It was time for our lunch break so I walked straight to the cafeteria and met Maya engrossed with whatever she was doing on her phone.
She didn't seem to notice me walking towards her so I snatched her phone and I could swear that I would have received a straight up slap on my face if I was someone else.
"Hey! Give that back dummy!" She protested and dragged her phone from my hands. I chuckled as I settled my butt on the cold aluminum bench.
"What are you eating?" She asked as she tucked her phone into her pocket.
"Well I gave Joe my lunch money to buy a textbook he needed-" she cut me off of my sentence by raising a finger up.
"I asked of what you were going to eat didn't I?" She said and I couldn't stop myself from giving her a tight hug.
Sometimes when I totally go broke Maya would pay for my lunch or take me out for shopping, she had a rich stepdad who she really liked and he also showed her affection by showering her with gifts and money.
On the other hand, my mum had left me and my family when we were much younger and my Dad hasn't gotten over the trauma yet so it lead him to being an alcoholic who struggles to even feed for himself talk more of Joe and I.
I'm just eighteen but I have taken upon myself the role of a mother taking care of the house hold all by myself.
"I don't really like any of the cafeteria food, they taste like my mother's food..yuck!" Maya complained as she scrunched her nose and I couldn't help but laugh.
Maya wasn't wrong at all, anytime I would visit her family I would give Grace excuses on why I couldn't eat her food.
She brought out her phone and ordered pizzas and two bottles of coke even though it was against the school rules to order food but she somewhat found a way to do it.
Shortly after the food was delivered and my tummy made an awful noise, I hadn't eaten anything but a slice of bread and coffee today.
Girls started rushing into the cafeteria and I wondered what they were up to not until I saw Zach coming in too.
He passed my table and Maya didn't even glance at him but continued to bite on her pizza till he walked to an empty seat and made himself comfortable, shortly after some other guys joined him and circled the table.
Now I get why no one dared to sit on that table since I've been in this school.
I suddenly remembered my encounter with Zach and decided to tell Maya about how he had helped me.
"Uhm..you know the footballer.. Zach?"
"Yeah?" She replied telling me to continue.
"We had math class today and well-"
"Don't tell me he ridiculed you" she said getting ready to go over and fight him.
"No no just shush!" I said calming her down when I noticed some eyes were already on us.
"He helped me today" I said and narrated how a girl tried to bully me but he helped me.
"Aww that's sweet" she said while jolting me with her elbow.
"Should I thank him?" I asked.
On a normal day I wouldn't even care or dare to speak to one of these famous guys but I felt like I needed to thank him.
"If you want to" she replied. I finished the slice of pizza I had with me and gulped it down with the coke.
I took deep breaths and made my way to the forbidden table.
They didn't seem to notice my presence as they kept on chatting about a topic they were all interested in, well Zach didn't seem to be interested.
I was feeling nervous standing here and I could already feel different eyes on me damn it!
"Uhm hey!" I said but my voice came out cracked.
They all seemed to stop their discussion immediately they noticed me and I started to wonder if I had made the wrong choice of coming here.
"Who are you?" One of the boys asked and the rest bursted In laughter staring at me from my head to toe. I knew I hadn't dressed well and my hair was messy, my face was plain and without makeup and I was wearing one of the most stupid necklace on a shirt.
I felt so embarrassed to the point that my mouth turned heavy and I couldn't utter any more words.
"She's probably an attention seeker" a girl walked over to the table and stood close to Zach placing her hands on his shoulder.
Aurora Brooks the infamous cheerleader, also every girl's nightmare.
She had that tall slender body with literally no curves but then with a pretty face that she uses to oppress everyone. Everyone had talked about how her face was plastic but she didn't seem to mind flaunting it.
If there was one person I was trying to avoid till I graduate it was Aurora Brooks. Silly of me to think today would be a good day and thanking him would be the polite thing to do.
"Oh I love that necklace, where did you get it from, the trash?" She said touching the necklace like it was shit.
Everyone suddenly burst into laughter and I had never been more humiliated.
I looked at Zach's face but he didn't seem to be interested in whatever I had to say as a smirk appeared on his face after Aurora embarrassed me.
"Never mind" I said and left the cafeteria immediately tears started to run down my cheeks. Maya wasn't in the cafeteria at the moment everything happened, she left earlier when I was going to meet Zach. If she had been in the cafeteria she would have helped me.
