CHAPTER FIVE (unedited)

--- Kindly put your playlist here ---

"There comes a time in life,
When you walk away from all the drama and people who create it.
Surround yourself with people who make you laugh,
Forget the bad,
And focus on the good.
Love the people who treat you right.
Pray for the ones who don't.
Life is too short to be anything but happy.
Falling down is part of life,
Getting back up is living."

                              - UNKNOWN

                          Song:
Like You by Tatiana

                          * * * *

ANNIE

Whoever made bathroom sex a thing was a very horrible human being.

It's a public bathroom for chrissake!

"I don't want to hide us no more." A female voice speak up.

"I love when you moan for me, Ella." Her partner says sensually, ignoring her. "I know you love how I give you multiple orgasms with my mouth."

Eewww!

"Let me make you discover new places you never thought exist-"

"I saw that stupid thong in the back seat of your car, I thought we're meant to be exclusive?"

"Shit." He backs away from her as he runs his fingers through his hair. "Ella please hear me out, It's not what you think it is."

"Yea right. It's never what a girl think it is." She scoff. "Don't you dare touch me!"

"Ella, I'm telling the truth, I didn't fucking touch her! I won't hurt you like that."

"Then why are you hiding us away? Let's tell the world about about our love, please."

"That can't happen, Isabelle."

"Why... why can't it be like that... tell me." The girl's voice cracks up like she is seconds away from crying. "You don't wanna commit to me but you want all the benefits of a boyfriend, why?"

"Ah, we back to this?! I thought you understood by now what we have. Why do you need to be my 'girlfriend' so bad? It's just a fucking lame label!" He angrily points out.

"I have some self respect!!!" The girl screams. "I'm tired of being your secret behind closed doors."

"Kurt moments we steal when the curtain falls are never enough. I want to be seen holding hands with you in the public. Be recognized as your girlfriend."

Whoa.

"And here we fucking go, again. I love you Ella, but I'm afraid I can't give what you're asking of me."

"Kurt, I will not be your plaything, especially when it implies being treated like dirt. You act like you don't even know me when in the same space as you."

"You're overreacting." He exhale loudly. "Can't do this with you right now. I'll call you when you're more calm and reasonable. See you later." I hear the door close and soft sobs.

I walk out and stand in front of the sink, next to the stranger. "Are you okay?"

She spare me a weird glance like I'm the one caught doing the forbidden and didn't even bother to reply.

Very well then.

We will pretend as though I didn't just hear her banter with Kurt, 'her secret lover'. In the moment of silence, my eyes shifts from myself in the mirror to her as she wipes off the tears that starts to fall from her eyes and force a smile on her face.

Goodness, I feel so bad for her.

Kurt Harrington. Everyone knows him as a player who doesn't do relationships. He has a specific taste in the girls he mess with,  redheads, hazel eyes, huge chest and a tall curvy body. He is suave at getting girls, doesn't need to do too much. But he's never the one to stay fond of one girl for too long. He hungers for challenge and if not met with it, he outrightly treats the girls like trash, like shit, like they're worth nothing? I can bet he gives those girls Herpes too or some kind of disease.

For her sake, I hope she did mean something to him, if he's hiding her.

I drop my stare and wash my hands, unsure of what to say because she is so so pretty and crying over a guy. Her red hair is in a neat French braid that runs down her back, her greenish-brown eyes, light freckles dots her cheeks. She is wearing a cute denim skirt that hugs her curves, a neon lemon tank-top with a silver necklace and all tied together super cute lemon strappy heels. "You deserve better." Oops, —stupid slip of the tongue. Next time, I should really just mind my business.

"Excuse me?" She feigns confusion.

It's glaring that she's hurting. Not being able to show the world the love you're making when the guy you love is a Manwhore.

"Oh, I didn't mean anything by it. I just think someone as pretty as you, with this fashion sense can do better than staying as that player's little secret." With a discrete head nod, I refer to Kurt.

"Thanks for the compliment. I'm flattered. You do have a great fashion sense too." She beams at me but I don't know how to act because she might be one of those two-faced girls. "I'm sorry you'd to listen to that, and didn't mean to come off as rude." I wave it off.

