Just a Competition

Chapter Three

Jamelyn gathered her books from her locker that she would need for her first set of classes. It wasn't much - a binder and her calculus textbook. She didn't need anything but her computer for the School Newspaper, and she went to her locker before her next two classes and lunch.

As she was walking away from her locker, she made eye contact with the new boy - Hayden - in the hallway although he seemed to dodge her, disappearing into the crowd. 'That was weird' she thought. Almost as weird as when he disappeared the previous day during lunch. She went to talk to Parker for what didn't seem like long, and when she returned, her friends told her he said he had to go to the library. Was she the only one that knew he probably didn't know how to get there?

She almost followed him through the crowd, to check up on him, when Parker appeared out of no where, his arm sliding across her shoulders. She glanced over to him, almost wishing he had chosen any other time than now to swoop in. "Have you thought about what I said?" he asked lightly as she broke the eye contact she had created, staring at the floor, but at the same time making sure not to run into people and get to class.

"I just - Parker we tried this before, and it didn't work for a reason. I just don't know if I want to try again." She wished her class was closer, that she would have a reason to cut the conversation short, but of course she didn't and the bell never rang on time anyways.

"We didn't have a good reason for breaking it off," he whispered, leaning his head down closer to her. She could smell him now, and to her dismay, he smelled amazing. Almost like christmas but at the same time he had the manly scent. "Besides, how do we know it wouldn't work this time if we don't try?"

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "That was cliche Parker." But she did have to admit he had a point. Jamelyn could never go against a well formed point or reasoning. "We can try it out on a date first, going slow, okay?" All she had to do was watch him out of the corner of her eye to know he was now smiling. At least that made her feel better.

"I'll be thinking of something special," he promised before walking away to get to his own classroom. She didn't turn back around to watch him go. That would almost be like submitting to the idea of the two of them together, and she wasn't quite sure she wanted to do that yet or at all.

She made it to her own class just in time when the bell rang, and she took her seat. Ever since her conversation with Parker, she couldn't keep the thought of Hayden out of her head. He kept circling throughout her thoughts, like a planet revolving around the Sun - slow but constant. The way he looked at lunch yesterday when she was watching Parker, sure she had noticed it. Was it disappointment she had seen in his eyes? Was this why he left early?Did she want to find out?

Before lunch, she caught Hayden in the hall, quickening her pace to catch up to him. She wasn't going to let him slip by this time as he had been seeming to do all day, but he was about as easy to catch as a cricket. Besides, they had classes together after lunch and she didn't want things to still be awkward.

"Hey, Hayden!" she called, only being able to see the back of his head, deep brown hair looking tousled, and shifting as he walked. He still didn't turn around so she rushed to get in front of him, gently stopping him with a hand. "Are you trying to hide from me?" she joked lightly with a curve of her lips forming a smile. He smiled back although it was faint. She suddenly got a bit worried that she had said the wrong thing or he was about to confirm that yes, he was trying to hide from her.

"No, just trying to get to the library," he looked forwards as if he planned on continuing to walk. Of course he wouldn't know the library was the other way. This was just an excuse to get away, or perhaps to not have to eat lunch. The way he looked forward, uncertain, almost made her snort. What did he think he was doing? He could have at least gotten his map out that he had yesterday. Where had that went?

"The library is that way," she nodded to the way she had came, still smiling but now from amusement. She watched as he became flustered and looked back the way she had came as well.

"I - uh - I knew that, I was just going to the restrooms." He nodded as he looked around, catching what she already knew. The bathrooms were the way they had come as well, just a little farther down the hallway. When he looked back, his cheeks were noticeably pink. Obviously, he was embarassed. How did it even feel to be completly new to a school and state? She knew he needed a friend, and that she could easily become that friend... but the scholarship. The competition.

        It wasn't just a competition.

"Of course," she nodded, her eyebrows raised. She looked around as if she didn't know if anyone was listening or not before leaning in closer and putting a hand to where it blocked her words from one side of the hallway. "I won't tell anyone you don't know where the library is, as long as you let me show it to you," it was a friendly gesture at the moment, but she didn't know if she wanted to get to know him better. For the competition of course, she needed to get the insights, but would that be too much of a temptation?

        She watched him, waiting for a reaction before she saw him nod slowly, looking either uncomfortable, embarassed, or annoyed. She couldn't decide. "You've really got to stop making me out as this damsel in distress," he joked with a smile which caused one of her own to spread across her face. "I'll have to make all this up to you someday and I've already got a lot to do."

        She rolled her eyes before beginning to walk, motioning for him to follow. If she was going to miss lunch, they could at least get to the library quicker so she could eat hers there. "What fills up your busy schedule?" she teased. Not that she didn't believe that he had a busy schedule, she had just figured with him being new here and all, that he would have a lot of free time on his hands.

"My dad helped sign me up for tutoring some students," he mentioned lightly as if it wasn't too big of a deal. She had tutored students before so it didn't seem like that big of a deal to her either, just a way to earn money. "And I'm volunteering at some places," he seemed cautious, almost as if he didn't know if he wanted to share too much with her or not. She didn't blame him though, she was going to be the same way. Of course the two of them knew who each other were. "I've actually been meaning to ask you if it's possible I could still join any of the after school clubs. You are in alot."

That's right, Luke had cleared that up for him yesterday that she would be some fierce competition, and now he was probably worrying. Great, she didn't need him to worry because then he would work harder and catch up. She needed to get a game plan together, she couldn't keep being so careless around him - letting him meet her friends. What was she thinking? But as she looked back over to him, his long eyelashes and tousled hair made her bite her lip, and when she thought it couldn't get any worse, he looked over to her and she looked off blushing fiercely.

That's right, that's the reason she invited him to lunch and was walking with him to the library right now. What was she doing? What was getting into her?

"You'd have to discuss that with the office," she said finally, clearing her throat. Of course she had most of the captain jobs on the team, but she was slightly worried he would prove to be better and take over. Would her friends that were in the clubs with her let him do that? Probably if he was better than her and good enough to beat all of the other schools out.

As they rounded a corner, they came upon a set of stairs leading up and to a black door. Beside the door there was a sign that explained that this was the library. She pointed up to it, not sure if she should go up there with him or not. Maybe she could salvage some of her lunchtime or go to the school newspaper room. "There it is."

"Thanks," he said quietly, beginning to climb the steps, but looked back when he noticed she wasn't following him.

"I'll give you time to do whatever you were wanting to do," she explained, beginning to turn around not wanting to see his expression after she said that. She didn't know how she would react if he looked disappointed. She didn't need him to look disappointed, it wouldn't be good for her.

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I wrote this pretty quick, but I had to check over it to make sure it made sense and everything. I have been trying to write more, but I keep wanting to read over and revise what I have already wrote lol. Oh, and I'm thinking I will transfer from points of view every chapter so far.
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