C h a p t e r   0 6

"Aren't you a role model, captain?" I sneered, rubbing my head as Chase sashays towards us.

"Not my fault. I told you to duck." Chase boldly spoke as he shrugged like it was my fault that I got hit. What a freak!

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Oh, so now it's my fault?"

"Probably." Chase nodded innocently.

Excuse you?!

"Well, who the hell would even play football inside the cafeteria, huh? Aren't you an idiot." I grimaced, lowering my tone on the last sentence.

"C'mon, it's not like I cut your skull open or anything that would end you up at the hospital." Chase curts, sloping down to pick up the football while I followed him with my eyes. "You don't have to be a crybaby."

"What? I'm not even being a crybaby, you asshole!" I jerked up on my feet.

Chase straightened up and threw the football up in the air, effortlessly catching it.

"Do you have a dictionary?" He spontaneously asked. Curiosity filled his eyes.

"Yyyyyes? Why does that matter to you?" I furrowed my eyesbrows in confusion.

"I'm just wondering that you might be missing the definition of.. You know.. Crybaby?" He smirked.

"I told you, I'm not!"

"Whiner?"

"Dirtbag!"

I actually never spoken to Chase, until now. And this was basically the first time I laid my eyes on him up close. His stare was very intense as his hazel eyes challenged me with something that was so deep. I just tend to look at him on the field with the other jocks, playing the game. That was what football players usually do but this guy actually made the field wider in his range as girls began one of them and now... the cafeteria. Unbelievable.

"You know what? You're a nerd, so why won't you act like one and run away with your little feet instead?"

What? I have little feet?

I dramatically threw my hand on my chest, and breathed out. "I don't have a little feet. Why would you say that?"

"Nerds." Chase shook his head, with a chuckle.

No... Nooooo! Nikki, you're losing it!

I crimped my eyebrows, and put back a fighting mask. "At least I'm not some retarded guy who doesn't even know how to make an apology."

"Speak for yourself, I warned you. You somehow owe me a thank you, you know?"

"Thank you??" I gritted my teeth and shot him a dagger that were about to cut through his thick skull.

"You're welcome." He smiled then added, "Although, you should have been more sweet and relaxed."

"Are you kidding me right now?? You hit me with a ball, a football! And we're not even on the field, you dumbass!"

"Well, why don't we just call it an accident?" He stated, in a calm way.

All I wanted is for him to lower his pride and say an apology! I grumbled in frustration, as some kids started to gather around us. I was pretty sure we'd be on the school tabloid for tomorrow. Although, that was highly doubtful. Chase could easily manipulate the girls on that section with a wink and tell them not to put it on the newsletter.

Hailey tapped me on my shoulder and I titled my head to see her staring me with a calm down look. I nodded, and slowly breathe all the air my lungs could take in to calm my nerves.

"..and what do we have here?" Principal Brown spoke, appearing out of the pool of students.

"We just tried to play fo.." Scott started but was cut off by Chase who nudged him with his elbow, making him hunched and clutch his stomach. "Food. Eat food while at the cafeteria." He croaked.

"Mr. Vincent?" Principal Brown turned towards Scott, lowering her head with her reading glasses touching the tip of her nose.

Scott straightened and salutes, "Yes, ma'am?"

"How about a day as a dish washer?" Principal Brown raised her eyebrows.

Scott's chin hang low as he stared at Principal Brown with a priceless look while Nathan bit his lip and gradually turned on his heel to sneak out of the canteen.

"And I heard Mr. Vincent wanted Mr. Andrews to come too." Principal Brown added with a smile, making Nathan to stop on his tracks as he heard his named being mentioned.

Chase began chuckling while the two grunted disapprovingly.

"To the kitchen." Principal Brown ordered as Scott and Nathan obeyed, exiting the crowd as they walked straight to the kitchen. "Okay. Are there any other students involve in this occurence?" She probed, making everyone to shut their mouths and shook their heads.

She sighed, and rubbed her temples. "Why am I having a hard time believing you all?" She paused, "Okay, will everyone please proceed to your perspective classrooms? Now."

