| | Chapter dedicated to Blinded_By_Reality | |

~A/N~

{Lindsay Lohan as Jazz Creek~above}

Yay! Update! ;D lol. 

*note that all my character choices' images are taken on a certain date to match the character's age. <3

PBJ_sandwich

~

/// F O U R ///

*Friday*

*Scott's POV*

"Hey, Jazzy." I said, giving Jazz a quick peck on the cheek- it was almost a kiss, just to be teasing. I gave her a momentary onceover and returned my attention to the court. I had realised that Jazz was wearing a shorter skirt than yesterday and was chatting breathlessly with Mint and Chase. God, how could she even talk that much?

A few players were having a practice match and I immediately spotted Zella, scoring a three-pointer at that exact moment. What a coincidence I was looking her way at that same time.

Wow, so the nerd can shoot. Damn.

The rest of the boys were still practicing on the other court, but I had made an excuse to say hi to Jazz. If I acted more romantic towards her, she wouldn't dream of me falling for someone like Zella. How I wished I could go back to those days when Zella was always there- walking beside me, talking to me, laughing with me...

"Oi, Justin!" I heard Coach Su bellow from the other court, calling me by my well-known nickname. Justin meant as in the Justin, a.k.a. Justin Bieber, a guy I would rather not be compared with. Apparently, the whole school was hung up on me becoming the future JB #2.

No, thank you. I'd rather not end up looking like a guy with what looks to be amputated lips. That guy could be a girl posing as a guy, for all I know.

Coach Su had a nickname for almost everyone, Zella's was 'glasses' which really suited her since she was the first girl in the school basketball team to have worn glasses. Come to think of it, I loved her glasses, for some crazy reason. I guessed that she never realised this even though I kept asking to wear them.

After practices were over, it suddenly hit me that Jazz was supposed to be playing, but hadn't been in her kit or practicing. She was probably expecting me to ask about it.

"Jazzy, why weren't you playing?" I asked sweetly, wrapping an arm around her small waist.

"I was super-tired this morning," she answered lazily, but I couldn't care less.

I bid her goodbye, swung my sports bag over my shoulder and made my way to the changing rooms. Before I knew what I was doing, I turned my head and my eyes scanned the crowds for a certain dark-haired cutie.

God, that girl's gonna be the death of you, Scott.

Before going into the boys' changing room to change, I hung around at the doorway with Max.

"Hey, dude," I heard Max whisper to me from my right. "What are we doing?"

"I'll go in after I see her," I whispered back, keeping my eyes on the crowd of girls adorned in basketball kits coming our way.

"Then you'll look like you want to see her, dumbass. You gotta be more smooth," he whispered back lowly, giving me a warning look.

"Ah, it's okay. I know her," I said smugly.

I know her. She won't assume a thing. She's certain I love Jazz... right? I mean, it's pretty obvious from how much I show it, right?

"Hey... I have a better idea," Max piped up suddenly, smirking viciously. He grabbed my arm and started to whisper something in my ear.

*Zella's POV* 

I barely made my way into the changing rooms. My legs were aching like crazy and my head was pounding.

I dumped my bag on the floor outside the girls' changing room and sat down to remove my basketball shoes. I almost groaned in relief, my foot felt a thousand times bigger than it was from the excessive running up and down the court.

Lazily, I entered the changing rooms with my bag. I fumbled for my shampoo, conditioner and body wash and trudged into the showers.

After taking a shower and getting cleaned up, I pulled on my uniform and brushed my hair, admiring my cleanliness in the large mirror above the sinks. Several other girls were doing the same while two or three were still showering and giggling, messing about with each other's shampoo. The air inside the girls' changing room was damp and the mirrors had begun to fog up. After finishing up and spraying on some perfume (mango-scented- my favorite, of course), I walked out of the bathroom.

