35. Seats and fighting.

Olivia

''So? Did you find out where the Cullen went?'' Andy asks as we sit down on the cafeteria, and I give him a bored look.

"No.'' I simply answer.

''Why not?" he frowns.

"Because he hacked the tracker.''

''He did what?" Andy says surprised.

''I'm so done with him I swear.'' he shakes his head.

"Me too bro, me too.'' I sigh.

''Why the fuck are our enemies so smart? Enemies shouldn't be smarter than us.'' Andy says and I nod. ''We should get their brains out or something.''

''Like Thomas Harvey did to Einstein's brain?" I ask.

"Exactement.'' he nods, and we both burst out laughing.

''Did you find Joel's secret, geniuses?'' Lucy sits down in front of us.

I narrow my eyes at her, and she smirks. She knows it damn well that I didn't.

''Why don't you tell us how to find his secret if you're so smart?" I say and she shrugs.

''I would look up his background and his family background and see what would come up.'' she takes a sip from her coffee.

Me and Andy look at each other.

''She has a point.'' Andy whispers.

''Yep.'' I whisper back.

She gives us a proud look and sips her coffee.

''Put her on the Thomas Harvey's list.'' I say to Andy, ''We're taking her brain out too.''

''Yes sir.'' he nods laughing.

''You're sitting on the Cullens side.'' I say to Lucy, and she gets up with an eye roll.

''I was going to get up anyway.'' she says, ''Andy get up, we're going to the library.''

''Why am I coming to that cell?" he looks up at Lucy.

"We're doing research for the literature project and it's not a cell.'' she narrows her eyes at him.

''Ugh, come on its eight am!'' he groans, ''Class starts for half an hour what are we going to do in such short time?"

"A lot of things.'' she grabs him by his shirt, ''Get up now.''

I laugh as Andy tries to escape Lucy's hold as she drags him out of the cafeteria.

I open my strawberry chocolate and take a delicious bite from it.

''Morning miss 'putting a tracker on my car'. '' Joel whispers on my ear and a chill run on my body.

I turn my head and look at him.

His hands are at the sides of the couch and his face is extremely close to me.

I swallow the chocolate on my mouth with a struggle. He looks down on my lips and then frowns. Reaching his thumb close to my lips he wipes the corner of my mouth.

I shift my gaze at his thumb and realize that he wiped the chocolate of my lip. He looks at his thumb and then puts it on his mouth, licking it.  My jaw drops on the floor as I watch him do that.

''Hm, strawberry flavored.'' he says looking at his finger.

The butterflies on my belly are going wild!

''Why did you put the tracker on my car, princess?" he whispers stalking his face closer to me.

I keep my gaze at his lips, thinking how he licked his thumb and sucked on it.

He licked the chocolate that was on my mouth.

Does it count as licking it from my lips?

Olivia what the hell are you thinking!

''Hm?'' oh, shit he asked me something.

''Wha-'' I clear my throat, ''What?"

''Why did you put the tracker on my car?" he repeats.

Oh right.

''Uh, yeah...um...I just wanted to make a prank'' I lie, my gaze shifting from his eyes to his lips.

''A prank?" he raises his eyebrow and I nod, ''Just a prank?"

"Yes.'' I lick my lips.

''What was the prank?" he asks.

Shoot how will I answer now?

''Uh...it-'' our classmates approaching us interrupted me.

Phew.

Joel looks at them and backs away from me.

''Yo, the trip is coming!'' Justin yells and sits on the couch, ''Morning queen.'' he winks at me.

''Morning.'' I smile.

''Has anyone thought with who are going to sit on the bus?'' Sarah asks.

''Not really-'' I start, and Justin interrupts me.

''You're sitting with me Olivia, right? Please say yes, my heart can't take a no for an answer!'' he puts a hand to his forehead dramatically.

''Sure.'' I laugh.

''Ha, suck it up Ben.'' he says and Ben scoffs sitting next me.

