Chapter 7: Chapter 7

She had been awfully nice to him since the dance audition. She had even sent him a screenshot of his already changed name on his phone. It was just Jason with a lot of cute emojis after it. It was cute in a girly way. He was sure with what he did for her, he had more points than Chad.

What did Chad ever do for her? He didn’t take her shopping. He didn’t help her find her true self like she claimed. He just rode a stupid skateboard and that had her in love. He never understood girls sometimes.

They didn’t talk about Chad as much as they did before. Sometimes, he never really came up. Well he wouldn’t forget that she had his number. There was still that gnawing feeling in his stomach. Things weren’t meant to get this far. It was meant to be quick. A done deal since the beginning. But she just had to open her mouth and share, he had to sympathize and hug her back.

And since then, that feeling hadn’t left. Was he actually feeling bad for what he was about to do? What he normally did. Well with other girls it wasn’t a bet. They both knew what they both wanted and it was a good time. They both flirted with each other and they both knew where it would end.

The funny thing that Kelly didn’t know was that he hadn’t really been with as much girls as she thought. Which must be the whole female population in her head. He played with them. They flirted, he flirted back. They hung out. He looked good, so he attracted a lot of girls. Chad was the one who did what Kelly thought he did.

He didn’t want a relationship. It was really complicated seeing someone going through pain just because of the person they loved. He had school, the track, graduation and college to look forward to. He didn’t want to add feelings into the mix. It would be something when Kelly comes to realize that.

And back to Kelly. Thinking about her and what he had to do was now exhausting. The notion that he could have any girl he wanted wasn’t applying right now. And he always could. Just smiling and a few sweet words usually did it. But her face was scary when he tried to flirt with her. The things he had done for her, he wasn’t sure he had made that much effort with another girl. Yes he was friends with other girls and helped them when they needed it, but just doing it on his own accord, without being asked.

He really wanted to win this bet and prove to Chad it seemed. Because it wasn’t so hard on a normal day, but the he met weird Kelly. Sometimes he though both of them planned this. She was the reason Chad was laughing at him and doubting his prowess. But that would end soon.

He hoped.

Because of the many thoughts he had been walking really slowly, but now he was in front of his class door. Opening the door, it was to see the same faces he saw from Monday to Friday. All of them conversing and going about their usual business. What stood out though, was Chad was in here.

And was on Kelly’s desk.

Sitting before her.

And she didn’t even care.

That was so wrong. The fact that she was touching him was so wrong. To a boy, constant touch was a sign you were interested. Boys didn’t necessarily touch girls. If they liked you, they wouldn’t waste any time in making it known. But he was sitting before her, legs closed, and both her arms were folded, making a pillow for her chin. Her eyes up, focused on him entirely.

The smile didn’t once vacate her lips as he walked to his sit. She didn’t even give him any recognition. He was back to point zero it seemed. He didn’t know if she knew the signals she was sending to him.

She was wearing a shirt that accentuated her breasts. It wasn’t tight, but not the big things she wore normally that at least didn’t make it more obvious. Her breasts literally stood out. And it seemed to be a crop top, but the skirt she wore covered her midriff. The school didn’t really have a policy on dress code, but the skirt was short. If only her mum could see her now. It covered way below her butt, so no harm done. Point was with the touching, her breast currently grazing Chad's legs and the intense eye contact.

Chad was going to be talking about this big scene later on.

He knew what he was going to say. That she’s desperate for him. But Kelly was clueless. Should he really be the one to tell her about this? Well her mum wasn’t doing anything about it.

“So how about I drop you home today? After track practice that is” he suggested playfully.

“That won’t be necessary. I have a lot of homework to catch up on, and if I stay behind I won’t get anything done”.

“Am I that much of a distraction?” he laughed.

“Yes” she said sitting up. “And the bell will ring soon. I won’t be held responsible for your lateness”.

“And that eager to get rid of me” he pouted before standing up.

“No need to be like that. We are hanging out whenever” she winked.

“Yes we are” he said slyly. “See you later Blinch” and he walked out.

He saw her visibly relax as he left. Was that equivalent to a dreamy sigh? He wasn’t even sure she had an idea of his presence. Then he replayed the entire conversation in his head. She had said they would hang out whenever.

He knew what Chad meant when he said hang out. And with Kelly it wasn’t going to be any different. Love. That four letter word was what blinded girls to do things that they weren’t ready for. And this was a competition. Chad would do it for sure.

He should stop it.

