Beautiful Mess

by Preston, Jennifer

  After Wednesday night’s practice, she and Layla stayed late, learning the routines that Bri had missed. Bri had always been a fast learner, and they had made it almost halfway through the military routine in an hour. The rest of her nights were spent doing the copious amounts of homework she had, despite it being the first week of school.

  She had eaten lunch with Layla and her friends all week, and Jess had indeed saved her a seat in English. And while Bri had been preoccupied with all the crap with Cole all week and hadn’t made much of an effort with them, Layla and her friends still tried to include her and make her feel welcome. Bri decided she needed to do better. It was time to start making friends, some real friends. So when Layla called on Saturday morning and invited Bri to go shopping with her and the girls, Bri eagerly accepted.

  “Perfect!” Layla replied. “We’re meeting at 1:00 at the food court. Gotta fuel up before hitting the shops. Trust me, you’ll need your stamina!”

  “Sounds like my kind of shopping,” Bri laughed.

  “Yep, bring your credit card and some comfortable shoes. We take no prisoners!”

  So Bri spent the afternoon shopping with Layla, Jess, and Maddie. They talked and laughed and joked as they hopped from store to store. It felt good having some girl-time, and it was fun getting to know her new friends better. And while her first week at Santa Monica High had been a disaster, at least one good thing had happened. Thank goodness for Layla, Jess, and Maddie. They were just what Bri needed to put the whole Cole thing behind her, and get her life back on track.

  Monday morning, Bri walked into dance and was assaulted by more glares, and even a few open sneers. She wasn’t sure what she had done to earn the extra hostility this morning, but it felt really good to wipe all those smirks off her teammates’ faces as she started teaching the team their new dance routine. It was fast, complicated, and difficult, and by the end of practice not even Natalie had the energy to glower at her.

  Bri smiled to herself. There were going to be a lot of sore muscles tonight.

  The day only continued to get stranger, as Bri noticed more and more smiles and waves from guys in the hall and in her classes. She also noticed more than her fair share of dirty looks and scowls from the girls. Great. It seemed like not only had Bri managed to piss off the girls on the Dance Team, but also the majority of the female population of SMH. Things just kept getting better and better.

  She also noticed that Trey was obnoxiously attentive to her. He was blatantly gawking and leering at her all through French class.

  Doing her best to ignore all the extra attention she was getting, Bri took a deep, bracing breath before walking into History. It was by far her least favorite class, Ceramics coming in a close second, and it had nothing to do with the subject, and everything to do with the two arrogant jerks watching her walk in. Not even acknowledging their presence, Bri took her seat and waited for class to begin.

  “Hey Cole.” Trey was whispering, but he was about as subtle as a blow horn. “Are you in?”

  “No, man. I’m sitting this one out,” Cole replied.

  “Less competition for me! Hey, what do you know about her?”

  “Bri? Not much, why?”

  “Just trying to find an advantage. I’m trying to get all the info I can. You were talking to her the other day, what’s she like?”

  “I really don’t know, we weren’t really talking. But, I do know that she’s way too smart for you. And, unfortunately for you also, she’s too smart to fall for any of your crap. If I were you, I’d forget about it.”

  “What?” Trey’s voice rose incredulously. “I have yet to meet a woman who can resist me. Not when I put my mind to it. I’m relentless.”

  “Well, you’re going to have to up your game for that one. Seems like too much work to me, and not really worth it. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Thankfully the bell rang and class started. Bri was beyond furious that Cole and Trey were talking about her. If Trey thought she’d ever give him the time of day, he had another thing coming. She knew his type way too well.

  In Ceramics, Bri noticed Cole watching her as she attempted to make a pinch pot, but luckily he didn’t try and talk to her. By the end of the day, she was really tired of all the attention she was getting.

  The next morning at dance, the hostility seemed to have drastically increased since the day before, and Bri decided to throw down. Walking up to Natalie’s group of sneering lackeys, she barged right in. She’d had enough of this crap.

