Lucas Mabry wants it all.
He wants a girl, team captain, and the popularity that comes with it.
Unfortunately, the new girl wants nothing to do with him and he turns to the only person he thinks will help.
Nikki Young.
His worst enemy.
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Lucas
It's a tense situation.
Julian, Nikki, Darren, and I are sitting outside the cafeteria eating lunch on the grass.
Nikki is glaring at me from against the tree. Her eyes haven't left my face for more than a second. Julian is awkwardly sipping on his Gatorade with a straw. Darren, who I still can't face, is chomping on his sandwich as if he can't notice the tension. And I've been plucking the grass off the ground.
"So..." Julian trails off. "Anything exciting happened?" He's referring to Nikki and I.
We stay silent.
"Weather is cool today. Don't you think so, Darren?" Julian asks, chuckling dryly.
Darren stops mid-chew. "Really? I'm kinda hot." He places his hand in front of his face. Probably to block the sun.
"O - Kay." He sighs. "Lucas. Isn't it cool today?" He jabs my side. I grunt in response. "Well, if Carter were here, I think he'd agree with me."
"He's a dummy, Julian." I mutter, eyes fixated on the ground.
"He's not a dummy." Nikki hisses.
I roll my eyes. "Whatever." I throw the grass off my hands. "I didn't do anything wrong."
"What?" Nikki's eyes narrow into saucers.
"Oops." I fake shock. "Did I not whisper that?" My lips turn back into a straight line.
Nikki stands up. "You know you were wrong for that." Her hands are fists now.
I look up at her in boredom. "It doesn't concern you." And it's in the past, witch.
"You threatened my friend. And you humiliated her and you said something hurtful to her and... and..."
"You have nothing on me, witch." My legs pull my body up. "Besides, you are the least qualified to talk." I regret the words as soon as I speak.
I hate acting like a victim.
"I know." Nikki's foot begins to tap impatiently. "But she was my friend. She was there for me when I - " Nikki pauses, eyes looking at the ground now. "She was a good friend."
"Emphasis on "was"." I retort. "You probably bullied her away."
Nikki groans in frustration.
"Are we interrupting something?" Carter is a couple feet away, Victoria behind him.
Victoria looks from Nikki to me and me to Nikki in confusion.
I shake my head. "No. Right, Nikki?" Nikki and I lock eyes. Her eyes are angry but her smile is set in a straight line. After a staring contest, she looks away and nods. "See?" I smile at Victoria.
"I don't think so." Carter raises an eyebrow. "Sit beside her if you aren't fighting right now."
