[ C h a p t e r - T w e n t y - O n e ]

Song to the side is about Savannah or... somewhat. Please read the authors note at the end. Thank you.

Chapter 21

I slowly turned around, avoiding eye contact. “No.”

“No?” Jonah asked, eerily calm. I didn’t trust myself to look at him.

I shook my head. “No, he kissed me.”

Jonah was silent so I continued to speak: “I just came over here to throw away the food and…he followed me, I guess, and he kissed me.”

“Okay, cool,” I looked up and saw Jonah looking towards the stadium behind him. His hands were in his pockets and he was impatiently tapping his foot.

“It’s not cool,” I replied, shaking my head. “I didn’t want him to kiss me.”

Jonah whipped his head towards me, his face blank of emotion. “But you let him.”

“What was I supposed to do?” I snapped. “Push him away?”

Jonah’s eyes bugged out of his head at my stupidity. “That’s exactly what you were supposed to do!”

I glared at him, my arms crossed over my chest. “I don’t see why you’re so angry. It’s not like we’re in a relationship.”

Jonah’s glare was worse than mine; I can tell you that. It seems like he’s had a lot of practice. “I know, thankfully.”

Before I could reply, he turned and walked away. I was left standing there, staring at his retreating figure, with a gaping hole in my heart.

~~~

I was sitting in front of the high school, watching people get into their cars and drive away. Jonah’s car was still there, though. I heard footsteps as I placed my head on my knees, wrapping my arms around them tightly. I felt something poke my shoulder and I lifted my head up. I turned to see West standing their awkwardly.

He let out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank God you’re not crying,” he muttered. I furrowed my eyebrows as I stared at him. “Do you want a ride home?”

I shook my head. “Jonah’s not going to be in the car, besides; it’ll be just you and me. We can go get ice cream," he replied and I looked at him. “I’m not taking no for an answer, you’ll be walking for hours if you try and walk home.”

I stood up slowly, placing my hands in my pockets. Weston stringed his arm through mine and walked with me. He opened the passenger’s door. “M’lady.”

I nodded as I sat down in the car, buckling my seatbelt and staring ahead. Weston whistled as he got into the driver’s side. He smiled at me as he started the car. “Can I ask you a question?” he asked.

I nodded as he continued. “Why was Jonah so upset?” he inquired.

I stared ahead as I frowned. “I think it’s because I kissed Francis.”

It was quiet for a moment. “You kissed Francis?”

I nodded. “Well, it’s a long story but this time, he kissed me,” I replied.

“’This time’, meaning that you kissed him before?” West asked and I nodded. “Why?”

I explained the whole Christmas Eve gathering to Weston and then I explained the closet situation. He listened to me, nodding occasionally. “But you don’t like Francis?”

I shook my head. “Not at all; I actually despise him.”

“That’s good,” Weston replied before he glanced at me. “Do you like Jonah?”

“Am I that obvious?” I muttered loud enough for Weston to hear.

Weston laughed. “Actually, no, you balance out your flirting with a sense of hatred.”

“I hate crushes, especially mine; they’re usually one sided and when they aren’t, it ends up being a joke,” I told Weston.

“Let’s get to a happier subject,” He suggested. I simply nodded. “Let’s talk about my failed relationships.”

I furrowed my eyebrows. “Sabrina tells me that they’re funny so hopefully, they’ll cheer you up. I dated this girl named Diana in 10th grade and I went to a party with her. She told me she was going to the bathroom. After ten minutes, I decided to go check on her. Turns out, she was in a room nearby making out with a guy. It wasn’t the first time she cheated on me, either. I cried for 6 days.”

I stared at Weston. “That’s not funny; that’s cruel.”

Weston laughed. “I’m over it now. Cheaters are terrible, though.”

I pursed my lips. “I feel like a cheater.”

Weston gave me a confused look so I continued. “I like Jonah but I kissed Francis, technically twice; and I didn’t even tell him about the first one. And I probably wouldn’t have told him about the second one if I didn’t need to. I’m a terrible person.”

“You’re not a terrible person, Savannah. You were just confused,” Weston replied. I truly hope that Jonah believes that.