  “Alright, “ she began. “I don’t know what your problem is, or what I’ve done to piss you all off so thoroughly, but if you have a problem with me at least have the guts to say it to my face. Don’t do the whole passive-aggressive thing.”

  “Okay,” Natalie took the bait and stepped up into Bri’s face. Erica, Natalie’s number two, flanking her. “You want to know what our problem is? It’s the fact that you waltz in here, demanding your own personal audition, because apparently you’re too good to try out like the rest of us. Then Belinda all but names you dictator-in-chief, and we all have to do whatever you say. And, if that wasn’t bad enough,” Natalie leaned in even closer, “you’ve got every guy in this school chasing after you with their tongues hanging out. So yeah, those of us who have been here for a while kind of have a problem with that.”

  Bri had to take a second to get her temper under control. Smacking Natalie upside the head wasn’t going to help the situation any.

  “Okay, first of all, I do not think I’m better than the rest of you. I was still living in Dallas when you all had tryouts. And yes, I did request a chance to try out for the team, once I moved here, but not because I thought I deserved a private audition. Second, I have no control over what Belinda wants to do with the team. I tried to talk her out of using my routine. I still think it’s a bad idea. I’m not a dictator. I’m teaching the routine, that’s all. And lastly, I do not have all the boys chasing after me. I don’t want their attention and I’m certainly not encouraging them. So get over it!”

  “Right,” Natalie scoffed. “I’m not sure if you’re blind or just stupid. I’ve seen the way the boys all drool as you walk by. Oh, and did you know the football team has a bet going to see who can nail the new girl first? So much for not encouraging them. From everything I’ve seen, my guess is that bet will be won by the end of the week.” Natalie turned haughtily and strode away, her pack of hyenas laughing and following after her.

  Bri was too stunned to even get upset that Natalie had called her a slut. Everything was suddenly making sense. All the looks and glares she’d been getting. The strange conversation between Cole and Trey yesterday. That’s what they had been talking about. The bet.

  Her temper flared again as she realized Cole and Trey had been strategizing on how best to “nail her” before anyone else. She was furious and mortified, and she had a hard time not taking it out on the rest of the girls at practice.

  Afterward, Layla caught up with her on the way to the locker room.

  “Hey, nice job standing up to the bitch squad earlier,” Layla smiled. “If they know you’re not just going to roll over and take it, they’ll leave you alone. They don’t like a challenge. It requires too much thinking.”

  “Thanks,“ Bri smiled, grateful for the support. “Is it true, what they said about the bet?”

  “Unfortunately. I’m sorry. Guys can be such dill holes sometimes. Don’t let them get to you.”

  “I know. It just really pisses me off. That, and the fact that they think I’m dumb enough, and desperate enough, to jump into bed with anyone who offers.”

  “I know,” Layla sympathized. “No one ever said men were the smarter species. Just keep your head up. You’ll be old news in no time!”

  When Bri reached her locker after third period, she had an unwanted visitor waiting for her.

  “Hi there,” Trey nodded at her. “How’s it going, Bri?”

  “Fine,” she replied curtly and began stuffing books int
o her locker. “What do you want Trey?” She hoped if she was terse, Trey would get the hint and leave.

  “Well, I wanted to talk to you.” He seemed oblivious to her disdain. “I was hoping we could maybe hang out sometime, get to know each other. Maybe Friday, after the game?”

  And there it was. Her invitation to help him win his bet. Her anger rose, and she found she couldn’t even attempt to let him down gently.

  “Look Trey, that’s not going to happen. I don’t want to be rude, but I’m afraid if I’m not brutally blunt and honest, you’ll think you’ve got a chance. I don’t want to go out with you. Ever. I’m not remotely interested in you, or whatever it is you think you have to offer. I’ve dated guys like you before, and I have no desire to ever do so again. So do yourself a favor. Take your expensive clothes, and your fake smile, and go try to find some other girl to give you what you want. Because you won’t be getting it from me.” She slammed her locker shut and began to walk away.

  Trey grabbed her arm and pulled her back, roughly. Bri glared at his hand on her arm, and then up at him.

