Poison Ivy

2.

I headed straight to the gym doors the next day at school, surprising myself as to how eager I was to see if I made the team. I scanned through the list, feeling my face fall slightly the further I got down and my name was nowhere to be found. Finally, the last name on the list. Tatum Kent. I couldn't decipher where this excitement was coming from. I don't know if it was the fact that I now had a legit excuse to not spend so much time with my grandparents, or if it was because I managed to make a sports team, which is something my family never thought I'd be able to do.

"Congratulations." Said a cold voice. I jumped as I looked to my left and found Leslie leaning against the wall, her arms crossed tightly against her chest. "Practice starts after school today." And with that, she walked away, her heels clicking down the hallway. I couldn't figure her out. Why would Leslie even want me to try out for the cheer team anyway? What does she really want with me?

As soon as I walked into fourth period I went straight to Hannah and told her my good news. "Good for you." She said, uninterested.

My face fell. "You could show some more enthusiasm."

She sighed. "I'm sorry. I just can't help but think this is a bad idea."

"Well, it's too late now. So can you at least pretend to be happy for me?" She gave me a fake smile. "Thanks." I grumbled, walking away to my seat.

Badge was already seated, dressed in his usual black. I thought back to yesterday afternoon when Badge offered me a ride home on his motorcycle. His very fast-looking, dangerous, sleek motorcycle. How it matched his personality so well. What if I had let him take me home? What would it be like with just the two of us alone outside of school? Would it be exciting? Scary? Probably the latter. But the curiosity was there...

I gave myself a mental shake. Badge is bad news. Nothing about him screams safe or good. I have no idea who this guy is. I need to get him out of my head. I knew from enough books and movies that a boy being stuck inside a girl's mind always brings trouble. And trouble was the last thing I needed in my life right now.

I took my seat slowly, still sore from cheer practice. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Badge angle his body so he was facing me. "I always knew you were stiff but..."

I rolled my eyes. "I'm sore." I corrected.

He smirked. "What did you do last night?"

I raised my eyebrow. "Was that supposed to be an innuendo?"

"No, but if you wanna go there then–"

"No. I don't."

"So, you're admitting it then?"

"What?" I scoffed. "No. Grow up."

"Loosen up." He shot back, holding his gaze steady on mine. I never realized how pretty his eyes were. Deep set, black, with long straight eyelashes to go with them. The more I looked into them, the more entranced I became. Like a spell. "What are you thinking?" He asked.

I snapped back out of it. "Nothing." I shook my head, turning my body to face the front of the classroom as Mr. Dmitriyev walked into the room and pulled down the projector screen.

"Take out paper and something to write with. We'll be taking notes."

The class groaned as the room was filled with the sound of pens clicking and book bags zipping open and close. My notebook was already placed on my table. I flipped open to an empty page, and wrote the headline that was displayed on the projector screen; Japan. I was thankful that class had started. Badge had a way of making me lose my cool, and I know he was doing it for his own satisfaction. Whatever sick satisfaction he got from it, I'm glad it was spoiled.