Noel’s POV
The first day of school after winter break, it feels a little foreign getting out of bed early and going to school making sure not to trip on the slippery floor and seeing remains of snow everywhere. I’m sure it would snow again today, and that’s just great but I’d prefer it to be snowing while I’m tucked safely under my blankets in my really warm room.
I yawn by my locker before opening it to get my books in. “Are you sleepy or really hungry?”
“Both.” I answered before turning to face the person that’s talking to me. A smile plasters my face as I hug her. “Oh Nadine you’re back.”
“Yup, missed me?” She asked hugging me back.
“Yea ofcourse, you didn’t say when you were coming back.” I said pulling away.
“Well I returned last night and I wouldn’t miss school for anything.” She says.
“Weirdo, I’ll totally miss school without an excuse. How’s your relationship with the gardener’s son?” I asked.
“There was no ‘relationship’. He’s as hot as grilled fish but he’s a spitter and God knows I can’t handle a spitter. How the hell do people handle that?” She ask pouting as she relaxed on my locker .
“He’s a spitter? Hmm I thought that only occurs when someone’s a kid with gap teeth?” I asked confused.
“I don’t think you need gap teeth to be spitter. I thought so to but Oyster is a spitter all alright. Every word he says comes out with spit. I have to wear a helmet before talking to him and after that I burn the helmet immediately.” Nadine scrunching her face in disgust.
“That’s awful, poor Oyster he needs to take care of that ASAP.” I say as we start walking to class, time to see Ms Jenkins again, I weirdly almost missed her.
“That’s what I texted him while I was on the plane back. Anyway back to my earlier question, you, sleepy or hungry.” She asked.
“Neither,” I answer absentmindedly dragging my feet to class.
“Can’t be, you answered the opposite earlier. Beside you look like you’ll need life support to get through today.” Nadine points out and I chuckle.
“Ok, both.” I answer as Peyton comes walking beside me, making me sandwiched between her and Nadine.
“I thought you’re in class already?” Nadine asked.
“I was but our teacher is not yet in and I was hungry so I went to buy Skittles.” Peyton says shaking two bags in front of us.
“Give Noel one, she looks like she needs it.” Nadine says.
“What’s wrong?” She ask tearing a pack and handing it to me.
I stuff my mouth with the heavenly candy before replying. “I was in the hospital all through last night.”
“What? Why? What happened?” They both asked.
“Mafe ate some seafood her dad brought home and then she started throwing up everything. Aaron said he thought she’d puke out her organs. Her face turned red and she was rushed to the hospital. Turns out she’s allergic. Bad allergy.” I told them.
“Oh my God, that’s terrible.”
“Is she ok?”
“This morning she was still asleep but the doctor said the worst is over.” I explained. And I thought my allergy was worst, turns out mine was just icing on cupcake.
Last night was horrible. My worst night even more worst than the night that I thought Aaron would break up with me. Aaron called me saying that he’s sister was dying. The voice he used I can never unhear that. My mind went into overdrive, I got dressed so quickly, I ran to the hospital with my bra unhooked. I met Aaron pacing around the hospital floor, he and his father. His father would go right, he would go left. It would have been funny if not that this was serious. He and his father are so alike. He rushed into my arms as soon as he saw me. Mrs Altamira’s eyes were red as she sat on the chair her leg bouncing. Jesse was already there and worried Bella was wrapped up in his embrace.
When Bella found out that my bra was unhooked. She pointed it out making everybody turn to my chest. That seemed to lighten up the atmosphere a little, Aaron smiled saying he knew I was the right person to call. We spent the whole night worrying about lil ol Maria Fernander. They had to extra the stuff from her stomach, Mrs Altamira kept crying she couldn’t believe her four year old daughter was going through all that. Mr Altamira felt like Shit because he was the one who brought the food. Bella felt like shit because apparently she kept feeding Mafe more seafood and Aaron felt like crap because there was nothing he could do about the current situation to stop his little sis from going through hell. In summary, everybody thought they were to blame about what was happening.
I spent the night trying to talk everyone out of blaming themselves. I even talked with Mr Altamira like we were friends. He was not like my father in some aspect, he was more serious and authoritative and he didn’t smile much. But when talking to him, it felt good and I felt like I could love him, like a father. Bella didn’t need talking to, Jesse had that covered and all Mrs Altamira needed was a hug. I liked being with them, even in a situation like this. It felt like I was part of the family, like I had a father in Mr Altamira, a mother in Mrs Altamira, a sister in Bella and Mafe, a brother in Jesse and a boyfriend in Aaron. It felt good. Great even.
Dumb face- She has woken up!
Jesse quick- Hey, Mafe’s up.
Me(to them both)- Wow that’s great. How’s she?
Dumb face- She looks fine. She was really thirsty.
Jesse quick- she looks like she could use a rest. A lot if it.
