Exposing Cody

Unwanted Attention

Chapter 4
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" Grace?" I hear a distant voice calling my name out of the darkness. I try to recognise it yet I fail inevitably. " Grace?!" I hear the voice again, calling out to me with more urgency than the last time. I try to lend my ear to it but am unable to. "Ms. Jones?" I hear a deeper voice than before summoning me. I flinch a bit realising the fading of the darkness.

"Ms. Jones!?!" "Yes!" I shout waking up from a nap I wasn't supposed to be taking, especially in the English class. I see Mr. Rudd standing in front of me with a book in his hand as he waits for an explanation. I stand in shock of the blunder I've committed, unable to believe how I could end up doing this.

" Where is your text book Ms. Holland's?" he asks me shooting a glare. I gulp as my eyes search for the book on my desk. I find none. I look up at him, definitely terrified to my bones now. He shakes his head in disappointment. Suddenly the bell goes off marking the end of the class. A slow feeling of relief spread across my mind. Mr. Rudd speaks again " You are a good student. I presume this was unintentional. Henceforth if such actions are repeated, you will be in for harsh consequences.". He leaves me with a threat. I finally exhale the breath I'd been holding for so long.

I was nervous of what he'd say but he left me insulted in an indirect way. I dent on my reputation and I'm tearing apart already. " Dude control. I know you feeling sleepy and all but hey! Learn control from me" Stellar remarked while walking down the corridor to our next class. "I told you I'm not good with late night food escapades" I grumble, definitely not happy with a start like that. "You're such a fuss. If this ain't meaning life to you, you need a new dictionary" she replies fixing her black jacket. I am too tired to answer back. So I let the topic go. In my defence I wouldn't have slept in class if Jake hadn't bought us KFC to celebrate Dylan's victory and insisted to enjoy that in the late night hours with a final destination movie-thon.

I fiddle with my notebook when Stellar suggests we play a game. Let's play never have you ever "she says in amusement." You sure? You said you hated that game " I say still fiddling with a pencil now, sketching on the desk." This ain't the one I said I hated. This is 'Never have you ever'. Each one of us will guess what the other has never done one thing ever and if we guess right, the other one has to do it and if we're wrong, we drink" Stellar explains the game looking at me expectantly. "And what do we drink exactly?" I ask finally looking up from my table. "Horse pee". I almost drop my pencil at her vague announcement. She chuckles hard patting my back. "Dude! Oh... God... Your face!" she says in between those high pitched laughs. " Don't you utter such phrases Turner " I grumble. "Well, water should do. You don't wanna be high this early" she says stating the obvious. I sigh and nod in agreement to the game.

"I start. Never have you ever.....Yes. Never have you ever even dyed your hair" Stellar announces. I take a deep breath trying to build suspense, though I fail, and I finally reveal " Yes. You're right". " So........" she hints the idea of the rules. " NO!" I declare loud and clear. "But it's the rule!" she protests as I refuse to listen. "If you don't do it I'll do it in your sleep" she says with a sinister smile. I remember she once did my eye-makeup when I was asleep because I refused to do so one night out. It's better to do myself I think. So I let out a sigh and agree to dye my hair. "Pink it is then!" she says triumphantly. " I agreed to dye. Not die. I'll do a closer shade my naturals" I reply. She pouts but well nothing will make me dye my hair pink.

I plan my debut guess, thinking of the things she possibly couldn't have done as far as I've known her. "Dude, which era did you traverse to?!" she mocks while chewing some gum. "Never have you ever asked a girl out" I say flashing a sinister smile. She stares at me with round eyes popping out. "I am right, ain't I?" I ask elbowing her. She looks away and slips the word out "Yes". "So........" I imitate what she did on my turn. "Fine! I'll ask Aubrey out" she declares. I give a satisfied smile enjoying my victory. "Don't you rejoice Grace Jones, I have the zenith of difficulty coming up for you" Stellar said slyly stressing on the word 'zenith'. I laugh "You do know that word isn't used that way". " Whatever dude, your worst nightmare is coming up." she continues turning herself towards me. I tense a bit at her words. That tone and those words are very known. She has like a nuclear bomb up her sleeves if she ever talks like that. "Never have you ever kissed a guy, ever!" she revealed her ace.