While I was tieing up my shoe-laces, I saw a familiar pair of blue and white Nike come to halt in front of me. I looked up to see a shirtless Scott, an innocent smile painted onto his face.

Wow, how much a girl would pay for that view.

Shut up, Zella. Just shut up!

"What do you want?" I asked, an icy tone amplifying my irritation at his exposed torso. I was certain he had walked up to me like that on purpose, just to put me off.

"How's the party-planning going?" he asked casually, seating himself next to me.

Did he not realise that the rest of his team-mates were mere feet away, watching him talk to me with no shirt on? Did he not realise what this looked like?

And, of all the things he could talk to me about, why'd it have to be the dumb party?

"I don't know," I muttered under my breath, making sure he couldn't hear.

I tied the last knot on my shoes and got up, picking up my bag in the process. I sensed him rise from the small step at the same time. I was about to walk out of the changing room area when he placed a hand on my arm and asked me to wait before walking away.

What a jerk, asking me to wait for him.

Nonetheless, I waited for him. After all, I had ten minutes before the bell rang and lessons began.

He returned with a shirt in hand, pulling it on and hastily doing the buttons. I had to restrict myself from stealing one last glance at his bare chest.

And then, there came a familiar voice from behind Scott. 

"Um, hi. Am I interrupting anything?"

Mint strode toward us, eyeing me and him with a scrutinizing expression, obviously judging the situation.

"No. It's about the class project I'm doing with her friend. Gimme a sec, kay?" he covered up smoothly and casually.

Or maybe it was actually about a class project?

Mint gave me one last accusing glance before walking out of the changing rooms. She was bound to tell someone her own version of this small talk soon. 

There was a pool in here, too, making patterns of light dance on the tiles around us. After a few more moments of silence, it was just me and Scott left inside the room, the two changing rooms on either side of us.

"Catch ya later, Max!" he called out after Max who was the last person to leave the place.

"See ya, bro!"

I stood there quietly, wondering why he had waited till everybody had left to talk about a project.

"What's wrong?" he asked softly, putting me off with his tender eyes.

The question surprised me and I raised my eyebrows, he seemed to genuinely be concerned from the look in his deep, green orbs. Seriously? What is with you, Zella? You like Max and anyway, since when did he deserve to know your personal hardships? It's not like he's special to you.

"Nothing," I replied, feeling my cheeks heat up. The silence when we didn't speak made me feel uneasy and trapped- I wanted to leave. I turned in a hurry, but he stopped me again.

"Why do you keep walking away?" he asked with a hurt expression.

"Why do you care?" I snapped, finally cutting my act of 'i-don't-give-a-crap-that-you-seem-to-care'.

He fell silent immediately... the demanding question seemed to have put him off a little. I took this opportunity to leave, feeling a slight emptiness inside me as I left him standing there, his hair dripping wet and his eyes wide with shock.

This boy is messing with your head.

----------------------------Time Leap------------------------------  

"Zel, oh-my-God! I have something really important to tell you," Marcie whisper-shouted at me, shaking my shoulders in her excitement. I heard her repeatedly mumble 'oh-my-God' while I stared at her as if she was a lunatic. Well, technically, she was.

"Okay, what, what?" I asked, fed up of her excitement.

All I got were several more 'oh-my-God's.

"Tell me, Mar!" I demanded.

"Okay, okay..." she breathed and closed her eyes in an act of trying to calm herself. "I'll tell you, just meet me at the library after-school."

Great. If she's so excited to spill the beans, why can't she just tell me? Ugh! Now I have to wait till school's over.

I groaned in anger and stomped off to my next class.

I was greeted by a mob of infuriated girls at the doorway, glaring daggers at me.

"There you are, you dirty little slut!" Jazz grabbed me by the collar of my shirt, her relatively long thumb-nail scraping my neck. I spotted Mint among the small gathering, sneering at me.

"What?!" I glared back at her, ignoring Mint, but I was more afraid than I appeared to be.

