Blossom's POV
"How was your first day?" my mother asked as I walked into the kitchen and found her cooking at the stove.
"It was fine," I answered.
"You made any friends?"
"Yes. With two girls and...." I paused when I remembered her warning me to stay away from boys.
"And?" she asked.
"And they're super nice."
"What are you their names?"
"Sophia and Nina."
"Okay. I'm happy you're already adjusting here. I'll be starting the new job tomorrow so when you get home from school, I wouldn't be here. Lock all the doors and windows and don't open for anyone but me.
Do you understand me, Blossom?"
"Yes mama," I answered.
"Good. The food is almost ready. Get freshen up."
"Okay."
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The very next day at school, I ran into Nina and Sophia in the hallway. We walked together to our locker.
"Guys, I got this new lipgloss. You need to try it," Nina said. They rushed into the bathroom and I followed suit.
I watched as they applied lipgloss to their lips.
"Blossom, try it," Nina said.
"Umm.. okay," I said and Nina help me put some on.
"Well we'll well, they're trying to beautify the African Baboon," a voice said, followed by laughter.
We turned and saw Brooke and her clique, folded arms and in their cheer leading uniforms, standing at the door way.
"Isn't that exciting?" Brooke said again, making steps towards us. She reached up to me and watched me from head to toe then toe to head.
"I don't know if I should just bash your face in or feel sorry for you because you don't have enough common sense to figure out where the lines are drawn around here.
You're new so I'll let this one slide but let me make something clear to you, Jevan Hollen belongs to me. He'll always belong to me so you better watch yourself!"
And with that, she left. Her friends made signs with their fingers slicing at their throats and pointing it at me before following her out.
"I think I'm going to be sick," I said and ran into the toilet.
"Blossom.."
"Bloss. Are you okay?" Nina and Sophia called. I walked out the stall and cleaned myself off.
"How am I to stay away from him when I'm his partner for the baby project?" I asked my friends.
"Maybe have Mrs. Smith give you a new partner. Let someone else team up with Jevan. We did warned you about him. Brooke is crazy. She wouldn't hesitate to beat you silly if she catches you with him again," Nina said.
"Okay Nina, that's enough. You're only scaring her more."
"I'm sorry."
"Guys, let's just go to class."
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When it was time for Mrs. Smith class, I went quickly before anyone else could enter the classroom.
"You want to switch partner?"
"Yes please Mrs. Smith. Jevan isn't a match."
"Why do you say that? He's my 'A' student and I know he takes his studies seriously. So what's the real issue with you and him?"
I wrecked my brain for the perfect answer.
"I think he wants to be too close to me and I'm uncomfortable with it," I lied and hoped I wouldn't get him in trouble.
"Hmm. Well, okay. I'll talk to Jevan and..."
"No! You don't need to do all that. Just please pair me with someone else."
"Okay Blossom, I'll pair you up with someone else." I heaved a sigh of relief and my racing heart calm down.
When the other students filed in and took their seats, I did the same. Jevan came in with Jason since he had him for the first night.
"Jevan, your new partner is Cindy. Gary, your new partner is Blossom," Mrs. Smith said once we had settled.
"What, why?" Jevan asked.
"No questions Mr. Hollen. Switch seats now."
Jevan looked at me in confusion and I felt awful afterwards. Without any words asked to me, he got up and went to the back of the classroom, next to a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes.
________
For the remainder of the class, I felt terrible and like a coward. Jevan was the perfect partner and I was looking forward to working with him on this project. I couldn't stop myself from stealing quick glances at him.
He appeared to be comfortable with Cindy.
After class, I quickly slipped through the door and entered the halls.
"Blossom!" I heard his voice calling. I turned around and he was right behind me. There was no getting away from him.
"What?" I asked him, trying to sound bold.
"Why you had Mrs. Smith switch us? Did I offend you? I'm sorry if I did."
"Just leave me alone Jevan. I don't want to be your friend. I don't want to get to know you." I looked up and it was as if my words had cut right through him.
"Fine. Thanks for letting me know," he responded and walked away from me.
