*Geek Boy*
When I was fourteen, an awkward teenager shuffling nervously through my freshman year of high school, my mind was constantly preoccupied with what was going on at home: the midnight calls my mother got that made her stay up till three am, the constant swigs of the translucent liquid she hid beneath the kitchen sink, the lack of photos of my father or brothers.
And yet, every time my mother came home, she was dressed flawlessly. Her hair was held up in a tight bun and her suit was perfectly straightened and cleaned. Her face was emotionless and cold, matching her icy gaze.
It was almost as if the night before had never taken place. Almost as if it hadn't taken our family just a few moments to lose everything.
Despite that, everything wasn't so dark.
In odd moments, I would see her.
Ellie Kent was a glittering star in the darkness. Even as a freshman she shone beside the other students. Over the summer holidays she'd blossomed, her beauty growing till she was almost blinding. Every sleek stride down a hallway was chased by male whistles and female whispers.
Her blonde hair had grown, the end of her golden curls brushing against her slim waist. Her blue eyes were only made more startling by thin sheen of make-up she wore now. It had only taken a few days for her face to circulate round the school. Only a few weeks till everyone knew who she was.
Ellie Kent, younger sister of the famed Juliana and Selena Kent, head cheerleaders who'd taken their teams to multiple cheerleading contests and won. Their names were plastered permanently in trophy cases.
She was already a queen.
She got into the varsity cheerleading squad almost immediately. Rumours said she was already a shoe-in for head cheerleader.
It wasn't unexpected. Ellie's extracurricular activities since the day I'd met her had ranged from dancing to gymnastics and even stunt performance. Fourteen year old Ellie was better than a professional cheerleader.
It seemed as we'd both aged, the expanse between her and I had just grown larger, till it was a perilous cavern that threatened to kill me if I attempted to cross it.
Ellie Kent was a cheerleader.
And out of my league.
It was in one of those days as a freshman, when I witnessed it. I was perched on the bleachers of the gym, gazing at Ellie in between passages of the novel I was reading.
Ellie and the cheerleaders were running through a cheer drill for the game tonight.
Every moment I peeked over my book I would see Ellie's smile, captivating all the other girls, brightening the entire room. And my heart would leap, almost like it could reach her.
Ellie was practicing with the other freshmen, including her friends Layla Chang and Madison Jefferson. Gemma Henderson, a girl she usually hung out with, had been suspended last week for disrespect to a teacher.
I watched as Ellie, with ease, she performed handstands and back flips whilst the other cheerleaders watched her abilities longingly. And yet, there was no arrogance in her expression. She simply giggled and thanked the girls for every compliment they showered her with.
The slam of the gym's door made all the freshman girls flinch. Ellie landed from a somersault she was demonstrating. A ripple of unease dispersed into the air, making all the freshman girls straighten, eyes focused on where the door had opened.
The Head Cheerleader Heather Mathers stomped in, tailed by her posse of cheerleaders.
Heather had long mahogany brown hair, littered with golden highlights. The moment her eyes locked on Ellie, the piercing green darkened, as if thunder clouds had rolled in.
It was no secret Heather Mathers hated Ellie. Despite being a freshman, Ellie was the only competitor for her post, and, being the sister of previous Head Cheerleaders Juliana and Selena, it hadn't taken her long to garner respect from most of the squad.
Even to them Ellie was amazing.
She smirked. "Practicing, freshman?"
Ellie bit her lip but stood her ground. Ellie never responded to Heather's taunting. A fact that was both endearing and painful to watch.
Heather pressed a hand to her waist, and her make-up coated face contorted. "You know you're like never gonna become head cheerleader right? I know your prissy sisters probably told you that, but they lied." Her smile widened. "I just didn't want you to get any wrong ideas, you know?"
Ellie remained silent. Her gaze didn't shift from Heather's, defiant.
My fists clenched around my book and I bit my lip. The urge to do something, say something, almost overwhelmed me.
My eyes searched for Gemma, usually the one to defend Ellie against Heather. My chest tightened when I remembered she wasn't here.
Heather huffed when Ellie didn't reply. "Whatever." She turned to the girls behind her, clapping her hands to get their attention. "OK, guys, lets practice the routine for tonight."
I watched as Ellie followed the other girls, heading towards her position in the routine.
It was going to be her first game next week. From what I'd overheard, she was excited.
"No," Heather stated. "You're out freshman."
No way.
Ellie frowned, her eyes widening. "But I've already practiced it with the group. Coach said I was going to be cheering this week."
Heather's smile was smug. "I don't care." She shrugged. "I said no so you're not doing it."
Madison Jefferson stepped up. "But we have no one to take her place."
Layla followed suit, crossing her arms as she glared at Heather. "Exactly."
Heather narrowed her eyes at the pair. Scowling, she ran her eyes over the freshmen. She pointed towards a mousy girl at the back. "You. Come here. Take Kent's part."
The girl hesitated. "But--but--"
"Now," she snapped.
The girl nodded quickly, scurrying over.
My eyes fell back onto Ellie, who had stepped back as Heather spoke to those doing the routine. It wasn't fair. It wasn't right that Heather was treating her like that.
The routine kicked off quickly, but my eyes remained on Ellie. She sat on the bench watching, chin cupped in her hands, as the other girls cheered without her.
In that moment all I wanted to do was ask her if she was OK.
All I did was sit there and watch.
Which was exactly why I didn't see it happen.