"Ha, what?! What?!" she snapped with mockery glinting in her eyes. "You flirted with my boyfriend, that's what."

With that she pushed me onto the wall and stomped on my foot with her shoe. Hard. Thank God they weren't heels since we're at school.

I squealed in pain and shoved her away from me, making her trip and fall onto her backside. I chuckled at her infuriated expression. She snarled at me from the floor. "Oh, you bitch! I'm going to strangle you!"

"Hah, no, you're not!" I spat back, striding into the classroom. At that exact moment, Mrs. Jonas appeared from the storage room at the back of the classroom, balancing apparatus in both her hands.

Jazz came in just as Mrs Jonas had seated herself at the teacher's desk, huffing and puffing with anger, her long, blonde hair messed up from the small fight we had had. She sent me a deadly stare and collapsed onto her seat with Scott.

The crowd that had been watching our brawl had eventually dispersed, returning to their lessons. A smug feeling consumed me as I sat myself on my usual seat. Mint had obviously sugar-coated our little 'talk' near the changing rooms, as I had expected. I guessed it was who she was- she'd make up a story for every tiny thing, just to get the attention.

But, that wasn't such a tiny thing. You and Scott weren't having a normal conversation. That 'thing' means more to you, Zella. 

You care. And you care more than you should.

Hurriedly, I forced my thoughts to the back of my mind and glanced at Scott who was seated next to Jazz. His hand was playing with her fingers under the desk- it didn't seem forced even a bit.

But, why does Jazz care that he had flirted with me? Had he flirted with me back there? They were used to each other by now; they both liked to flirt with other people and they both knew it. Why is Jazz so worked up about me? This is seriously making my head hurt.

I feel like he's hurting me in some way... no, it can't be. Why do I care about what he thinks? He's nothing to me anymore. Max is who I'm after, not him.

Thankfully, I had managed to pay attention today. When I felt more and thought more, it was easier to forget it all. I didn't know why- it was just me. With some trouble, I had managed not to glance at Scott even once more after I saw them playing with each other's hands.

In a hurry to leave all the drama behind, I shuffled my way out of the classroom first as soon as the bell rung.

Thankfully, lessons came to a halt soon after. It was finally time to meet Marcie at the library and find out what she had been so excited about telling me.

While I was walking away toward the library, I caught Scott giving Jazz yet another peck on the lips, his arm practically chained around her petite figure. I understood why everyone found them such an adorable couple. Even though Jazz could be a bit of a female dog sometimes, around Scott... she was shy, cute and constantly blushing. Maybe they were meant for each other- I meant that in a good way this time.

Scott seemed to make her a nicer person whenever he was around her and Jazz seemed to make him...

Well, Jazz never seemed to appreciate him for his romantic ways. He was always that stupid jerk with everyone, saving his sweet side for Jazz- I knew that from experience. Jazz had nothing to do with Scott's romantic talents or his niceness towards her, it was just him and that was how he wanted it.

Despite all of that, I really admired the fact that he opened doors for her, bought her a red rose for every Valentines Day, kissed her innocently on the cheek or the forehead, held her hand for no reason, walked her to classes even when his was all the way on the other side of the school grounds... he even carried her books for her sometimes.

Wow, someone here wants a certain someone's boyfriend.

I sighed and walked into the library, dragging with me a heavy feeling of emptiness.

The cold air-conditioning hit my warm face, making me feel cooled and comforted. The library had strict rules for silence and good behaviour, making it easily one of my favorite places to stay after school. The soft sound of the AC running and children whispering calmed my senses.

I slowly made my way up the spiral staircase toward the third floor of the library. Marcie and I had made a habit of hanging out in the most remote place possible in here; the top-most floor, where students rarely bothered to climb up onto.

I couldn't see Marcie yet, so I sat on a corner sofa after grabbing a book from one of the shelves. Minutes later, I heard the familiarly fast thuds as Marcie climbed the carpeted stairs, almost tumbling back down in her attempt to climb in a hurry.

