The Bad Boy and the British Girl

The Boy Who I Avoid

Elizabeth Baker's POV:

I tap my pencil consistently against the pad I'm furiously writing notes on. Charlie has called twice today, both worried that I was ready to murder Zach. Both times I told her I was fine, when in reality I can feel his presence in his room. I know he's watching my window, waiting for me to show. I hung up on his call, deleted his text and shut my window on him. It's not that I don't want to talk to him.

It's more that it won't end well if I do.

My mum left early this morning as she had to open the bar for Sunday lunch. I just decided to power through my homework, to write without end. Like I was running out of time, in the words of Lin Manuel Miranda. Mum was telling me this morning that I only have to wait until Saturday for my 17th birthday, and she felt everything would be okay.

Despite the only four day wait for everything to be fixed, I didn't feel like it would be. I don't know why but I feel like the boy next door has let me lower my guard and he just attacked me as soon as I was vulnerable.

Maybe...I think...maybe he didn't know I was as trusting of him as I was. Maybe he was unaware of the walls he allowed me to take down. But even so, even if I wasn't, what he did was...despicable. Betting on women, betting on a girl to prove himself? What did he gain from it? Other than the money. What on Earth did he gain from it?

——
The next morning:

I've woken up, bright and early, ready for school. Well not ready, but more prepared than usual. Charlie and I sorted a plan last night, she will get to my house early to drive me in so I don't have to sit in a car with Zach and so I can do my best to avoid him at school.

My phone rings on my desk, sleepily I reach for it and answer.

"Dude, you have ten minutes until I'm there get up!" Charlie's yells through the phone.

"Okay, Okay. I'm coming I'm coming. Need coffee." I mumble back.

"Get some then caveman!" She hangs up as I fall out of my bed and crawl to my wardrobe.

I grab some gym trousers and a tshirt, my trainers and slip my clean hair into a bun. I waddle to my bathroom and proceed to brush my teeth, I wash my face and dry it before heading with my bag out of my door.

"Morning cherub!" Mum says as she hands me the cup of hot coffee. I begin to chug it but as I do I realise that mint and coffee do not mix well. Shuddering I gulp the last sip and sprint down the stairs.

"Love you mum!" I screech as I get onto the pavement just in time for Charlie to brake infront of me. I hop in as she speeds off to school.

——

The day has been very average, and avoidance of Graye has been successful. It's now lunch and I'm heading to my locker. As I near it, I begin to open it and shove my books into the metal box. Slamming the door shut I see Zach's smug face staring at me.

Anger floods me, pure rage. Everything I've maintained the last 24 hours is about to let rip.

"Hey kitten, what's happening?" He says cheekily. This enrages me further. "Hey come on, are you alright?" He says as I walk briskly away from him.

"Please leave me alone Zach." I state.

"Liz what's going on?"

"Just leave me alone Zach." I march forward.

"Elizabeth what have I done?!" He demands.

I laugh. I begin to just laugh, not hysterically, but angrily. I laugh until I turn to face him.

"What have you done? You don't know?" I ask through gritted teeth.

"Please explain to me." He whispers, I can see a crown forming.

"You want to know what you did? You want to know?" I whisper back.

"Please!" He begs me.

"Liz...calm down." I hear Charlie's voice.

"No no Charlie, Zach wants to know what he did." I can see the fear on his face.

"Liz-"

"Was I really only worth $25 to you? I mean, considering you put so much effort into making sure you got the money I thought it would at least be $50 for a kiss? I mean $25 is just insulting if anything!" I say sarcastically, watching his cheeks pale.

"I didn't-"

"What? Didn't mean for it to happen? You didn't mean for me to find out you mean." I say as I start to walk away, swinging my rucksack over my shoulder, I just can't look at him.

"Liz please-" he grabs my arm.

"Don't touch me. Don't talk to me. Just don't. I trusted you, I trusted you like no one else Zach and then I find out you did all of this for a bet! Can you imagine how that feels? Can you?! I can't believe I thought you were different, I thought you might not be after just one thing constantly. Clearly I was wrong, you bastard. You absolute bastard." I shake my head at him before walking away, I know he isn't following me. I walk forwards and out to the field and don't stop walking, tears start to prick at my eyes as I few arms crowd around me.

Next thing I know I have Charlie, Max and George all forming a cage around me with their arms. We fall to the grass, they don't stop hugging me as I sob slowly into their shoulders. The occasional "it's okay" would skip from one of their mouths, but it didn't feel okay, it didn't feel like it would be at all.