Part 2: The Quarterback's girl
Summary:
"A new school year. A new me"
Elliott left her shattered and broken.
Crescent Bay Dawson swears down she will not be the sad nerd who hid away form the popular crowd. No longer will she be the heartbroken girl.
Her heartbreak had changed her, she wanted to become who she was, popular, cheerleader, Prom Queen. No longer was she going to let herself be trampled on, she was going to become The bitch. She wants to achieve all the high school dreams she previously let go off, and doesn't care if Aribella stands in her way.
There's one place open on the football tem. The Quarterback. What were the chances of the Team captain also taking the position as the Quarterback, who is also her old, crush Conner Ryder?
Can the notorious bad boy heal her heart and Cress will still be The Quarterback's Girl?
*
Popular, I know about popular
And all that you have to do is be true to you
That's all you ever need to know
Always on the lookout for someone to hate,
Picking on me like a dinner plate
You hid during classes, and in between 'em
Dunked me in the toilets, now it's you that cleans them
You tried to make me feel bad with the things you do
It ain't so funny when the joke's on you
Ooh, the joke's on you
*
Chapter 33//"Wait you mean to say Elliott Grayson was 'Mr. sexy voice'
"We stand here to mourn the loss of a loved one..."
I stand there with my hands clasped in my black dress standing next to Daniel who was also dressed in black. To my right was my mother who was dabbing her eyes with a tissue. Funerals always got to her.
I middle-aged women goes up on the stage and begins a speech, she looked so familiar.
I didn't want to be here, but my mom thought it was a important moment that I couldn't miss.
"Today we have lost a loving soul so I ask Our Father in heaven, we thank you that, through Jesus Christ, you have given us the gift of eternal life. Keep us firm in the faith, that nothing can separate us from your love. When we loose someone who is dear to us, help us to receive your comfort and to share it with one another. We now entrust ourselves to you, just as we are, with our sense of loss and of guilt, When the time has come, let us depart in peace, and see you face to face, for you are the God of our salvation." Congregation:" Amen."
After the Priest or whatever he's called, speech we are allowed to move from our standing position.
"If I'm going to be honest I'm happy they're gone" It was Daniel who spoke. I raise an eyebrow at him. Oh so he was talking to me now.
Daniel and my sibling relationship has hit an all time low. We rarely ever spoke now. I had to admit it wasn't that I just lost Elliott but I also lost Daniel.
Not only did Elliott steal my heart but he also stole something from Daniel. Daniel was like a lost cause without Elliott beside him, like he was empty. And I pitied my brother because I was there when they spent all those important memoires together.
"What just cause she always used to tell you off for playing the music too loud, I'm the one who had to look at her creepy dolls whenever I looked out my window"
The Scottish women next door had died. I think it was while she was shouting at some children for playing on her lawn, her lungs just gave up on her and she collapsed.
Nonetheless she was gone, and the house next door was empty.
We stand there silently for a moment.
"School begins next week" Daniel says.
"I know" Was all I tell him.
"He's not coming back"
My heart pounded in my chest at his words.
"I know"
*
"It's nearly the end of summer I think this calls for a change" Winter states flicking through a random magazine as she lies on my bed. I grunt in response not really caring.
I didn't want to go back to school. The classroom will always be empty, the halls will forever be missing someone and my heart will have a piece missing,
"Be more enthusiastic Cress, it's our final year of high school" She beams.
I smile at her; it felt so fake "Yeh whatever you want we'll do it"
Everyday I was trying to smile trying to be okay since what happened. I could go back in that state again, I couldn't lose it again.
After that day.... When we got home, I completely lost it, I couldn't stop crying inside the house I broken down. All I did was stay in my room. I didn't eat and I couldn't sleep. The things that appeared in my mind when my eyes were closed were too horrible to mention.
If I'm being honest, I don't remember what I really was like it's like I was in a cage of darkness that I couldn't get out of.
I remember after the first few days after it happened they wouldn't leave meal one for a minute there was always someone around with me. At the time I didn't know why, but now I realize what they thought I was going to do. And I'm glad they
I just remember people coming to me asking me to come back to them, but I couldn't, I knew I must have been depressed or something like that. I would get the occasional panic attack.
The only thought I ever had was that he was going to come back, I didn't have a doubt about it, but days were passing and he never came back. He really was gone.
From what I heard, my silence was driving Daniel insane that he phone mom. Now that's not a small thing, Daniel detests her more then anything in his life, but I was told that he begged for her to come home and help me before I was too far gone.
I think that's what I needed.
She knew me and Elliott had 'something' going on but what brought me out my silence was something she said.
She came up to my room, and when she saw me she looked heartbroken. Winter who was already in my room, explained the entire story to her but missed out the part where she described me and Winter and me used to hate each other.
"Wait you mean to say Elliott Grayson was 'Mr. sexy voice' I heard from the phone, I already planned kids for you to together"
It was like a throwback to the day Elliott was throwing rocks at my window.
