Chapter 23: Chapter 23

“I couldn’t agree more,” I said as soon as I stepped out into the cool night outside the dining. Andre stood with his back to me, ramrod stiff and tensed. I couldn’t care less whether or not he was in a bad mood, especially considering the fact that we aren’t friends, I’m just being polite because of Siobhan and he’s doing the same. “It’s about time we talked about some things and stopped playing around like kids.”

He swung around and I took a step back at the sudden assault of his height and strong build. “Stay the fuck away from my sister,” he bit out through his teeth.

His order took me off guard. It was a sudden and unexpected warning but given the look he gave her while we spoke in the dining, I guess I should have sensed it coming. But I wasn’t about to have him ordering me around yet again.

“And why should I do that?!”

“Just stay the hell away from Carla!”

“And I want to know why? So you can have all the attention to yourself? Don’t you have enough with half the female population in school licking your ass and the boys trying to be friends with you?" I scoffed. "I see what this is, you’re jealous because I like your sister and I don’t like you.”

He laughed, it was a cruel sharp laugh. “Is that what you think? You don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“I think I do, Andre, and I’ve just stated it. What is wrong with you anyway, Andre Rios? You blow hot and cold, you play games and I’m sick of it already.”

“Good because I am sick of playing games too. You don’t seem to understand me neither do I you so let’s make some rules.”

“No rules, Rios. This is what is going to happen, quit the games with Siobhan, ask her to get your girlfriend and for the sake of peace I will be as civil to you as possible. You both have played too many games around me and right now I need my space, I have other things to think about.”

He scoffed. “Right, like what?”

“Aaron. He doesn’t think I’m ugly. Now while I celebrate that victory I suggest you think of how to extravagantly asked Siobhan to be your girlfriend, she loves the flashy stuff, and you refrain from ordering me around. God, I thought we were becoming friends already.” I turned to go. “Now if you’ll excuse me.”

“You and Aaron?” his laughter stopped me in my tracks. “I’m guessing he’s the first guy that’s ever shown you any real attention.”

I eyed him. “And so?”

“And, you must be really starving to score this one.”

My last restraint broke. “What is your problem, Rios?! Yes, I am trying to score one with Aaron and you know why? He’s not a player, he goes for what he wants unlike you.”

The look on his face was one of smug mockery. He chuckled. “Aaron goes for what he wants and you think that’s you? Do you go for what you want too?”

He grabbed my arm and yanked me close.

“What are you doing? What are you talking about?” I fought him.

“You lie a lot, Bianca, even when you are not talking you’ve been lying a lot. Ever since that day at the beach you little liar.”

“What is wrong with you?!” my heart sped. His closeness was choking, his grip was harder. His face suddenly came close and his mouth was so close to mine that if I so much as pouted our lips would touch.

“You are such a liar,” he said into my face. “But unlike you, I don’t deceive myself. But as you said, for your friend’s sake we will pretend we are friends,” he scoffed. “But stay away from my sister.”

With a jerk he let me go and walked into the dining room leaving me looking after his departing back wondering what the hell just happened. My hand hurt where he grabbed me and I rubbed it subconsciously. What the heck is his problem anyway? I wondered about that as I made my way back to the dining trying to appear as normal as possible – well I am normal, the one who isn’t normal is Andre Rios, he needs to get his head checked and find what is really getting on his nerves because he is getting on mine.

I avoided any avoidable gaze and took my seat to pick at my dinner. I couldn’t focus, my mind kept going back to Rios, there he was with his poker face laughing and talking with Eva like all was fine. He really should consider running for office sometime in the future because his poker face is a masterpiece.

“What’s the problem?” Siobhan asked. Her plate was half empty, she pushed her tray away and reached for her apple juice.

“Nothing,” I answered with a tight smile.

“Uh uhn,” she muttered not believing me one bit. “One minute you were smiling and laughing with Carla, the next minute you walk in through that door and you’re prickly.”

“Yeah, I’m only prickly because you and your…,” I caught myself just in time. “I’m fine. I’m just tired.”

“Let me come tonight, let’s have a sleepover. We haven’t had one of those since we resumed.”

I couldn't refuse.

The next day was Sunday and after church services and everything, we decided to have our first cheerleader tryouts since we couldn’t do them yesterday. Siobhan was captain with Eva as her assistant captain, a title Eva is not too proud to hold because she’s always second best to Siobhan and she hates it. There were a lot of first years trying out for the team, we politely turned them because not on my watch as Head girl will a couple of junior students break their necks because they want to spin and do cartwheels.

I don’t like being on the cheer team but Siobhan made me stay because according to her “It boosts your social status” so there I was with her, Eva, Rebecca, Lolo, Jenny and the rest of the team watching new and old senior students show their skills when I could be in bed hugging my pillow to my belly and finishing up the rest of my chocolates. Cursing Arrogant Andre in my head.

Suddenly someone tapped my shoulder and I looked up. It was Carla, she smiled shyly.

“Hey.”

“Hey,” I responded. “Glad you could make it.”

“Yeah but I don’t think this is necessary.”

I pulled her hand down so that she fell down to a step below me. Her full hair was pulled up into a high bun, showing off her incredibly beautiful features. “It is necessary. Siobhan thinks being a cheerleader somehow makes the world a better place now stop whispering and let me go add your name to the list.”

She sighed but gave in and sat down. Last night before I went to bed I paid her a visit and told her to come to the fields for the cheerleading tryouts hoping it would help her get over her shyness and make herself some friends. She fought me at first but here she is.

I made my way down the bleachers to Siobhan who was pinching the bridge of her nose watching in frustration the agreeably annoying attempts by the new people. Eva was doing the same, for once they agreed on something.

“Hey, Siobhan,” I called out. “There’s a name I need you to put on the list.”

“Oh hell no, I think I’ve seen enough already.”

“It’s Andre’s sister, Carla.”

She whirled around sharply her eyes wide. “No freaking way! I’m not putting his sister on the list.”

Uh…yeah her reaction caught me off guard too.