I ran to the ladies bathroom and cried my eyes out, I checked my reflection in the mirror and suddenly I don't blame them for mocking me.
I am literally thrash, a 5'5ft ugly low budget Shrek that only finds baggy wears comfortable.
I stared at the reflection of the necklace on my neck, my grandma had gave it to me on the day she was dying and I vowed to keep it and pass it on to my daughter. It wasn't expensive but it was price less to me.
"What the hell happened to you, I was gone for just 5 minutes" Maya yelled immediately she opened the bathroom door and saw me crying.
"Nothing much, nevermind" I lied but she noticed immediately and stormed out of the bathroom.
I knew what she was up to but then it wasn't Zach that humiliated me so I ran to catch up with her.
"It wasn't Zach, let's just forget it" I plead and she gave me a glaring look before she dragged my hands away to our next class. We had English together.
******
It was time to leave school but I would be going to the mall for my after school job instead. I was lucky to have found a good paying job that permits me to attend work only 3 times in a week and today was my day on.
"Let's go watch a movie to cheer you up" Maya said as we walked out of the building.
"It's Thursday Maya, Im going to work" I replied with lack of energy feeling drained from what had happened earlier.
"Oh! alright then, I'll drop you off" she said and we got into her expensive Rolls Royles car. Zach and his crew came out of the building immediately we drove away from the parking lot and I could still see Aurora clinging onto him like a tattoo or rather a scar.
The drive from Sapphire high school wasn't far to the mall and we got there in less than twenty minutes.
"I love you Maya" I said as I got down from her car.
"I love you too Issabella, see you tomorrow morning" she said and zoomed off after giving throwing me a wind kiss.
I work in a boutique that was mainly the most attractive jewelry store in the mall, different celebrities and rich kids would come here shopping for expensive jewelry and i had found out of the job vacancy when I had followed Maya for shopping. She ended up buying a lot because she couldn't choose.
Work was less busy today as we had lesser and fewer customers but I was secretly glad because I would have the time to do my homework from school.
I was engrossed and focussed on my math assignment that I didn't notice when a boy walked in. His face was familiar and I was sure I knew him from a place, my suspicions were confirmed when I saw the School's football bracelet on his hand.
I should have known he was one of the footballers with his great appearance and perfectly styled hair that was gelled on his hair, his sharp jaw made him look intimidating and his piercings fitted him perfectly.
"Welcome to J&K, how may I help you?" I said and he smiled at me. He seemed to have recognized me from what happened earlier today and I suddenly felt embarrassed.
He didn't say anymore words as he picked a pair of silver earrings that was by the side of the store and paid for the price that was tagged on it.
"The boys could get silly sometimes, sorry for what happened earlier today" he said and walked out of the store. Did a member of the Green lands just say sorry?
It was time to close from work so I had left immediately it was 6pm, I was really getting hungry already. My house was a little bit far from the mall, I had to pass the school route but then with no money on me walking is the only option I have. After an hour of walking on the streets and admiring the stars I finally got home. " Isabella!!" Joe ran to hug me immediately I opened the door. I gave him a kiss on his forehead and ruffled his hair with my hands which made him chuckle. "How was school?" I asked him and the brightest beam of smile appeared on his face. "I met a beautiful girl in the library when I was buying the book" he said and chuckled showing off his tooth that had fallen out and I couldn't help but smile. Joe was just 8 years old and thus a really adorable cute kid, ever since my mother had left I had been taking care of him like he was my own son. I loved it when he would come to my room and lay on my bed whenev
We stopped to pick Joe up from school then we all went to Maya's house together."Grace!" Joe yelled immediately he saw Maya's mother and ran to hug her.She opened her arms widely and kissed his forehead, she and Joe have really bonded even more than Joe had bonded with my father. I was glad Joe found someone who loves him truly like her own child...well someone but me."Hi Mrs Anderson" I greeted her and Maya dragged me by my hand till we got to her room which was way up the staticase I really hated to climb."So what are you wearing" she asked and I cocked a brow at her confused."This?" I said pointing to the sweatshirt and jeans I wore."Tell me you're joking" She glared at me with a scary eyes and when I shook my head she slapped her forehead."Alright then" she sighed, "we'll fix it, you'll weary clothes and I'll restyle your hair, oh and I'll also apply some make up for you" she said and as I was about to protest she lifted a