Principal Brown pointed her index finger to Chase and I. "Except for you two."

Wait, what? I looked at Chase, who had been grimacing at me. His eyes dancing on fire. I looked away, but only to face Principal Brown.

"You two heard me or what?" She questioned. "My office... Now." Her voice sounded soft but with much force and demand.

I was about to protest but there was no sense. I already got a C-, I won't let it get worst.

I sighed heavily while Chase followed Principal Brown without any hesitation.

How could he act that way??

"Hey, you did nothing wrong." Hailey cheered, smiling.

"Yet." I remarked, as she raised her eyebrows in question, "Don't worry, Hailey. You'll help me cut someone else's balls later."

"Sweet balls!" She grinned, wickedly.

"Okay guys, I gotta go." I gathered my stuffs.

"We'll see you later." Torry spoke while Sandra nods in agreement.

"Bye." I waved, as I strolled towards the Principal's office.

"So, Mr. Grey.. Have you not known that we forbid football inside the cafeteria?" Principal Brown stopped for a moment then continued, right away. "Well, I surely know you do, but I don't know why you even thought of doing it." She opened her drawer and took something in it.

Since we came in, Principal Brown questioned us on what happened out there. I frankly told her I got hit by a football while Chase discussed that it was an accident. By all means, Chase was still the one to blame since playing football in the cafeteria was clearly not allowed.

Principal Brown scribbled on a pink slip she grabbed from her drawer with her head bowed down while Chase and I stayed mute.

"Here." Principal Brown uttered, handing Chase the pink slip.

Detention. I thought, smirking inwardly with the sight of my success.

"Principal Brown, you must have forgotten but we have football practice after school hours for the upcoming match. I can't miss that! I'm the captain." Chase complained.

That's why he's been so confident without any flashes of guilt. I should have known!

"I agree, but coach Fred told me that the match between you and Wellington High has been moved two months, due to our opposing team's request. So I assume an added three hours for three days in detention would be fine. Now, off you go." Chase groaned, crumpling the pink slip before glaring me down with his blazing eyes, making me feel like a puny insect.

Good dog. Calm down. I uttered the words to myself.

Come on Nikki! Say something!

"Have fun!" I faked a smile while I forcibly showed my teeth.

"Pfft." Chase stomped off and opened the door wide while we stared at him, dumbfounded. He passed by a bin just across the office and dunk the pink slip.

O..kay? Did I say something bad?

"You're still in detention!" Principal Brown purposely, hollered for Chase to hear and received a loud chunter in response.

"Boys.. Just like my little Leo." Principal brown mumbled while shaking her head as I drew my eyes back to her.

"Oh, sorry. Ms. White, you can go to your next class now. I have asked you an excuse to Mr. Blake before you came here." Principal Brown remarked, and I thanked her before leaving the office heading straight to history class.

"And class don't forget, your project is due on Thursday and other groups that has been cut on time may continue on Friday." Mr. Blake repeated as some students mimicked the words along with him.

I think he said that thrice now.

"Yes, sir!"

Mr. Blake came up on an idea to discuss our assigned topics on a play, instead of a typical boring report.

Each of us had been randomly grouped by four, and luckily I had been grouped with Linda Lindsey and Paul Henderson who were blessed with a working machine inside their head. But Stacy Johnson just made it seem unfortunate for us, since she was one of those prep girls with an a-hole attitude.

"Okay, dismiss!" Mr. Blake soon called out making all students jump out of their seats, pushing their way out the door not caring who they bumped into.

"Hey, work on my script okay? Bye!" Stacy exclaimed, sending us three an unsolicited flying kiss as she waves out of the room.

"Okay, I'll work for the scripts. Let's meet again tomorrow and plan our schedule for rehearsals." Paul spoke, staring down on his notebook.

"And I'll work for the props. Bye." Linda uttered as she scurried out of the room.

"Well, what do I do?" I asked Paul as he started writing the script on his notebook.

Wow. How do you work that brain? I shrugged at the thought and told him I would be going.

Are they really that of an anti-social?