MATT DUNBAR. I glared at the back of his head, my mind swimming with thoughts. He was sitting in front of me, in the roll next to mine. I can't believe he's on drugs. And I also can't believe I almost forgot about the draft article I saw in Ian's computer.

My limbs felt sore and even as I sat on my chair, my muscles ached. Coach Martin had called us all this morning to go for a really really long run. According to him, we were becoming lazy and we need to be in great shape if we want to have a chance in winning any of our matches this term. While running, I saw Matt and that's when I remembered. If Ian's right, then the paper is probably gonna be out this week and then Matt will either face suspension or expulsion, both of which will automatically disqualify him from playing with us this season. We're already out numbered as it is, losing Matt won't be good and Aiden would be pissed.

I'm tempted to go beg Ian not to publish whatever he knows but I don't think we've reached the stage of extreme favours in our friendship and even if, it won't be fair. Matt's cheating and Ian needs the grades - as Jamie says. A sigh escapes my lips, I'm not even disputing the idea, there's still a chance Ian's wrong yet here I am siding with him over a guy I've known all my life.

"Boo!"

I almost jump out of my seat in fright as whoever just shouted in my ear, rudely yanks me out of my thoughts.

"Jesus, Finn." I smack his head and he replies by laughing as he flops down on the seat next to me. I place a hand over my heart and adjusts back into the seat. "Not cool."

"What's got you wrapped up in Dunbar's hair?" He says slanting in his seat and pointing a finger at Matt.

"What?" I play ignorant.

Finn narrows his eyes at me and repeats, "What were you thinking about so hard that got you glaring at Dunbar?"

The Dunbar in question turns around at the mention of his name. I quickly scan his face for red rings around his eyes or sagging bags. I don't see nothing. Finn greets with a nudge and hand wave and soon he returns his attention back to where it was.

"So?"

I sigh, "do you ever let anything go?"

He smiles cheekily, "Nope," he lifts a Styrofoam cup of coffee, "I'm on strong caffeine right now and it brings out the itchy ear in me."

I roll my eyes and grab the cup of coffee, it's warm. "Where and when did you get this?"

"I sent a freshman. Don't change the topic."

I gulp down a nearly satisfying amount. I kinda promised Ian, I won't say anything. "Okay so, does Matt strike you as someone on drugs?"

"Matt?" Finn asks pointing his finger, I quickly grab it and pull it down giving him the eye. "No, why would you think that?"

"I don't know." I whisper, "I mean, was he this good before? Like, he's awesome on field now and didn't he almost break a guys leg sometime ago?"

Finn gives me a weird look, "People get better, Anna. And everybody almost breaks someone's bone at sometime during football, its normal."

"Fine, whatever."

"Are you sure you're alright?"

"Yeah yeah, I'm just so sore, I'm making things up." I say waving it off.

Finn laughs, drinks off his coffee and hands me the rest. "You were totally lagging today. Is your butt getting heavier or what?"

"I'll cut you open." I threaten, just as Mr Harry, the chemistry teacher walks in.

"Gym on Saturday." Finn says wiggling his brows.

"I have work." I tell him whilst throwing the now empty coffee cup to a corner of the class.

Finn rolls his eyes, "I know but football and heavy ass don't actually go together."

I smack him, "Idiot, I'm literally bones. What the fudge are you saying?"

"Mr Sullivan and Ms Richards, need to be excused?" The teacher speaks and Finn starts nodding just as I'm saying, "No, we're sorry."

"Zip it." Mr Harry says.

"That you need to see the gym with me." Finn rushes out and when Mr Harry turns around with a glare, he makes a zipping gesture over his lips.

**

I and almost all the other boys on the team stand out amongst other student. Instead of the usual uniform, we're dressed in joggers, sweatpants, track pants and the school's tee or hoodie. I'm in track pants and tee, my hair tied up in a pony, with no make up on. I'm still tired and mostly staring, thankfully it's pizza we're being served today and I get two slices. It might not be enough but I can always steal from Jamie.

Unfortunately, lunch is ruined for me.

