“A win is a win.” He pushes himself off the lockers and goes in the direction of our Biology class, but I still call him.
“How are you even breathing without your jock pack behind you?” I cross my arms and level him with a raised eyebrow.
“To the contrary of the belief of this school, I don’t need anyone’s help to breathe.” His eyes light up, and I suppress a sigh. “Well, maybe except for you. You could help me if you want.”
My cheeks burn up, and I take a step back, suddenly feeling very out of breath myself.
“Not even if you were the last man on Earth.”
“Another day, another wound. You know, someday you’ll regret your words, and I’ll be the first to rub it in your face.”
“Don’t expect it to be anytime soon.”
“Ah, but there is a possibility.I knew it…”
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, idiot. Besides, you didn’t answer my question… Where are they?”
He gives me a clueless look, and I close my eyes.
“TheBrady Bunch, who do you think?”
“Why do you wanna know? Got a crush, Brown?” He suddenly turns more serious. Still a joker but with a serious undertone.
“It’s impossible to have a conversation with you, West.”
“Riden headed early to practice, Graham is probably behind the gym with some cheerleader, and Aaron- Well, he disappears sometimes, I don’t really know what he’s doing. Everything you needed?”
“Ah, so youcanbe serious for once.”
To be honest, I’m just annoying him because I know the last people he would want to see me with were his best friends. Thejock pack — or moron pack — as I usually call them. Not because they’re bad people, just because it fits the jock stereotype and West is in it. But overall, they’re actually pretty level-headed for teenage boys. Add that to the fact that they all look straight out of a 2000s teen drama, like One Tree Hill or Gilmore Girls, and you have boyfriend material right there.
You have Riden, the blonde, shy surfer boy, who usually keeps to himself and is the voice of reason in the group. He’s like Scott McCall, overall sweet, supposed to be the main character, but surprisingly underrated within his group and in the shadow of his best friend. Then Graham, the most preppy rich boy who’s walked thispublicschool, but in spite of that, is the kindest and humblest, like a Disney prince, with straight white teeth, killer brown hair, and the perfect fit of a high school football player. He’s Nate Archibald, but physically, a Ken. Then Aaron. Dirty blonde, a scar on his brow, and an attitude and sarcasm to match it, along with his clothes looking like he stepped out of Step Up. Jess Mariano kind of guy. And lastly, but according to the female and somewhat male population of this school, no less important, Jacob West. In pop culture, he’d be the lovable flirty goofball, aka the side character who every girl would fall for, and apparently, that reached my school. On paper, he should be Stiles Stilinski, but in reality, he’s Logan Huntzberger. Somehow, he’s the most sought-after, and believe me, the other three areverypopular.
Basically, they’re this stunning group of high school football players with their own individual charm and personality, who met in primary school and decided to keep each other.
“Brown, you know I love when we come for each other’s throats, and maybe I’d like that more realistically,” I glare intensely at his insinuation. “But unlike you, I understand the concept of being on time.Ladies…” He nods and walks awaybefore I can say anything, and Allison and I stare at his back, her with an annoying smirk and me with hatred in my eyes.
“You’resooogonna date.” She laughs beside me, and I roll my eyes.
“I wouldneverdate Jake West.” I hiss, and to my surprise, she says the same thing at the same time, imitating me.
“That must be the firstneverI have ever heard you say.” She shrugs and says goodbye.
I spend two more seconds looking at West’s long silhouette and say inside my head.
The first never is probably the most dangerous.
I shake my head and head into Biology. And spend the following class dying internally.
Mr. Lace is the kind of middle-aged teacher who thinks that giving a school subject on the last day is fine.He’s also Voldemort in disguise.
“Andthatis finished.” He finishesanothertheme only to go to another. Or so he thought.
Two people who were talking in the back interrupt him with their conversation, and his eye starts twitching.
“Mr. West, credits will be taken right now if you continue your conversation.” The teacher annoyingly warns.
“Do I get credit if I pretend I care?” He responds from the back of the classroom.
