The Secrets Of Love

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

I looked at Chase who was focusing down on his notebook, his dark blonde hair pouring over his light brown eyes. Every time he looked up, my heart jumped profusely in my chest. I was absolutely sure that he was the definition of perfect. Ever since I was in eight grade world history with him in middle school, I had been head over he- sneakers for this guy and three years later, it was still the same. We talked every now and then but when he made it for varsity baseball, he was swooped into a world of jocks and cheerleaders and popular kids.

I look over at Tori, who seems to have been staring at me for a while. I panic, realizing that she might have seen me drooling over Chase, and I stare up at the ceiling. When I look back over at her she has one eyebrow cocked and her head tilted to the side questionably. I shrug and then bury my head into my Geometry book. From the corner of my eye I see her fling her hair and then turn to talk to Alisa. Tori is hard to explain, she can be your best friend or your worst nightmare, luckily she's my bestfriend. She has honey brown hair and chilly blue eyes, and she could be on the cover of a Victoria Secret magazine, but under her barbie doll-like facade, she's a really smart girl.

"Complete pages seventy-three through seventy-six for homework tonight." Mr.McMillan says trying to get the attention of the students who are already leaving.

After I write down the assignment, I pack my books up and head towards the door when I hear Chase's smooth voice from the other side of the room.

"Hey Vanessa!" he smiles and then slow jogs over to me, and I realize that I'm forgetting to breath.

Slow. Slow. Calm. Be Cool Ness.

I hold my books tightly to my chest, frozen in my place.

"Hey, I was wondering if you caught the homework assignment?" he's much taller than me so he looks down to face me, smiling the beautiful smile he always show-cases. His light brown eyes are glowing down on me.

"Uh, I Uh, Homework? Yea, It's..Uhh, pages seventy-three through seventy-six." I stammer, struggling to get through the simple conversation.

"Thanks Ness, you're a life-saver!" he places his hand softly on my shoulder, leaving a tingling feeling when he left. He walks toward the door, then turns around and sends a wink towards me.

I watched him walk out of the door, catching up with a couple of guys from the baseball team. I walk slowly down the hall thinking of the ridiculous crush I have on him. I can't even produce a correct sentence when I'm around him but somehow, he makes me feel perfect. He doesn't treat me like "Brainiac Vanessa" or "The Cheat Sheet" but he treats me like the fun, regular, Ness that I am.

At the end of the day, I put my other books into my locker and grab my math book. I search for my beat-up old Honda, when I see Tori talking to the head cheerleader, Carly. Carly has her arms folded in what looks like annoyance and Tori looks like she's begging Carly for something. I walk closer, trying to give the impression that I'm walking to my car. When I'm in ear-shot, I can only hear faint whispers. Then all of a sudden, Carly looks enraged and she throws her arms into the air.

"Forget it, You wanna-be popular, white-trash, SLUT!" Tori stumbles back in disbelief. She trips on a rock, and falls on her butt. Her eyes widen with hurt and embarrassment, which obviously gives Carly pleasure because a crooked smile forms on her slightly tanned face.

Hurt for Tori, I run to her, picking her up and dusting her off. I can hear different whispers and snickers from people still on the campus. We walk to my car and open the doors. Before I start the car I look over to Tori, who is looking straight ahead. She looks like a deer in headlights, like she had just witnessed a murder.

"You okay?" I shift in my seat, turning to face her.

"That bitch won't let me back on the team, Ness." her voice cracks more with every word she says. Finally, a tear makes a crooked line as it streams down her face. She lifts her hands up her cheeks.

"Is she still upset about what happened last season?" I ask, already sort of knowing the answer. I start the car and head down the street.

"Of course she is, Vanessa! I mean, but it's not like I wanted it to happen, it was a mistake, you know?" she looks at me and her blue eyes fill with sadness.

"It's ok-" I try to say.

"If I could do anything to take it back, trust me, I would." she stares at me even more intensively.

There's silence until I pull up at my house. I park my car in the driveway and then Tori and I head towards the door. My mom is in the kitchen, probably making dinner.

"Hi Tori, Hi hunny." she says without turning to look at us.

"Hey mom." I mumble, trying to make it to my room.

"How was school?" She turns to look at me.

"School was school." I pull Tori, who was looking at our family picture on the wall, by her arm, dragging her up stairs.

When I go to my room, I plop down on my bed, and then I turn to Tori, who seems to be lost in thought.

"What's the deal with the cheer-leading team, Tor?" I say, crossing my arms.

"You know that cheer-leading is my life Ness. I've been cheering since I was five, and it's everything to me." She sits down next to me.

As far as I know, cheer-leading had been her life. She went to cheer-leading camp every summer, ate all the right foods, and made sure that she was the best of the best. Until the incident.

"Anyways. enough about me. What about you drooling over Chase today?" She squints her eyes deviously, and then smiles. My heart stops mid-beat at the mention of his name.

"I, Uh. You di-. I mean. It's just.." I stop my useless studdering when I hear Tori's mom beeping her car horn outside. I look down and notice that my fingers were shaking madly from the anxiety of the conversation.

"Guess I gotta go, but I have a plan." she smiles wryly and then blows an air kiss at me. I pretend to catch it as I watch her walk out of my room.

I let out a huge sigh of relief when I hear the front door close. This was not good. Victoria with a plan was like a pregnant woman with a cigarette. Both don't end well. Plus, she had seen me staring at Chase.

Usually, It was okay for a girl to tell her best-friend that she had a huge crush on a guy, but not me. It wasn't normal for a girl like me to like an incredible guy like him. It would cause way too many problems. I would be an easy target for the other girls at school to pick at. Even if I told Victoria not to tell anyone, there would be a guarantee that half of the school would know the next day. That was definitely not an option.

I push the thought away and then I start on Geometry.