~~~

I walked into my house silently. “Did you get that ki- Ew, what happened to your face?”

I ignored my brother and walked upstairs. He was right, though. My eyeliner and mascara were in streaks down my face from the breakdown I had in Jonah’s car. Weston struggled and failed to comfort me but its okay. At least he tried.

I feel terrible, like a cheater. I feel like Arthur. I decided to call Mere to ask her how her night went; some good news would be nice. “Hello?”

“Hey Mere, how was your date?” I asked her, trying to keep my voice light.

She squealed loudly. “It went perfect! We kissed and everything. Your brother is the best kisser! Speaking of kisses, did you get yours?” she asked me.

I was quiet. “Not with Jonah, no, in fact, he’s angry at me. I understand why though; I kissed Francis not once, but twice, because I’m stupid,” I hung up the phone quickly and ignored her next few texts and calls.

~~~

The idea of school scared me. If Francis told anybody, which he most likely had, about how we kissed, then they’ll put two and two together; why Jonah and I aren’t speaking and the kiss between me and Francis. They’d think Jonah and I were dating, and that I cheated on Jonah, and that’s why he doesn’t want to talk to me. Waverly will be so happy; I can already hear her squealing.

I got out of my car, my pace slow. When I saw Waverly, I sped up. I entered the school and was greeted by hundreds of eyes. They know. I ignored the whispers and went straight to my locker, taking out my text books and placing them in my bag. For emphasis, I slammed my locker shut.

I felt the eyes leave me and I turned to see them staring at Jonah, who just entered the building. His eyes met mine and I felt a shiver race down my spine, but it wasn’t from excitement. His usual warm eyes were gone, replaced with cold, hurt ones. I turned on my heel and began making my way to my first class before the bell even rang.

My ideas were squashed by Francis intervening. Before I could even exit the hallway that Jonah was in, Francis stood in front of me. I heard people gasp and some people even laughed. The tension in the air was thick; the three of us were in the same hallway for crying out loud.

“Hey,” Francis smirked and I glared at him, trying to walk past him but he blocked me. “How are you doing?”

I glared at him. “Move,” I attempted to push past him again but he just blocked me.

I asked him to please move again but he ignored me and continued smirking. “How are you?”

“Move," he ignored my request once more. I raised my hand and let it come in contact with his face. He let out a cry of pain and I walked around him, leaving him behind while he cradled his face. I really needed to stop hitting people willy-nilly; one day, a teacher will see and I’ll be sent to the principal’s office.

~~~

Before I could even blink, people knew about how I hit Francis. I decided that first period wasn’t important and hightailed it to the bathroom. Assuming that every girl in the school is an angel and would be in class was a mistake because the moment I entered the bathroom, Waverly was standing there putting lip gloss on.

“Hey, Savannah," she glanced at me in the mirror. She scowled at my outfit as I stood there awkwardly. “You know, you should stop hitting people and focus on what you wear to school.”

I just stared at her. “Listen, Savannah, I know that you like Jonah and I also know that you two are in a fight. I’m asking you, no, I’m telling you to back off. I don’t see you as competition; I’ll stomp you," she told me as she capped up her lip gloss.

She went to exit the bathroom but I spoke up. “If you don’t see me as competition, why are you telling me to back off?”

She glared at me before she stormed up to me. “I’m not scared of you Savannah so don’t try and threaten me.”

“It wasn’t a threat, it was a question. You didn’t answer it,” I retorted, narrowing my eyes at her.

She glowered at me for one last moment before she stormed out of the bathroom. I decided I’d better get to class.

When I walked into first period ten minutes late, people’s eyes were stuck on me like Elmer’s glue. “Why are you late, Ms. Harp?”

“Maybe she was busy punching someone else," someone muttered and I ignored it.

“I had to return to my locker to get my textbook,” I lied simply before walking over to my seat in the back of the classroom.

A piece of paper flew onto my desk and I stared at it before unraveling it. ‘Are you okay?’

I looked around the classroom, trying to see if it was anyone I knew; nope. I tried to see if anyone was staring at me; only half of the class. I held up the note and waved it slightly. A girl with glasses like my own smiled and waved her hand slightly. I nodded, scribbling a quick response on the paper. ‘Yeah, thank you for asking.’

