Project Popular (A James Mcvey Fanfic)

Chapter 8

"Ella, pay attention!" Mr Smith snapped at me, I sighed and looked back up at the board to see what he was explaining. I wanted to focus but I was distracted by the boys playing rounders outside, they were really interesting to watch. To my surprise, they were actually worse than the girls in our school at rounders which nobody would expect at all. As much as I tried to look away, my eyes always fell back on James.

He didn't seem very interested in the game and was prone to pratting about, every now and then he'd run past the posts and knock them over or throw his bat after he'd hit the ball. Mr Leech was not impressed in the slightest, I watched as his mouth moved up and down as he yelled at James. It was pretty funny but I couldn't laugh because the classroom was pretty silent, however I still managed to get caught out. As the boys made their way back inside I began packing my things up, Mr Smith took a seat on his desk and picked up a stack of papers.

"So, final announcement before the lesson is over. The school are planning a field trip. Now before you get too excited, there are limited spaces. You can all apply for a space but only thirty students will be accepted, it is a residential trip meaning you will stay at the place for a short period of time and you will be split into three groups of ten so you can mix with other people. It is only your year, the elevens, so take a form and get to it." He dropped the papers at the front and everybody began taking one and passing it back, when the forms reached me I took one and handed it to Alex.

I looked down at it and had a quick flick through the booklet which was attatched, the bell rang signalling the end of the day and I slid my paper into my bag.

"Okay class you may leave, except for Ella, stay behind." I groaned and slumped back down in my seat as everybody around me left, Mr Smith took this opportunity to question where my English essay was. I just lowered my head and accepted the fact that my chances of going on the residential trip were slimming by the minute.

"Well Miss Blue, it seems to me that you would much rather have been outside with the boys than in here learning Macbeth." I stayed silent, he knows that wasn't true.

"Were you watching them to see if you could spot a particular boy, maybe Mr Mcvey?" My eyes widened and I shot up in my seat,

"What? No. Why would I look for him?" I scoffed, he let out a light chuckle.

"I've seen you two around, teachers do see what happens too so there is a chance you could have been watching him." I shook my head,

"There isn't, you can even ask James."

"All right." Mr Smith grinned, I frowned but sighed as he left the classroom. I stood up and grabbed my bag before sitting on the edge of my bag, waiting for Mr Smith to return. I regretted not leaving when I had the chance as he returned, but with James. They both walked in with smug looks on their faces and stopped in front of me,

"What can I help you with sir?" James asked, taking a seat on the desk opposite me.

"Well, Ella here seemed to be distracted from English by the rounders game taking part outside. Were you playing?" He nodded his head, this was so stupid.

"Ella claims that she wasn't distracted by you." James began laughing,

"She's a liar sir, I saw her multiple times watching me." I felt my cheeks beginning to get red, did he really see me? He couldn't have, I was inside a classroom behind a window.

"Is that true?" James nodded and smirked at me, I so badly wanted to wipe the smirk off his pretty charming face.

"Told you I was right Ella, I expect you to have the essay on Shakespeare on my desk tomorrow morning plus an essay on Macbeth." I groaned loudly,

"Sir that's too much work for tonight!" He shrugged his shoulders,

"You will have to clear your plans." Before I could say anything James stepped forward.

"Sir, as much as Ella would love to clear her plans, she can't. We have tutoring tonight and I really need her help if I want to pass History, can you give her an expansion? Friday morning she will have them both on your desk, deal?" Sir hesitated before nodding,

"Alright, only because she is helping you. Off you go Ella." I grabbed my bag and followed James out of the room, as soon as the door shut I grabbed James' arm. He turned round and grinned at me,

"I thought I wasn't tutoring you tonight?"

"You're not, but you owe me." I sighed,

"Fine, what do you want me to do?"

"Come watch my game." I began laughing,

"What?"

"I've got a football game in about ten minutes, on Brooky park. Come and watch me? Then I'll treat you to a coffee before you go." I frowned,

"Do I have to?" He nodded,

"I just got you an extention on your work. The least you could do is support me at my game."

"Fine." I huffed, James smiled and lead me out of school and down to the park.

I sat on the sidelines and wrapped my arms around myself, it was typical that James would make me sit outside in the freezing cold. I watched as both teams poured onto the pitch, throwing bottles and hoodies around. James came running over and threw his hoody and bag at me,

"Take care of them, wear the hoody if you're cold." I wanted to just throw it on there and then but I didn't want to look desperate, so I just nodded my head and held it on my lap. James ran off and joined the rest of his team mates in their red and white kit, the opposing team were in blue. Kick off began and I watched as they all raced around, passing and shooting.

I finally gave in to the cold and pulled James' hoody on over me, as I did I noticed James' team mate 'Finch' elbow him and whisper something. James just laughed and carried on playing. I felt my phone buzz in my pocket and pulled it out, sighing because it was my mum. I clicked the green button,

"Hello?" I said, trying my hardest to not let my teeth chatter.

"Hey honey, where are you?" I cringed at 'honey', it reminded me of James' comment yesterday.

"I'm just at the park with a friend."

"Is it that boy?" My mum cooed,

"Shut up mum, I'll be home later. Bye." I hung up just in time for half time, James had a quick chat with his friends before he came running over.

"Can you get my drink please?" He asked, wiping the sweat from his head. I opened up his bag and pulled out a bottle of lucozade before hanging it to him, he swigged it quickly before giving it back to me.

"Be prepared for goals this half, I know nothing exciting happened in the first half but that's to make them think we aren't going to score at all. Just you wait." He smiled before running back onto the field and positioning himself for the second half.