Taylor

Sitting in the school cafeteria, I frown at Miles as he takes more of my chips. He always eats my food which really irritates me, mainly because he never asks and he helps himself to so much, I end up getting less than half a portion. The only time he doesn't eat my food is when I get a salad. I need to go for the salad option more often.

"How come you cancelled on me this morning? You're not upset about yesterday, are you? I was super tired," Miles says, eating more of my chips.

You're 'super tired' because you've been doing too many all-nighters with extra help from some pills. "I was running late, and I didn't want to make you late for school."

Complete lie. I picked up again from Jay because after arriving early this morning to deliver to several lockers my supply was already running low and his order arrived last night. He offered to meet me halfway and bought me a bagel which was sweet, but it meant I was late.

It's going to be busy with exams coming up. Everyone needs a bit of extra help to stay awake, to enable them to cram the last bit of information into their heads. This morning, I stashed a bag full of pills into over fifteen people's lockers and tomorrow morning, I'm delivering to more.

Luckily, I don't have to deal in person with these people. I wouldn't have agreed to help Jay if that had been a condition. I told him I don't want to be known. He's organised the whole operation so he deals with the people and all I do is: go to their locker, take the money and leave the drugs in an envelope. Easy, simple and almost risk-free.

Although unlikely, if I did get caught, Jay said I'd be able to say I didn't know what I was delivering, and due to my age and no record, I'd be let off with a warning, at the most. Personally, it's the buyers who are taking all the risks. I'm unknown but it only takes a quick scan of the photos and books in the locker door to tell me who the owner is, and on top of that I have their locker codes.

I don't judge though. Jay taught me all these people need the drugs. They take it to help them. Ones they could get the doctor to prescribe but don't because they're embarrassed or can't afford to pay for them or aren't available on the normal market. Jay gives them a good deal.

Jay says there is always a story behind these people and they should be allowed access to safe medication. It's better than them taking something illegal which, I guess, I agree with. Except, why is Miles taking it? He doesn't really need it.

"I don't mind waiting for you next time," Miles says as he takes another one of my chips.

"Not sure your parents would be happy if they found out you were late to school. Your mum would probably ground you until you're twenty-one," I chuckle and push the plate of chips to him. Next time, I'm going to get two portions.

"Probably. She's so full-on." Miles huffs. "I wish my parents were chilled like yours. Don't they ever have a go about you being late to school so often?"

I shrug. They'd have to know. Luckily, the woman who notifies parents of absences and lateness is someone I supply, which means I get a hundred percent attendance and punctuality. Jay organised it for me as part of the deal. He told her I'm his cousin. She still hasn't realised I'm also the person who drops her pills into the drawers of her desk every week.

"By the way, we're going to a party on Saturday," Miles says.

"Another party?"

"Yeah, the whole team will be there. My parents think I'm at a revision session at a friend's so we can go for a bit then crash at mine after."

You mean, I'll sneak in through your window then I'll sneak back out early in the morning because your parents won't allow me to sleepover.

"You're really getting into partying recently," I say quietly. Ever since he joined the basketball team, just over a month ago, we've gone to a party every weekend.

I still can't believe he's part of the basketball team. Miles has always been full geek according to my friends. And not because of looks or the way he behaves. It's purely because he's quiet, shy and always gets the top grades. Miles's focus has always been education or rather Miles's parents' focus is education which meant it had to be his.

Turns out though, Miles is not only great at studying, he's also great at basketball. He's tall, built and fast. Apparently, the team had been asking him to join them for years which he finally agreed to, a month ago. Miles's parents agreed with one stipulation; if the grades fall he has to stop playing. And the scene is set for the cliche story of a teenage boy who resorts to taking drugs to withstand the pressure and maintain his status as a perfect son and basketball heartthrob.

It's annoying because the reason I said yes to going out with him was because he was quiet, friendly and most importantly, he had no social status. Now, he's popular. And the more popular he gets, the more I try to distance myself.

Kayla and Sydney arrive at our table, place their trays of food opposite me and sit.

"Miles, I just remembered, I can't go to the party this Saturday because Kayla's parents invited me and Sydney to this thing..." I stare at Kayla and Sydney, waiting for them to back up my fake invitation so I don't have to go to another party.

Sydney shakes her head. "No, that's another weekend. Remember?" Sydney looks at me pleadingly. "We're going to the party. And we're going to crash at Kayla's because her parents are out of town. And you and Miles are going to arrange for Gage to stay over too, so I get an opportunity to get up close and personal to him."

I roll my eyes. "You only need to go to the party to 'get up close and personal' to Gage."

"I wish it was that easy. I'm a year younger and I can't compete with all those half-naked girls wearing skimpy outfits."

"You don't need to compete with them. You're beautiful on the inside and out."

