Clarey

"Black and white! Black and white! Yes, you know, we're here to fight! Goooooo Bonita Verde Panthers!"

The crowd erupted with whistles and cheers and I rolled my eyes at the sight of Masiela's bitch squad. The football game was almost over and it looked like BV was about to win again against Viento Vista. It irritated me to death that I have to go through such torture watching the sexy divas perform in every damn game.

"When will this end?" I muttered to myself, lifting my camera to take a quick snapshot before they all decided to jump down from the pyramid. As I took a sip of my soda, someone suddenly bumped into me, causing my can to slip from my grip, splashing the contents all over me.

Fucking great.

"Oh, my goodness!" Cried Libby Cooper, the junior bubbly blonde haired girl from our school paper. "I am so sorry!"

"No, it's okay, I'm fine." I said, wiping my top off with a piece of folded paper towel from my back pocket. Someone whistled from behind and I didn't even realize it was that boy who delivered the roses to my house.

"Lehi?" I chuckled, my eyes shifted back at Libby who was still red as a tomato. "What are you doing over at the enemy lines?"

"Hey, just because I'm from Viento Vista doesn't mean I can't support my baby's school." He stole a quick kiss from Libby's lips. She playfully slapped him back in the stomach. They looked so cute together.

To save myself from the awkward scene happening in front of me, I excused myself to go to the restroom. Looking at my carbonated soaked top in front of the mirror just made me angrier at myself.

Coke in a can. Why, Clarey? Why did it have to be coke in a can?

Cursing under my breath, I decided to use the bathroom stall to pee. I shouldn't have taken that soda. Darn caffeine. Suddenly the door swung open and I heard a bunch of girls file in, all giggling in delight. I rolled my eyes. This is what I hate about using school restrooms. It's a place where girls air their endless juicy gossip. This is where the gossip would start and it would spread like wildfire.

"Omigosh, Celia," One girl, whose voice I do not recognize, chirped happily, clapping her hands a few times. "I am so happy for you!"

I heard a few spritzing sounds and the restroom suddenly smelled like Vanilla and Strawberries. I held a hand over my nose that way I wouldn't have to breathe the toxic air. I carefully positioned myself to peek through the door crack to see who the other girls were, and I saw Celia leaning over the counter sink with her usual tight designer skinny jeans and floral tube top along with Evalyn by her side.

"So, it's official then?" One girl asked in a whisper, but louder enough for me to hear.

Celia cleared her throat, brushing off her golden bangs away from her eyes. "Well, nothing's set in stone really. I still don't have it, but it'll be soon enough."

I scrunched my nose trying to decipher what the hell they were talking about. Just then my throat suddenly got a little itchy and I started coughing.

"Who's there?" One of the girls yelled.

I shut my eyes, pressing my lips together. How the hell am I going to get out of here? Think of something. Quick!

"Lo siento!" I yelled back with a squeaky voice. "Estoy... ah.... estoy ocupada!"

Sorry, I'm busy? Good one, Clarey. Those words were probably good enough because they know you're doing your business. I silently cursed at myself for using the restroom. But then again, I had to pee really bad.

"Come on, girls, let's go." Celia said in a hushed tone. She didn't seem to care if people were eavesdropping in on her conversations.

"Yeah," another girl agreed. "Let's get out of here before she'd stink up the whole room."

I rolled my eyes at the smart-ass comment. As soon as the restroom door closed, I exhaled slowly. My heart pounded loudly against my chest. If they ever found out I was eavesdropping, it'll be the death of me. Evan's girlfriend wasn't really bitchy, but she's quite intimidating. She's a heiress. She's rich, beautiful, and popular. The whole package.

Evan's one lucky guy.

Too bad, Evan's not really honest with her. I'm just afraid that if this news would ever get out, everyone will crucify me.

*

"BV High! BV High! BV High!" The whole crowd chanted as everyone cheered and congratulated every football player in the field.

"Oh my gosh, he's looking at me!" Trish squealed beside me, squeezing my arms in excitement. My arm's all red, thanks to her nails scratching against my skin.

"Who?"

"Reece!" She whispered a little loudly in my ear. "The linebacker."

I followed her gaze to where Reece was at. He was the cute tall buffed ginger haired boy who hung out a lot alongside Evan.

I bit my lip. "Him? You have got to be kidding me," I shook my head in disapproval. "Seriously, you don't want to date one of Evan's friends. You're making a grave mistake if you do."

