School was normal.
We'd heard a few people talking about Ruth Whites running away from her house but soon the news died down as they found new things to gossip about.
Charlotte was relieved for that.
She wasn't talking much to us, probably still upset about her bracelet.
When I had told her about what Celine had said to me, Charlotte was not surprised even the slightest.
Liam had promised to get her bracelet fixed very soon and Charlotte was grateful to him for that.
Talking about Liam and Charlotte, they had grown close over the past few days and I couldn't have been happier.
He had even played guitar for Charlotte this other day and everybody was cheering for the both of them.
Today was Zack's basketball match and he was really excited for that.
He's been eating my head, telling me how hyped up he was for the match.
As I was standing by my locker, putting inside some books, he approached me.
"Hey Jeny." He smirked and put his arm around my shoulder, startling me.
"Hey Zacky." I said and shrugged his arm off my shoulder.
"You are coming to my match, right?"
"I think I won't be able to." I lied.
Let's have some fun with him 'cause, why not?
"What? Why?" He frowned.
"I have a few doubts about this one topic in history that I need to ask from Mr. Peterson."
"Hey! I can help you with that!" Both Zack and I turned around to see Noah standing there.
What does he want?
"No need, thanks." I said in a cold tone.
Noah sighed and nervously rubbed the back of his neck.
"Listen, Jennifer, I really have some things to clear off with you. Please, just listen to me once." He pleaded.
Before I could respond, Zack took an aggressive step towards him but I put my arm forward and stopped him.
"What is it?" I asked.
"Uh.. Can we talk somewhere alone?"
"No." Both Zack and I said together.
"Oh Okay. Well.." he looked into my eyes. "You probably must have been thinking that I was just talking to you to get close to Ashley, right?"
Yes.
"Not thinking, that is why you were talking to me."
"No, that's not true at all. Uh.... Jennifer, I-I like you. I have, for a while now."
He what?!
"What?" Again, Zack and I said at the same time.
"Yes.. Um.. I didn't really knew how to approach you, so I offered to help you with that history test... But you assumed that I was talking to you to get close to Ashley but that wasn't true. Jennifer, I just needed a reason to talk to you."
"So why did you ask me to hang out with you and Ashley that day in the coffee shop?"
"That just came out of my mouth. Like I said, I needed a reason to be close to you but I guess I was really dumb and messed things up."
What in the world? He likes me? He wanted to be close to me?
Who cares? You like Damien anyways-
And Damien likes Celine so-
So you want to be with Noah?
Never said that.
Never wish that too.
I won't.
"So what do you want from me now?"
"I know that you don't like me and that's fine. I just wanted to clear this thing up with you. And um.. Do you think we can be friends?"
"She doesn't want to be your friend, rat face, So now, you can get lost." Zack rudely said to Noah.
"Zack! Let me answer him." I told Zack and he frowned.
"Listen Noah, it's fine. I am an awkward girl myself, so I understand you. And yes, sure, I'd like to be your friend. And please, I need some serious help in history."
"Oh, don't worry about that. I could tutor you."
"Thanks!" I smiled at him and he returned the smile.
"So, see you later then?" he asked me. "Yes, sure."
He smiled again and I could tell that he was relieved. He said goodbye to me and left.
I looked over at Zack and he was still frowning.
"What's up with you? I just made a friend! That's an achievement for me!" He looked at me and just stared into my eyes for a few seconds.
"Are you not coming to my game?" He asked in a quiet voice.
He sounded sad.
The Zack sounded sad. There's really a first for everything huh.
"Oh Zack, c'mon. Do you really think I will miss this game? I was just kidding with you." I said while nudging his arm.
His face lit up as he grinned . He was just about to say something when we heard someone yelling our names.
"Jen! Zack!" We searched for the source of the voice and found Max waving his hand up in the air looking at us.
He started running towards us.
Oh no... Last time something like that happened, it ended with a lot of embarrassment.
And just as I feared, right before Max reached us, he tripped and landed on Zack, causing the both of them to go crashing on the ground.
I just stared at them with wide eyes and the people around were gasping and staring at us.
Why Max, why?
"Get the fuck off of me, you dumb fuck." Zack growled at Max.
"Sorry, bro." Max said and slowly got up.
People were still staring at us and I wanted nothing more than to just evaporate into thin air.
"So, what were you guys talking about?" Max asked us, oblivious to all the stares he was receiving.
This boy-
"Talking about how we can get rid of your clumsiness." Zack answered, ignoring the people and their stares.
Do they not care-
"Oh cool, so how can we do that?"
"By killing you, of course." Zack said in a serious tone.
"Wha-" Max dramatically gasped. "Jennifer? Sister?" He stared at me, still acting hurt.
I rolled my eyes and told him that we were talking about Zack's basketball game.
"Oh cool! All the best for it man!" Max wished Zack.
"Are you not coming?" I asked him.
"I have a few things to do. So I meowbe coming."
"Oh okayy. That's pawsome."
"I know, right. Purrfect."
Max and I grinned at each other while Zack stared at us with a disappointed look.
***
The match was just about to start and we were all sitting on the bleachers.
The crowd here was crazy. So many humans.
