Jake didn’t force himself on me. We used to meet at dining tables and stuff, but he avoided any form of intimacy with me. He greeted me with a half-hearted smile, but that was it. We didn’t talk much except the unavoidable hello’s and see ya’s.
I spent the weekend settling down in my new dream house. Jane helped me move in, though I didn’t have much stuff to settle down. I borrowed some money from mom and used some of the money I had saved all these summer vacations by babysitting and car washing. It wasn’t plenty, yet it was decent enough to get me admission into high school. My good grades from all these years helped me even get a partial scholarship. Jake was a year senior to me, but Jane had it all figured out. She specifically insisted on us having classes together and through her irresistible charisma, was able to get us classes on the same floor mostly and even got us physical education together. I didn’t appreciate it much, but I knew running away from Jake wouldn’t help.
Finally the first day of high school came. I dreaded it. Being the new girl, already linked up with the hottie Jake, being part of all the drama- rumors had been everywhere. But the thing I dreaded the most was Stacy. High school was her native wild jungle where she controlled every leaf. I knew she wouldn’t leave me easy. She was like a wounded tigress, prowling for revenge. But this mouse wasn’t going to give in.
The alarm buzzed the third time. 7:00. Sh*t I was late. Last night I had spent way too much time over thinking. I ran to the washroom, took a quick bath, slipped on a pair of jeans and shirt and ran to the door.
“Don’t tell me you’re going to wear that to school.” Jane’s voice tinkled from behind.
“Shut up.” I yelled.
“Wait. Jake will drop you.”
I froze. That was the thing I’d been avoiding all morning. That was the reason I wanted to leave early. Being alone in the car with Jake would be too awkward. I turned back. Jake looked nervous too. He avoided any kind of eye contact. But boy, was he looking hot. I’d have to work real hard to save him from other beasts of the jungle.
“I’ll just get the keys.” He said under his breath. The air finally relaxed when he left the room. Jane said to me teasingly, “Don’t lose the opportunity. Talk it all out. And better watch out for Stacy. She’s too powerful in there.”
Jake went past us towards the door. I quietly followed him. He brought out his red Mercedes and opened the door for me. I went inside. In a second, he sat by my side. He quietly turned up the radio. It was playing the same song we first danced too. I blushed with the memory. He noticed it too, and turned it off again.
“No, please don’t turn it off. It’s my favorite song ever since……” I paused. I couldn’t seem to get the words out of my mouth. Tears started rolling down my cheeks. I wiped them but they didn’t seem to stop. Damn. Finally the wall I had been building up gave in. I lost all my self control and broke into hysterical tears.
“Hey, hey you….are you okay?” He came closer and hugged me.
“I’m so sorry. I was wrong. I should’ve sorted it out. I was lying to myself all this while………” He placed his finger on my lips.
“Ssssshh….I love you.” He whispered into my ear.
I’d been dying to hear those three words. He came closer and kissed me passionately. It was the longest we’d ever shared. Finally, when he retreated, I said, “I love you too.”
“I know that.” He chuckled. “I was just waiting for you to admit it.”
“You knew it? I hate you so much for this.”
“You really thing you can hate me?”
“No.” I blushed, knowing we were inseparable. I couldn’t imagine a world without Jake. He was the light of my heart.
Finally we reached Beverly High School. It was like my previous school-nerds, jerks, plastics, nobodys, royalty-everyone seemed to be labeled here. As Jake opened the door for me, every eye rested upon me. Some were awed; some were shocked but most were jealous. Jake wrapped his arm around my waist, carrying me around like a trophy although he was a prize and I was plain invisible.
“You’re gonna be okay?” He asked me, holding my face in his hands before dropping me outside my class.
“Mmm hmm. I hope.” It was all I could say.
As I entered the class, I could hear the classroom roaring with whispers, about me. At least they should’ve the decency to not be audible. “Is she the one?”…..”Don’t know what black magic she has done.”….”How lucky!”…..”So the hottie is finally off the market.”…….”Or maybe they’re brother and sister…..”…..”Heard they are in live-in relationship.”….”She’s pretty too.”……”She cheated on her sister.”……”She’s definitely after his money.” Etc. etc.
I sighed. I had to get used to this murmurs. I took the seat at the extreme end of the class. But that didn’t stop me from being the subject of the gossip.
“Hey so are you the one?”
I looked up uninterestedly. It was a plain-looking girl, with big glasses and curly big brown hair. She was chewing gum and had braces. She looked at me curiously through her big eyes.
“What do you mean?”
“Umm I hope you know what people are talking about you.” She hesitated.
“What? Say it.”
“You’re the boyfriend-stealer,Stacy-wannabe bitch.”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m just Katy.”
“Oh bummer. Hi I’m Jessica. You can call me Jess. I’m the Beverly High Weekly editor. I write the spice gossip column. I know it all. Who’s with who, who broke up- anything you need you can ask me. You’re my topic for this week’s article. So mind if I interview you?”
“Why me?”
“Cause you’re hot. The hallways buzzing with your name. People already hate you for what you did with Stacy. Stealing sister’s boyfriend isn’t cool. But don’t worry, some worship you too. After all, you outran The Queen bitch Stacy. Overall, you’re the newbee queen. You already have a fan page and a hate page too. Check it out sometime.”
“And I guess that’s what you’re column's title gonna be- boyfriend-stealer,Stacy-wannabe bitch.”
“Not exactly, but pretty much. Sorry babe, but I only write what sells.” She admitted nervously.
I gave her a disgusted look. “Sorry, my life’s pretty personal. So back off.”
“Please don’t do this. You’re my big story. Please. Tell me all about yourself. I promise I’m gonna make you look good.”
“I don’t care.”
I got up and left the room, nearly breaking into the tears. I hid in the bathroom for the rest of the day. I couldn’t go out and face them all.