"That's nice of you to say, Tay. But I want to be sexy. Guys don't want beautiful not until they're super old and want to start a family." Sydney looks at Miles. "Isn't that right?"

Miles wraps his arm around my shoulders. "Tay is beautiful."

"Tay is hot and sexy as well as beautiful," Sydney huffs.

"Of course she is," Miles says, brushing his lips against mine. The smell of my chips on his lips annoys me for some reason, mainly because it's making my stomach rumble. I'm still hungry.

"Exactly. You just proved my point. Guys want sexy." Sydney jabs her finger at Miles. "I'm not sexy. Am I? Would you ask me out?"

Frowning, Miles edges backwards. "I feel like I'm going to get dragged into something that no matter what I say, will end up me getting into trouble. I'm going to go sit with the guys for a bit." Miles looks at me. "You can join us whenever you want."

"You go and chat with your teammates," I say quietly.

Miles's frown deepens but he kisses me, and I lick his lips to taste the chips which should be in my stomach. I'm really hungry.

"You going to watch me practise after school?" Miles mumbles against my mouth.

"Sure." I lean back. Miles kisses me one last time and walks off.

"Are you ever going to sit with them?" Sydney asks, looking over at the table of basketball players along with several girls, who seem to be hanging on every word being said which I can't imagine is very interesting. Maybe, the girls are just staring at their lips while fantasising about kissing them, that I could get into. Quite a few of those basketball players are drool-worthy.

"No. Do you want to sit with them?" I ask.

"Yes, but I wouldn't. They'd look at me like I'm freak."

"You know Miles so you could join them."

"He's your boyfriend, not mine. You do realise, if you keep letting him hang around them without you, Teresa is going to get her claws in soon. She's been telling everyone how she wants Miles."

"I trust him." I shrug.

I have no desire to hang around with that lot. They are everything I decided to avoid; attention, drama and probably a whole lot of backstabbing. They are like the old group I belonged to. Now I belong to a new group; my two friends Kayla and Sydney who are quiet, funny and not into drama.

"Hey, it's my Wattpad buddy. Can I join you?" A voice says while sitting into the seat next to me.

"Ariel?" I ask as she pulls out a container of food from her bag and places it on the table.

"Taylor?" Ariel turns towards me. "I love your hair colour by the way."

"Thanks." I frown confused about why Ariel is sitting with us.

Ariel turns to Kayla and Sydney. "I'm El by the way. You two are so cute. Is this like the unknown cute crew? All of you are way too hot to be sitting at a table in the corner of the canteen. You should be over there." She gestures to the table of basketball players which includes Miles, who is currently being molested by Teresa. "Also isn't that your boyfriend? The new player."

"Yes," I sigh.

I could go over and claim him. Show everyone I'm his girlfriend. I won't. Partly because I don't want to draw attention to me, but also because I'm not really bothered. I don't think that's a good sign for our relationship.

"He's a really good player. Occasionally though, he gets too excited and hogs the ball. He needs to pass more." Ariel takes a bite from her sandwich. "You should tell him. Or I'll tell him." She waves her sandwich. "Anyway, what were you guys talking about before I joined?"

"How Tay should go over there and show everyone who's girlfriend she is," Kayla says, gesturing over her shoulder to Miles who looks around awkwardly while Teresa rubs his arm as though she's massaging his bicep.

Miles may be the new basketball heartthrob however he's still a shy guy who isn't used to female attention. Teresa would eat him alive. The thought of them two makes me laugh. What is wrong with me? I should be jealous instead I'm embarrassed. If he wants her at least split up with me first.

"It is a bit full-on," Sydney says, shaking her head. "Miles needs to tell her to back off."

"Teresa is a grade-A bitch. I hate that girl more than I hate herpes. She's seriously fucked up in the head," Ariel spits. Ariel stands up and hollers across the cafeteria, "Teresa get your own boyfriend and stop trying to steal everyone else's."

I cringe and sink into my chair while Kayla and Sydney look at Ariel like she just turned water into wine.

"Shut up, you fake lesbian. We all know you only get with girls because you can't get any guys to go near your baggy pussy. You were such a slut, you stretched it out so much I bet you have to get your dildos specially made for your large flaps."

She is a bitch. Fuck that was low and so many comebacks are on the end of my tongue, so many words want to tumble out. Instead, I sink lower into my chair trying to hide from all the eyes directed at us. I want to be invisible. I want to stay away from drama.

"You know, you set females back years by using the word slut. If I was a man you'd call me a player or a legend or one of the guys. But when it's a girl being sexually empowered she's a 'slut'. You're basically empowering men because by using that term it just makes it OK for guys to call us sluts and whores," Ariel shouts, crushing the sandwich in her hand.

"Shut up, you lesbian slut!" Teresa shrieks.