She rolled her eyes at me. "Well, look who's talking. You think we don't know anything about that little make out session with Evan at the back of the library?"

My jaw instantly dropped and gave her a little slap in the arm. "What the hell are you talking about?"

"You and Evan," she puckered her lips and made those annoying kissing sounds. I slapped her arm again. "Ow, Clarey? Can you please stop doing that?" She started rubbing the spot where I slapped her.

"How did you know about that?" My eyes were wide as saucers. I pulled her arm and went to a corner, away from the crowd. "Who told you?"

She held both her hands up in surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll tell you. Now can you please take your kung fu grip away from me?"

"Oh, sorry."

She lowered her head and whispered, "It was Tina Levitt."

"Woah," I raised an eyebrow. "Tina Levitt? No way?"

She nodded, wiggling her eyebrows at me. I couldn't believe someone had witnessed that kissing scene at the library. My reputation will soon go down the drain. If Celia found out, I don't know what I would do.

I need to put a stop to this. Stat.

Just then, as if right on cue, Tina Levitt stepped out of the restroom. Her eyes widened as soon as she saw us. She started walking really fast in the opposite direction, avoiding our path.

"Hey, Tina!" I yelled. She didn't look back. "Tina! Wait up!"

I was supposed to run after her, but Trish grabbed my arm to stop me. I shot her a withering look. "What?" I said, brushing her hand away. "She's trying to get away!"

She shook her head and linked her arm around mine. "Come on, we have some sleuthing to do." She gave my arm a gentle pat to calm me down.

Masiela and Becca came walking towards us wearing their black and white long sleeved cheer half tops and skorts as well as devilish grins plastered on their faces.

"Two bitches at twelve o'clock." Whispered Trish, clearing her throat.

"Well, well, well," Masiela smirked, one hand was placed on her hip. "There's this rumor going around that you and Evan were getting it on at the library."

"That's not true." I retorted, little beads of sweat started to form on my forehead. It was so hard denying something that really happened. A part of me wanted to tell the truth, and the other part wanted me to lie about it. Lying was going to eat me alive.

Becca nudged Masiela, cocking an eyebrow. Bitch mode was now switched on. She lifted her perfectly manicured nails and touched the tip of my chin with her long finger. My hands were clenched so tightly that my fingernails dug little trenches into my palms.

She sighed, then clicked her tongue. "Such a pretty thing. Too bad, Evan just wants to..." She shot me a wry grin. I swatted her hand away from my face and stormed away as fast as I could.

Fuck. That was the word she wanted to say. Just when I thought I was falling for Evan, Masiela and Becca had to come along and ruin my good mood. My blood rushed to my head as I heard the echoes of their cackling voices, and all I wanted to do at that moment was find Evan and torture him with my bare hands.

I seriously wanted to know the truth between us.

Was he really into me... or not? I needed to know. But I'm just afraid to ask.

*

There was a small rap at the door. I was concentrating on finishing the layouts for the next issue of our school paper.

"Come in," I said without looking. "It's open."

"Hey." A soft voice said.

"Oh, it's you." My face wrinkled in disgust as soon as I saw who entered the room. He was the last person I expected to see that day. Everyone had already gone home and I was working by myself that day. Evan always knew where to find me. He's like a bloodhound, I swear.

A freaking handsome bloodhound.

His facial expression sank. "You don't look happy to see me." He walked over and sat at the edge of my desk. I stopped whatever I was doing. I took off my glasses and pinched the bridge of my nose.

"When am I ever happy to see you, Evan?" I said, looking up.

He shrugged. "Uh, never?"

"Correct. And I would appreciate it if you leave this room right now. I'm tired of your games."

He snorted. "When am I ever going to earn your trust, CJ?"

"Uh, never." I snapped back, shooting him an impatient glare.

"Seriously?" He placed his hand on his chest, feigning disappointment.

I shrugged. "I don't know, when pigs have wings? When the crow turns white?"

"I'm sorry," he offered an apologetic smile. "Didn't mean to rile you up like that."

I looked up at him. Big mistake. As soon as Evan's green eyes drilled into mine, I knew I was about to fall for his irresistible charm once again. Charming always means trouble. Remember that. I reminded myself. I quickly averted my gaze to the window next to me, but his warm hand touched my chin and turned it slowly to face him.

"CJ," he whispered as our eyes met, the corners of his mouth curved slightly.