I was sitting in between Charlotte and Damien. Liam was sitting on Charlotte's right side while Max was on Damien's left.
Soon after, both the teams appeared in the court and the crowd started cheering.
I saw Damien proudly looking and smiling at Zack who gave him a thumbs up. Their friendship was gold.
"You look so proud." I said to him. Damien turned his head to look at me and I was captured by those emeralds green eyes of his.
"I am. Zack kills at this sport." he smiled and turned to look at Zack again.
The game began shortly after and the first goal was shot by Zack. The crowd, especially the girls were all going wild on cheering him.
By the half time, the score was 6-4. Our school was really good at this. Zack had shot two goals and all of us were so proud of him.
Alexander, the team captain and Ashley's ex, was a great player too and it appeared that the both of them went along really well. Alexander was actually a nice guy, he definitely deserved better than Ashley.
Before the game started again, Zack searched the bleachers and his light brown eyes landed on me.
He smiled and winked at me and went off to play.
Why the heck was I blushing?
Charlotte noticed this and nudged my arm. "Is there something you haven't told me that you should have?" She asked me.
"What? Oh no, there's nothing like that." I replied. She raised an eyebrow at me but I quickly looked away from her.
The score was equal now and only a few minutes were left for the game to be over. Everyone was cheering for Zack and Alexander. Even Max started cheering loudly. "GO ZACKY! BEAT THEIR ASSES! C'MON!" he shouted loudly. A few of the girls behind him giggled. Soon after Liam and Charlotte were cheering too.
Should I cheer too?
Of course, idiot.
But I am too shy for this.
C'mon Jennifer, everyone is doing.
Right. No one would even notice my voice.
Exactly.
So I screamed at the top of my lungs and cheered for Zack. "C'mon Zack! You have to win!" I shouted.
"Go Zack!" Damien shouted after me.
Zack looked over at the two of us. It seemed like he paid attention to only our cheering and that somehow gave him power because the next second he was dribbling the ball across the court and jumped, he threw the ball towards the basket right before a few seconds were remaining for the match to end.
The ball twirled around on the hoop before entering it, giving our school another goal. As the ball touched the ground, the match ended, making our school win.
Everyone was screaming Zack's name and clapping for him. Alexander and the team hugged him and they all bumped their fists with each other, grinning from ear to ear.
Then, Zack did something that I never expected him to.
He came running up the bleachers, his eyes fixated only and only on me. The girls around were squealing in excitement as he passed by them but he seemed to just ignore them all.
He came up to me and picked me in his arms, smiling adorably at me. I gasped and every other girl, including Charlotte around me, gasped too.
He kissed my cheek with his arms still around my waist. "I won." He whispered to me.
"You did." I replied.
He kissed my cheek again and ran down the bleachers.
My cheeks were crimson red.
Because of embarrassment or-
Because of embarrassment.
"You definitely have something that you haven't told me." Charlotte said.
I ignored her and looked at Damien to see his reaction instead. He had an emotionless face as he stared ahead.
***
I was walking to the cafeteria as Max was blabbering about something to me while all I was thinking about was what Zack had done on the bleachers today.
Max was talking something about cats not being able to taste sweetness when I felt two muscular arms snaking around my waist.
I looked down to stare at them when Zack kissed my cheek from behind and hugged me.
"Zack... What are you doing?" I asked him, perplexed.
"Hugging you?" He whispered in my ear.
What is this boy doing?
I saw Damien coming towards us. He stopped and stared at Zack's arms that were still wrapped around my waist.
"Zack, let go of me. People are staring and you know that I don't like that." he sighed and finally let go of me.
"Who gives a shit about people." He mumbled.
Max cleared his throat and the three of us looked at him.
"Will you tell me what you just did to my sister. And oh.. Also at the bleachers. What was that?" he demanded.
"Relax. You don't have to act like an overprotective brother for her." Zack said and dismissed him.
"Fine. But if you're just playing with my sis-"
"I would never do that to Jennifer, Max." Zack stopped him before he could finish.
What was happening? I am so confused.
"We should go for lunch." Damien said.
***
"It's our birthday in two weeks! We'll turn 18, Liam! 18!" Max said while stuffing his face with the cookies Charlotte had made.
"Your birthday is on the same day?" I asked, while taking a bite of a cookie.
It's so good.
"No, but we celebrate it together." Liam said.
"Oh.. That's nice.. You guys are more like brothers." Charlotte commented.
"We are."
***
"I told you, it's nothing, Char!" I irritatingly said to Charlotte.
She was still bugging me to tell her about me and Zack.
I was getting annoyed by it now.
"Fine. If you don't want to tell me, it's okay!" She said in a loud voice, catching everyone's attention.
"There's nothing to tell! Why don't you understand?!" I said, raising my voice too.
"Woah.. What's happening?" Liam asked as he approached us on the couch.
"Nothing." Charlotte and I said in unison. She looked at me and huffed, turning her head away. "Fine. Don't talk to me." I said and got up from there.
I went in the kitchen to get some water. Celine was there too. She had been observing our argument and Something told me that she was planning something.
My doubts were confirmed when she smirked at me and left the kitchen.
Oh no... What was she upto now?