"Mar! Careful, okay?" I scolded, chuckling at her as she plopped herself next to me.

"Whatcha got there?" she asked casually, peering over at the book in my hands.

"Forget it, Mar. Tell me," I cut to the chase, looking at her pointedly. "Now."

She took in a big breath and the words tumbled out. "Max likes you."

Well, then.

Why am I not squealing with joy? 

Why am I still staring at her like she grew a second head? If I am overjoyed, why am I not feeling it?

Why am I not happy?

"Wow, that's..." I paused, looking for the right words.

"Amazing, right?" she exclaimed, breathing out and shaking her head in disbelief. She seemed to be in her own state of shock, unaware of my lack of interest.

"Yeah," I attempted to seem speechless out of joy, forcing a smile.

We talked for a while, my words expressing emotions I didn't feel and Marcie going on about double-dates while she dated Scott and I dated Max.

I don't get it... why would he like someone whose name he couldn't even spell correctly? It doesn't add up.

Or is this just my head speaking on behalf of my disappointment?

Why should you be disappointed, Zella? You're not after anyone else. You like Max. Stop this nonsense, for goodness' sake! You should be grateful.

After Marcie went home I returned outside to begin my walk home, only to be faced with another sudden downpour. 

I grunted in annoyance and stood under the shed they had built next to the school gates in case it rained. How was I supposed to get home? My mum had a meeting at work today and I couldn't interrupt her- her phone would most probably be switched off, anyway.

For about five minutes, I stood there wondering what I should do. 

Until Mister Save-The-Day came to 'save the day'.

"You wanna lift?" Scott asked me, coming up to stand beside me under the shed.

"I'd rather not hitch a ride from a boy, sorry," I assured him. It was the truth, actually. My mum didn't let me get lifts from people- unless it was Marcie.

He stared at me for a moment. Probably wondering if I was being truthful or not.

"What?" I riposted, my eyes turning to slits at his speculating expression.

"You look cute today," he said simply before grabbing his bag and rummaging inside it for something.

Let's all pretend that that sentence totally did not make my heart feel like it just exploded like a balloon into a million tiny pieces.

Totally didn't.

"Where's your girlfri-" my question stopped abruptly and my anger instantly evaporated when he started to wrap a leather hoodie around me, pulling the over-sized hood over my head and adjusting it so that it covered me well.

All I could do was stand completely still and stare at him despite the obvious pink that was dusting my cheeks.

"What?" he repeated my previous retort with a side-ways smile. I couldn't call it a smirk because it radiated anything but egotism, it radiated something rather more like... affection.

He looks better when he smiles. Really smiles.

I almost melted into his quirked up lips and his sweet act, but I didn't. I almost.

"Is this some kind of movie for you?" I asked sourly, tugging the hoodie closer to me. It smelled familiar. The scent reminded me of his hugs.

Damn, how I loved his hugs back then.

This is not the time for a trip down memory lane, Zella. Forget it. He's not yours anymore. 

Remember?

I ignored the voices in my head and breathed in the heart-stopping aroma. He hadn't replied to my question. He was most probably ignoring me now.

"Like how I smell, huh?" he whispered into my ear- he was way closer to me than before and I cringed as his breath fanned against my skin.

Get away, get away!

I stepped back a little, scared of what I might feel if I let him flatter me. Calm down, Zella. Just calm... down.

"No," I snapped. I wanted to thrust the hoodie at him and walk home in the rain, leaving him and his sweetness behind me, but the scent from this thing. It was so breathtaking, I couldn't part with it.

"I have an idea, I'll walk with you," he suggested, hitching up his bag. Why does he care so much? Where's his oh-so-precious Jazz, anyway?

"No, then you'll get wet," I pointed out, masking my caring words with a mocking expression as if to say he was stupid for not realising it.