Can I just tell you how hot he was at that moment? I wanted to grab him and kiss the living daylights out of him. But I couldn't. Stupid hormones. Why do we get tortured so much when it comes to the opposite sex? Gosh, I hate this feeling. I stood up from my desk, hesitating on what to do next. I was so confused. Shall I aim for the kill or just chicken out? He has a girlfriend. I'm not condoning this behavior.

"Are you... alright?" Evan asked me.

Silence.

Did he notice the raging fire in my eyes? I am not okay. My heart hurts.

"CJ, I just came here to ask if you were going to the bonfire tomorrow night, you know, the one by Mission Bay?"

I stared into Evan's eyes but I quickly shifted my gaze somewhere else. It was hard not to look at him. He had this magnetic pull, for some reason, and I couldn't avoid it.

"Hey, Evan?" I twiddled my thumbs anxiously as I leaned on the edge of my desk. "Masiela said something today and I... I, uh, want to know the truth."

He slid his hands in his pockets, his eyebrows pulled in. "Why? What did she tell you?"

I shrugged. "That you... You know, you just wanted to... you know, shag me?"

Shag. I freaking hate that word. At the same time, it was helpful. I was  embarrassed to say the sex and fuck words out loud. I mean, I've always mentioned it, but not at that moment where Evan was with me. I felt embarrassed being in the same room as him. He chuckled, brushing his hand through his dark brown locks. Okay, that made me weak in the knees.

Focus on the enemy!

"Shag you?" He said in a low, carefully measured tone. "Come on, I know I'm the typical jock, CJ, but don't we have the right to fall in love?" He crossed his arms over his chest. "And no, for your information, shagging you isn't on my list. What's wrong with two single people hooking up?"

I swallowed the lump in my throat. The words fall in love had seriously hit me. He is in love with me? And he also mentioned two single people. That meant Celia wasn't his girlfriend all this time? Heat had now rushed to my cheeks and it's burning like crazy. I bet they're now red as a watermelon. He moved closer to me, hooking his left hand on the back of my neck. I stared into his mesmerizing green eyes then shifted down to his kissable, soft, rosy lips.

Don't do it, Clarey. Don't do it.

As if my brain had just pushed the acceleration button, I quickly grabbed his head with both of my hands, slamming my lips against his. He kissed me back. I'm not going to lie. It felt good. His hands slid down my neck, to my back, down to my ass, and he slowly lifted me to the top of my desk as he continued to graze my neck with his lips. All of a sudden, the room felt like a sauna. If you saw the temperature rising to the maximum, that's how hot it was. I couldn't stop myself and I seriously failed my mission.

What would Trish and Sofie say now?

My hand had pushed something heavy down to the floor. I broke away from our kiss to see what fell, and to my horror, I saw my black binder with all of the photographs I took were all scattered on the floor.

Oh, crud.

Evan quickly pulled away from me, breathing heavily as he saw the mess we've created. He immediately crouched down to the floor to pick up a few photos. He chuckled lightly, shaking his head. He stood up and looked at me.

"What is this?" He held up the pictures in front of me. He wasn't smiling anymore. Was he mad? Well, this was embarrassing.

I quickly slipped off from the desk, my face flushed as I grabbed the pictures from his hand. "I—I can explain, Evan."

"Majority of these pictures are me, CJ," he shook his head in bewilderment. "I don't understand."

My mind was shutting down completely. What the hell do I say? I seemed like a stalker all of a sudden. I kept on telling him that I didn't love him, but the pictures were clear evidence that I was crazy about him.

Oh, God. What have I done?

"Just hear me out, Evan," I managed to utter. "I can explain."

"You know what, forget it," he said quietly, grabbing his backpack from the floor. "You're afraid to tell the truth anyway," he walked over to the door, his hand reaching for the knob. He then turned to me with hurtful eyes shielded by a few strands of his dark brown hair. "I think it's only fair for me to say that... that makes two of us."

After those last words, he opened the door and shut it quietly behind him. I didn't know what else to do. My heart felt like it was stabbed repeatedly by a knife. I blinked my tears away as I tucked all the pictures back in the binder. All the memories of Evan came floating back in my mind. Why did I kiss him today? I was clearly sending him mixed signals, and now he's confused. He knew I wasn't dating Trevor. He found out today that I was just playing around with him.

I think my heart had just whispered something to me.

I might be in love with Evan.