Goals

FOUR ~ He Plays the Blame Game

I walked slowly to my locker, my torn up books in my hands. The day started off fine, me trying to act natural around Jooheon. I tried to resist the urge to speak to him. To look at him, even. Until seventh period, I was using my brother's old books. And then, my own books turned up. Wet.

I could tell at first glance they were terribly treated, drenched in toilet water. I stared at them until my eyes blurred, and the bell for class rang.

"You like the little present I left you?"

Jooheon was standing comfortably leaning against a locker. "Why did you do this?" I asked, staring at the books.

"You don't understand what I meant by act natural, do you?"

"I didn't know you would do this," I mumbled. "I thought you'd like, just hit me or something."

"Well you thought wrong, princess," he said. "The boys expect something's going on because I haven't been tormenting you enough today."

"That's not my fault!" I protested. He looked at me with such an intense gaze, my feet started to quiver.

"Wrong move, Princess." I couldn't process what he said before he pinned me to my locker with his body. His arms were nowhere near me.

"What are you doing?" I started panicking.

"You seriously don't know how this works, do you?" he said. "I win everything. You're a stepping stone for me to get further up the food chain." His two fingers found a spot on my cheek and pushed my face forcefully back to look at me. "You know, Shownu, Wonho and Minhyuk are graduating this year. By then, I'll have all the power in school. Sure, there's only Changkyun left in my gang, but let's face it. He's a freshman. I'm going to be a senior. I mean like, who would you choose as a boyfriend, huh?"

I looked down at the nonexistent space between us. His chest looked so firm and hard.

"When I ask a non-rhetorical question," he squared his way even closer and bent down so his face was at level with mine, "I expect one to answer. It."

"Y-you." He nodded in satisfaction at my answer.

"Thought so." He finally released me, and I breathed heavily from the sudden loss of contact. He hesitated for a moment, and looked down at his hand. He kissed his fingertips and blew the kiss to me. "Enjoy it, Princess."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I took my wet books with me home, and air-dried them. I found out that they were shoved into a toilet, and flushed. It was disgusting and the pages would be terribly spoilt, but what else could I do?

"Summer," mom called from the kitchen. "You like your dance classes, don't you?"

I was a little hesitant at first, because after what happened today with Jooheon, I wasn't too sure if I wanted to see him all that much.

But let's face it. Of course I couldn't stay away from him.

"I guess," I said, sitting on a stool at the island in the middle of the kitchen. "Why? Is there something wrong?"

"Your dance instructor suggested you come for another class a week. Maybe three, if you want. He's looking for a student to fill his time," mom said. "The good thing is, he's not charging us extra. So what do you say?"

"No."

"Summer! It's a free dance lesson. Free. Do you know how many free dance classes you can get in a lifetime? The chances are one in a million," she said.

"I think you're exaggerating a little, mom," I mumbled. "But if you really want me to go, then I will. But Flora's coming with me."

"Flora?" mom asked, totally bewildered. "I think Flora's a little interested in ballet, honey not the type of dancing you're learning."