''I was just going to ask her.'' Ben crosses his arms.

"Well, I was faster.'' Justin smirks.

I roll my eyes at their stupidity.

I look over at Joel sitting across the table, he's looking at Justin and Ben with narrowed eyes.

We're going to visit Big Bear Lake next week, which is the first week of November.

Second year 11A and third year 12A, which means that Lucy and Andy are coming too. We're going to be together!

I may or may not have spoken to principal Nova about this, but that's not the point.

It's with snow at this time on Big Bear Lake. I love snow, there is some beauty on all that white carpet made by nature to cover the ground.

''Joel baby, we're sitting together, right?" Alexa says and my skin crawls.

I look at Joel who is already looking at me, he smirks and then looks at Alexa.

"Of course.'' he smiles at her, and I clench my teeth.

I can't figure it out if they're a couple or not.

But this shit is bothering me to the maximum.

What would happen if I went there and smashed Alexa's head on the table, broke her nails that are clutching Joel's arm and threw her out of the cafeteria?

I leave the cafeteria before I act on my stupid intrusive thoughts.

''Hey Olivia.'' Alexa calls and I roll my eyes before turning at her.

"What?" I fake smile.

''You're jealous, aren't you?" she smirks.

I clench my teeth but keep my fake smile on my face.

"Of what?"

''Of me and Joel.'' she says, and I laugh humorlessly.

''Alexa are you aware that there is nothing to be jealous of?" I say.

''You're jealous because you can't have him.'' she smirks.

''And you can?" I greet my teeth.

She takes a step closer to me and whispers, ''I have him anyway.''

I glare at her, and she winks.

''I'm going to sit with him and be with him the whole trip. We're going to spend more time together and connect with each other. He'll realize that it's me the one he actually wants and you're just the boring one. He'll want to spend more time with me and you're going to watch like a lost puppy.'' she says and walks away.

''We'll see about that.'' I say as I watch her leave.

''She said she has him, Lucy!'' I pace around my sister's room.

''I have him anyway.'' I mock her.

''Stupid bitch! Who the hell does she think she is?'' I say unfolding and folding the clothes on top of her bed.

''Joel baby we're sitting together, right?" I mock her again, ''Baby my ass! Ugly bitch!'' I throw Lucy's shirt on the bed.

''She has the audacity to tell me that he's hers? As in Her Joel?'' I look at Lucy. ''Fuck no. He's not fucking hers, she's just to fucking full of herself.'' I grab Lucy's pants.

''Ugly stupid girl!'' I throw the pants at the wall.

''Can you believe it? Alexa and Joel?'' I ask my sister.

She opens her mouth and I interrupt her, ''Yeah, me neither.''

''Ugh, it gets on my nerves!'' I groan clutching my hands.

I look at Lucy and she's watching me with a weird expression.

"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" I ask.

''Olivia do you like Joel?" she asks and my face fells.

''Wha...what?" I laugh. ''Do I like Joel? What kind of question is that? Of course I don't.'' I scoff.

''Are you sure?"

"Of course I am, Lucy what is wrong with you?" I look at her.

''You're jealous of him Olivia.'' she gets up and comes closer to me, ''That leads me to thinking that you like him.''

"I'm not jealous of him.'' I say and she raises an eyebrow.

I mean...I don't like seeing him with Alexa or any other girl. I hate it when he smiles to Alexa or when she fucking kisses him on the cheek.

The thought of him kissing her makes my blood boil and an uneasy feeling setting on my chest.

But it doesn't mean that I'm jealous.

Why the fuck am I lying to myself, this is fucking jealousy.

Why don't I feel the same for Andy for example when he kisses other girls in front of me?

I only feel like this for him.

What if I actually like him?

I start pacing around the room and then sit on Lucy's bed with my head at my hands.

''Hey what's wrong?" Lucy asks stroking my hair.

"Lucy, I can't like him...the bet, dad, our families...I-''

''Liv, shh.'' she whispers, ''Don't think of the bet, don't think of anyone else. Just you and him in this world. How do you feel?"