  “Hey, I get the whole hard-to-get thing,” Trey said cockily. “Girls like to be pursued. They want you to work for it. So, that’s what I’m going to do. Just so you know, I don’t back down, and I don’t give up. And,” his eyes traveled slowly up her body, “luckily for you, I don’t mind a challenge.” He gave her a predatory smile before releasing her arm and walking away.

  “I’m not playing hard to get!” Bri shouted after him, fuming.

  He turned and smirked over his shoulder. “Sure you’re not, baby,” and he continued down the hall.

  The rest of the week continued in much the same way. Bri focused most of her energy ignoring the bitch squad, Cole, and especially Trey. She breathed a sigh of relief when Friday finally came. Between early mornings, late night practices twice a week, and enough homework to sink a small boat, Bri was exhausted. A two day reprieve sounded wonderful. She just had to make it through the day first. Which wasn’t going to be easy, since it was the first home game for the football team, and Bri’s first halftime performance with her new team. She could already tell, it was going to be a long day.

  It seemed the whole school was excited about the game. The football players all wore their jerseys, and the cheerleaders wore their uniforms, in an attempt to bolster school spirit. And to Bri’s great disappointment, the Dance Team was also required to wear their uniforms to school that day. This uniform consisted of tight, black jazz pants, and a dark blue sequined halter top. This was unfortunate because not only did this draw more attention, leers, and glares her way, but the top was not the most comfortable thing to wear for seven hours. Correction, it was going to be an extremely long day.

  On her way to second period, Bri was surprised to see a familiar face by the lockers. This was the first time Bri had seen Cole in the halls since the first day of school. A flick of blond hair caught her attention. That was why he was here. Cole stood talking to an extremely animated and bouncy Serena, who managed to make her regulation cheer uniform look skimpy. For a moment, Bri wondered if the rumors about Cole and Serena getting back together were true. From the way Serena was shoving her chest in Cole’s face, it looked like Serena was still on the hunt. But who knew, maybe they were together and this was their idea of foreplay. Bri felt her eyes narrow as she watched them, and jealousy flamed through her.

  Cole’s pleasantly surprised gaze found hers, and Bri saw the look of awe that fell over his face as he took her in from head to toe. As his eyes found hers again, a knowing grin crossed his face as he saw the obvious jealousy all over hers. Her cheeks began to flush and she quickly tore her gaze away and hurried past him.

  As she walked by, she heard Serena snort.

  “Oh, look,” Serena sneered. “The cheerleader rejects dressed up today, too. Isn’t that cute. They try so hard to be us!” Her groupies laughed.

  Bri desperately wanted to turn around and let Serena have it. But there was no way she was going to let Cole think she and Serena were fighting over him. So, she continued by without a word.

  “It’s more than cute. It’s totally hot!” Cole replied.

  “You think she’s hot?” Serena demanded incredulously.

  “Hey,” Cole held up his hands. “I’m just admiring the scenery, that’s all. I’m not really into redheads.”

  Ass. Bri felt a flash of anger, but then she quickly reminded herself that she didn’t care what Cole thought or did. She didn’t want him thinking about her, or checking her out. He and Serena could live happily ever after, for all she cared.

  Unfortunately, her reaction to Cole was the least of her worries. Trey had been especially obnoxious today, and was driving Bri crazy. Why couldn’t the guy take a hint? And what was worse, he had taken to whistling at her every time he saw her today, a habit that the rest of the guys had picked up. So all day, she had been leered and whistled at. It was getting really old. By the time she walked into Ceramics, and a chorus of whistles greeted her, it was all she could do not to scream and walk out.

  She sat down at her table, but was too busy worrying about how she was going to keep from getting clay all over her uniform to notice someone sliding into the seat next to her.

  “I’ve never seen anyone loathe a ball of clay so much,” the smooth voice laughed.

  Bri was too tired and frustrated to put up a fight.

  “I’m not angry at the clay. I’m angry at this whole stupid situation.” She let out a sigh. “I mean look at me,” she motioned to her sparkly uniform. “I can’t do anything dressed like this. It’s ridiculous!”

