Blinded By Venus

Chapter #1

Thomas's POV

__________________________________________

There are many things I hate in this world. I hate it when people chew with their mouths open. I hate tattoos. I hate alcohol (It tastes horrible how can anyone like it!?). I hate people who are always on their phones. I hate humblebraggers, reading, and blueberries. But there's nothing I hate more than the insufferable Adam Cohen.

The way he struts down the hallway like he owns Southview or something. Just because he's the captain of the swim team doesn't mean he can freestyle his way through school. He leaves a path of heartsick girls wherever he goes, and he is not afraid to flaunt his sickeningly muscular arms and sharp jaw, especially to the girls in Woodcreek, Southview's sister school. My scrawny build and smarty-pants reputation are no match to his good looks. Not that I care though. It's because of him that my life will never be the same.

"Hey, Thomas!"

"Hello, Z." Elizabeth, aka Z, is my best (and only) friend. She attends Woodcreek and we meet for lunch every day in the courtyard. She sits down beside me and opens her lunch bag. The sky has the faintest rays of spring peeked out from behind the grey clouds, illuminating the grassy courtyard in a pale glow. A few boys in the green-and-khaki Southview uniform sit on a bench a few feet away from us. Z takes a bite of her PB&J sandwich and turns toward me.

"Listen, I was watching this documentary the other day on horticulture or something, I don't remember. But it talked about how important bees are. Without them, we wouldn't have apples, broccoli, blueberries-"

"Z, you know I hate blueberries! They're so mushy and gross." I said. Z tossed her long black hair-streaked purple over her shoulders.

"That's not the point, Thomas! No one cares if you don't like blueberries! Without bees, we would starve. That's why I was thinking of joining the beekeeping club."

I stared at her, dumbfounded. "What the fuck is a beekeeping club!? Is that even a thing?" I exclaimed.

"Apparently. You can join too." Z said and took another bite of her sandwich. I laughed

"No way in hell! I hate bees!" I made a mental note to add bees to the list of things I hate.

"You hate everything, Thomas. Besides, it'll be good for you to branch out."

"I already do mathletes, what else is there in life?" I joked half-heartedly.

She snorted. "The mystical adventures of mathletes. Even then, you're constantly complaining about the other team members."

"Touche."

Z gave me a look "I'm being dead-ass, Thomas. You should join. Maybe you'll meet some nice people so you can start a things I love list." I groaned.

"Don't tell me this is another attempt to find a boyfriend for me. Besides, there is absolutely no one in Southview I could even consider dating."

"Oh come on, Thomas. Maybe if you get to know some people, you might find love." I nearly gagged.

"Z, be realistic. I'm not even out to my parents yet." Z bit her lip. That comes up in our conversations a lot. Z's parents have been supportive of her bisexuality since she was twelve. But my parents on the other hand... The bell rang, signaling the next period.

"Catch ya later, Thomas!" Z said. I waved goodbye to her and swung my backpack over my shoulder. I maneuvered my way through the cafeteria- courtyard area to get to my locker. I knew Z was right. I wasn't exactly jumping to fix my social life. Maybe the beekeeping club would do me some good. Then again, what the hell is a beekeeping club? I was perfectly contempt with mathletes and a small circle of friends. Z is much more of a people person than me, she wouldn't understand.