The Popularity Project.

Chapter 1 : Jocks Take a Hit.

Alex looks up at the scoreboard. There is only 7 Seconds left and he has the championship trophy in his hands. He calls his team in for a huddle. As he looks around at his players he says, "Okay! We've made it this far are we going to let them take that trophy without a fight?" The grunts and snarles of his teammates games him the answer he was looking for.

As Alex explained the play, his team was ready. They broke and went to the starting line.

"Blue forty-two! Green sixty-nine!" Alex had to shout louder than usual over the roar of the crowd. This was it the big game. College scouts were here. He couldn't screw this up. This was the big time and he was in no position to be overconfident. He's lost it all before. He can't disappoint everyone again...

Pulled out of his own thoughts, he yelled "Hike!" And awaited the ball. It hits his hands and he started looking for open teammates. Searching up and down the field.

Bam! It hit him. The other teams defensive end broke through the line and came barreling at Alex. His head hits the ground and the impact is unbearable...

Alex jerks up from his bed. "It was all just a dream. Just a dream. That's not what was going to happen. The game will be a victory." He felt that if he told himself this enough, then the universe would have no choice but to make it happen.

Getting ready for his first day back at West Valley High School, he stood in his boxers at his closet searching. He pulls out the safest choice he could. Slightly ripped dark wash jeans with a nice cotton white shirt. Going to the mirror, he stylishly messes up his honey brown hair and looks into his own green eyes as if he could somehow convince himself that this day was going to be ohkay.

Nothing ever seemed to go Alex's way. When he was born he was put up for adoption. He was adopted when he was twelve. His friends used that as a weak spot. 'Friendly joking' can still hurt. Alex was torn apart more than he led on.

But today he couldn't think about any of that. He had to focus. It was the first day back to school, his friends and Jessica were waiting for his arrival.

A quick goodbye to his foster mom and he was out of there. Hopping into his mustang, he drove to school.

As soon as he reached the place it was a zoo. Everyone trying to catch up from over summer break, and hoping to make this year memorable. That's exactly what Alex had to do anyway. Win a football championship, breeze through a basketball tournament, and hit a home-run in every single game this season. It's not like its all that much...

That's when he saw his group of friends. Kevin Hoodle and Carmon Sage hadn't changed a bit over the break. Checking out every girl that walked by. But they were his friends and that was something he got used to after a while. Except when it was his girl.

At that moment Jessica Marie Dawson walked across the court yard. Both boys turned there heads to check out what had everyone staring. With a over the summer boob job, her new double D's were snug in her very low cut black shirt and purple cami. Jessica's jean shorts were practically up her ass and people around loved the sight. She was 5'3 but with those res hot stilettos, She got to an absolutely flawless 5'7. Who wouldn't stare?

Alex couldn't believe her. Once again he doubted that this was even worth it. His girlfriend always did this. Trying to act like she was better in more ways than one and then becoming this. Sucking it up and forcing a smile he walked over to his girl.

"Hey there handsome. Where the hell have you been! You haven't answered my calls or texts for the past week! You better have a good reason." Now she said this with a teasing tone but immediately, Alex's stomach turned.

While he had no valid reason other than sheer fact of not wanting to talk to her, he just made up some lame excuse of helping his sister prepare for school.

His group went to go through the doors of the school and Jessica grabbed his hand. Alex's fake smiled must have been believable because Cameron whispered "Dude, didn't ya hear? Jessica's having a party tonight and she said you guys are gonna hook up!"

In his shock at what his friend had told him, he bumped into a girl and all her books and papers flew into the air. "Are you fucking kidding me!" It was the voice of Liz Werner. She was the emo who never associated with people of the higher ranks and certainly not the Alex Wilks of the world.

Alex had only seen Liz in the halls. He never talked to her, especially because of who she was and what she does. Black long sleeves all year round wasn't really practical and on top of that he didn't want to associate with someone who has hundreds of cuts on every inch of her body.

The only thing that Alex could think of is "I.... My... Sorry Liz."

"So Mr. Popularity took the time to learn my name?" as she leaned down to pick up her books at the same time Alex did.

"Listen, I'm not the guy that you think." Alex was trying to get her to think more of himself than being a star athlete.

"If I'm wrong, then you haven't done anything to prove it. If you want me to believe, your going to have to show me."

Lizs' books were gathered and Alex "accidentally" dropped his number on top of a few papers. Liz smiled for the first time in so long that it drew attention from others ,around them. That's kinda intense.

"What the fuck was that about!" Jessica was absolutely pissed about Alex paying attention to anyone that wasn't her.

"Just a casual conversation with another rational human being while picking up her books."

"Ya know, sometimes I don't even know who the hell you are," said Jessica.

'I've had that feeling way to much anymore.' Alex thought. Nothing's been right with him ever since ..... The incident. But that was behind him right?

With the beginning of the first day back at West Valley High School, it was starting to look like a ohkay year. Now all he had to do was ditch Jessica. It's not like he hated her but he had his eyes on someone else for quite sometime. You just can't change feelings.