The Smith's Reasons (13RW)

Valedictorian

"Hey, are you okay?" Clay asked me as we headed to the school building.

"I guess so." I scratched my eyebrow.

"How is your hand?" Hannah asked me.

"Hurts like crazy." I chuckled. I twisted my wrist and the pain shot up to my head. Man, I needed to get revenge somehow. How dare Bryce Walker of all people manage to bruise my hand. Again! He had a storm coming his way and if I didn't have the final word, I was going to lose my sanity.

"I am so sorry, Nat." She gave me a one-arm hug.

"Thank you, Hannah."

I put both my hands into the pocket of my sweatshirt jacket. I wore a full-hand shirt that covered most of the back of my hand, just so I could hide the bruising.

"What happened to Jeff last night?" He asked.

"Mom was furious." I smiled. "We told her what happened at the party."

"You did?" She asked.

"Yeah. We don't keep secrets from each other in our home. It just doesn't work like that with us. Maybe it has something to do with our parents....but we don't hide things."

"What did she say?" Clay asked.

"I think I saw steam coming out of her ears," I said and managed to lighten the mood up. "I definitely saw fire in her eyes. But we can't do anything, can we? Because Bryce Walker always gets away with everything."

"Hey." He clamped my shoulder. "Don't say that. We will do something."

"Thank you, Clay." I rested my head on his shoulder for a second before Hannah hugged both of us from behind.

"I love you guys so much. And I can't wait to meet the gang."

Tony was coming to school regularly and we had a small gang - me, Clay, Hannah, Tony and Skye. It felt good to have people that I could count on.

"I kind of have a question to ask." 

"What happened?" Hannah asked.

"Courtney approached me yesterday and told me that the results of the Valedictorian are being announced today. And she also told me that I was on the list. So....who signed me up for it?"

"I don't know." She said and then we turned to Clay.

He was looking at the ground. "Clay?" I spoke.

"I did." He admitted and looked at me, looking really nervous. "I signed you up."

"Why would you do that, Clay?" I asked him and we stopped walking. I was a little angry, but mostly frustrated.

"Because you don't know your own potential." 

"What is that supposed to mean?" 

"You put yourself down too much, Natasha." 

"You know that I won't win. Nobody would vote for me."

"I think you would be surprised about that." 

"Yeah, Nat." Hannah agreed and I turned to her. "I kind of voted for you."

"What!"

"As did I." Clay revealed.

"But....you are running as well!"

"I know." He shrugged. "Honestly, I don't deserve to win. You do."

"How can you say that?"

"Are you serious right now?" Hannah clamped my shoulders. "You are one of the smartest people in this entire school! You help people whenever they are in need, even if the situation doesn't concern you. You stood up to Alex and Justin because of the whole list situation." I took a deep breath. "You are a saviour."

"I...." I didn't know what to say.

Thank goodness, the bell rang and saved the situation. "Let's go," she said and we continued walking.

"To change the topic," Clay spoke after some silence as we reached our lockers. "I think I saw someone hug someone last night." He was teasing me. I knew it.

"Shut up." I playfully hit his arm.

"It was so cute!" Hannah said.

"Oh my God. Stop it!"

"Stop what?" I turned around and saw Tony as he was coming towards us.

"They're teasing me." 

"Stop it." He pointed at both Hannah and Clay.

"Thank you!" I kissed his cheek really quickly. I was very happy when Tony was around. I think it was good that Jeff told me to go to Tony's shop. Otherwise, I don't think I would have ever found that much happiness.

Clay and Hannah looked at each other and I could see that they were happy for us. Seemed fair only since I felt the same way towards them.

Lunch came and all of us ate together. Our group was definitely worth fighting for. I was happy seeing everyone else happy. But that didn't stop my concern about the Valedictorian list. "Natasha." Jessica Davis approached me once lunch got over.

"Hi, Jessica."

"Did you know that the list for Valedictorian is getting released today?" 

"Unfortunately, yes."

"I want you to stand down." 

I stopped walking to face her completely. "Excuse me?"

"No one's going to vote for you." She flipped her hair. "It would be better if you stepped down before the list is announced. I'm trying to do you a favour here." She touched my arm. "I'm trying to save you from all the embarrassment."

I pushed her hand away politely. "I think I can handle it."

Courtney and Jessica both wanted to talk to me about the announcement. That only meant that they were scared about not winning and they also sort of knew that I might win.

The game was on.

The last period flew by very quickly and there was an announcement on the speaker about the list having been uploaded. Everyone crowded the Notice board as I tried to make my way to it. I saw Jessica glare at me as she walked out of the school and I saw Courtney talking to people. She looked quite happy. So I walked to where my gang stood, thinking that she had won.

"Congratulations." Clay hugged me as I stood with them.

"What for?" 

"You didn't see the board?" Skye asked me.

"You won!" Tony revealed.

I rushed to the notice board and the crowd was less then. I looked at the new piece of paper stuck on the board and looked at my name written in bold on the first line. There was a 'congratulations' written next to it.

"I'm Valedictorian?" I was honestly confused.

"Congratulations!" Hannah gave me a hug.

"Natasha!" I heard Courtney calling me. She was standing a few lockers over. I walked over to her, still confused. "Congratulations on winning." She spoke in her fake high voice. "You deserve it." She said a lot of things that I knew that she didn't mean.

After the conversation was over, I walked towards my group. But before I did, I turned around and told her just one thing. "You know, Courtney?" I spoke and she looked at me. "I only joined because you hurt my friend." I was lying but I needed the guilt to seep. "Nobody hurts my friends and gets away with it."

I said before walking away. "Thank you," I mouthed to Clay and he nodded his head.

"I think we deserve a treat," Skye said.

I nodded. "Ice cream?"