The Romantic Gamble (REWRITING!)

Chapter 1- The Caste System

Love comes with a class system, at least according to Norma. Even physical attraction has a rigid caste structure.  

Compared to the Hindu status quo, there are five estates that one could be categorized in. At the top are the highest of rank and less availability are the priests and priestesses. Superior to everyone below them, persons in this category are undeniably handsome and beautiful but also entirely vain. Their bodies, muscular or curvaceous, are worshipped like temples not only by others but by themselves usually paying an impressive sum of money on treatments, surgeries, creams, and lotions in order to keep the holy places sacred and divine.  

Next comes the warrior class, or as we would refer to them as athletes. Without shame they flaunt their muscles and victories over anyone. While they could not compare to the beauty of the priests or priestesses held, the athletes had their own exterior that influenced the hearts' of others regardless of class especially for the males that belong to this particular group. Despite warriors were meant to be protectors of the people, most athletes turned on the weaker ones in order to assert their dominance.  

In the neutral class were the merchant and peasant class, those who were able to maintain a somewhat charming appeal and keep an unbiased opinion between all other classes. The requirement for this division is to have one defining physical characteristic, whether it be delightful eyes or pleasant figure. This was the class with the most freedom-to court any member of any caste with autonomy or to enter in a club/sport that the upper or lower class held unspoken authority over. 

Now near the end are the serfs also known as the servants' quarter. Acknowledged to have looks that use labels such as "Plain Jane" or "Average Joe" have nothing much to own up to. The serfs made up a good size of the educational-social civilians, some become lackeys for the upper classes-mostly for the athletes and self-religious-in order to receive even a little bit of recognition from the superiors. One interesting tidbit is that they have the uncanny ability to camouflage themselves anywhere they go. 

Last but not least are the lowest of the low, also known as the "untouchables". For some it is because of their less than desirable appearances, in the form of a large nose or acne scarred skin while for others it's due to the members of this populace are so far beneath the radar that a majority don't realize that the "new students" have actually been with them since kindergarten. They are the most likely chosen victims of the athletes.

A loud giggle in tune with a light snort drew Norma from her thoughts like a fish hooked on a fishing line and curiously she turned to the left to find a perfect example of her theory in Joan Harrison and Bob Crowther.  

The Class Secretary and the Class Clown. 

Joan coyly batted her striking blue eyes as her pale (yet unblemished) complexion flushed at the teasing smirk that charmingly dimpled, fair-haired Bob sported.  

She turned to her right in disgust only to be met with the more repulsive sight of Ed Miller and Beth Taylor attached to one another, lip-locked against the rusty maroon lockers, yet another ideal case study for her hypothesis. 

Mr 'I-Hate-Everything-About-You' and Miss 'I-Got-A-Pocketful-Of-Sunshine'. 

Norma watched as the two broke apart as she passed by. Beth's arms comfortably circled Ed's thick neck and brought him closer (if that was even possible) to her with an adoring smile. The young man looked down at her with stormy eyes, his intimidating muscular arms molded flawlessly with her coke-bottle body. Lovingly, he leaned towards her to rest his forehead against hers in a silent gesture of affection.  

Norma sighed to herself. She sped through the hallway to her destination. What did her theory and the couples all have in common? Those considered "handsome", "sexy", and "beautiful" courted and mated with those of the same label. The people that were acknowledged to be "homely", "average", and "plain" pursued others in their caste but could hold onto hope for their affection for someone of a higher rank to be returned. Of course there would be others that complained or mocked those about their looks, you could never attend high school with anyone saying "She's so ugly!" or hearing "Dude, he is a damn ugly motha-fucka!"