I laughed ever so lightly, but I remember Winter looked at me shocked that was the first emotion they got out me in days.
It made me think back to all the stupid and funny memories we had, and how messed up our relationship really was but in a way perfect.
Slowly I saw the pain I was putting everyone through, so I swore to myself I would hide my feelings, I wouldn't show them the internal ache I really felt.
"Come on get up, we're going out" Winter squeals in excitement, throwing her orange curls behind her back.
She grabs my hands and pulls me up so fast that Vincent falls off the bad; he lets out a ferocious growl.
The only living creature that was really happy about Elliott's sudden disappearance was Vincent. He's finally got his place back in my bed next to me and he also loved to come to me and comfort me when I began to cry.
*
"You want me to shave all my hair off, I know I said I was having really bad headaches but Winter this really isn't the solution" I tell her in the middle of the salon.
"No, you hair is so long and boring old brown why don't we add some Oomph" She gesture over excitedly.
"Sure should I dye it the same color as yours" I ask her, I was only joking but there was no humor in my tone.
"Yes then we can be matching Strawberry blondes"
How many times do I have to tell this girl that she is ginger?
"Maybe I'll just get a trim or something"
Elliott always liked my long brown hair, he never forget to tell me that.
"I'm just saying I'd never want you to change your hair"
"Id never dream of it"
I hold the strands of hair in my hands and look at them closely and see the small strands of honey brown that stood out very subtly. I remember the feeling of his hands in my hair. I cringe as I throw the strands of hair behind my back.
The stylist walks over to me smiling "So are we going for a big change honey or maybe a little trim"
"I don't want to be a brunette anymore"
*
"Cress what have you done" Daniel gasps as I walk in to the house. I put my bags down.
"I needed a change' I shrug, but his facial expression was pure s hock.
"Is it because you don't want to look like my twin anymore" It was such a childish thing for him to say but all the same it surprised me. I wouldn't have expected that to be the first thing that came to his mind.
"He used to tell me, he loved the color of my hair"
"So you go any dye it and blonde as well" He says lifting a long strand of dark blond hair now.
"Dirty blonde to be exact, shade...."
"I actually can't deal with this" He lets my hair fall and walks up the stairs. I just sat in that salon for ages while Winter flirted with anything in her sight.
It didn't look that bad.
*
It was finally here, the first day back at school, the day I didn't ever want to imagine.
"This is it" Emily says next to me.
Emily, for the past month had been helping children in Cambodia, she left the day after the dance to catch her flight. I remember her nearly cancelling after she saw the state of me and what he did to me.
The day she came back I literally hugged her until she couldn't breath.
Having double calculus was hard, currently Winter me and Emily were walking towards the cafeteria through the car park, because it was quicker.
I tell myself not to look that it would hurt to much to look, but I did I glanced over to the usually filled parking stop. Everyone kept glancing at it because it was empty.
That's where Elliott's shockingly bright car always stood, with him leaning against it with Daniel by his side.
I quickly look away. I kept getting people staring at me. And it wasn't because of my hair. Okay maybe just a little bit.
It was because if there were 2 people who hated each other it was Winter and me. Everyone in the school knew if fully well.
I take a deep breath as we enter the warmth of the school building.
I hold my breath as all three of us shove the main blue doors open, I feels a draught pass us as we enter the warm hall, my hair flies in my face and it was like before we entered the hall it was filled with chatter and laughter but they stop when they see us. Because it was something you would never expect.
I take a step forward and so does winter next to me, people's eyes on our faces. Winter stood tall and confident and so did I, but actually I was dying inside.
"That's the girl Elliott left"
"She's the ex-cheerleader"
"She's Aribella Jones's rivalry"
"Is that Crescent Dawson and Winter"
I felt like I was being forced to walk to that table, my short skirt around my waist felt like it was getting tighter and tighter, I felt like I couldn't breathe in my shirt. That there wasn't enough air running through my lungs.
And we pass it, the table Emily and me had sat as for the past year. I see from the corner of my eye Emily goes to her left to sit with some of her other friends, that she would never fit in with the popular crowd but she will always be my friend. I give her a light smile as she gives me a thumb up.
The table we used to sit at held the memories of when Elliott joined us and he would sit on the chair directly across from me, he always used to sit on his hair back to front so he could lean forward on the front. He would rest his chin on the back of the chair and look at me with those eyes that I loved whenever I said anything stupid or laughed.
No matter what anyone said about this table that it was only a bunch of wood and plastic, it was important. It defined your social group and where you stood in the school.
Winter confidently takes her seat the one she always took, there were certain people who always had those chairs, it wasn't debatable.
Winter, Aribella. Daniel, Conner, Aiden, Alec, Carter and...
There was that one empty seat there, everyone looked at it and back at me again. The jocks, the cheerleader, the nerds. Everyone.
The one memory that overpowers my mind was the day he sat on this chair after he slept with Winter and Aribella. It seemed so long ago, but it was only a few months ago. Because everything changed since then. I remember how he always confidently took this chair knowing it was his and it would be till he left high school.