Ariel stands up and storms towards Teresa while shouting, "you seriously need to expand your vocabulary, Teresa. Soon you'll be entering the real world, and you'll have to actually converse with people who have an IQ higher than a plank of wood. People may listen to you now but outside school, they're going to laugh at you. Just like Miles will laugh at you because he's actually clever and can string more than three words together. There's a reason he's going out with Taylor and not you, it's because you're as dumb as fuck."

The mention of my name makes me duck out of my chair and quickly walk along the wall. Luckily, everyone is focused on Ariel and Teresa, who are screaming in each other's faces, as I make my exit out of the cafeteria and into the hallway.

"You could at least back Ariel up, she started that argument because of you," a voice says from behind me.

"I didn't ask her too." I turn around slowly and face Ryder.

What is up with him being everywhere? Three times he's spoken to me today, compared to not once in my entire six months here.

"So you don't mind Teresa basically dry humping your boyfriend." Ryder arches an eyebrow in a challenge.

"You obviously haven't been dry humped properly if you think that was what she was doing." I cross my arms. "I told Ariel I wasn't bothered but she took it on herself to shout at Teresa. I don't want trouble. I don't want attention. I don't want drama in my life."

Ryder's arched eyebrow morphs into a look of disbelief. He seems to think about my words then finally says, "You choose the wrong person to be friends with then because Ariel, without meaning too, is surrounded by all of those."

"Ariel is not my friend." I huff. "Kayla and Sydney are my friends. I have two friends which is enough for me. Two friends is plenty. I don't need anyone else."

"You also have a boyfriend," Ryder says, stepping forward.

"For now."

Ryder chuckles, stepping closer. "You don't seem particularly upset by the prospect of him no longer being one. Is there trouble in paradise?"

"Anyone who tells you their relationship is perfect is lying, and anyone who says it's paradise is definitely lying. We have problems like every couple, it's called being human." I shake my head.

Thinking about it though, we don't argue often. Mainly because I don't ever seem bothered or angry enough to say anything. If he does something annoying, I simply ignore it or let it slide. Should I be angrier? I don't know.

Ryder steps closer and his smell hits me again. The smell of sexy male mixed with cologne. A heady and intoxicating scent which makes your insides tingle and your downstairs area tighten. I can't believe I fancy Ryder. Then again, so does everyone who is into guys.

"It's also human nature to be jealous but you didn't look jealous at all. In fact, you look slightly relieved like you want him to break up with you." Ryder lowers his head so our mouths are aligned and only a slither of air separates them. A tiny movement and they'd connect. I already know the kiss would be amazing. I've overhead enough girls to know he's the guy you want to keep going back too. Not that he ever lets that happen. But that's not why I don't lean forward.

A meaningless kiss or one night of fun isn't something I'm against. I'm against Ryder, because doing anything with him would definitely not be keeping a low profile or staying out of trouble. It would be the complete opposite. Everyone knows who Ryder's slept with. One, because girls announce it like they've received a badge of honour and two, because everyone knows everything about everyone's business. We're in a school, gossip is the main energy source teenagers survive on.

"Is it because he's boring. He seems boring. I bet he's really boring in bed." Ryder smirks.

"I like boring." I step back and cross my arms.

"Is this where you're going to tell me you don't find me attractive and you only have eyes for Mr Boring in there?" Ryder laughs. "Because I know you're lying."

"No, I find you attractive. You're sexy, you smell amazing and you've got that alluring confidence which sucks people in. You're, basically, every girl's wet dream. You're a living cliche which has been so overdone in teen romance books it's amazing people buy them anymore but, lets face it, most straight girls love the idea of a cliche bad boy who fucks around until they suddenly decide we're the one because we're so special and amazing."

I flutter my eyes stupidly and press my hand on my heart. "Ryder, will you be that bad boy for me? Will you stop fucking anything that moves and settle for only fucking me?" I drop my hands and step back again. "Unlikely, and even if there was a chance, I wouldn't take it because like I just said, I don't want trouble, I don't want attention and I don't want drama. And doing anything with you, even just kissing, brings all that into my life. So stay away Ryder, and tell Ariel to stay away too." I turn around and walk away.

"You're going to miss out on a lot of fun and excitement if you never take chances, Taylor," Ryder says.

I stop and look over my shoulder, "Sometimes, missing out on fun and excitement stops us, and the people around us, from getting hurt. And right now, that's my goal in life. Have a nice life, Ryder."

Walking away, I head to my next lesson even though I'm way too early. Ryder was correct, I do miss out on life. But when I think about everything I lost at my old school due to drama and gossip, I know I can't go through that again. I love and trust Kayla and Sydney. I feel safe with Miles. That's important to me right now, not exciting, fun times which could lead to disasters.

Author's note

Lots more to Taylor's story which will slowly be revealed.

Please vote if you're still enjoying the story xx