Chapter 14

Blackmailer- 'I was feeling a little off today, but then you turned me on. ;);)'

I chuckled ignoring the questioning looks from Eva and Simone.

'I was feeling great until your text showed up.'

I quickly glanced at our Literature teacher who was sitting on the chair, correcting some papers. She had given us a chapter to read and make notes on it but no one seemed to be interested in doing it. All were chatting, playing phone games, or throwing paper planes at each other. Kids these days!

Simone was talking to Eva about some upcoming dance and I was chatting with them too until my fake boyfriend decided to text me and his cheesy pick-up lines instantly became much more exciting than the discussion of when and where to go shopping.

Blackmailer- 'And lemme guess, now you feel awesome? Super amazing? Dance-all-through- the-night great?'

I bit my lip, fighting a huge smile from spreading on my lips. 'No, I feel neutral. You aren't anything special.'

"Liar." I jumped at Simone's whisper, turning to scowl at her.

"What?"

She pointed at the text I had just sent. "He is special and you know it."

I rolled my eyes opening his text. 'Liar, you know I am very special.' It was as if he heard Simone.

Simone sniggered as she read the text. "Our thoughts match."

'Don't delude yourself.' I typed, leaning on my seat, blowing a piece of bubble gum. "No, he isn't." I replied to Simone.

She nodded slowly and I stared as the pink bubble gum grew from my mouth. "Hey isn't that Colton?"

My head snapped upwards at full speed, my back straightening in my seat. The sudden action made the bubble burst and smack on my mouth all too graciously. "Shit!" I hissed, patting my hair to make it seem less messy, and then grabbed a tissue wiping my mouth clean and throwing the gum-filled tissue under the next bench.

I turned and saw Simone staring with a flat look at me. "Not so special huh?"

I gritted my teeth knowing I was just well played. "I wasted my gum, Simone gum."

She waved me off. "Don't over exaggerate, it wasn't yours. I had given it to you."

"Yeah, but I was eating it."

"It wouldn't have happened if you had just admitted you like him."

My jaw dropped. "What? Why would I admit that when it's not even true?"

Simone sat up straight with a terrified face and then patted her hair, wiping her face, trying to imitate me. "Shit! He's here. How do I look? I hope I look good." She even went as far as to adjust her boobs and then blinked looking around clearly trying to imitate me, then she turned to me with a flat face. "Sure you don't like him." Her voice dripped with excess sarcasm.

I glared at her. "I didn't look like that and I definitely didn't touch my chest like that."

She snorted. "No you looked worse and you wanted to, admit it."

"I hate you."

"My god Racheal, you sure are in the mood of lying today."

^_^

"Hey found anything about the case?" I whispered softly to Colton as we walked towards the canteen.

He shook his head. "Nah the police are still searching Raul's and Nick's place. They are being really secretive about it. Even my dad doesn't know much."

I bit my lip, wondering if should ask something that's been troubling me for some time now.

As if knowing my dilemma, Colton turned to me. "Just spit it out, Smith."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine Hastings." I paused, breathing in before asking the question. "What's up with you and your dad?"

I almost regretted asking that question as soon as I saw the response it generated. His back stiffened, and his hands clenched into tight fists, so tight that the bones in his knuckles looked sharper than diamonds. His eyes narrowed and his lips thinned into a straight line.

I wanted to say 'it's fine, don't answer it.' or 'chuck it' but my lips refused to move because deep inside I wanted to know. I hadn't missed the glares Colton kept giving his fathers and the way his father barely acknowledged him at the hotel a few days back.

I patiently waited not saying anything. Finally, Colton released a long breath and his posture relaxed a bit. "I don't want to talk about it."

I nodded slowly, disappointed but I understood. It was a touchy subject and though we were in a relationship - boyfriend and girlfriend, the word fake before it changed everything. So I just kept quiet, avoiding his gaze, and took a step forward.

I heard Colton let out a frustrated groan from behind me just as his hand went around my upper arm, pulling him back. I stumbled on him, my back crashing against his chest and I let out a small grunt of pain. What was his chest made of, steel?

"I want to explain everything Smith, I really want to. Bu this isn't the right time and nor the right place." He whispered, his breath fanning my ear.

It took me a few seconds to actually wrap my mind around his words. His being so close to me and his lips almost touching my skin was definitely not helping. It made my brain fuzzy. I finally looked around and saw a few students casting curious glances at us. A few even whispered and others stared in shock.

I bit my lip from shouting in frustration, being the topic of the week in high school wasn't on my list of 'to-dos. I took a step away from him, shrugging my arm away from his hold, instantly missing his touch and the heat it provided. "You're right." I nodded. "Definitely not the right place."

He didn't say anything. Instead, he went around me and stepped into the cafeteria, leaving me alone to face the curious, judgmental gazes. I smiled politely, cursing Colton Hastings mentally, and followed him inside.

"I want to become a YouTuber." Drew complained as soon as we sat at our lunch table.

I raised my eyebrows, wrinkling my nose as Eva removed the tomatoes in her sandwich and placed them on my plate. "You need to learn to eat that." I grumbled before turning to Drew. "Why the sudden interest?"

"Every girl since two days has been gushing about some famous YouTuber they can’t just stop loving. Pewdiecake and Cornor something"

"Pewdiepie and Connor." Ira corrected.

Drew scowled, clearly not impressed with her knowledge of them. "Whatever."

"What's stopping you?" Nathan asked before answering it himself. "Oh wait, zero talent."