Dumb face- are you texting Jesse?
Jesse- You’re texting Aaron Lee too aren’t you?
I smiled, they are adorable.
Me(to them both)- Greet Mafe for me. I’ll come see her after school.
I tucked my phone away walking into Chemistry class. I’ll miss my lab partner.
I saw Quinn glaring at me, her hair was different, shoulder length with gold highlights, Lora was also glaring while Madison subtly waved at me. I frowned at them. To hell with them bitches.
“Trashcan wait up!” I heard Lora said, I rolled my eyes and continued walking. I heard heard her heels clanking against the floor and soon she was standing in front of me. “Didn’t you hear me? I told you to wait up.”
“Sorry I get hearing problem when poop starts talking.” I replied her.
She glared hard at me, before breathing out. “Where’s Jesse?”
I smirked, “do I look like Jesse’s keeper or babysitter?”
“By some freak accident you’re his neighbor and you’re dating AL or has he dumped you after popping your cherry? That’s if you have one.” She snickered out.
“Oh my.. is that what guys do with you? Sorry but Aaron and I are still together, I’m more than a one night stand. Can’t say the same for others who know so much probably from experience.” I replied with a smug smile.
“Where’s Jesse you trash?” She spat.
“Why don’t you check the roof?” I answered walking pass her.
“The roof?” She asked.
“Yup, the roof of my ass. Its an interesting building down here.” I answer her walking away. Thankfully she doesn’t follow me and walks back to her friends fuming red.
I go throw the rest of the day like a ghost, attending my classes diligently and missing Aaron like never before.
“Noel! Noel you’ve got to come.” Nadine says running to me as I shut my locker.
“No Nadine I can’t come, I have to go to the hospital and see… What’s wrong?” I ask observing her distraught look.
“I don’t really know but there’s something going down at the back of the school.” Nadine says, “Liv’s there, so is Peyton plus Quinn, Lora and Madison.”
“Shit! Shit what’s up now?” I ask abandoning my books inside my locker and rushing out with Nadine. We run to the back of the school, the large mass of land that in front of Aaron and Jesse’s spot. I see so many students gathered up front, they were divided with a large space between them, each group glaring at another. Peyton, was in front of a group and she and some people were covered in tomato. Liv was also present and Luke was holding her back from charging towards Quinn was standing by the other group. I’m guessing one group are the Noelites and the other our opponent.
“What’s going on here?” I shouted running to my Friends. “Are you guys ok?”
“Leave me alone Luke I’m gonna pull those fake extension, Quinn!” Liv spat out, her shirt was stained red.
“This?” Quinn asked flipping her hair. “This is all natural Olivia.”
“Don’t call me that with that Aids infected tongue!” Liv shouted, before turning to glare at Luke who was still holding her.
“What’s the meaning of this Quinn?” I asked.
“The meaning of this?” She asked before laughing. “This is what happens when you don’t listen to me. I’ve taken enough from a nobody like you. Its time you start listening to me and when you don’t? This, this would only get worst.” Quinn said pointing at everything.
“So because I don’t want to be your puppet you’d ambush my friends with fruits and vegetables?” I ask her in disbelief.
“Not just your friends, everybody. Every single freak standing up for you. I know you all and I’ll destroy all of you. One by one starting from your little freak friends.” Quinn snarled Lora smirked beside her.
I looked back at everybody that stood behind me. I smiled, this people are really something else. Its nice to know that against this bitch Quinn I had all this people willing to fight behind me, but they don’t deserve whatever Quinn had up her sleeves for us. This was just about me and her. I also can’t deny that Quinn is rich and influential, she could really hurt us if she meant to. I walked towards her. “Leave them alone, leave my friends. This is between us, let’s settled this between us.”
“And how you suppose we do that,” Quinn asked smirking, knowing she had me.
I thought hard, how do I settle a beef with a lunatic like Quinn. “A contest.”
“A contest? What do you propose? Spelling bee?” She asked before her and crew burst out laughing.
“No, not spelling bee. (Ugh) A swimming contest.” I finally decided, smiling.
“A swim competition?” Quinn asked I’ve definitely captured her attention.
“Yep, unless you’re to chicken to swim in the cold because you know I’ll win.”
“No ofcourse not.” She defended.
“Good, a swim contest then. If I win, you’ll knee and apologize to all my friends and me. You’ll also stay 10 ft away from and everybody I hang out with” I proposed with a smile.
Her eye twitched up but she covered it up with a frown stepping forward to intimidate me. “And if I win?”
“I’ll leave New York and return to Cali.”
“No!” Nadine shouted.
Quinn smiled, “very well then. We shall end this in a swim contest. Adiós freaks.” With that she and her crew walked away.
I won’t fail. Not in this beside I can’t go back to Cali, New York’s my home now.
Failing is not an option.
~
Love is a smoke and its made with fumes of sighs.
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