Playing The Player

:Chapter Four:

By the next day, I was thoroughly embarrassed with my reaction. Why was I acting so hyped up about it? Like I had told myself yesterday, it wasn't as though it was the first time it had happened. It also wasn't like I had spent the entire night worrying over how incredibly stupid I had been. I mean, he liked Nina. What was wrong with that?

I sighed as I unlocked my locker after homeroom, and reached for the books that I needed for the day. Drama... English... I glanced at myself in the mirror I had glued onto the other side of the locker door, and almost sighed again when I saw my reflection. I definitely wasn't anywhere as self-obsessed with my looks as Nina, but the sight that had greeted me was definitely not model worthy. I had bags under my eyes, my hair was messily tied up, and to top it all off, my cheeks were a blotchy pale colour. Forcing my lips to pull up in a smile, I smeared some lip gloss on them to add life to my face and reached up to shut my locker.

"Argh-!" I let out a surprised half-shout as it suddenly slammed shut - and I hadn't even touched the grey metal. I looked at my hand in wonder, thinking about the chances that I could have some weird supernatural power. How awesome would it be if I didn't have to lift a finger to do what I wanted to do? I thought dreamily about all the possibilities - maybe I could even lift myself up with just a thought. I would be able to fly! I could even give myself a name. Hayleigh the Amazing? Hayleigh the -

"Hey."

I looked up in surprise, before my lips turned into a scowl as I looked at the person who had obviously shut the locker for me.

It was, of course, Blake. "Why are you scowling at me?"

"I don't know," I said sarcastically, "Why did you crush my dreams of being able to fly?"

He cocked his head. "What are you talking about? Flying? Do I even want to know?"

I glared at him.

"You're so cute," He chuckled.

I continued to glare at him, ignoring the flutter, alright fine, stampede of elephants that decided to make an appearance in my heart when he called me cute.

"Sorry," He quickly corrected himself, looking the slightest bit nervous.

Blake was nervous? His expression was too adorable. Was this boy trying to give me a heart attack?

"So listen, about yesterday," He started, before I interrupted him.

"Look, don't worry about it," I flashed him a friendly smile before hitching my bag up higher and starting to make my way to first period. Blake walked with me, even though I knew he wasn't in the same class as me. "I overreacted. Sorry about that, I just snapped, I guess. I'm not upset or angry or whatever anymore." I gave him another smile.

"Why would you be pissed?"

His simple question was the match that ignited the small pile of wood - bad analogy? A little fire started inside of me. Because you used me to get to my sister? I didn't say that though; it would've sounded rude. "Because," I said slowly, "If you liked Nina, then you should've just asked for her number instead of me. It's not really that hard, you know," I assured him, "She likes people knowing her number."

He didn't say anything, and I looked beside me, to see that his face was completely impassive. "Blake? Are you okay?"

Out of nowhere, he reached out for my arm, and pulled me behind the stairs, so we were alone. I gave him a quizzing look as he stared at me. Starting to feel self conscious, I reached up and touched my cheek. My face didn't look that bad, did it? I mean, yeah, I was a little pale and I had bruise-coloured bags, but that was no reason to stare at me like I looked like I was lifeless! For crying out loud, I had applied lip gloss!