Pretty Boy

Chapter Four

Jesse's POV

All throughout the rest of the day, I could hear the rumors behind my back:

"Did you hear about Jesse? He's a queer!"

"Jesse's totslly gay, don't you know?"

"Rumor has it Jesse's seeing Caleb!"

"Brooke's just a cover, he's secretly having rendezvous with Caleb Clark!"

"I can't believe it: Jesse's a fag!"

"And do you think Caleb's a queer, too"

"Jesse davis and Caleb Clark sittin' in a tree, making l-o-v-e!"

I could probably handle the part about me being gay, because that was just something everyone already assumed, since they would always sterotype me. But the part about me and Caleb? I was physically gagging. Where'd they get that idea? Just because we were partners in the social studies project doesn't mean we're in love. Ugh, and what was worse was that I couldn't even fit in with the popular gays. The stereotypical dress all girly and act like rich snobs type. I heard a conversation the other day they were having about the color pink. After school, I decided to go over to Brooke's house, since I really wanted to hang out with her. I walked to school and from school alone usally; if it were raiing I would catch the bus, but otherwise I wasfree to walk wherever. My parents didn't care. They thought I was a perfect straigght angel. I walked along the side-walk, sighing deeply. Under some shaded trees, I pulled at the leaves expecting some leaves to just gently fall around me. But of course, since my luck sucks, it just had to happen to previously, so the leaves were wet, flicking water all over me. I heard some laughter and I turnedaround; and there were Caleb and his friends....I'm not going to act surprised any more when I see him. Him stalking me is just another daily occurance. I sighed, wiping my wet bangs out of my dark eyes and and putting up my hands.

"Do what you want, just make it quick," I mumbled. Caleb's doofus friends laughed at me mockingly while Caleb stepped forward, staring me down.

"Yeah, hand it to him, Caleb!" one of his friends shouted; Jason I think. His other friends echoed in agreement. Man, I hate these guys. Caleb waved his hand at them, staring at them, then at me.

"You guys get going. I mean it. I want to handle him myself, and don't you dare say anything about the rumors being true or you're my next target; scram!" They nodded, running off towardds their own houses. Caleb exhaled deeply and I slowly put my hands down at my sides, staring at him through my hair.

"Wh-why'd you do that/Don't you w-want pay back for...for..." I tried to think ofa reason he would want pay back, but actually, he had already gotten back pay back about me drawing him, by slamming my head on the desk. I bit my lip and he just blinked at me.

"Fine, you want me to hurt you?" he asked, throwing up his fist. I flinched mumbling a "no". His light blue eyes scanned my face, working their way down. For a split second I thought he was checking me out, but that's impossible. He smirked and I raaises my head, pushing my bangs out of the way of my eyes. A few drops of water dripped into my face and I shook them off. He shook his head.

"You shouldn't have done that, you're all wet now"

"Why should you care?" I retorted, setting down my backpack. I started to search for a rag or something to dry off with when Caleb tapped my shoulder, handing me a rag. I took it slowly, like one would take a cookie from a stranger, unsure if it's a cookie or poison. I finally ran it through my hair and stood up. Caleb rolled his eyes.

"I'm not going to bite ya..." he curled his finger, wiping off a drop of water from my cheek. I blushed a bit, turning my back to him and stooping to pick up my backpack.

"What did you and your gang want?" I asked finally, walking towards Brooke's house again. He followed me grabbing my shoulder.

"Well, I was following you because I thought you were coming over to my house to work on the project," he said. Then it hit me; at lunch he had asked me if I wanted to come over to his house. I was just zoning, focusing on drawing, so I mumbled "yes". I totally forgot! I bit my lip and he stared at me expectantly.

"uh, well, I can't; not toady. Sorry about that, change in plans..."

"Is it about those rumors? they aren't true," he objected. My face dropped and I felt a pang of sadness in my heart. What was wrong with me? Was I expecting for such a popular guy to like him to like me? I'm so stupid...I hit the side of my head slightly, pretending to wipe off water from my hair.

"No, no; I didn't think that.I'm straight... you're straight..." I sort of panicked, and this wasn't my finest moment, so I blurted, "Straight like the road!" I pointed to the road...that was bent, curving around the block...Cue mental faceplam. Calebstared at me still, and I felt like he should think of it as a joke. Instead he just mumbled,

"Yeah...thanks...I'll just go." He sighed, shifting his backpack and walking away from me. I bit my tongue to keep from calling him back, but he esacped me.

"Hey, see you tomorrow, maybe? We could work on the project then!" I shouted. He looked back at me with hurt in his eyes. He simply nodded, then turned and walked away. I frowned, feeling like the tables were turning and now I was the bad guy.