. She developed breasts and attitude at the same rate. She was still my friend but she aspired for more and I was disposable if someone cooler came by. It was just the way it was.