I stare at her not believing she actually said that. She is right. I never kissed a guy before. I never kissed in my whole damn life. And now that she is using it in this game, its obvious she is proposing I do that, as per the game suggests. And Stellar is very strict about games and rules. "I know I'm right. Just pick a guy already" she says throwing up a sass which was exactly on point. "I can't do this. I'm sorry" I say in a serious tone. Not even as a joke or dare will I ever do anything like this. I am not going to kiss randomly anyone just for the sake of proving I'm not weak or vanilla. " What do you mean not? You are doing this." Stellar insisted. " No. Stellar, I've never turned you down. But this ; You have to let this go." I demand more than appeal. " Dude this isn't a negotiation" she tries to convince me but I stick to my ground replying " Exactly. This is my decision. And it's not happening".

" What do you me—.." Stellar is interrupted by someone else. " Grace, can I just steal you for a sec?" I look up to see Noah stand next to our desks looking back at me. " What the he—" Stellar is again interrupted by Noah as he says " Cool it down angry bird I just want to talk to her". " FIRST OF ALL STOP INTERRUPTING ME YOU STUPID BRAT PUNK!!!" Stellar loses her cool as she yells at him drawing some attention. Noah gives her a momentary silence followed by a annoyed look. He speaks up again shaking his head " So as I was saying, can you just stand up once ". I eye him with suspicion knowing he's having some ulterior motives. He is always having some cynical mind work behind every interaction with me. " Look I just need you to stand up" he continues. "No. Just go away" I say tired of being a target of his conspiracies. "I'm not plotting against you Grace. Just stand up".

I decide to end it for once and for all so that he would stop bugging me because people were taking notice of what Mr. Popular-Noah-Carter had anything to do with Socially-awkward-unknown-Grace-Hollands. I stand up and say " Whatever it is just get it out fast" I splutter as he flaunts his typical satisfied smile. Suddenly he leans in which catches me off guard because I'm not very good with such close proximities, especially with him. He whispers in my ears "It's just a dare".

My eyes widen at the sound of that. I know what happens in dares. I know what he is about to do. And before I could react, there he is, bringing his lips to mine. My body grew stiff as I couldn't move. My arms tensed up, unable to push him back. I watch him close the distance between us, kissing me soft, right on my lips, standing in a class full of students. My stomach flutters as I lose control over my eyes and they start to close. He withdraws himself after doing what he came to do. I was already breathing faster than usual. Not that I liked what he did or fantasised about it. He just stole my first kiss in a way I never wanted or thought of. He left with a wink as I stood there, stunned. I could feel all eyes on me.

Of course people were looking at me and thinking of things I don't want to name. By luck I am saved from further embarrassment as our teacher walks right in. I silently sink in my seat still recovering from what happened. I could feel some glares being shot in my direction, mainly by some cheerleaders. Being aware of the damage done and the possible events that'll happen over the next few days at least, I begin to feel uncomfortable. Stellar rubs my back as she speaks up "Don't stress yourself up. We'll get back at that brat and we'll fight anyone who points a finger at you". I just listen. Too much thinking keeps me from responding to her consoling affection. I take deep breaths telling myself that this wasn't a big deal and should definitely not occupy my mind. I look up to focus on the lecture as Madam Cali talks about Heisenberg's principle.

My eyes, by an impulsive urge, trails off to Noah. I catch him looking at me and for the first time, instead of a cocky smirk, I feel the concern his face reflected. His brown eyes gleamed with a hint of guilt and apology. I look away, refusing to succumb to his emotions. He has played me before. He has played me every time. I'm not going to be a fool again. The teacher leaves after a period that feels like an eternity.

The students glance at me as they leave. I hear some of the girls whispering about me and how I was a 'supposed recent interest' of Noah. Such comments makes my blood boil as I struggle to control. I collect my assignment from the teacher's desk and get back to my seat to collect my bag.

Stellar calls me from doorway "Dude hurry up. We gotta get some chicken wings and tenders. I'll even pay, now hurry up." " Where do you even get so much money Turner" I remark earning a smile from her. "Well if it helps, you completed your game task" she suggests with a playful smile. Well at least one thing is off the table now.

After dinner I decide to finish Ms. Cali's assignment so that I can submit it tomorrow. I sit down unloading my backpack when I discover an unknown crumbled piece of paper. Curious, I unfold it to reveal a single word in it.

" Sorry"