A chorus of female screams tore through the gym. Abruptly, my gaze fell back onto the other cheerleaders.
Heather was lying on the floor, her body slumped against the ground. Blood spilled from where her head had hit the gymnasium floor.
I was frozen.
The girls, even her friends scurried away from her.
A couple girls cried that someone should call 911.
I staggered up, my mind churning slowly, trying to figure out what I could do.
I could barely remember pulling my phone out and dialling the numbers for the ambulance.
I had no idea what to do.
But Ellie did.
Ellie, Ellie Kent, the cheerleader that was bullied by Heather Mathers, was the only one who sat next to Heather. Ellie held her hand, whispering comfort, until the ambulance arrived.
And I stood frozen and watched.
It was that memory that followed me as I raced outside the stadium, the sound of Catherine's voice fading behind me.
Following that incident, Heather was taken to a hospital and recovered. The doctors said she'd suffered a concussion, some broken bones and a dislocated shoulder. The frightened girl she'd chosen to help do the routine had been unable to hold Heather up. Heather had fallen.
They told us that if Ellie hadn't kept her awake by talking to her, things would have been much worse. Ellie, the girl Heather had bullied unsparingly, saved her.
Heather Mathers relinquished her post as Captain of the cheerleading squad and Ellie became the Head, as a freshman, practically unheard of.
But I could never forget what I'd done: nothing.
I hadn't been able to do anything. I'd just stood by and watched.
And I was tired of standing by and letting things happen.
I was tired of never saying a word.
A gust of air smacked into me as I finally made it outside.
And yet, it was seeing Ellie that took my breath away.
She paced in front of a red Toyota. Her golden blonde hair was whisked behind her by the wind, the long strands having escaped her hair band. Her eyelashes were long, almost shielding the sapphire blue eyes that glowered at the ground. She bit down on her pink lips.
I gulped.
Don't be stupid William.
"Ellie, are you OK?"
She blinked rapidly and her eyes widened as they fell on me. "Oh, Will!" Abruptly, her fingers went to her hair. She forced a smile. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Her voice cracked.
Pain lanced through my chest.
Ellie's lips tightened around her smile. She shoved her hair back. Her gaze flickered to the ground, before bouncing back to mine. "That was super embarrassing wasn't it? I am such a loser, right? We've practiced that like a billion times and today, of all days, I failed." She laughed, the sound rough and sarcastic. The caustic sound didn't suit her cherubic face. "I bet I looked horrible, didn't I?"
No, you didn't. You looked absolutely amazing. You were the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen. You have always been the most beautiful thing to me. It was you that made me forget about everythingâmy parents, my brothers, my life. You've been my medicine ever since that day when we were ten.
But I said nothing.
The ache in my chest grew.
It was always in times like this, when I was really needed, that I was useless. It was in times like this that I couldn't speak, that I was frozen. Ever since I was a child, when it really mattered, when someone really needed me, I was silent.
A glimmer of liquid fell from her eye.
No.
I didn't consider my next movement.
In seconds I was in front of her, my thumb gliding over her skin, rubbing away the tear.
I heard her breath catch.
My heart thundered in my chest as our gazes locked. Billions of cerulean blue facets glittered in the dim light, nearly iridescent.
She was so beautiful.
Don't be stupid Will. Don't do anything you'll regret. Don't beâ
"No," I murmured.
The sound of my heart slamming against my rib cage tore through the silence.
"I thought you looked amazing."
One heartbeat. Two heartbeat. Five Heartbeat. Ten heartbeat.
"You're incredibly talented," I continued. "And..."
Don't be stupid Will.
Don't be stupid.
Don't do it.
"You're the most beautiful girl I've ever met."
And I've had a crush on you since I was ten.
"You couldn't look horrible even if you tried."
Ellie stared at me with wide eyes, her lips parted just slightly. Standing so close to her, I could feel her breath, warm and minty, floating between us.
She was perfect.
"Ellie..."
Don't be stupid Will. Don't be stupid. Don't be stupid. Don'tâ
I'm tired of being smart.
"I like you."
It was almost as if the walls in my mind crashed down, violent turbulent emotions shattering my composure.
I'd done it.
I'd confessed.
Seven years and I'd finally said the words.
Ellie was frozen, gaze still locked with mine. Her gorgeous eyes carried a wave of quickly changing emotions.
All I could see was shock.
I'd told her how I felt. I'd showed her my one vulnerability. I'd given her a shot at breaking my heart.
I'd said the words.
Her voice came out in a whisper. "Will."
She lifted a hand. Slowly, the tips of her fingers came up, brushing just below my chest, her hand finally settling below my rib cage. Electricity poured into my skin from her palm, sending burning heat through my thin t-shirt to my entire body.
My heartbeat staggered then started up again, pounding erratically.
My fingers caressed her face, rubbing against her flawless skin. A trail of red followed the path of my fingers as blood permeated the tanned cream. My gaze dropped to her lips.
It was now or never.
The words were quiet when they emerged.
"Can I kiss you?"
Ninety Heartbeat. One Hundred Heartbeat. One Hundred and Fifty Heartbeat. Two Hundred Heartbeat.
"Yes."
So I did.
I kissed my seven year crush.
I kissed Ellie Kent.
***
So guys, are you driven mad just yet???? Are you quaking in your boots??? What do you think???
The dedication is to an amazing encouraging person who is always voting and constantly giving me wonderful comments that always make me smile ;)
God bless
xxx
Yemi Everest