"I don't mind," he reassured, looping an arm around my back and leading me down the walkway through the rain.

Why does this feel like a movie to me? Ugh, I want this kind of moment with the guy I love, not with Scott.

Then... why do I like this feeling? This feeling of Scott's arm around me, his hoodie sheltering me from the rain, and the smell of him clouding my thoughts... why does it feel so good?

I stopped walking and turned to him. I didn't understand, I didn't want to get hurt and I didn't want to stall anymore.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked bluntly, not bothering to sugarcoat the doubt in my voice.

"Can we just walk for a while, please?" he asked, sounding irritated.

"Okay, fine," I gave in and we continued down the pathway. I made sure to ask him later.

We were silently walking, the rain dancing around us and getting heavier by the second. After what felt like ages, I spotted a familiar board not far away- this was the halfway point toward my house. I came to a halt and so did Scott.

When I looked at him, I almost let out a cry because he was absolutely soaked while I stood warm and smug inside his jacket.

"Please take the jacket back, I can't..." my sentence trailed off as I unwrapped the jacket and handed it to him. He didn't take it.

"No, you need it, Zee," he urged, shaking his head. I didn't bother correcting the name he'd used... it actually sounded pretty suitable for me. No one had ever called me by his version of my nickname. Maybe it could be our little thing?

There you go, walking off into your own little dreamworld again, leaving reality behind like the idiot you are.

"Look at yourself! You're absolutely soaked!" I cried, ignoring the voice in my head and feeling a huge temptation to push back his wet, dirty-blond hair.

"I guess I deserve it. Sorry about the team spraying you with water before..." he apologised and I stood there confused. And then it hit me... that day he sprayed me with water because he won the bet. I couldn't fathom the way I felt about this, the fact that he was willing to walk almost half-a-mile in a heavy downpour, just to prove his guilt.

"Ugh, why do you always have to get your way?" I said through gritted teeth, and even I was surprised at what I had said. He chuckled and wrapped the hoodie around us both.

Screw oxygen. If I could just breathe his scent for the rest of my days...

Do you realise what you just implied?

Ah, shit! That's not what I meant, okay? I meant I really like the smell of him. That's all. Forget the last part...

We were walking very close to each other, our shoulders brushing and I could feel his cheek not far away from mine, making them heat up with embarressment. A few moments later, I felt his arm snake itself around my waist. I swear I thought I was going to explode at the speed of which my blood was rushing through my body and how fast my heart was pounding.

We took shelter under a bus stop soon afterwards, keeping the jacket wrapped around us.

"So," he said casually, seating himself on the old bench... very, very close to me. But, this time, I didn't mind that much.

I still remembered the question I had been dying to ask and Scott couldn't stall anymore.

"Why are you doing this?" I asked straight away, looking straight at him.

He rolled his eyes and mumbled something I couldn't catch. I scowled at his reaction in return and waited expectantly.

"Well," he began, thinking hard about what he was going to say. "Max likes you."

My scowl fell from my face and my eyes closed halfway. If I was in a cartoon, I'd have totally facepalmed right now.

"Mhm, of course that's the reason," I retorted.

"No, seriously!" he fought back, but something in his voice was forced. 

Nah, must be just me.

"Why are you doing all this, then?" I asked again, gesturing to the air- if Max liked me, why should he be acting all romantic?

"You see, Max wanted me to ask you something. He wanted me to get close to you and shit like every guy asks their bro to do if they like a girl," he began and I listened attentively. "He's not exactly confident when it comes to the girls he likes, so that's why I'm the one talking to you right now instead of him."

"Oh," was all I could manage to mumble. So, it did make sense, after all.

Why? Is that not a good enough reason for you?

"You like Max, right?" he asked, smiling. The question seemed incredibly forced and it was as if something was tugging his smile downwards.

Oh, no. What do I say? What should I say? What am I supposed to say?

"Er- yah," I confessed in a false act of surrender.

