Not Quite Enough

4. Nico

Bizarre Love Triangle // New Order

I'm standing at the front entrance of the school, the morning after... Damn I wish. It's the morning after the bomb went off, when my life was forever changed by the girl who will always be my goddess. Hell, this girl got me to the front door. Nothing brings me to this part of the school anymore. But I'll gladly stand here for a glimpse of sunshine every day of the week.

I parked in the third row next to douche bag Matt's Audi and Pete's red Beemer. Freaking imports. I endured the eyes of the student body, which have claimed the front lot for those with the means for the imports, the status vehicles. Cars I loathe simply because they are no fun to work on.

I'm leaning against a post at the end of a covered walkway. It's a high school version of the red carpet with plantings on either side of the pathway and complete with a few underclass groupies. Of course my presence has scared them all away. Fine by me. I don't nod or smile. I don't even smirk. My eyes are glued on the lot, the entry drive, waiting patiently.

I don't need to glance at the time to know this girl is pushing her luck. The bell is about to ring. April is pretty much going to be late.

The satisfaction I experience when she does finally pull into the lot is worth everything else I've endured to be present for it. She barrels around the corner like a pro. The girl can handle a wheel, that's for sure. Fucking turn on. Black smoke streams behind her hunk like a tail, billowing over the onlookers who freeze in their paths to watch the show. But damn, has her muffler fallen off? The noise is off the charts and everyone winces or covers their ears. A couple of juniors lucky enough to score a lift with one of the import douches laugh at her car, the heap that it appears to be. I'm probably the only one here who sees through the car's appearance to its guts. And it has them. Just like April.

Dang it makes me want to rectify the problem immediately, climb under the body and tune her up, cherry her out, make that baby shine.

Now I'm not sure if I'm still talking about the car...or the girl.

Both, damn it.

I'm not interested in starting off the day with a fight. April seems determined to start one when I'm around. With the exception of the only vulnerable moment we shared in auto shop yesterday afternoon, when she admitted that her rep is messed up, that chick has it out for my balls. I like my balls. I don't want them injured. And I'm not in the mood for a brush off, or to look like a creep with the freaking pick up lines, so I walk away before the goddess comes face to face with me.

I also do something I haven't done in four years. I listen. I perk up the moment comments about the girl from Miller reach my ears. Rumors already. I'm intrigued by the fact that people are talking about her with such authority after only one day at this school. That's telling. Her reputation probably rivals mine. Although mine is a sure champion if we were in a competition over them.

I've been good at blocking out all of the rumors about myself, so good that when I do hear my name being linked to hers I almost don't realize its me that they are referring to. Couldn't be.

"Nico's got her in his sights. They deserve each other."

"Yeah, freaks."

This from two sophomores. At least they look like sophomores, but I don't take notes on this crap. I keep my head down and walk quietly through the hall, continuing to listen to the bullshit.

"I heard she gets paid."

What the hell? Who would believe that?

"Nico doesn't pay for shit. People just hand stuff to him so he'll leave them alone."