Yes he should. Because he was the one that was going to win the bet. Yes. That was it.

When classes were over and the day was done, that was when she noticed him.

She smiled as she approached, maneuvering herself through the people that were moving towards the door.

It was quite a transformation from who she was since freshman year and just a few weeks ago. A lot of people had noticed. When she walked he had seen people doing a double tale. But as always she was oblivious. Chad was the only thing that mattered.

She stood before him.

“I-…

“Hey Kelly” a girl called.

She turned to the girl. Jason continued to pack his things, but keeping an ear down to listen.

“Nice wardrobe change. You look good”. The way the girl said it didn’t sound nice. It sounded teasing, mocking. But Kelly only smiled.

“Thank you. I decided it was time for a change” she shrugged.

“Long overdue” another girl that was part of the entourage said. “What or who caused it?” they were trying to goad her to react in a certain way.

“Wouldn’t you like to know?” she winked at them. “You’re free to find out though”. The leader of the girls scoffed and rolled her eyes, then walked out. The rest followed.

“Are those your fans or Chad’s?” she asked amused. “I’m not sure they take so well to me hanging around both of you”.

“Seems so” he was done with packing. Before he would have been so bothered to be seen with her, but now he didn’t care so much. His fans could only talk. They couldn’t do anything about it. “You were so invested in Chad that both of you didn’t notice when I walked in”.

Not that he was complaining. He was just annoyed.

“Oh!” she exclaimed. “I didn’t really notice. Sorry”.

And she had been doing that a lot. Sounding so innocent and looking so….he wasn’t going to complete that. He was better off when he didn’t know some things. He needed to end this bet quickly. He needed to win.

“You know that term blinded by love”.

“That doesn’t really apply to this” he stated. “I couldn’t help but overhear that both of you are scheduled to hang out. Do yo know what that entails?”

She still had that look on her face that was really getting on his nerves. High school wasn’t a place to be innocent. She would get eaten. Chad would take great pleasure in doing that. Making her dirty.

“I might” she teased. She actually teased him.

“This isn’t time for jokes!” he hissed.

“Who said I’m joking?” and that teasing tone didn’t leave her.

“Chad isn’t taking you home today”.

“I wish” she mumbled. “But I have homework to do”. She normally did it way before it was due. Normally the day the teacher gave it. But at that time, the guy she liked didn’t give her any attention. She didn’t have a friend and a phone. Not that it made her less of the good student she already was, it was just making her push things aside.

Wasn’t this what she was worried about? She just needed to set a schedule.

First she had extended her bedtime, and it was wearing clothes that were exposing, and now not doing her homework. Just because of Chad. He didn’t know all this, he wasn’t even affected. He was doing his own schoolwork and sleeping when he did. This was really irresponsible of her.

This was why he didn’t do relationships.

“Then we can actually go and get all your homework done”.

“Sounds like a plan”.

They left, even though she changed her mind to do their work at the field. He took her where they would be alone and quiet. As soon as they got there, she brought out all her work and started it. It didn’t look like she was going to stop soon.

Well she only had two people she talked to. One was at the track, and the other was before her. He did his own quietly. When he was done, he looked up to see her packing up. She was done too it seemed. He just had to ask that question that was on his mind since he walked into class.

“What would your mum say if she saw you in this?” he tried to make it sound casual, like he wasn’t accusing her.

“She’d blame Adriana” she laughed, then picked her phone to check on Chad. He knew he was right it wasn’t a probability.

“Chad?” he put on a fake smile.

“Uh huh” she nodded.

“No!” he snapped. “None of that. No uh huh. When you go on a date with Chad, do you know what’s going to happen?”

She was silent for a while. Then she dropped her phone. She actually looked bashful. What happened to her hatred for fornicators? And also for everyone else in the school. And now she was about to do what she said she hated about everyone else. No matter how she wanted to color it, there was no difference.

“I do. Is there a problem Jason?”

Yes there was a problem. He was the one meant to do this not Chad. Chad wasn’t meant to be in the equation. That was why he was so mad.

“He’s not even your boyfriend yet”.

“Yes” she said. “And?” she waited for him to continue.

“And when he gets what he wants, don’t you think he’ll leave and go after another girl?”

“You care for me how sweet” she exposed all her teeth. “But you did say spontaneous. And I’m going to be spontaneous”.

“You’ve never had a boyfriend, right?”

That halted her confidence. “You’ve never had a girlfriend either”.

