A Charming Story

Chapter 2 - Rider: A dog on a leash

The girl with the purple hair nearly flipped out when she heard my voice. Wow, it's like I have superpowers! They don't even have to look at me anymore to completely swoon.

With me and the girl - Brynn was it? - were partnered up, that left two people. Finally, we were done with this writing prompt nonsense. Of all my classes, English was my least favorite. I could read and write just as well as other kids, but writing prompts seemed to be useless. Even if they did have a use to them, we've done one every day for the past three months! I think we have the gist of them down pat.

"Now that you all have your partners, I need you to spend the rest of the class time discussing your opinions on the matter given. This is really quite an easy assignment. Now, you and your partner may have the same opinion, but it doesn't matter. You will begin writing your five page essays tomorrow."

The directions seemed so vague. Whatever, it seemed like the task was fairly easy. Talk about our opinions for the rest of class, get some ideas of where to start the arguments. Though, it must've just been me when I was chill with the assignment, others were already pitching a fit about the length of the essay. Come on people. We are more than capable as sophomores to write a five page essay.

Everyone started shifting around the class, getting to know their partners if they didn't already. When I realized Brynn wasn't headed in my direction yet, I decided to move to the empty seat next to hers. Some kid tried to get me to switch partners with him, but I realized it wasn't a smart move. Ms. Hobson probably wrote down everyone's partners.

"Hello." I chimed as I sat next to Brynn. She looked up at me, apparently she had already started writing out some points for us to make.

"Hey. So let's get straight to it. What is your opin-"

"Wait. I saw you in the hall this morning, didn't I?" It was weird that I asked that aloud. To be honest, I really didn't notice anyone in the halls in the morning. I mean, I made a point to wink at a different girl each day, so I guess I did notice people. But I didn't care to know who I was winking at. Hate to break it to you, ladies, but I don't know any of your names.

"Yeah, you did." She stated bluntly, not looking up from her paper.

"But you were wearing a beanie, right?" I recalled this fact when I looked on top of her book bag and there was a gray beanie.

She looked up, "Yeah. I'm just surprised you remember looking at the girls you wink at each morning. I mean, it must be hard remembering all those girls' faces."

Wow, she caught onto my game pretty quick. Was that sarcasm in her voice? Was she implying something?

"What's your opinion of secrets?" She asked me again. This time she was looking me dead in the eyes, like it was a staring contest.

"I don't usually remember any of the girls I wink at or flirt with. I just remembered yours." Score, Rider, score! I just knew any second she would blush.

"Flattering, but that's not what I was asking you. What's your opin-"

"Wait wait wait. You don't seem to care-"

"If you interrupt me one more time, I will make you do this whole project on your own." Whoa, now she was threatening me? This girl was feisty. Sassy enough to talk back to me took a lot of guts.

Just to show her I surrendered, I threw up my hands, "Okay, no need to put the hard work on me."

She sighed and ran her fingers through her hair, "I can only ask this so many times. What's-"

"My phone number?" I wiggled my eyebrows at her. I could see in her expression she was done with this conversation.

"In my honest opinion I think secrets shouldn't be kept. At all, under any circumstances a secret shouldn't be a secret." I surprise her by my sudden response, but she gives a small grin.

"What if the secret's about you? You're telling me that someone has a secret about you, they tell it to someone else, and then the whole school knows. And what if it's not even true? Sharing secrets can easily turn to gossip, I hope you realize that."

Believe me, I realized that a long time ago. The publicity stunts my brother has pulled has had our family name thrown into the dirt several times. I learned that most of the stuff the magazines spill out is usually lies, and they make the Jackson family look like we keep deep dark secrets.

I don't keep secrets. I'm an open book. The only trick is you have to get to know me first before I go and spill my guts. However, sharing all of this with a girl I just met doesn't seem like my brightest idea.

I tell Brynn, "If somebody's talking about me, they're giving someone else a break. My opinion of secrets still stands. What's your opinion?" I had a feeling I already knew.

"Let's say you sneak out to one of your friend's parties, but your dad told you not to because the paparazzi would murder your precious family name. Indeed the paparazzi get a picture of you at the party but it's your dad you're more worried about. Do you tell him the truth if he sees the picture?"

Her story telling was enriching. The whole time she came up with this imaginary plot I was intrigued. I simply smiled at her, "I would. But I'm not going to keep this a secret from you: I don't sneak out. I'm loyal."

"Loyal like a dog." She mutters.

"On a short leash, I'm afraid." I admit. I don't know what is making me say the things I am to Brynn. It's like telling a thief where to find your wallet.

All of a sudden she smiles, brightly I might add. I must've given her some sort of information, I had to have given my social security number away. She didn't smile at me this morning but now she is?

"I'm glad we're on the same page." She says. I nearly fell out of my chair when she said this. After all that poking and prodding about my view of secrets she agreed with me?

She saw the puzzled look on my face, "Oh, Rider, I just had to make sure you knew your own thoughts. Honestly, it doesn't seem like there's a lot going on upstairs for you."

Cue the Peanut Gallery: DANG!

I couldn't help it, I started to stutter, "You, you've got, uh, a lot of nerve speaking to me like.. that!" So much for being intimidating and assertive. She had already started writing more notes on what to write. Was she even affected by my outburst? Yeah, I wouldn't have been either.

"I could make your life-"

"Miserable?" She interjected before I could finish. Though you'd think she'd be scared of even the threat of a Jackson making her life miserable - I really could do it - she doesn't even flinch.

"Too late, Rider Jackson. Someone has already filled that job." She stands up just as the bell rings, having already packed up all her things.

For once in my life, I'm speechless. Who was she talking about? Either way, I've got to get my things together and head to French class.

Quelle est cette fille faisant de ma tête?

A/N

Translation to the French: "What is this girl doing to my head?"
:)

[Rider pictured above]