I flicked the paper back to her and she read it before smiling at me. I smiled in response before sitting back in my seat, listening the teacher drone on about assignments due in the next few days.

~~~

If I thought that the classes were bad, lunch was thirty times worse. I had nowhere to sit. Jonah was nowhere to be found, not that I’d sit with him, and I had nowhere to even go. Francis was most likely in the library or in the hallways and I didn’t want to have to deal with him.

“You can sit with me,” I turned around at the quiet girl from my English class.

“Thanks,” I replied, following her to her table. She also sat alone, much like me. “What’s your name?”

“Dana,” the quiet girl replied as she put ketchup on her fries. I nodded.

“I’m Savannah,” I told her and she laughed.

“I know," she responded.

We ate in silence and it felt good to not eat alone, even if it was with someone I barely knew and we didn’t even bother to talk to each other. When the bell rang, I told her I’d see her again; she invited me to sit with her tomorrow and I agreed. I’m glad that she doesn’t stare at me as if I’m some type of homicidal maniac. I made my way to last period, a class I have with Waverly, Jonah. and Francis.

When I got to the classroom, Mr. Gonzales was greeting people at the door and his smile faltered when he greeted me. “Ms. Harp.”

“Mr. Gonzales,” I replied with a smile on my face. When I passed him, it turned into a scowl.  I made my way to the seat in the back of the class. I noticed that Francis was absent from his seat in the row in front of mine. The football player can’t take a punch?

Jonah walked into the classroom, taking a seat in the back of the classroom, away from me and away from everyone else. I was in the right corner and he was in the left. Waverly looked back at him and went to go sit next to him but he put his books on the chair beside him. At least I know he’s not going to try and hurt me by dating Waverly.

“Now class, I’ve been telling you about the project for a long time and now it’s finally here! It’s about one infamous person of the past and you’re writing a biography about them; it is a partner project and I’ve decided to let you choose your own partners,” I cringed. I hope he makes an exception for a lone worker.

“Now you have the rest of the period to find a partner and chose who you’re going to do your project on. At the end of class, you’ll write your names and who you’re doing your project about on a piece of paper- I expect one per pair!” Mr. G announced.

Immediately, people began getting up and asking people to work with them. I raised my hand and Mr. G walked over. “May I work alone?”

“Did you not just hear what I said?” he queried, an annoyed look on his face.

“I did but I can do the project on my own,” I replied and he shook his head.

“You need a partner and I advise you go get one before they’re all taken,” he replied and I frowned as he walked away. But if they’re all taken, doesn’t that mean I’ll be able to work alone?

I put my head on my desk, closing my eyes. The oncoming headache was stressing me out and the talking people weren’t helping me in the slightest. I’m going to do my project on Adolf Hitler; I already know enough about him and I can just wing it. I won't have to go to another stupid library again; bad things happen there.

About ten minutes later, Mr. G called my name. “Savannah?” I looked up and he frowned at me. “Did you find a partner yet?”

I shook my head and he sighed. “I found a partner for you; someone also wanted to work alone. You have one thing in common already.”

I looked at him slightly worried. “Well, who am I working with?” I asked.

“Jonah Davis.”

__A/N__

Story: Despicable Arrogance.

There are five things that I hate:

1.)    Arrogant Guys

2.)    Guys who have girls falling at their feet and they proceed to use them

3.)    Guys who assume everyone loves them

4.)    Guys who ride motorcycles

5.)    Strawberry Ice Cream

And Grayson Carter just so happens to be 4 of them. Even his name sounds like a celebrity’s: Grayson Carter.

The boy is everywhere; he lives down the street from me, he goes to my school, our mothers are even longtime friends yet he doesn’t even know my name. The only place I can get away from him is my part time job at the library and the day he comes sauntering in looking for a job is the day I just might go insane.

(10/26/13) THE STORY IS NOW POSTED UNDER THE TITLE DESPICABLE ARROGANCE!

(6/30/14) THIS BOOK HAS BEEN FINISHED FOR APPROXIMATELY TEN YEARS.