Eyes on the prize

1-Gabriel

The rough surface of the football welcomes my palm as I catch it. Damon and I are playing catch before school starts. Out of nowhere, Sasha Rewstein comes bounding toward us. Damon nudges his chin towards her. "Didn't you guys screw last weekend?" I nod. Apparently she didn't get the message I'm not interested in a relationship. "Gabe baby," she says, trailing her fingernail down my chest. "Did you miss me?"

I sigh. "Look Stacey," I start. "I don't come back for seconds." Her face is pink. No, red. "First of all,  my name is Sasha!" She yells, her caressing finger nail has turned into a dagger. "And secondly, any guy at school would like to be with me!" Her green eyes are watered. Frankly, I don't care. "Go find one then." I say emotionless.

She sashays away, but not before I hear a low  uncontrolled sob emerge from her. "Yikes." Says Damon. "Caught yourself a clingy one.

"Shut up!" I growl. I toss the ball back to Damon and it slips from his hands. "Going soft Damy?" I ask in a falsetto. He doesn't answer. His gaze is fixed on something behind me. Better yet, someone.  I turn around, and stop dead in my tracks. Getting off of a motorbike, is a girl. But not just any girl. Her eyes are blue-grey and so bright I can see them from here. She takes off her helmet, and I swear the world is in slow motion, because her silky black hair swings behind her just like in the movies. She hops off the seat and grabs her backpack. All the guys in the courtyard are staring at her.

I turn back to Damon and he is staring in awe. "What I wouldn't give to get into her pants." He says. The bell rings and everyone moves except me. "Coming bro?" Damon raises his eyebrows.

I nod "in a minute." She was so eye-catching. But no way am I going for her. Damon has his eyes on her and I don't want his hand me downs. I walk into the building and run into Principal Davis. "Kerns. To the office. You're late. He says, and disappears. I walk to the office and she's there. Talking to the front office lady. "And what is your name sweetheart?" Mrs. Handly asks politely. The girl pushes her hair behind her ear. There are at least 5 piercings in it. "Quin Thompson." She replies. Even her voice is seductive. Mrs. Handly hands her a schedule and a highlighted map of the school. Then she turns to me. "Kerns. Tardy again?" I nod. "First period?" She asks. "White." I answer. Quinn huffs under her breath. "Quinn has Mr. White first period too!" Mrs. Handly exclaims.

Quinn rolls her eyes. Wait for it. "Kerns escort Quinn to class please, you guys are in the same class." Mrs. Handly says goodbye to Quinn after I agree. After we leave the office I try small talk. "So what's your story? Where did you move here from?" I ask.

She brushes her hair out of her eyes. "I lived here until eighth grade then I was sent away to boarding school. I was in your class in elementary and middle school." She answers dryly. Way to make me feel like a jackass. "Why haven't I noticed you until now?" I ask. She rolls her eyes again. "Because now I have boobs and an ass." She remarks, hostility in her voice. Then she walks ahead of me and into the classroom. Great job Gabe.

I walk in behind her and she's handing her schedule to Mr. White. I sit down in my usual seat next to Damon. His shoulders are tense, his eyes focused on Quinn. He nudges me. "Why were you with her?" He asks harshly. I shrug "I was late and Mrs. Handly made me walk her here." He visibly relaxes, and I sigh. The only open seat is on the other side of Damon. She reluctantly sits there, pulling her hair over her left shoulder so we can't see her face. Damon clears his throat. "So, what's your name?" He asks, leaning on his arm and obviously flexing his arm. She focuses on his bicep and narrows her eyes. "Quinn." She replies. Damon swallows hard. Is he nervous? "With a body like that, you should be classified as an exotic dancer." He says gruffly. She sharply turns to him. Any other girl would be panting and blushing but she's obviously pissed off. "With a mouth like that, you should be classified as a pervert." She hisses before catching the attention of a nerdy kid a few rows in front. Switch? She mouths with a pout.