"Hey watch it, bimbo." Evelyn Munroe and her clique of cheer losers say - well one amongst them say - as they literally and purposely smack into me, making my tray topple and spill its contents.

I move away just in time to stop any thing from spilling on me but by the time I recover from the shock, I'm seething. "What the hell?!"

"What the hell?" Evelyn repeats, then laugh. "Its funny you ask that Anna, because you very well know what the hell is."

I narrow my eyes at her, "Whatever is your problem--"

"You're my problem." Evelyn says pushing her body into mine, I'm taller but she's way more intimidating. "Stay away, just because I let yesterday slide doesn't mean this is over. If I get you going on a date with my boyfriend again, you won't just be asking 'what the hell' "

She eyes me up and down, flicks her hair and walks away, her troupe following behind her. The whole cafeteria is attentive now, watching me like a hawk watches a chick. I feel so little. At one hand I want to go after Evelyn, pull her hair and tell her that she's the bimbo and to never mess with me, but on another hand, I feel like I deserve this. I did go out with Aiden and I looked for her trouble first. Plus no matter what, in this school, Evelyn's at a higher social hierarchy and there's no telling the extent of her threats and what she can do.

I'm also the Principals daughter and I can't be getting involved in scandals.

"Well, you can look away now, shows over." Finn says to the cafeteria as we bend down to clear the mess on the floor. I didn't even know when he upped and left his seat with the populars.

My eyes found Aiden and he was standing up too, looking at me. Then Evelyn reaches him, pulls his head down and kisses him. Aiden keeps eye contact before he eventually gives in, kissing Evelyn back.

Morons. Bunch of Morons and I'm one.

"Are you okay?"

"Yeah, yeah. Peachy." I dump my things into the trashcan and Finn follows me to my seat.

"What was that about?" Jamie asks holding her camera up as she looks at me.

"Nothing, just Evelyn being Evelyn." I say sitting down but I feel cramped. "Jamie please delete the pictures."

She gasped, "why, these could come in handy one day." I narrow my eyes at her and she signs, "Fine, bye possible gold."

I smile and turn to Christine but then my petite friend has her eyes glued to the boy sitting next to me, running circles around my back. Her face is all red and her eyes glassy. I turn to Finn and he seemed concentrated on the movement of his hand on my back, oblivious of Christine's staring. I nudge him.

"Hmm?"

"What are you doing?"

He smiles, "helping you relax." I try to subtly turn my head towards Christine but my friend is just too dense and only understand on the third try. No, he didn't even understand then, he thought I was just trying to reprimand him for not acknowledging my friends. And so he goes with;

"Oh, hello Christine. Hi, Jamie."

Christine looks down immediately and Jamie answers with a half full mouth. I resist the urge to roll my eyes and instead kick him. "Go back to your seat."

"Are you better now?" He ask with concern. Finn says Evelyn Munroe freaks him out, kinda like a spiritual witch does.

"Yea, bye."

He shrugs, standing up. "If you say so." He winks, Christine melts "bye girls."

"Christine are you alright?" I ask amused to the core.

She coughs, "yeah, never better."

I lean in closer to her and whisper, "you couldn't even say a word around him."

Her eyes go wide, "shush Anna."

"I don't get it, if you like him so much, why not do something about it?" I pick a slice of pizza off Jaime's plate, they are layered on each other and I'm too lazy to count.

"Like who?" Jamie asks raising a brow as she looks up her camera but she doesn't wait for an answer and turns back to the camera's screen.

Christine sighs, "because it's him. A popular. How do you expect me to do something about it when his own group of friends don't like me."

I shake my head, "That's just the Evelyn's Christy, and their opinion is biased, complete poop talk. Finn's not like them."

"Maybe but he's a jock and they don't have the best of reputations. Aiden was good but look at him now. I know you're friends with him and its wrong for me to judge but you understand how scared I am about this stupid crush, right?"

I nod taking her hand in mine. "I know." I would try to encourage her more but she's kinda right, she's not really Finn's type and although I still think they will work out, I can't help but remember the red hair that Finn's currently into now.