Something inside of me ached and squeezed tightly against my chest as if it wanted to burst. I was steeling myself from running after him and tell him all about his terrible girlfriend but I didn't. Plus, I didn't even know Jevan.
_________
At lunch time, I sat with my friends. They saw the sulking expression on my face.
"Aww, are you missing him?" Nina teased me.
"Jevan?" Sophia asked.
"Yeah. She had Mrs. Smith switch them."
"You really did that because of Brooke?"
"Is that a stupid thing?" I asked.
"Yes," Sophia said.
"What?" Nina and I asked together.
"Come on you two, Brooke is a bully and if someone doesn't stand up to her, she'll continue doing this because we're afraid of her. She needs someone to knock her off her high horse for once," Sophia told us.
"Good luck with that. I'm not crossing Brooke and her minions. And you shouldn't encourage Blossom to stand up to her."
We ate in silence. Jevan and his friends were sitting on their usual table. I looked at him and he looked at me too then he quickly looked away.
I heaved a sigh and walked out of the cafeteria.
___________
"Blossom!" someone called. I turned and saw Gary, my new partner, running towards me.
"Hi there."
Gary was a skinny guy with straight black hair that hang down his neck.
He handed me the doll and rushed off.
"What? You didn't even tell me her name!" I yelled after him but he continued on his way. I stared at the new doll, my new 'child' and she started crying.
"It's going to be a long day," I said to myself. I took the doll home that night and she kept me up for the whole night.
_____
'I wonder if Jason kept Jevan up the first night like this?' I thought when I prepared for school the next morning.For the remainder of the week, I avoided Jevan. We would glance at each other in class and at lunch but that was about it.
On Friday, Mrs. Tisdale sent for me.
"Have a seat Miss. Wright," she gestured when I walked into her office. I complied.
"I've been looking at your extra curriculum activities.. and.... You don't have any.
A new position is open on the squad and I think you should join. You did do gymnastics in Africa, right?""Yes ma'am, but which squad are you talking about?"
"The cheer leading squad."
I gulped.
Blossom's POVAfter school the next day, it was my first cheerleading practice. Mrs. Tisdale ushered me into the gymnasium where the others were gathered and already doing cartwheels and poses."Brooke! Meet the newest member of the squad," Mrs. Tisdale cut right to the chase then she turned on her heel, leaving me to the pact of wolves."Well.. well.. well, look at what the cat dragged in," Brooke gnarled as she approached me, "You're not going to make this squad because it's only for the best of the best but I'm interested in seeing what you can do. Cartwheel and Toe-Touch!" she finished.I immediately did a cartwheel and finished with the perfect toe-touch.Brooke smirked and I spent the rest of the practice doing hand springs and cartwheels until I couldn't feel my hands anymore. It was torture."That's it," I spoke when at last, I couldn't bare it anymore."Everyone, what's the motto?" Brooke as
Blossom's POV"YOU ALMOST KISSED JEVAN HOLLEN?" both Nina and Sophia asked at the same time when I told them about Jevan's rescue last Friday night after the game.It was now Monday and we were heading to our last class before lunch.As we rounded the corner, books in hands, I walked into a wall.. Or at least I thought it was a wall.I stumbled backwards, books spilling from my arms as I almost hit the floor. I was caught just in the nick of time and stabled back to my feet."Damn. I'm so sorry. I'm rushing to practice and I didn't see you. Are you okay?""I bet she is now," Nina answered in her usual teasing manner. Sophia giggled softly besides her before turning her head to avert her eyes."It's... It's.. Okay," I stuttered. There was a lingering electricity on my arm where he had caught me. My heart raced around in my chest that I thought it would move to another part of my body."Let
Blossom's POV"WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR FOREHEAD?" my mother's concerned voice rang out when I entered the house and met her in the small living room."I tripped and fell on a stair case in the school," I lied. I had never lied to my mother before but I couldn't tell her that I was beaten up by my head cheerleader for being too friendly with her boyfriend. After all, my mother did warned me to stay away from boys."Are you going to be okay?" She asked again."Yes. I already saw the school nurse and she said it was just a slight cut. It wouldn't scar or anything.""Okay. Well, I'm off to work now. Lock the doors as usual and don't answer it to anyone. I felt food in the oven."I watched as she walked down the pathway, crossed and street and fetched a bus to her night-shift job. I felt vulnerable all over again as the images flashed back to what Brooke had her friends do to me.My tiny frame was pushed in every direction, with p