I put my hand on the cold chair and pull it out.
I was going to take his place.
I slowly sit down not making any noise.
"Who do you think you are?" Aribella speaks up the sharpness in her voice could be heard by everyone in the room.
He brown eyes were looking me up and down with hate.
Aribella, my old friend, the person who took my place as the head cheerleader.
"I'm your ex-best friend and I think we can do without your attitude and your voice just for one day"
It wasn't like what I said to her was hurtful, but it made her clamp her mouth shut, like she thought I have become a quite mouse that I would loose the confidence that I always have.
She knew it wasn't the right moment now, but I knew she would use the events that happened over the past few weeks against me.
Everyone was looking at me waiting for my reaction. Waiting for me to crumble.
It's taken me time but I realize that maybe Elliott was toxic for me that we were toxic for each other. There was never a balance for us either we despised each other or we were both inseparable. Either way it was undeniable that we had a attraction.
Sometimes in life you need to turn a page and realize there is more to the book of your life. That I shouldn't be scared to move on.
I should close this chapter of pain and hurt that came from Elliott. And never re-read the chapter that contained Elliott Grayson, because I am young and I have a lot more of my life to live.
I can't spend my life trying to fix what has happened. I really had to let go. Let go of the way he kissed, smiled and smelt. The way his hand felt on my waist and the way he said my name.
That's who he was, not who he is. Because no matter how many nights I cried, how many times I repeated his name he wasn't coming back.
The heart is a muscle, right... and what does it do when it's torn?
It grows back stronger.
So that's why I smile, that's why I laugh at everyone's joke. The reason why I was going to make this year count.
I was going to be me. The silly me that always got a joke last, the sarcastic girl I am.
A part of me wanted Elliott to comeback and see I was stronger than ever. That I achieve everything I once wanted to be.
And the other half of me wanted Elliott to be proud of me in a way that I couldn't explain.
*
It was all quiet in our street. You could even hear the birds chirping off the tree next to my window.
That was until I hear the sound of a van drive up and for a moment I think it's something for our house. But I hear shouting and I realize it was next door.
Someone was moving in.
I creep over to my one direction curtain and peer through the window.
I see 2 young boys probably both the age of 11 rolling on the ground fighting. They both had light blond hair from what I could tell.
Then I glance over to a mother like figure. She wasn't actually that old and she was standing there with her hands on her hips telling the two boys off. Yep definably the mother.
I recognize the women it was the women form the funeral. So the old women was this women's mother. That made no sense seeing as the women outside my window looked so sweet and the old women was a crabby....I stop not wanting to go to hell for dissing a old lady.
I also catch a glimpse of girl who was round about the age of 13, she was standing outside the house her phone in one hand and she was pointing her finger of her other hand at someone inside the house.
Whoever was inside the house was getting a whole load of nasty words from this little girl. I try and catch a glimpse as to who it was but I couldn't see.
Finally I see a father like figure walking in to the house holding a large box as he gently pushed the girl in to the house.
"I'm going to go see the neighbors," Daniel shouts over enthusiastically, what did they have an attractive daughter or something. I see him running across the garden to their front door.
I keep my curtains open as I shake my head. What a weird, weird brother I have.
I turn the music down in my room as I try and study my calculus notes.
Jesus, mathematics is even worse than me, at least I'm trying to get over my X and this question is trying to make me find his.
"Your X isn't coming back" I tell the textbook, giving it honest advice. I now know I'm losing it, giving relationship advice to an AP calculus textbook.
That's when I hear rattling from the window next door. I get off my bed to see who it was without getting caught. I see someone standing in front of the window, it was obviously a male and he had his back to me.
"Why the fuck are there are there bloody dolls in my room," he shouts, before he turns around I know who it is. And I pray that I'm wrong but I couldn't be I always through I was in love with this voice. I always had a crush on him obviously I would recognize his face.
His voice always had that whiney tone to it. He was different form every other boy n our school. While he had the bad boy aura, the motorcycle, the cigarettes and the cocky smirk. He wasn't the type of guy that was obsessed with girls. Rarely did I hear him crack a sexual joke and I had never seen him hook up with a girl outside the school building.
As he turns around to pick up the doll to chuck it aside I see his face, his hallow cheekbones, and his grey eyes. The captain of our school's football team.
It was Conner. Conner Ryder. My lifelong crush.
Author note:
I just updated quicker than I would ever have expected
No more sad crescent she's going to go back to her quirky and sarcastic self! Yes!!
So what do you think is gong to happen next? What do you think of Cress's new out look on life?
And also I have come to a conclusion that there is no ship name that fits with Crescent and Elliott. Sad times, maybe it's a sign.
Quite a few people like the idea of having a chapter from Elliott's point of view from the other 2 chapters and I will definitely do that. I will place that chapter in the middle of the second part of this book. Just to break you heart a little bit more and so you don't forget about Elliott.
Also, there will be another new chapter TOMORROW !!