Beauty and The Beast

Chapter 20

''I think my lungs are gonna explode'' I groaned as I sat down on the metal bench in the locker room.

Practice was over almost an hour ago. After this, we're free to go home.

''You're exaggerating'' Amber replied.

''Easy for you to say. You aren't the one who had to run 7 laps on track then come back for cheer practice''

I drank from my water bottle like my life depended on it.

''Hey Bella. Can you watch my bag for me, please? '' Amber passed me  her bag.

''Sure''

Amber packed her clothes in her hand. She was going to return them in her locker. She and Tiffany left.

I noticed a paper drop from her clothes.

''Hey, you dropped a. .'' I began.

No use. She was already gone.

What attracted me to the paper was Coach Ann's handwriting.  Maybe it has something with her being assistant captain.

A little spying won't hurt, would it?

I opened the paper and began to read.

Hey babe. I'm I couldn't come over last night.  I had some stuff to do. 
I'll make it up to you I promise.  I just don't want to get in trouble cause the last time I came over, Thoni saw me and I don't wanna make it obvious.  Don't worry, I'll come tonight and wear your favorite lingerie. I love you.

              ----Love Anabelle

This lying conniving evil whore. I can't believe my eyes.

I'm not angry at the fact that Amber is a lesbian but I'm angry at the fact that she lied to me. She kept this from me and she ripped me off my position by sleeping with coach.

This is beyond low, even for Amber.

We're supposed to be best friends which means we should tell each other everything,.

I guess Drew was right after all. They aren't really  my friends. They're just a bunch of fake girls who only want my position.

I searched Amber's bag for her phone to look for any other clue.

My mind drifted to the day I saw her talking with coach Ann. They've probably been together for a long time and I knew nothing about it. Did the others know?

When I found her phone, I went through her pictures to confirm if my suspicions were true.

I found a lot of nude photos of Coach Ann in her gallery. Now, I know why she never lets us touch or use her phone.

I kept on scrolling till the door opened. It was Amber.

''Hey Bella. Did you see any paper drop? What are you doing?!"

She quickly snatched her phone away from me.

''You went through my stuff?'' She shrieked.

''Doesn't change the fact that I know what I know''

"You sneaky little bitch"

"At least I'm not a whore who has to fuck their coach to win captain. Is that how bad it is? This is the height of desperation"

She slapped me.

''You little piece of shit''

How dare she? I slapped her back. She pushed me.

I grabbed her hair. Not long after, a fight broke out.

Tiffany and other girls came in a few minutes later when we were already rolling on the floor.

''What's going on?" Tiffany asked as she came in "We heard screaming"

They screamed when they saw us fighting.

They quickly pulled us apart. I was breathing heavy and Amber had a cut on her cheek from my nails.

Amber and I glared at each other.

''What happened?" Stephanie asked.

''Yeah, tell em Amber. What happened?" I smirked.

''I don't know what she's talking about" Amber replied "All I know is that she's a nosey bitch"

''Oh yeah? Show us your phone then"

"That's my privacy, okay? It's nobody's business"

I took my things and walked out.

I was filled with rage. No wonder she won assistant. She's been having an affair with Coach all along.

I was so caught up in my thoughts that I didn't realize I bumped into someone.

''Hey! Watch where you're.. Oh, Bella it's you''

Drew tried to steady me

''Whoa. What's wrong?" he asked worriedly.

In that instant, I poured out all the anger in me from the fight and from the fact that he ran away that day

"Now you suddenly care?" I shouted.

"I will always care" he whispered "Always have and always will"

I laughed  "You sure do have a weird way of showing it"

I pushed him out of my way and walked to the car park to get my car.

**

''You what?'' Charlie asked.

He laughed loudly.

''Shut up. It's not funny.  It was one time'' I said, hitting him with the throw pillow.

I narrated to him how I mistakenly farted in front of my crush in fifth grade on valentine's day.

Very embarrassing.

I miss the good old days of being a  kid. I was in such a hurry to grow up. In fact, we all were. Now, I regret growing up too fast.

I wish I could go back to my carefree toddler days where our only worries were who gets the last piece of candy and who was the first to go on the playground swing.

I miss when we were all friends and the colour of your skin or how you look didn't matter.

If I knew then what I know now, I would have enjoyed my childhood instead of pretending to be more mature.

No betrayals. No boy troubles. No worries.

The only betrayal was when your friend built a sandcastle without you or didn't give you their juice box  to take a sip.

Boys had cooties.

The only worry you had is if those plate of cookies that your mom baked would still be on the counter when you get home.

Steve and my mom came down formally dressed. It's nice to see them  together and not screaming at each other.

''Where y'all going looking so fancy?'' I asked.

''Valentine's dinner. Steve's treat'' my mum said.

''Without us'' Charlie pouted.

''You're stupid'' I told him.

''Where's your brother?'' Steve asked me.

''In his room"

As usual.

"On valentine's day?" Charlie questioned.

I shrugged. My point exactly.

''Okay. We're off'' Steve announced.

''Alright. Have fun''

We said our goodbye's as they left..

''So, what's up?'' Charlie asked, trying to make small talk.

We continued talking about random things until a knock on the door stopped our conversation.

Who could that be?

I stood up to answer it. Charlie stood up behind me.

I was surprised by who I saw

''Drew?''