Cells

3

The first few weeks back at school are always difficult, and having extra unwanted attention really didn't help matters. It's like everywhere I went, eyes were on me. In class, practice, even in the bathroom people were watching me, whispering.

"That's Alayna Haven. I heard that she was dating Marco and then dumped him with no warning for another guy. I know right? What a whore." or "That's that girls Alayna. I don't know she seems okay, but like she's not even that pretty." Yeah, I knew what all this was about. This past month Joseph has been popping up everywhere. Waiting outside my classes, following me to the parking lot, eating lunch with Jolene and I (not that I think she minded). I mean, he knows that it's annoying me, I've told him. But he still does it. It's like he wants all eyes to be on us or something, it's so infuriating. And not only that, but him acting as though we are together is squashing all of my chances of dating Leo! Anyways, it's Friday and I've finally decided to confront him about it.

"Hey shortie." says a voice from behind me as they grab my books lifting them above their head. Out of reach.

"Joseph stop, I'm so not in the mood right now." He frowns a little lowering my things and handing them to me.

"What's wrong?" I start to feel eyes on me so I look around, and sure enough, we've attracted a small crowd. Seriously? Do people really have nothing better to do? I glare and them and the crowd quickly dissipates.

"We need to talk. Alone." Joseph's frown grows a little more, but he follows me to the library nonetheless. Once we are deep enough in the stacks of books where I feel no one would eavesdrop I begin to tell him off.

"Will you stop doing this?" I hiss at him.

"Doing what?" Ugh, that dumb little shit! Does he really think I'm going to believe that he doesn't know what he's doing? He's just a little attention seeking twat who's using me to become more popular than he already is.

"This! The waiting for me outside my classes like some obsessed stalker, the following me around wherever I go, the acting like you're my boyfriend! You're not and you know that! I don't know why you want everyone to think that we're together or something! Do you really need all that attention? I sure as hell don't so stop shamelessly flirting with me all the time! Why do you want to hang out with me all of a sudden, huh? I mean you have had three fucking years to try to get to know me, so why now?" I'm fuming a little bit, and my voice went up a bit showing my hysteria. Okay so maybe I'm overreacting just a little bit, but if you were me you'd be pretty annoyed too, especially if you knew the real reason why he was doing this. I mean I barely knew this kid!

"Oh, I'm so sorry for trying to be nice to you," wait why the hell is he mad? "for showing the smallest hint of affection. I should've known that you weren't used to that, that's on me. You know what you're little holier than thou attitude is really fucking aggravating!" holier than thou attitude?! What the fuck? "I'm not the only one flirting you know! You're little comments are fueling these rumors too! And as for the three years thing? I didn't plan on ever even talking to you, but you had to go and lead Marco on when you clearly didn't want him. I shouldn't have even intervened with your little moment there, then maybe I wouldn't have to deal with all this grief you've given me!" He shouts at me.

"You asshole! You know very well I wasn't trying to lead him on, but that instead, he's a fucking moron who can't take a hint! And as for that grief I've given you, that's all on you! I never asked for your help or attention! You just went ahead and did whatever you wanted, cause that you do. You don't need to think about how other people will react to your action because you're 'Joseph fucking Rivers'!" I finished. We've gotten really close now, barely a hairs width apart. We're both breathing really heavily so as to suppress our anger. I must admit though, I do feel a little better now that I've released some of my crap. I look up at him and he seems to have calmed down a little bit too. His eyes aren't stone cold anymore and are softening more an more every second. I break my gaze for a few seconds and just now realize the fact that I'm practically pinned against the bookshelves by josephs torso. I don't really mind that much though honestly. I mean his chest is pretty solid and I can almost feel the six-pack hiding underneath his shirt. Oh my god Alayna get your hormones under control! I look back up at his face to see that the anger is gone and in its place is a small smirk. "Well, that was fun." He says as he places both hands on either side of my shoulders, and leans down slightly.