Christine's had a crush on Finn right from the womb. They were once next door neighbors but that time, neither of us were friends with him. She'd look at him from afar and gush about how cute he was. Then Finn used to skate and because of that Christine and I usually spent our Saturdays at the ramp. We never approached him though, he hanged out with a different crowd of guys. Then Finn's dad hit jackpot and they moved over to the wealthier part of town. I remember I had to spend a week sleeping over at Christine's because she cried and cried. According to her, all her next door neighbor fantasy are over.

I started dating Aiden freshman year and guess who his best friend is - yup, our dearest Finn. I use to pull Christine with me wherever just so she can get a chance to meet and talk with Finn. They shook hands, exchanged names and that was about it. Christine was just too shy and felt out of place. Plus Finn and Aiden had a reputation with girls, they flocked around them and since I took Aiden out the market, Finn's conquest increased and he never stopped talking about it. He couldn't get that Christine liked him. She stopped coming along with me and soon the Evelyn's made me - brainwashed me into pushing her out of my life.

I was a fool.

Although my foolishness ended and I came back to Christine, this time with Finn Sullivan as my second best friend, it still didn't work out. Maybe its fate and they are just not meant to be or the universe putting them off until the perfect time.

"I need some air." I announce pulling my self off the seat. As per habit, my eyes drift to the Popular table and they are laughing about something. Aiden looks at me and resist the urge to give him the finger as I walk out.

I got to stay away if I ever want to graduate peacefully and not bring shame to my mother. I even imagine what my mum would say if she finds out that I got into a fight with Munroe - who's family is quite important to the town and school - because of a boy.

How embarrassing!

Rachelle would've never done this!

Why aren't you thinking Anna. We're Richards and we all have--

Thankfully I don't get to finish my mum's imagined words because I smacked right into someone. I groan, getting tired of running into people but as soon as I see who it is, all irritation vanish.

"I'm sorry about that." Ian says, his hands on my shoulder. "I didn't see you there."

"No, it's fine." I waved it off, "I was walking with my eyes closed."

He nodded, taking his hands off but he doesn't stop looking at me. "Is something wrong?"

I start shaking my head but then I sigh and nod. "I'm having a really bad day. Like, really really."

Ian starts walking again, making me follow. "Why?"

"Well, first off, I slept late. My little sister Ellie had a project to finish and my mum was helping her out but I just had to open my stupid mouth and volunteer to help instead. Turns out elementary school projects are harder than I thought and Ellie is a lazy slum. Then just when I'm grasping my last precious hour of sleep, Coach calls us out for a stupid morning run. Who calls for run three miles around the freaking town at six in the morning." I breathe just as we turn a corner and enter the school's paper office. "I'm still even sore, cranky and hungry. To top it all up, my lunch was wasted by barbie Munroe."

I turn to Ian as he sits, "I'm sorry for my rambling. Were you even listening?"

He nods, "You're cranky, tired and hungry because you didn't get enough sleep, was forced to run three miles and didn't get to eat."

I smile, "You're a good listener."

He smirks rolling the chair around. "Anytime." He rolls back to me. "Who's Barbie Munroe?"

"A bitch, but let's not talk about her. Why don't you come eat at the cafeteria? I never see you."

"So in other words, let's talk about me."

I smile, "duh."

Ian smiles, a beautiful smile that fits him way more than any frown. He shrugs, "because I'll rather eat here."

Here? I open my mouth to speak but the lunch bell goes off. I have class now. I pout in obvious annoyance and disappointment. "Dang it. That's my cue to leave."

Ian just purses his lips without saying anything, and its so cute, I laugh. "I'll see you later?" I ask walking to the door slowly.

"You will?"

I nod, "at the field after school. Other students would be there too to watch soccer practice."

He scrunched his brows as he thought about it and I have a feeling he is going to refuse.

"Please?"

"See you, Roxanna."

I smile, blushing at the sound of my own name. "Bye."

__________________

Happy Halloween 👻

Vote and comment.