“But I know how this works” he argued. “You don’t. You’re new to everything. Have you even kissed anyone before? They’d take advantage of you”.

“Well you have a lot of experience. I’m not going to tell you to teach me anything, but I did some research”.

“You researched about relationships?” he deadpanned.

“Yes. And also kissing” she supplied.

“Wha…uh….” He made a surprised and confused face. He really had no words. He didn’t know what to say.

“For you to have a guy to keep coming back, you have to leave him wanting more. Nothing is going to happen until I say so” and she was so confident when she said it.

“And if you’re going to keep playing hard to get and he gets bored….”

“It’s not playing hard to get” she corrected him smartly. “It’s just something akin to a game” and she was doing something with her eyes, lips and chest.

That was really distracting. Had she done that to Chad? He unknowingly stared.

“See!” she pointed out victorious. “It’s working on you” and she was so excited.

“Have you done that to Chad?” he questioned immediately. “Don’t tell me you already did that” Chad was going to talk all their ears off about how she wanted him. How she was desperate. How slutty. He would never say that about a girl, but Chad would.

“No” she sighed. “I was practicing with you. What did you think? Was it sexy?” she was back to bashful so quick. After exuding such confidence.

“It was something” he said coolly like he wasn’t taken by the sight. “Did you research that too?” he asked dryly.

“Yes. It wasn’t too hentai right?” she bit a part of her lower lip waiting for his answer.

“How did you….do you watch….I don’t even want to know” he groaned into his palms. Had she always been like this? He was the reason for this side of her coming out. Chad would love this. He was currently astonished by this side.

“I also researched how to kiss. I think I got it right”.

“You also got it right in how to flirt” he mocked. “Show me how you’re going to act on this date” he didn’t want to hear about what she got into in her free time.

She stood up and came to sit down beside Jason.

She removed her glasses and looked to him determined, then her face changed to soft.

“Hey Chad” she leaned closer, placing her hand on his chest. “What do you say about two of us having fun in the backseat?” and leaned impossibly closer. “So…” she said in a breathy voice.

He pushed her away softly. She just kept laughing. “Too much for Jason Angle?” she taunted.

“Stop fooling around” he brushed the front of his chest. “You’re not really going to do that on your first date right?” now he was the one flustered.

“No I won’t” she said coming closer again. “I also won’t tell him I’ve liked him for a long time so I’ll know where I stand”.

“Okay, go on” he said when he had finally calmed down.

“Thank you for taking me out” she actually blushed. Like it was Chad before her and not Jason. “I admire you Chad. I thought what you did about skateboards was really inspiring. With what you do on the track, and how you lead I find it really beautiful”.

‘Surprisingly smooth’ Jason thought. Really emotional. Chad would like it. He loved hearing about himself. She leaned closer again.

“What are you….?”

He leaned away, hand on her shoulder.

“I wanted to practice my kissing. I don’t want to embarrass myself” and she leaned again pouting her lips.

“I won’t be your first kiss” he fought.

“There’s nothing to worry about. Just help me out” she pleaded.

She was using him in, testing herself out so she would be good for him. “No. Besides it’s your first kiss, I bet you will be very bad about it”.

“Then let’s test that out” she said cupping his face. He froze. “Mr. Expert” and she was leaning closer. He was doing nothing to stop her. Just staring at her lips. It was just to have an upper hand on Chad, he told himself. Maybe telling himself that would make him believe it.

Her chest touched his before their lips touched. It was tentative, shy at first.

Her hands dropped to his shoulder and she became more confident in her lip movements. There was no tongue, but even though she was determined, she kept it soft. He didn’t move his lips to kiss back. That would be too…..it would be wrong.

She alternated between sucking his upper and lower lip.

He lost himself to the feeling and almost kissed back, but she pulled away. The feeling tickled his lips as she pulled away. As if she was dragging his lip away with her.

“How was that?” she asked immediately, rolling her lips to get them moist again.

“You really did good research” was all he said, looking away to get his bearings back.

“You really think so?” she asked putting space between them.

“I know so. I felt it right?” he asked rhetorically.

“Good” she clapped. “Chad will be pleased”.

That ruined things instantly. What was he doing? This was time for him to be getting a move on. Push all these stupid sympathy aside.

“Ready to go home” he said. He wanted to be home right now.

“Sure. This will be hard to change out from” she gestured to the ankle boots.

As they walked one thing he knew for sure was that she was too good for the likes of Chad Sterling. And him too.