Drew's scowled deepened. "Even if I just shoot myself not saying anything just staring and blinking and breathing I would get a million hits, all because I look that good." he moved his finger up his face and then down his body.

"Don't you have a mirror, Drew?" I asked sweetly, burying my face in my hands at his death glare.

"Rightly said." Nathan commented, sniggering at Drew's face.

"There is a mirror in the gym, in case you need it." Simone piped, innocently sipping on her orange juice.

"I see what's going on here." Drew stood and pointed at us accusingly. "Such a conspiracy against me. I refuse to become a victim of this. I want justice, I demand-"

"Hey, Drew." Colton cut in. "Guess who cares? That's right, no one. Now sit and finish that burger or I am eating it."

"Mine." Drew said possessively, bringing the burger to his chest as he glared at Colton. "Sometimes I think why I even speak."

Nathan snorted. "Don't do both."

"Don't make me kick your butt Natty boy." Drew warned, narrowing his eyes.

Nathan patted his bicep proudly. "Come on Drew drops, imma ready."

"Uh oh red danger." Eva suddenly whispered, staring at the canteen door.

We all turned and saw the head cheerleader, Monica Moore, Colton's ex along with her two minions. They were all wearing pink, Monica in a short pink and white skirt with a similar top and pink high heels. Her blonde hair were open except for a pink clip that just sat on her head for decoration. The girl on left, Misha I think was wearing a pink short dress with matching heels, and the one on right, Abigail had dusky skin and wore pink top white shorts, and pink flats. And they were all walking towards us.

"Is it Wednesday?" Drew whispered, blinking his eyes at them.

Our eyes gawked at him and he blushed as soon as he realized his words. "You have seen Mean Girls." Simone mocked, cupping her mouth to hold her laughter.

Drew glowered at her. "You see action and horror movies but we don't act shocked, a guy watches something romantic, and everyone judges."

"Mean girls seriously?" Nathan taunted, not caring to hide his laughter.

"Shut up dude. I watched it with you." This time it was Nathan's turn to look embarrassed.

"Colton." I turned and saw Monica, leaning at him and eyeing him like she would put him on a plate, eat him and then lick the plate clean. Colton shifted nervously beside me, quickly glancing at me before turning back to Monica.

"How are you?" Monica drawled when she got no reply.

Colton looked at me again but I kept my face blank. He slowly nodded at Monica. "Good. Great."

Monica twirled her hair, biting her lower lip. "Did you miss me?"

Colton coughed awkwardly. "No, uh yeah sure." I raised an eyebrow. Did he miss her?

"So are you coming by my place after school? I have a few doubts in Calculus." Monica leaned forward, her top lowering and giving a clear view of her cleavage. I turned my head not wanting to see anymore. It wasn't until Simone softly patted my hand that I saw I was unconsciously gripping the end of her long brown top, tight enough to tear a hole in it.

Doubts in Calculus? Why don't you meet me up that cliff a few hours away and I solve them for you? The best solution would be pushing you off the cliff, no doubts whatsoever.

"Uh." Colton cleared his throat. "Monica meet my girlfriend." He pointed at me. "Racheal and uh Racheal this is-"

"I know." I cut him off. I titled my head, facing Monica who was giving me the best fake smile ever, I promptly reverted the action.

"Hi, I am his girlfriend." I stressed on the girlfriend part. "You must be Monica, he hasn't spoken about you at all but then again school rumors are hard to ignore so I do know you."

Monica glared, her ink lips thinning. "Ah yes, I am his ex, we had a minor fight and then I heard the rumor that he decided to go and date some trash."

I shook my head. "You heard wrong. He dated some trash now he's clearly upgraded to the highest level."

Monica paused for a second, shocked by my retort until her eyes turned icy. "Don't dream Racheal, I don't lose."

I raised an eyebrow. "You think Colton's a game?" I turned to Colton with an innocent face. "Why did you even date her?" then I turned to a fuming Monica. "Anyways if it's a game, I have clearly won. And honey, you should stop dreaming and start facing reality. Maybe then the guys won't list you off as a one-night stand."

She seemed enraged by now. "Why you! You think you are too smart, don't you? Well let me tell you, I am the daughter of-"

"Oh my God. Look at that." I exclaimed, pointing upwards. All eyes turned up. "The number of fucks I give, one, one and a half, two and ...oh shit they flew away."

I heard a burst of loud cackling laughter and some amused snorts from my friends, even Colton seemed to be fighting a laugh by pressing his lips into a thin line.

Monica on the other hand seemed less than pleased. She looked furious. "Watch out Racheal Smith. You wouldn't know what hit you." With that, she turned on her heels closely followed by her minions.

"Hey, Monica." I called out. "I heard there's an opening for a female dog in the school's animal skit, you should try, you fit right into the description."

A few people who heard it laughed and Monica just flipped me off, exiting the canteen. I leaned back on the chair, a giddy smile on my face.

"That was awesome." Drew coughed out, still having a laughing fit. The twins were cracking up too and Simone was chuckling, discreetly pointing at her crumbled end of her top. I rolled my eyes knowing she found my one percent jealousy better than the whole tête-à-tête with Monica.

Nathan and Adrian chuckled and then looked at me and burst out in laughter again. "Monica's face, my gosh." Nathan whizzed out.

Colton was laughing quietly too. His eyes dancing in amusement and a big fat grin on his face. He winked and leaned near my ear, his words caressing my skin. "Green looks better on you than on me."

~~~