"I don't know.'' I breath out.

I don't know how I feel about him.

I just... there is a weird feeling on my stomach every time I see him. My heart burst out of my rib cage every time he is close to me.

''I don't know about that Lucy, but I know one thing.'' I say and she looks at me, ''Alexa is not sitting with him on the bus.''

She smiles.

⚛⚛⚛⚛

One week has passed.

We're preparing for the school trip tomorrow

It's going to last three days: we're going there on Friday and coming back on Sunday.

Today is Thursday and we're going to choose our seat bus partner.

Alexa looks very happy.

Not for too long.

''Olivia, who do you want as your seat partner?" the teacher asks me, and I smile.

''Umm... Sam.'' I say and everyone gasps.

''What? Noo, my queen.'' Justin cries out.

"Sorry bro.'' I give him an apologetic smile.

Sam looks at me in confusion.

''Are you okay with it?" I ask him and he nods.

''Great.'' I go to hug him, but he backs away.

Okay...

''Sorry.'' I whisper.

I turn my eyes at Joel, and he looks at me with his eyebrow raised.

''Have fun with the nerd, Olivia.'' Alexa laughs.

Laughs best the one who laughs last, Alexa.

''Bro pulled the most popular girl at school.''  Andrew says and Justin scoffs.

''That wasn't good Olivia.'' he says, and I go and hug him.

'I'm sorry.'' I say.

Joel is more important than you.

''Yeah, it's okay queen.'' he hugs me back.

''But why are you letting that witch sit with Joel?" Justin whispers to me and I give him a confused look. ''Sam? Really?"

I shake my head and smile at him.

"Just wait and see Justin.'' I clap his shoulder.

''Ben.'' he yells, ''Let's sit together.''

I muffle a laugh.

''Psst, Sam.'' I whisper. The idiot doesn't listen.

Everyone is having a conversation about the trip; I have to be quick and quiet about this.

''Sam!'' I call again and he turns his head to me.

''Come here.'' I whisper and he comes to my desk.

''Listen.'' I say and he nods. ''I have a plan. A brilliant, fabulous plan! You're going to love it. After listening to my genius plan, you're going to think; wow, Olivia is such a genius, how didn't I think about this before? This plan is-" He looks at me blankly. No reaction comes from him.

''Uh...anyways.'' I smile nervously.

This dude makes me nervous to speak just because of his weirdness.

''The plan is.'' I clear my throat, ''You're going to change seats with Joel.''

Boom, here it is.

My masterpiece of a plan.

Alexa is going to get crazy!

She hates Sam, and sitting with him the whole trip is going to make her out of her mind.

''No way.'' Sam says and my smile drops.

I didn't think of him refusing.

''Oh, come on, Sam just say yes. You don't have to do anything. I am the one who is going to change the seats you just need to sit there.'' I say.

''No.'' he says and walks away.

''Wait, wait, wait.'' I grab his arm. He brushes my hand away.

''No physical touch. Got it.'' I raise my hands.

''Look, I know that you like Alexa and this-''

"No, I don't.'' he interrupts me.

''Everyone knows that you like her Sam.'' I say and he blushes.

''Hey, it's okay, I'm not judging you.'' I smile, ''If you change the seats you get to seat with her and I with Joel. It's a win-win. Come on, please.''

He looks at me not impressed.

''Please.'' I try again.

He just stares at him.

''Pretty please?'' I make a sad face.

''You're changing them.'' he gives in.

''Yes!!'' I cheer and hug him.

He pushes me away with his index finger.

"Sorry.'' I back away.

Oh my God, I did it!

I start making small dances and jumping up and down.

***

Finally, Friday is here.

It's 7:15 am.

Everyone is at school's front yard getting ready for the trip.

We're leaving at 7:30.

I only have fifteen minutes to change Joel's seat bus number with Sam's.

''Olivia.'' Andy calls, ''Viens par ici.''

