Page 8 of Chase

I stop walking and turn around, admiring her from the distance. The school uniform looks good on her. The blazer shows off her curves.

My eyes travel down, appreciating the fact I can see her body and she isn’t swimming in pjs and a hoodie. I take in her long, toned legs covered in stockings and stop at her feet. She’s wearing red Converse sneakers. I smile at that. Every girl in our grade except for Ally wears fuck-me heels. They try to stand out without realising it just makes them all look the same.

She stops swearing as she finds her balance and glances around. Her eyes find mine and even at this distance I can see the anxiety she is trying to hide.

It’s mixed with embarrassment at almost falling flat on her face in the middle of the parking lot. That would be embarrassing any time, but especially on your first day.

I can feel the pull. I want to move closer to her. I want to ease some of her anxiety like I did this morning. But before my feet take me over there, Arden speaks breaking the spell.

“Whoa, who’s that?” He asks. I’m not ready to tell them that I know her. For the first time in forever I want to keep this secret from my friends because I know they are going to put shit on me when they find out I might have feelings for a girl I barely know.

I school my features and turn around to the group. “No idea, she must be new.”

Ally looks from me to Yasmin and back to me. “I call bullshit. I need a cold shower, BOB and maybe a pregnancy test. You guys just totally eye fucked each other across the parking lot. I know you Chase, and that isn’t no one.” Ally calls me on it. She always does.

The one thing you can always count on is that Ally will call us on our shit and has been known to put us back in our place. She’s a little pocket rocket standing at 5”5 with fiery red hair. She has no filter and will say exactly what’s on her mind, but we love her for it.

I start walking towards the school and glance back to see Yasmin trailing behind, her eyes trained on the ground, probably making sure she doesn’t trip again.

Knowing Ally will keep going unless I say something, I choose to change the topic to see if she’ll take the bait.

“Ally! How many times do I have to tell you that we don’t want to hear about BOB?” BOB is Ally’s ‘Battery Operated Boyfriend.’ Ally is a combination of Arden and I. She doesn’t date but will have the occasional hook-up. She isn’t shy about telling us that this isn’t the Stone Age and she has access to a sex shop online with lots of choices. Ally takes the bait, but her eyes flash to mine and I read the message loud and clear. This isn’t over.

“Gasp... Shock… Horror… Did you guys not know that girls masturbate as well? I didn’t buy BOB because he’s pretty.” She laughs when she takes in the look on Arden’s face.

“Girls masturbate? Like as in all girls?” Arden asks stunned. I shake my head. He isn’t that stupid. He’s playing Ally.

“Shut up douche canoe.” She throws over her shoulder as she powers ahead of us, heading to her locker.

We make a quick stop at our lockers before heading to home room.

Walking in just before the bell rings, Arden, Rhys, and I sit in our seats at the back of the room. Ally storms in and takes her seat across the aisle from us. No one else ever sits in the back row. They’re all either scared of us or trying to screw one of us. There doesn’t seem to be an in between.

Mr Williams walks into the classroom, and we all quiet down. He’s my favourite teacher. He teaches Arden and I in auto shop class. My happy place is working on cars. It calms me, and I like to keep my hands busy.

Arden hates the class; he knows what to do but won’t do it without complaint. He only took the class so he could be with me. I don’t mind because he has an awesome talent for design. I fix things and he takes them to whole new level with his design and art.

“Good morning everyone. Not that I really care, but I trust you all had a good break. You know the drill.” He says as he hands out the notices in the front row and they’re passed back.

Mr Williams doesn’t stand there and drone on. He gets straight to the point and then lets us talk. Five minutes later, the class erupts in quiet chatter, and I hear a faint knock at the door.

Shifting slightly, I see her when Mr Williams opens the door. I don’t hear what he says but he moves aside, and she enters the room. I try not to stare at her, but it’s hard.

Ally is already on to us and I don’t want to make it more obvious. I’m pretty sure Arden is clueless, and Rhys probably noticed, but he won’t say anything until he has to.

Mr Williams clears his throat and Yasmin’s cheeks flush as she looks at the floor. “Everyone this is Yasmin. Today is her first day, so please be nice and make her feel welcome.” He narrows his eyes at us in the back corner.

Arden doesn’t miss the look or the chance to rile up Mr Williams.

“I take offence. I feel like you were just implying that I’m not nice. I’m always nice. I’m the poster boy for nice.” Arden speaks with his signature dramatic flair. Mr Williams rolls his eyes and ignores him.

Sometimes that’s the only thing you can do.

He turns to Yasmin and tells her to take a seat anywhere. Of course, Arden hears that.

“You can sit here,” he says loudly as he pushes his chair backwards and motions to his lap.

I can’t stop my response. I growl under my breath.

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