He smirked at me and hogged the jacket, pulling it off of my shoulders.

"Hey!" I complained, shuddering in the cold and wrapping my arms around myself.

"Anyway, he wants me to ask you out for him," he muttered. A wave of conceit seemed to have taken him over. 

What's wrong with this guy? He's so... bipolar. It was only seconds ago when he was all cute and flattering.

"Sorry, I don't think my mum will approve," I explained. 

You see, my mum only liked some of the guys in my grade. She didn't particularly approve of Max since he was a huge bully and wasn't exactly the brightest bulb around. The problem was, she approved of Scott way more than she approved of most of the other guys- it made it even harder to keep myself from falling for him.

Keep myself from falling for him? What am I saying? I wasn't falling for him in the first place.

You're in denial... you are falling for him.

God, could you be more useless to me right now? If only there was a remote to switch you off.

"Then let's make it a group hangout," he suggested, a broad smile building up on his face.

"Group hangout?" I echoed his words, wondering what he meant by 'group' hangout.

"Yah. Me, you, Max..." he paused and thought of another person who could come. "And Marcie."

"O-okay." I stammered, for some reason. Maybe it was his smile? Maybe it was the glint in his eye? 

Maybe it was him, genius.

Okay, that's it... officially turning you off now.

"Look, about the party-" I began, remembering the bet I had lost and what we had agreed to.

"Ah, don't worry about that. It's the competition I wanted, I really don't give a fuck about the dumb party," he waved it off casually, making me wonder why he had even asked me about it if he didn't care.

"That's good," I said, smiling at him. His features looked soft from all the rainwater that had smeared his face. Unaware of what I was doing, I reached out and wiped a raindrop off of his cheek.

"You've got rainwater all over you," I said quietly, my sanity having walked out on me.

We stared at each other for a while and for a moment... it really was just like in a movie.

Until he looked away in a hurry and said, "Well, we should be getting home. I'll drop you off and call my driver."

I mentally sighed at how much my hope had elevated at that moment.

It's not like he'll cheat on his girlfriend for you. What did you think? An orchestra was gonna start playing out of nowhere and he'd kiss you while the quiet hum of the rain rumbled in the background?

Bummer...

We walked silently the rest of the way. Despite sharing the jacket between us, we were not as huddled together as before.

Once he dropped me off in front of Marcie's (mum wasn't home yet), he stood outside in the rain till his driver came to pick him up. 

He had forced me into keep his hoodie.

I waddled up the stairs of Marcie's house feeling a weight of sadness- it was as if I was a large glass, my emotions were the water inside, swishing and swaying side-to-side as I walked, making me feel heavy and unsteady. I hid the hoodie behind a pot plant in the corridor and shuffled toward Marcie's bedroom door. We talked for a while, her mum occasionally checking on us. I didn't tell her about Scott dropping me off and the whole walk with the hoodie and stuff, just said, "I walked."

Mum got home soon after with my sister, who was all pumped up from her trip, giggling and rambling on about everything that had happened and all that she had seen. I just listened with a deaf ear, pretending to find her speech just as enlightening as she did.

Mum made a big dinner with pasta and lots of other things. I didn't feel like eating, but I ate anyway since she had put in a lot of effort. 

I went to bed early that night, falling asleep to the music of which the rain while staring at my closet in deep thought- I had hid the jacket at the very back of all my clothes.

Just one thing I missed; the buzzing of my phone atop my desk as a hoard of unread messages got collected, one after the other.

-----------------------------------END OF CHAPTER ---------------------------------

~A/N~

Well, then... two updates in a day! :D

So, this chapter was really long (4000+ words, actually), but it was totally required and totally worth it!! Again, I feel like asking questions, soo...

Question(s) of the chapter;

1|| What am I missing?

2|| Any doubts/questions on the story?

3|| Who's your favorite character so far?

That's all, peeps! <3

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