Changing Me

Chapter four

Today in English we just went over the same thing as yesterday, this time with double the notes. I was unable to talk to Wesley even a little, having gotten to class late.

Now the cafeteria is buzzing with the daily gossip and pointless drama these people create in their heads, while my head is buzzing with thoughts I'd love to get rid of.

Then there's my table. My little band of friends who everyone tries to sit with, but we're so tight it feels impossible to let anyone in. I'm blessed to have them. I would love to tell them what's going on with me right now, but for whatever reason, this is the one thing I'd like to keep to myself.

"What's good my bitches?" I say as I set my tray down and take a seat next to Anna and Sadie.

"Nothing. We're all talking about who to bring to the party. Our dates for the night." says Anna and they all shoot her a look.

I used to have a boyfriend. His name was Scott Maclinton, and he was a royal dick. He treated me like shit every time we were together, and I found out he was sleeping with my whole team. During the indoor season I played volleyball. Now that we had our last game about a month ago, I'm thankful to be away from that group of assholes. They're all seniors. I was the only junior that made the varsity team, so it'll be a fresh start next year when they're all gone.

I broke up with Scott a year ago. He's banging some other chick now. He always wanted in my pants, but I always kept my legs closed because I thought he would be too rough with me. This pissed him off. He ordered me to give him shit like hand jobs and have me let him feel my boobs and that was the last straw. I broke up with him a day after his requests.

My group knows this is a touchy subject for me, and the idea of dates is rarely brought up.

"You should bring that guy you're talking to, Anika. What's his name, Wesley?" suggests Sadie, and the rest of the group nods their heads with the exception of Tanner who looks like he hates the idea.

"Why would you let her invite that dweeb?" he asks, turning around to look at him and giving him a dirty look. Thankfully, Wesley doesn't see.

"You are such an asshole Tanner." I say. I feel myself starting to boil with anger. "Every single person who is different from you is automatically uncool or a 'dweeb'. Grow the hell up. You don't even know him."

My short fuse soon simmers down, and then I realize just how defensive I sounded. I sigh loudly, feeling like this is just another small thing added to the long list of shitty things going on right now.

The whole table turns their heads to look at me with eyes wide with shock. Normally I love attention, but not when it's gained by my own stupidity.

Sadie soon starts giggling and so does Anna. Jacob hates conflict so he nervously eats his fries in silence like he always does.

"Sorry Anika. I didn't mean to be a dick. You should invite him." he says quietly. I rarely yell. At everyone else in the world, but never at my friends. When I do, that's when they know I'm serious. This time it shocked me because I didn't know I was serious about this subject. About Wesley. I mean, I've only known the guy a few days.

"I'll go invite him now." I say feeling my heart race in my chest. I get up and start heading over to his table, my hands shaking as I do. I don't know what's wrong with me lately.  Everything has just been throwing me off. I'm not myself.

"Hey." I say and he looks up at me from his phone, his face turning a light pink.

"Hi."

"Look, all of my friends are watching us right now so just be cool. I'm inviting you to a party next week. It's at Sadie's house and we all want you to go. Say you'll go so I won't look like an idiot for inviting you ok?" I say all in one breath. He looks scared to death, but he nods.

"I'll go if you want me to."

"You will?" I say, a smile forming on my face.

"What time?" he asks and I can see him becoming more nervous by the second.

"6:00pm next Saturday."

"You'll have to pick me up from somewhere if you don't mind."

"Like where?" I ask him and he sighs. I can see his fingers start to shake and he balls his fists up in his lap.

"I'll give you the address. You gave me your number last night for the project thing. I'll just text you then." he says as he looks down at his food.

"You don't do drugs right?" I ask him and he starts to laugh as he looks me in the eyes with an eyebrow raised. The look that suits him so well.

"No Anika. It's not drugs." he says drawing out the no. My name coming out of his mouth so smoothly, making my stomach flutter for reasons I don't exactly understand.

"Ok I'll talk to you later then." he nods once before I go back to my table and all eyes are on me.

"He said yes."

"That was a long time for just a question." says Jacob with a little bit of a grin. He may be quiet, but he sure likes to stir the pot. Loves to start it, but when shit starts to go down, suddenly he's back to being quiet.

"Yeah? I didn't notice." I say, playing dumb as I continue to eat the rest of my food.

~

I walk through the doors of my house and head upstairs to my room.

Inside I'm faced with my bed, that's not made, and a big window behind it covering about a third of my wall in the center. I always liked my room. It's a nice open space. I don't have a lot of stuff besides clothes and volleyballs for days in a net bag in the corner.

I plop down on my bed and look up at my ceiling trying to figure out the last four days of my life.

Wesley.

He's something else. I don't think I've ever met someone like him before. He's different. I think I like that about him, but sometimes I can't tell. He's very confusing to me.

My phone buzzes, interrupting my thoughts, and my heart skips a beat when his name pops up on my phone, an address under his name on my lock screen.

~

Please don't forget to vote and share this with your friends!!

Next chapter, secrets are revealed!!!