by KC THORNROSE
But then she said, “you know I can put in a good word for you so you can join the swim team.” I gasped it wasn’t what I was expecting her to say. I raised an eyebrow.
“You want me to be part of the team?”
She laughed and said, “ We always like Chars and transfers joining our swim team. And even more so we would like you to tryout for the cheerleading team too.”
I shook my head and said I’m not into cheerleading. I prefer soccer.”
She folded her hands and said, “really, I would never have guessed.”
And with that, she walked off into the next class. In the distance, I noticed Xander still staring at me. He hurried up to me and brushed his hand lightly on mine, sending electric sensations through my entire body.
Then he gripped my hand and pulled me into the corner away from the academy’s cameras.
I gasped as he led me backward until my back hit the wall. He placed his palms on the wall imprisoning my petite behind his towering frame. He was so close I felt his length push up high on my thighs. Holy hell, if he was that big in its resting state, what would it look like when aroused? I beamed at the thought I turned him on.
Couldn’t that also be a possibility?
Holy fuck —
Yes, it could, and maybe that’s what is happening right now. He leaned in. He tilted my head so I could stare into his beautiful, hypnotic hazel eyes. He lowered his head, and his breath brushed my neckline.
He whispered, “Are you still a virgin, chars hmm?”
He teased my side with his sensual fingers and slowly worked his way down my legs. I gasped as his digits moved underneath and up my inner thighs.
I captured his hand and said in a firm voice, “Stop.”
He pulled back and laughed.
Then he said, “You haven’t changed at all.”
I said to him, “don’t expect me to change either.”
He laughed and said, “wow, you’re still as feisty as ever.”
I said, “more than you know.”
Three girls walked by us. He acknowledged them, one the girls giggled and blushed. Boy, this guy has a hold on the female students, too bad I would never be one of his conquests.
And with that, he pulled back.
I said, “I don’t want you that way Xander, we need to get to class.”
He laughed, ran his fingers through his flouncy gorgeous locks and said, “Yes, we do. but I’d have a private class for you later on.”
I shook my head. He said, “you didn’t answer the question, are you?”
I wanted to tell him off, but I don’t know what came over me I said to myself Blair get it together. Tell him it’s none of his fucking business. But I said, “I am.”
He smiled as though he won a trophy.
Then I said, “I’m sorry; you are not the one for me.”
And with that, I walked into class with my head held high.
The algebra class went pretty quickly. And the next thing I realized, it was lunch time.
I honestly just wanted some quiet times with my new friends or as I called them, my crew. We walked into the lunchroom, and that’s when I noticed Cassie and Ethan staring at the rich guys and girls table.
I said to them, “why do you keep looking for there?”
Cassie responded, “why not? You know who they are that’s the sign-off, and that’s the daughter of...”
I cut them off and said, “I’m very well aware of who they are. Seriously, it doesn’t matter. Besides, it’s not worth the trouble getting to know the so-called queens. I think it’s best we ignore them.”
“Trouble? What trouble? What are you talking about, Blair?”
I said one of the rich girls invited me to join the swim team.
Cassie’s eyes widened. She said, “oh my God, never happened to me. Which one Linsey?”
I nodded. She shrieked delighted for some reason.
Peter added, “and you didn’t say yes right away?” I said to him, “it’s not important to me.”
They shook their heads.
Peter said, “What do you mean it’s not that important? Well, It’s important to me.”
I said, “Okay if you say so, but I didn’t think so.”
Peter shook his head, tugged on Cassie’s hand and said. “Come on, Cassie, let’s go over there let’s talk to them. They seem friendly.”
I gasped. I thought Peter was making a colossal mistake! He cannot just go over there, expecting the rich crew to accept him with open arms! They were in for a huge shock. I tried stopping them, but they pushed me aside.
I raised an eyebrow and said, “Don’t do it.”
Then I added, “They will not respect you if you go over there.”
Peter shrugged and said, “So, what do I have to lose? I am not currently respected. Come on, Cassie lets go over there. Blair watch and learn.”
I stood behind and watched as cassie and Peter walked up to the rich crew. They sat down next to the rich guys and girls. They smirked and chuckled. Guess what? It didn’t take long before cassie and Peter hurried back to my table. I chuckled.
Then I asked, “What happened? That was fast.”
Peter said, “They said the table belonged to students from a certain class, and then they added it takes a lifetime become royalty and peasants might never make it up that chain.”
I sighed.
I tried to change their minds, but they grew silent and gave me the cold shoulder.”
I shook my head and said, “when will you ever learn they don’t want us here. They would rather we go somewhere else.”
5
Blair
Of course the rich crew didn’t want us around ,it was clear to see. But my friends didn’t get it.
It was the end of the school day, Cassie, Peter, Ethan, and Sally walked by my side. That’s the moment my eyes caught Killian’s. Holy hell his dangerous dark eyes drew me in. Still, I didn’t understand my attraction to Killian.
He had gorgeous curls, and a ripped beautiful body.
Killian and Xander were at least 6ft 5inches tall with washboard abs. And the way their lips Curve every time they smile was so freaking hot.
