11

All I saw was his jersey number. His back. It was indeed a hot back.

Raindrops stuck to my hair and uniform and I tried to wipe myself clean with my handkerchief. It was useless. You might wonder why I am still standing in the rain?

One reason. 

I appreciate all the creations of Mother Nature. Some more than the others. And that 'some', included hot men, usually better in movie screens and in the pages of my smut book.

Not these boys, though, playing football recklessly in the pouring rain while the principal yelled at them to stop. I stood there,on the side of the ground, silently waiting for when one of them would take off their shirt and reveal those toned biceps peeking underneath the soaked fabric.

11 looked like the captain of the team as everyone turned to him when the principal threatened expulsion. Droplets of rain tricked down his face as he ran a hand through his voice and gave a small, but firm nod towards his boys. A bad boy, the rebellious ones with egos bigger than their heads. I sighed. Just my type.

Forcing myself to look away, I slung my bag over my shoulder to continue walking. I needed to get to the Principal's office for my 'warning'. Apparently, coming to class late first day of the school and talking back to the biology teacher, is a punishable offence at St. Pierre's. I always thought it would be a shit school. Ignore my abandonment issues with accepting my own mistake. The fuming expression on Miss's (what was her name again?) tomato-red face was totally worth it.

However, whatever she will say won't matter. Principal Marissa knew better than to punish the daughter of Keith Jocelyn. I imagined myself flipping my hair, the way those cliche rich mean girls did in the movies. As long as dear ol' daddy is here, there was no fear.

I creaked the door open to find the seat empty. She was out, repriminding the football players. I took a seat in the leather couch beside the fireplace. The heavy donations paid off, I though, as I quickly skimmed over my surroundings.

Lush carpets, the smell of old books bound by leather and wood polish filled the air, the sound of wood crackling and the crickets humming a symphony to my ears.

A sudden mental jolt pulled me out as I quickly dug my hand inside my bag, finding the pack of cigarettes inside. I bit my lip, as I regretted my entire existence. The nicotine rush I usually craved turned into a rush of panic. Talking back to the teacher was one thing, smuggling cigarettes inside the school was another.

Suddenly, the door sprang open and I jumped in my seat, the pack of cigarettes springing from my hand to the mahogany floor.

Principal Marissa was here and behind her was a boy. She had a stern no-nonsense look on her face as she glared at him, while he merely gave her a boyish grin. It was then he glanced at me.

Forest green and sky blue met, like palm trees about to touch the sky on a June morning. He looked at the packet lying on the floor and then at me while red lights flashed in my brain. 

Shit, shit, shit, did he notice what it was? 

He knelt down. No, no, no, this was no time to be gentlemanly, bad boy. He couldn't see it, he couldn't see it, he couldn't see.............

He saw it.

I shut my eyes in frustration as his fingers flexed around it. In a milisecond, he stuffed it into my hands before the Principal could notice, his eyes betraying no emotions.

He got up and I saw his jersey number.

11

"How many times have I told you, when its raining, you can't play? Are you denying my orders because you think you can? Oh, let me show you River Therese how much power you have."

She aggresively ravaged through some folders before she pulled out a green one which said 'Class of 2014'. It revealed a picture of River, with a shit-eating grin at the age around 12 or 11. As Rayne looked back at him, there were noticeable changes. He had well-toned muscles peeking from his shirt, same brown hair but a little longer now, same eyes but they looked a lot maturer.

If he noticed her ogling at him, he didn't comment.

"Oh, c'mon, Miss, its our first day back. Please, please, please" he pleaded, his words a contrast to his deep voice. Could this guy be anymore perfect?

The look Old Marie gave him was one of exasperation, and perhaps a tint of motherly affection? It was not hard to comprehend how well loved he was.

"Miss" I cut in meekly.

"And what are you here for again? Didn't you just get admitted to the school a few days back?" It was clear Dad had made her aware of my, umm, issues.

"I just tried to give some helpful tips to the Bio Professor. White jeans are so not the trend this year." I smiled sweetly.

The Principal sighed. "You are going to be a handful, aren't you?".

 I shrugged. Lying isn't the my favourite trend either, and Marie seemed like a good person.

"Go back to your dorm, Rayne. Kindly refrain from offering your teachers fashion advice. No detention this time."

"Love you, Marie." I inched in for a hug.

"Ok, now you are pushing it too far." she furrowed her brows, yet her lips twitched slightly. "Its your lucky day, River." she turned to the brunette guy. "No detention, but if I see you influencing your teammates towards breaking the rules, you won't find such a kind Principal."

He mock saluted her with two fingers. "Noted."

I stepped out of the room as a weight I didn't know existed lifted from my chest. Huh. Since when did expulsion worry me?

He had begged me to try again. He had begged me to live my life the best I can.

I won't throw my life away again.