  Cole chuckled. “Well, I know every guy within a five hundred foot radius would disagree.”

  Bri scowled at him. She hated herself for noticing how blue his eyes looked against his navy blue jersey.

  “Yeah, about that. You can tell your buddy Trey that if he doesn’t stop whistling at me, I’m going to run him down with my car. And he’d better get his minions to knock it off, too, or I’m going to start busting some heads.”

  He laughed again, before throwing up his hands in surrender at the glare Bri gave him. She was really starting to regret her decision to temporarily suspend her shunning of Cole.

  “Hey, I didn’t come over here to piss you off. I actually came because I need a favor,” he winced.

  Bri was so shocked at his gall she could only gape at him.

  “I know, I know. I’m the last person who should be asking you for a favor. And actually, I’m really just so glad you’re talking to me, that I’m regretting having said anything now.” He gave her a lopsided grin.

  Snapping out of her stunned silence, Bri finally found her voice.

  “No! I am not going to help you win your little bet you and your fellow Neanderthals have going about me,” she replied angrily. “I’m not sleeping with you, or Trey, or anyone else, so you all can get over it and move on with your lives!”

  Cole’s jaw dropped, horrified.

  “Bri, I swear that is not what I was going to ask! I never even thought it! That bet is juvenile and asinine, and I told them that. I swear to you, I’m not in on it. Please, you have to believe me!” Cole was so upset that Bri found her anger ebbing.

  “Fine Cole, whatever,” she interrupted before he could continue. “What is it you want, then?”

  He gazed at her longingly for moment before answering.

  “You have Mr. Tillman for your AP Calculus class, right?”

  “Yes,” she replied warily.

  “Well, I have him too, for Algebra II. And the thing is, math and I don’t exactly get along. I need at least a B to keep my GPA up for football. So,” he paused, looking uncomfortable, “I talked to Mr. Tillman and got him to agree to give you extra credit if you’d help me out. You know, tutor me,” he finished unsurely.

  “You want me to tutor you?” Bri was confused.

  “Yes. You know, help me with my assignments, maybe take my tests for me,” he joked.

 
; “No.” Bri’s mind finally wrapped around what he was asking. And from her perspective what it amounted to was spending time with Cole. Alone. Unacceptable. “No Cole, I can’t. I already have a crap load of homework, and dance practices on top of that. I don’t have time to make sure you stay on the football team.”

  “This isn’t about the football team, this is about eligibility. You know, for college scholarships, that kind of thing.”

  “Oh,” she was taken slightly aback.

  Seeing her soften, Cole pushed. “Please Bri! I’ll work around your schedule. I’ll do whatever you ask. I’ll be on my best behavior, I promise,” he smiled. “Plus, it’ll help you too.” When Bri looked at him dubiously, he continued. “Just think about how good a little volunteering and tutoring will look on that application to Stanford. Schools like that eat that stuff up!”

  She hated to admit it, but he had a point. Her community service was a little lacking. Helping Cole could in fact help pad her resume for Stanford.

  “Okay, fine.” She couldn’t believe she was agreeing to this. “But if you do anything to screw this up, I’m out and you’re on your own. If I even get the inkling that you are wasting my time, I’m done. Got it?”

  “Yes ma’am,” Cole saluted her with a huge smile. Bri rolled her eyes.

  “Tuesday nights. What time are you done with practice?”

  “5:00.”

  “Fine. Be at my house at 5:30. You have one hour to go over what you need. That’s it.”

  “Deal! Thanks Bri!” He grinned like he’d won the lottery.

  “Don’t thank me yet. Now, you, get out of here.”

  “You sure you don’t need any help with that?” He motioned to the lump of clay in front of her.

  “Positive. Now go!”

  “Okay.” Cole stood to leave, but leaned back down and whispered in her ear. “I seem to recall a conversation we had once about those pants you’re wearing. Just want you to know that the real thing is even better than I imagined it! You look hot today, Bri!”