Hidden Truths

Chapter 10: Serious Skill

Chapter 10:

I'm putting my Geometry textbook back in my locker, trying my best to ignore Madison and her cronies who are standing by my locker giggling like they're in elementary school. Today is the first dance practice and I'm already dreading it. Instead, I'm looking forward to getting Homecoming over with.

"Hello, Alex." Jackson leans his hand on the locker next to mine. I ignore him and close my locker, almost taking his hand with it. When I walk away, he grabs my wrist and spins me around. I can tell that Madison and her friends have noticed us because they stop talking. It suddenly got really quiet, so I clear my throat.

"What do you want?" I ask in the nicest way possible.

"I was just wondering if you were going to the game tomorrow? I know it's not Homecoming, but Gray told me you were joining the dance team so I thought you could wear my jacket for school spirit. It's kind of a tradition here. Every girl from the dance team wears one of our jackets." He shoots me a blinding smile. I'm surprised he asked me to wear his jacket. I'm a nobody. There are plenty other desperate girls in this school he could've chosen from that I'm positive would be glad to wear it. Why doesn't he ask Madison? I'm sure she'd be interested. I glance behind me and see her and her clones huddled together all sending me the same look, and it's not a nice one. I turn back to Jackson who's patiently waiting for an answer.

"Not happening. I can just wear Nate's or Grayson's. I'm not wearing yours." I move out of the way. "I have to get to class." As I try to walk away he grabs my wrist again and turns me around.

"Why are you always turning me down?" He asks sounding a little frustrated. I raise my eyebrows in surprise at his question. I guess the rejection has been getting to him.

To be completely honest I'm surprised he's even still trying. There's a bunch of other girls that would jump at the chance to be in my shoes and he knows this, which makes me trust him even less. No way would a guy like Jackson really be into a girl like me, right? Not unless there was something in it for him, at least that's what my insecurities are telling me. Even after knowing all this there's still a small, microscopic part of me that wishes it wasn't true.

"Why are you always tryna get with me?" He smiles just a little bit.

"Because I think you're cute. Is that a crime?" He leans against a locker.

"For you? Yes," The late bell rings and I groan out. "Now I'm late. Thanks to this riveting conversation."

"To be continued then?" He asks amused. I shake my head as I start to walk away. "Well, let me know if you change your mind!" He yells after me.

"I won't!" I yell back. I think I hear him chuckle a little, but it doesn't stop me from walking away. I guess Madison and her girls went to class because they're gone when I pass her locker.

*************

As I'm walking to lunch Theo runs up from behind me. "Hey, Andi. Where's Jackson?"

"Why would I know?" I ask nervously.

"Because I always see you two together. He follows you around like some kind of lovesick puppy." He smirks. Is that really how we look around school?

"What, is that what people think? We're barely even friends, let alone in a relationship." Theo grins widely.

"You're in denial. Admit you like him." He gently pushes me.

"I'll admit I like Jackson as soon as you admit you're in love with Jade." Theo's face turns into an expression of disgust and he pretends to vomit in front of me. "You're so dramatic." I laugh. He finally stops and shakes his head at me.