Maybe it’s hormones I tell myself. That’s the moment Cassie nudged me and asked," You okay?"
I nodded and said, yes; I am. I slid my hair nervously behind my ears.
I looked up and noticed Killian standing there. He smirked like he owned the place. Cassie rolled her eyes, and that’s the moment, a for a chauffeur-driven Mercedes pulled up beside him he got into the vehicle. She shook her head and said, “Must be nice to be filthy rich.”
Cassie smirked and said, “They have it all. We have nothing but our scholarships.”
Ethan, Peter, and Sally agreed.
I shrugged.
I decided, to keep my attraction to the rich guys a secret?
I mean I know it’s cliché, but I liked the Rich crew for them for a different reason not because of their wealth.
Cassie then flipped her hair to the side.
She said, “For what it’s worth, they are not worth it.”
But then I looked up to see my Mom waiting for me. I got in the car she asked if I had a good day?
I said, “Yes, I had a great day, mom.”
I didn’t want her to worry after all she has had enough pain in her life.
I got home that night and couldn’t stop thinking about Killian’s beautiful, dangerous eyes. The more I thought about him, the more I figured I would lose my scholarship if I kept this up. Mom Stopped by my room to check up on me. She asked if I was okay?
I told her, “everything is great, and you?”
I’m happy.
“Okay, I just want to make sure.”
And with that, she closed the door.
* * *
The next couple of days seemed like a blur. Well, the craziest thing happened, Mr. Braxton got removed for some insane reason, and he got replaced with a female principal, Ms. Rosen. The officia
l report claimed Mr. Braxton had gone on to work on other opportunities. But everyone at school knew he rubbed the rich guys the wrong way the moment he commented on Lindsey’s tattooed chest. Yes, she got one over the weekend. He had to leave for reprimanding her. I guessed rules apply to the chars and not the rich girls or boys, right? Well, that is just what it is.
The Rich boys and girls seemed pleased with Mr. Braxton’s replacement. She would do nicely, they said. She was also a former assistant principal who followed the unofficial rules set by the Riches, yes I loved calling them that.
On my end, I attended classes hung out with my crew and lied about my attraction to the gorgeous rich boys. But then when Xander walked up to me, I bit my lower lip as he got closer. The memory of that one night remained implanted in my brain. I still liked him, but I heard he was taken by a rich girl once
I turned the corner, and her eyes caught mine. She frowned and stared daggers at me.
I swallowed.
Great, this isn’t what I need right now.
Xander ignored her.
He walked up to me and asked if we could study together?
I shook my head and thought, “I would, but I will not do it because I don’t know why he is still so interested in me.” But then again I’m smart enough to know that he probably wants to get in my pants.
“That won’t happen,” I said to myself.
I smiled and kept on walking, but Xander persisted.
He said, “I would love to study with you, Chars? What’s it going to take?”
Well for starters, Chars isn’t my name. You could start with that first
“Come on, Blair,” He added. I thought now that’s better.
I bit my lower lip and thought great at least he is not making fun of me. But then I still felt his rumored girlfriend Linsey’s eyes trailing my movements.
I shook my head. Then I apologized and said, “I can’t do it, Xander. You know I can’t.”
“Okay fine, but think about it?” He said, placing a tender hand underneath my chin.
I blushed.
Then I pulled back. I nodded and watched a playful grin appear on his face.
He whispered into my ears, “Listen… I hope you join the cheerleading and the swimming team. Would be great to see you in action.”
I swallowed. How did he know about my swim team dreams? It was something I always desired but kept hidden. I lied to Lindsey about soccer, when the truth is, I wanted to be the school swim star.
Later on that day, the crew walked up to me at Lunch.
Ethan said, “Hey, guess what? A costume party’s coming up soon. We should go.”
I stabbed my salad with my fork.
Yeah, we should go. But were we invited? Now that’s the billion-dollar question.
Sally rolled her eyes and said, “Yeah, we should. But guess what Sherlock? We aren’t going because we don’t have an invitation.”
I shook my head, stayed silent, and continued eating.
Peter then turned to me and asked, “Hey, are you not interested in the party?”
I shook my head and said, “Nope.”
Cassie laughed and said. “Yes, you are.”
I said, “No, seriously, I am not. I have other things to worry about.”
“Well, that’s all on you. I am going over there. I will talk with the hot girls and guys maybe they will invite us? Say, what do you think?” Peter said.
We tried stopping him, but he ignored us and guess what he returned with his head down after getting a talk down. It was silly of him to think he would fit in with the others. His persistence surprised me. After all, he joined Bexley in his Junior year, he should know better Plus they already shut down any dreams of his attending their parties before, why would anything be different now?
The rich boys and girls laughed except Killian. He frowned and narrowed his eyes on mine.