I go to him, and he drops an arm around my shoulder.

''What's your plan?" he asks.

"What plan?" I ask playing dump.

''Cherie, you don't get to sit with Sam for no reason.'' he gives me a knowing look.

''You'll see my dear friend, you'll see.'' I smirk.

''Since when you don't tell me you plan?" he asks.

"I just want it to be a surprise.'' I wink.

''With whom are you sitting on your bus?'' I ask him.

''With Lucy.'' he answers, and I nod.

I spot Sam sitting on a bus and tell Andy that I have to go.

''Morning Sam.'' I approach him, ''Do you have the paper with the number?"

He nods and gives me the square piece of paper.

Number seven. I have number eight.

''Good. I'll change this with Joel's and bring you the paper, okay?" I say and he nods.

I leave Sam and head inside the school to the cafeteria. I saw Joel head here earlier.

When I enter the room, Joel is on the bar, talking with GP.

''Can I get my chocolate, GP?" I ask coming closer to the bar.

"Right away miss.'' he says.

"Make me a hot chocolate too. Don't forget cookies.'' I wink.

I like to take my hot chocolate with cookies. I always put them on the cup and eat them with a spoon together with the chocolate.

For everyone who thinks it's weird: Oreos with peanut butter is worse.

Who eats Oreos with peanut butter for the God's sake?

That's just eww.

''Well, if it isn't Olivia Meyer.'' Joel says leaning his elbow on the counter, ''Hi there princess.''

''Hi.'' I say mimicking his position.

''How's it going with Sam?" he asks.

I was about to answer when I saw the paper with his number standing on the counter.

Bingo.

''Cool.'' I answer, ''How's it going with Alexa?"

"Nice.'' he says, ''She's nice.''

If Alexa is nice, I give up on my life.

I stalk closer to him and put my hand on the top of the paper.

Leaning closer to his ear I whisper, ''Have a nice trip then.''

But not with Alexa.

I replace his paper with Sam's and clutch his on my hand.

''Your hot chocolate and cookies...and strawberry chocolate.'' he says rethinking my food choices.

"Thanks GP.'' I smile and pay for my things.

I wink at Joel as I get out.

Holy molly mushrooms, I can't believe I did this!

''Sam, Sam, Sam!'' I run toward him. ''I did it! I got his number.''

I give him the paper with the number 13, Alexa's might be 14.

He takes it and puts it on his pocket.

I raise my hand to high-five him.

He stares at it and then leaves.

Okay...

I high-five myself.

''Okay kids, get ready on your buses, we're leaving in ten minutes.'' a teacher calls and I go in the bus.

Sam comes after me and sists a few seats away.

Students that are already inside look at us in confusion.

Joel enters the bus and his brows furrow when he looks at me. I smirk.

He looks at the paper in his hands and then at me and back at the paper.

With a smirk on his lips, he puts the paper on his pocket and comes to sit beside me.

He doesn't say anything.

The people are coming in...and here you go, the queen of drama comes too.

She looks at Joel and then her face fells when she looks at me.

Then she gets the paper out of her pocket in anger.

Alexa walks past us to check who she's sitting with, and I turn on my seat to see her reaction.

''What the hell?" she yells when she sees that her partner is Sam.

''Surprise, bitch!'' I shout, ''Do you like it?"

Everyone around us start laughing.

''You bitch, you're going to pay for this!'' she yells, and I blow her a kiss.

''Quiet, students! We're leaving now.'' the teacher says.

"No, we can't leave my seat is-''

"Sit down Alexa don't make me get you out of the bus.'' the teacher says, and Alexa sits next to Sam with a disgusted look.

I feel bad for Sam now.

He's going to sit with her for more than an hour.

''Shocker!'' Joel says and I look at him.

"Surprised, baby?" I say and put on my headphones.

He doesn't say anything, but there is a smile on his lips.

Author's note

Rumor has it that the bet is going to break soon...

G.T.Diola