Double Trouble

Bite or Be Bitten

The weekend came to a sudden end and with that so did summer vacation.

The alarm wakes me up at 5:20 am, I rush to the bathroom to take a quick shower and to straighten my brown hair. I decide to wear my skinny jeans, which I roll a little above my ankles for a laid back look, red crop top, and my white converse. I put on a bit of powder on my face, mascara, and gloss. Before heading down stairs I practically knock down Zach's door, a routine of mine since we started driving to school together.

"Damn it, Ronnie, can't anyone sleep in peace in this house anymore?!" He yells as he makes his way to the bathroom.

"Next time I'm not waking you up and then we'll see what happens." I yell back as I head down the stairs.

Mom's cooking can be smelled all through the house which makes my stomach growl. Two stacks of pancakes are sitting on the dining table, there's also orange juice and my favorite: coffee.

"Good morning sweetheart, I hope you're hungry because I went all out this morning," says mom while setting down a plate of bacon on the dining table.

"It smells wonderful" I reply with a warm smile.

Mom has always been a great cook and she's honestly the most amazing person in the world. She's understanding and a hard worker. She's the director at Southern California University which is not too far away from our house. I resemble her an awful lot, except she has short hair and dark brown eyes. She also has smooth white skin while Zach and I inherited our dad's tan skin and hazel eyes.

Tucker tries to grab the bacon off the plate but mom softly bumps him out of the way. I sit down and start munching on the crispy bacon while secretly giving Tucker some too.

Zach and Dad make it to the table just in time and we all have our family breakfast. Dad kisses mom goodbye before turning around and wishing us good luck on our first day as seniors. Dad works at a petroleum plant as a mechanical engineer, it's a pretty great job.

"Come on Ronnie, I'm going to be late for morning practice," says Zach over his shoulder while heading out to the garage.

"Have fun at work mom, see you later!" I kiss her on her cheek and start to head out but she stops me.

"Do you have a ride back home from practice this week ?" She asks me.

"Yeah Mia's brother, Peter, is bringing me home. Track practice ends about the same time as swim so I'll be home at the usual time."

"Alright just making sure, I can always get someone from the university to pick you up if you need me to."

"Nah, it's okay! I can't wait to have my car back tho."

Dad had to take my jeep to the shop to get the breaks fixed and it was to take a whole week.

I rush out to Zach's Land Rover and buckle soon after he pulls out of the driveway.

"We're picking up Steven, his dad is borrowing his truck for the week while he's way in business."

"Oh... Ummm... Cool"

Smooth Ronnie, way to be subtle.

Zach looks over to me with a weird expression, he looks like he's about to ask me something but decides to let it go. He honks his horn when we make it to the Richardson's residence. A mansion, but all of the houses down here look like that. Steven's house is more sophisticated and modern like Mia's, while ours looks more like a Spanish villa.

Steven walks out taking his time to make it to the car. He's wearing jeans and a white v-neck that shows off his muscles rather well. His hair is styled as usual and he looks dreamier than ever, he smirks at me as he catches me staring at him.

STOP WHAT THE HELL RONNIE!

The little voice in my head snaps me out of it.

Once he's settled in the backseat he gives Zach one of those boy greetings whatever that is, knuckle touch swoosh? What? I don't get boys at all.

He messes up my hair before leaning back into his seat.

The ride to school is rather... Well... There aren't words for it. Really, no words. It was dead silent. Zach kept looking between Steven and me at every given chance.

When we got to Rich Wood I quickly said my goodbyes and rushed to my locker to get away from the awkwardness, but that wasn't the case.

As I walked down the hallways to my locker everyone kept staring at me. Girls were whispering to each other and guys kept staring me up and down. I got a few whistles which made me very uncomfortable.

Relief rushed into me when I saw Mia standing by my locker.

"Hey, you ok?" She asks with a hint of worry.

"Yeah I'm fine, why wouldn't I be?"

"You haven't seen it yet?"

"Seen what, Mia?"

She pulls out her phone and opens up a message. Paralyzed I stare at the screen. I didn't know what to do. I couldn't move, I didn't know what to think or say.

It was a picture message. The picture was of Steven and me kissing that night at the bonfire party.

"Who sent this to you?"

"Steven sent it to everyone... That's why I asked how you were holding up."

"So that was why everyone kept looking at me."

Looking around I could still feel the students watching me. My phone vibrates and looking down I see Zach's name.

WHAT THE HELL RONNIE?! WHY DIDNT YOU TELL ME ABOUT THE KISS?! - Zach

I didn't know you where going to find out... - Ronnie

I was waiting for you to tell me on the car ride to school, Steven sent me the message last night. -Zach

And why didn't you warn me about the fact that he sent it to THE ENTIRE SCHOOL so I could've at least mentally prepared myself for this?! -Ronnie

I didn't think of that... Sorry... -Zach

Frustrated I shove my phone back into my pocket before slamming my locker door shut. Mia looks at me with a worried look.

"Steven Richardson is going to pay for this." I say to Mia before storming out to the courtyard where Steven and a couple of the football players stood.

Steven's smile drops when he sees the anger seeping through me.

"HOW COULD YOU?! Who did you get to take that picture?! You freaking perv! Do you have nothing else to do with your life so you decide to ruin mine?!" I scream to him while waving my hands all over the place in exasperation.

"Listen babe, it's just a picture don't get your panties in a wad. Lots of girls would've killed to have been in your position," he replies cooly getting a few "hell yeah man" from the football players.

I was about to say something that involved a lot of cuss words back to him when out of nowhere Daniel steps in front of me in a defensive stance.

"How about you leave Ronnie alone and go chase a ball with your football buddies, Richardson?"

"I think Ronnie is big enough to fight her own battles, Hale."

Both of them have this weird look on their faces. Like they're trying to show off their possession over something, what exactly I'm not sure.

"Let's juts get out of here, Daniel." I grab his hand and start to walk to home room but before I know what I'm doing I let go and turn to Steven. His gaze is on me and he's sporting a winning smile, I lean up to him. His eyes close and his breath hitches. This is perfect. This is it Ronnie. I bring my knee up to his precious jewels and slap him with all of the force that I have in me. I hear the laughter and oo's from the crowd as I take hold of Daniel's hand and walk away without looking back at Steven.