Killian
She looks so angelic but I know she has a naughty side underneath that tough exterior. I noticed the mark on her put there by Xander. I know its crazy, but there are deep rotted secrets between us. We are all damaged, Xander Tyler and me. My emotional wounds run deep, yes the whole world thinks I fucking have it made. I am the son of one of the wealthiest men in the country, you probably buy your grocery supples from him and yet you haven’t got a clue he owns it. But then, if she’s Xander’s interest where does that leave me? No where. I am a broken just like Xander but she doesn’t know it. To her I am privileged, our families secretly own major corporations, her mom works for us but she doesn’t know it.
Too bad though she would have been a queen but her lineage wouldn’t allow it to happen. I stare at her studying her. Her mother made a big mistake bringing her to Bexley. She will have to fight to stay here. She rolls her eyes at me, and I laugh. Its hard for me to take my eyes off her though because she signifies everything I want in my life. Good things not bad not dark, my parents don’t care about me. All they care about is my not ruining their precious name in public, And that wall with our families pictures as the valevictriaowns is just that a wall of pictures. No one outside of our families can take over the top spot. It’s futile to think so.
Her perceived imperfections by others make her interesting. She finally got up and I walk up to her and capture her hand. She leers at me and I chuckle.
Her crew immediately jumps in between us, capture her hand and walk away. I see this isn’t go to be easy.
“I can’t stand her,” Emma the one everyone thinks is my girlfriend said. I kept my eyes on Blair, that’s her name interesting as she walked away from my presence. Emma would stop talking about Blair, she said:
“She doesn’t belong here, we must make her leave, you know what to do Killian.”
I shrugged of course I do. I tighten my jaw and nod.
Emma smiles and captures my hand and we head off to the next class.
6
Blair
God I hated the fact I had to take the school bus home. And of course I noticed the only ones on this “arranged bus” were the transfers and the Chars.
Damn—
I guess they have influenced me.
I now use that stupid name for the have nots. Good Lord how did it come to this?
I returned home to see mom smiling. I asked what happened? She said, “Close your eyes. I have a surprise.”
She wrapped her hands around my face and led me to the living room.
I hated surprises, and mom knew it too. Why would she spring a surprise on me? Did she get another job? Did she take dad back? What’s the surprise?
That’s the moment I heard a familiar voice say, “I can’t stay forever, but I will be here for a while.”
Holy fuck—
That voice belonged to none other than my favorite cousin, and the only family mom had in the area. He slid behind me, slid my hands off, and placed his large palms over my eyes.
“So what do you say family, should we have fun?”
I giggled. Oh my god, I hadn’t seen my cousin in years, not since he had to go into rehab to get clean.
“Wow, when did you return?” I asked, holding on to my cousin.
I couldn’t believe he was here in front of us. He chuckled and said, “Hey, I just got back. Wow, it is so great to see you, cousin.”
I beamed. Then my smile turned to a frown. I thought yeah it is great to have my cousin Mario back in my life, but then I knew it would only be temporary. He might be back in my life, but for how long? I loved my cousin Mario. He was mom’s only relative in this crazy town.
So dear cousin, what are we getting into this week. I smiled and said, “Well, there is this party but hmm not invited yet.”
He laughed and said, “What do you mean by not invited? Are they out of their minds? They should plead for your attendance.”
That’s what I loved about Mario. He was always quick to comfort me when needed. I was so happy to have him around. I kept asking so how long are you staying? He chuckled and said, “A
s long as you want. I will stay…”
“Awhile,” I said, finishing up his words. Mom laughed at our interaction. She said, “Okay, you two enough of that, let’s eat dinner. You have more than enough time to catch up.”
I nodded.
And with that we ate a scrumptious meal. Mario said he would get a job and stay awhile; Mom seemed pleased. She loved the thought of having a man around the house. She was also glad to see he cleaned up his act. I guess rehab was great for him. Later on that night, I heard her talking to someone over the phone. I realized it was someone familiar. She hung up and looked worried. I asked, “what’s wrong mom?”
She shook her head and said, “Oh, it's nothing to worry about.”
“Was it, dad?” I asked. She sighed and stayed silent. That she moment I realized she had called my only known father.
I said, “Why would you call him, mom. We are better off without him. He doesn’t care about you or me.”
She walked past me as she always does when questioned about dad.
“Mom talk to me,” I urged. She said, “You shouldn’t talk about your dad that way. I don’t care what you think, but he is still your dad!”
“Correction mom, he is your ex-husband, and he isn’t my real father.”
She shook her head and pushed past me.
“Go to bed right now.” She said, hurrying into her room.
I turned to see Mario sleeping on the couch.
Then I sighed.
I wanted to check on my mom, but she had her door shut. I placed my palm on the door.
“I am sorry mom.”
“It's okay baby, go to bed,” She replied from behind the door. I nodded and hurried into my room. I slumped on the bed and stared up at the ceiling until I fell asleep.
The next morning, my alarm clock buzzed earlier than expected. I wanted to fling it across the room.
But I didn’t. Instead, I tossed it down on the floor, and it broke. Not a good start to the day if you ask me. I stared at the shattered clock on the floor and wondered if I didn’t just invoke seven years of bad luck? These thoughts run through my head.
When I finally got out of bed, I heard mom yelling at the top of her voice, “I have to go. Are you ready for school? You will be late?”