KARMA IS A BITCH

CHAPTER NINE

9. KARMA IS A BITCH

Andrew Marin was talking to me like this. His proximity was creating butterflies and my stomach. Holy cow! I could smell the shampoo from his hair and his spice cologne.

It’s like living out one of the fake scenarios I create in my head every night to sleep. Oh, and Andrew was my co- star, obviously.

I’d always liked guys who were more confident and weren’t afraid of feeling inferior to me. If you felt that way, then you just aren’t good enough.

And if your crush kidnapping you from the hallway into an enclosed space and telling you you’re a bad ass wasn’t confident and hot, then kill me because I don’t know what is.

“Captain Waters might lose her position if she doesn’t get to cheer practice soon. I wonder what coach will say when I tell her it’s because Captain Marin kidnapped me on the way and I murdered him for it and made a little barbecue party with his succulent flesh.”

He lifts his head from my personal space and laughs with a twinkle in his eye.

“I love your sense of humor.” He smiles at me. This was the first time we spoke like friends. The cheerleaders were friends with most of the players and we all hanged together most times after games but I’d usually go home straight or just be on my phone at the party since conversations got boring early. I was bad at socializing and preferred creating contents and taking pictures and videos for my social media to doing the whole socializing thing. I really wasn’t popular with the team. Sometimes we strategized with the team for routines. Example when they scored or praising a particular team member. We’d work with them then. All those times, I was focused on getting the routines perfect so I didn’t have time for being friendly than needed.

“I’m throwing a party tonight. The Royal bears are back from our inter-high summer cup. I want you to come.”

“I’m going to come anyway since you always invite the cheer squad. I’ll come with them.”

“And leave early when they bore you out?” he smirks knowingly.

He had been observing me? Watching me? He was aware of me.

I swallowed nervously and he tucks my hair behind my ears as shivers trail the places his fingers touch.

“Are you asking me to be there because you think I’m no longer preppy?” I cross my hands and lok at him.

“No. I just finally decide to act on what I want,” He shrugs as he lifts of the wall. His delicious scent leaves and I’m left cold for a moment before he leans on the wall beside me.

“What do you mean?” I ask with a brow arched

“You’ll know soon enough.” He grins.

“So come to the party? Not as cheer captain Waters but as Aaliyah who Andrew invited.” He looks at me hopefully.

Well, tell me you’d say no if your crush asks you to go somewhere and pronounces your name in the sultriest way possible.

Yeah, that’s right. It’s totally impossible.

“Okay. I will. ” I agree and he grins

He hands me a ticket and a protein shake before opening the door and leaving. I always sipped on those during practice.

He has so been watching. A blush seeped up my neck before I got out.

Chloe gives me an eye that says something dirty might have gone down between two of us and I smack her arm.

“He’s just inviting me to the party.” I say to her questioning eyes.

“You’re like a red tomato.. Is that your protein shake? When did you get the time to get it already” She grins knowingly.

“He brought it to me.” I shrugged like it was nothing.

“He so likes you too. You guys should fuck already.” She laughs.

“Chloe!” I gasp and look around for eavesdroppers. I try to smack her but she runs away into the cafeteria and goes to grab her energy drink for practice.

Whispers sound as people turn to look at me. People pointed as I pass and something tickled my back. Why was everyone acting weird? They were usually looking my way and talking about me but this felt different. Maybe it’s because of the hallway incident this morning. I shrug it off and go to sit in my usual place at table 7.

Immediately I pull my chair back, something black and gooey pours on me from above and I shriek as I land on my butt once again in the cafeteria. Its beans stew mixed with mud and chocolate --I hope-- to make it darker.

A video plays on the main screen as I watch in horror. My un-edited photos from my gallery, all my ugly pictures, and videos of myself plastered in rain and mud from yesterday, screenshots of my texts with brands, my acne pictures and all my weird photos from my gallery were playing in a slide show on the screen for everyone to see.

No, no no no no. This couldn’t be happening right now. The video is playing on my social media pages and there are comments bashing and canceling me for being fake and ugly as I hid under a mask, editing my pictures and lying about brand products I’d advertised.

This is all not true. This is all not true.

I wanted to scream but no word comes out.

Kieran Castles did this to me. He has my phone and access to my accounts. He wanted revenge on me for hurting the new girl and the he was disgusted when I stood up for myself this morning. It was clear as day that he’d do this to me and he had done it.

It’s funny how I ruined someone’s life just a few minutes ago and now I was getting the same treatment. I couldn’t help laughing out loud and people gave me the look. You know, the she has run mad and is crazy look.

Karma is really a bitch.

And Kieran Castles is a bigger bitch.