Jevan's POVThe next morning, before I left for school, I joined my family for breakfast.Jada was being her usual talkative self while everyone else listened while stuffing their faces."Good morning," I greeted and sat down next to my father."Good morning," everyone responded."And it came out of nowhere. I was so scared at first, but then I wasn't anymore when I saw that it was the cutest bunny ever. His eyes were red but his fur was white," Jada went on."Hey, mom, dad, is it okay if I invite someone over this weekend?" I asked my parents as an idea sparked in my head."Who?" Jada asked me."None of your business," I responded, "I was speaking to mom and dad.""You're so mean!""And you're always prying into someone's business!""Okay! That's enough. Jada, Jevan, mind your table manners," my father cut in and put a stop to it."So
Blossom's POV"Where were you?" my mother asked and she approached me."Mama, I'm so sorry. I..I.. I.""Stop with the stuttering and speak up!" she bolted out.I swallowed. "I was with my friend.""So, Blossom, you're now your own woman to be disobeying me, lying to me and hanging out with guys.""Mom, I'm sorry," I sincerely apologised. There were tears in my eyes and to my great surprise, my mother pulled me into her arms and comforted me."It's okay, baby. Maybe I'm being too hard on you. We've moved here to create a new life for ourselves and you're growing up to become a woman.One day, whether I like it or not, you'll have a husband and kids."We laughed together."But I want to meet him. Your friend. What was his name again?""Jevan," I answered."Okay. I want to meet this Jevan. Go rest now. I'll make us some dinner.""I wan
Jevan's POVI sat across from the headmistress with two police officers on my right. She heaved an exhausting sigh as if she was lacking sleep for days."Jevan. This is serious. There are children saying that there was a confrontation between you and Brooke yesterday and that you put your hands on her in the parking lot.""Mrs. Tisdale, Brooke is crazy.""Did you or did you not put your hands on her?" an officer cut in."Yes! But not in an abusive form whatsoever. She jumped onto my car and I removed her from it. Simple!" I was getting frustrated already."How did you remove her? Was it more like a grab or a shove?" the other officer asked."I gently removed her," I answered."Oh come on. Someone is on your car.. Being gentle would be the last thing on your mind. What kind of car do you you drive?" the first officer asked again."Look, can I call my dad?" I directed to Mrs. Ti
Blossom's POVAfter leaving the principal's office and fetching my backpack from my locker, I walked out into the parking lot and saw Jevan standing next to his Extra-luxury Range Rover.He immediately caught the bruises on my knuckles and the sad look on my face. He came over, took my bag off my shoulder and pulled me into his arms."Hey, are you going to be okay?"I shook my head no. "I'm suspended for two weeks. My mom is going to freak when she finds out. She have been tolerant of you, but me getting suspended, she's going to skin me alive.""I'm sure she will understand.""You don't know my mother."Jevan took me home and offered to stay with me until I told my mother about my suspension but I declined. I didn't want him getting caught in the middle of the fire I knew was coming.I walked into the kitchen and saw my mother putting a tray of barbeque wings into the oven. She was already dressed f
Jevan's POVIt has been one week since Blossom's suspension and school didn't seem the same without her, at least for me.There was just something about her that got underneath my skin and made me feel something completely different. Something I've never felt before.After school, I drove to Blossom's house. I knocked on the door when I got there and a sad looking Blossom opened it."Hi. How are you?" I asked her, studying her face."I'm fine." She rubbed her eyes after."Were you asleep? Did I wake you?"She nodded yes."Is your mom here?"She nodded no. "She already left for work.""Oh. Well I bought over your homework and assignments. I'll get out of your hair now so you can go back to getting some rest. Okay?""Thanks, but there's something we have to talk about. Something that I saw. In your phone."I narrowed my eyes. "What's that?"&nb