"Let's go home!" Maya suddenly dragged my hand out of the building. "Hey where have you been, I have been looking for you all over the house!" I yelled but noticed her expression was different, she was in totally different mood. "What's up.. what happened?" I asked but she still didn't say anything, we entered her car and she crashed her head on the steering wheel and completely broke into tears. "What happened to you?" I asked the already crying lady that was beside me. She was just happy and dancing some hours ago and now she's wailing. "I'm a bad person Isabella!" She cried and I patted her back reassuring her that she'll be fine. I didn't want to push her the more to tell me about it because Maya was a type of girl that wouldn't open up her feelings immediately she gets hurt. "I'll drive" I said and she opened the driver's seat door and entered the back seat. I watched how my tough best friend laid on her back seat wailing like a child. Sh
It was a great movie and we were both excited that it had a part two, we watched it for so long that we didn't realize that the time has passed real quick.Maya couldn't stop squealing at every scene and sometimes she'd chuckle and say "George does that" she didn't seem to realize when she said those words while I on the other hand watched the movie without being able to relate to anything there, I am a sucker after all.The room door barged open and Joe ran to hug me, I lifted him and hugged him tighter. To be very honest I missed the little boy.He looked different and it was really obvious he went on a date with Grace. He had a new hair cut on and a really new cloth that looked expensive, he wore a Nike pair of shoes and socks and a black Gucci jacket. His stomach also looked big like he had eaten a whole plate of pasta."Thank you for taking care of him Grace" I smiled at her as she walked into the room."I promise to smack you the next time yo
"let me go!" I yelled but he doesn't answer as his grip on me became tighter and firmer.At this point different eyes were on us while some people even brought out their camera just to have a record of what was happening.He dragged me away from the school cafeteria into the Janitor's closet and locked the door behind him. My whole body was numb and I could hear the rise and fall of my heartbeat.I made to reach for the door but he dragged me back and pinned my body against the wall."What the hell do you want from me?" I yelled but hissed almost immediately as his grip on my hands became tighter."Why the fuck were you ignoring my messages" he said with his face really close to mine that I could feel the heat from his mouth as he spoke."What fucking message are you talking abo....oh!" I realized it was him who had been sending those anonymous messages to me
We finally arrived at the mechanic shop, it wouldn't be fair to call it a shop because it was enormous, I never knew a place as huge as this was in this town. But yet I couldn't find a lot of workers but just a man and a young boy who looked more like his son from the wide opened door.Zach came down from the car and walked into the shop with his hands tucked in his pockets, I guess that was the way he liked to walk."Don't you wanna come down?" He turned to me and asked but I pretended not to hear him by drifting my attention to my phone. He shrugged his shoulders and walked into the shop.I could see him talking to the man who now offered him his cigarette and I was surprised to see him puffing it. I never knew he was into smoking too.After waiting for what felt like hours, Zach finally came back to his car and started the engine. I had thought he wanted to repair something in the car but I was wr
It was time for school and Grace had promised to take care of Joe but nevertheless I wanted to do it myself because I missed doing it even though it's not up to a week yet. "I missed you Isabella, please don't stay away for too long so you won't leave like mum" he cupped my hand with his two little hands as he looked at me with his big brown eyes and wet curly hair. "Joe I'm never going to leave you and I'm letting you know this" "But she said you were going to leave like my mum" he said and I raised his chin to look at me. "Who said that?" I asked and he wiped the tears off his face with his wet hands. "My girlfriend" he said and more tears started to run down his eyes. I would explain to him later about the girlfriend thing but now is a different time. "I don't see any reason for me to leave you Joe, Always and forever will I be with you even in my grave" I said and he hugged me tight. I placed a kiss on his head and tried to stop th
The ride was filled with awkward a silence and Xavier's word keep playing in my head"Look! I just want you to know that I have nothing to do with everything that is happening and I'm also trying to convince those dudes but they're hell bent on continuing the dare even though Zach himself wants to end it" did Zach really want to end it? Perhaps he was tired of walking with a Shrek."I'll stop here" I said to Xavier as I came down from his car and thanked it, I wasn't at my destination yet but the atmosphere in the car was getting stuffy and suffocating.I would pick Joe up and go to my house, I don't want to be a burden to the Anderson's. I arrived at their house and Maya wasn't there yet I assumed she must have went out with Frank.I greeted Grace but couldn't find her husband, perhaps he had work to do."I'll be taking Joe with me today" I said and she nodded her head with a smile, I knew how much she loved and want him around but I need some tim