"I knew what I signed up for," she smile into the mirror, at her own reflection. "I thought I could be the girl he changed for. Jokes on me, right? I didn't know I was setting myself up for indefinite heartbreaks. But the heart want what it wants." She mumbles the last part.

"Tell me about it." I sure know how that feels. This heart right here never listens too. "I am Annie by the way."

She looks at me, her hazel eyes lights up with recognition and she nods. "Annie, best friend to Hunter and rival to his girlfriend. You are the fucking latest news! I knew there was a reason I envied you when I first saw you, other than your CUTE boots."

I laugh, drying my hands. "I never really get a break, do I?"

"I'm sorry Girl but this is HIGH-SCHOOL. Where every nobody thinks they have a say in somebody else's fucking business. Rumours were going around that you dropped out of school and moved to Scotland out of shame. I'm happy to see that you're back and better, I'm a huge fan." I arch a brow, mostly to the last statement.

"Isabelle," she smile, "that's my name. But you can call me Iz."

I give her a genuine smile, deciding that I like her. "Nice to meet you, Iz." Not only does she have a killer smile, but also she isn't one of those girls that place Leigh high as the yardstick for their lives. She doesn't even like Leigh. I can conclude we do have the same taste.

The warning bell rings leaving us five minutes to get to our next class. "We should probably get running if we want to be in our classes before lectures take off." She steps out and I follow suit. It turns out we have a few classes together. She let out a victory squeal, "We have Ap Calculus forth period! Then we can meet at cafeteria for lunch and I'll show you to my friends!"

"Sounds good." I lie.

"See ya!"

"Bye." I really don't know if I should be making new friendship with anyone at all, given that, they always end sourly.

Who knows, it might just be what I need.

*

I make it to lunch unscathed, but I am utterly and mercilessly famished. The cafeteria lunch is the only thing to look forward to because every meal is extremely edible. That makes It the best cafeteria ever. Each table is sparkly clean and almost occupied.

My stomach starts to growl, a reminder that I should never skip breakfast if truly I don't want to die before graduating this hell hole of a school. As it is the most important meal of the day. I scan around, hoping to catch a glance of a certain someone.

Is that a good idea?

Talk about pathetic.

In the centre of the cafeteria, is a table of the "Popular" kids in school. It is where the Queen bee —herself, Abercrombie models, hottest, coolest, and richest kids eats at. I see Hunter now hang out with them, the same set of people we made fun of, for acting like they were so cool.

Sandwich between a guy, and his girlfriend, Leigh. He smile at something one of them says, revealing the dimple in his cheek. I can't hear their conversation but it's enough to see how happy he is around his new friends. Never seen him so carefree and content.

Seeing him there makes my heart sink.

There goes all the elaborate daydreams I had cultivated over the years —a big wedding with Hunter Dillon, evaporating.

Annie Dillon my ass!

"Annie, stop staring, don't give this losers the joy to see how much they affect you." Isabelle, who I almost forgot is next to me, snaps me out of my trance.

"Uh? Oh yeah." I flush in embarrassment and make my way further in. People stare at me before avoiding eye contact like I am some sort of Pariah.

I hear a girl laugh and say, "Hide ya boyfriends, bitch might have a thing for them too."

Everybody shouts in agreement.

"Just ignore them." Isabelle whispers.

A boy hollers, "How about a nice time with me, Annie?"

Hunter's eyes meets mine for a moment, then just as quickly, he tears them away as Leigh pull him in for a kiss, right before smirking at me.

Something inside my stomach churns. I want to run back out, but for some reason I stay glued to this spot.

Isabelle spin in the direction of the voice. "So you could do what really, Shawn? Have sex with her inner thighs like you did Laura." Almost, if not the entire cafeteria erupt in laughter.

"The Slutty Redhead befriends New Miss Outcast. How Iconic!"

"Burn!"

"Fight, fight!" Someone chants and soon everyone join in.

"Jenny, everyone knows you're still the easiest lay around here." Isabelle smile in a no friendly way. "So as the school's biggest slut please maintain your title."

"Ooooooh." A collective gasp echo round the cafeteria while the Jenny's mouth falls ajar.

"Come on, Annie." Isabelle grab on my arm.

I stare, admiring her superb qualities. She's so confident, daring, full of life and energy —everything I wish I was. Quickly, I grab a tray and join her in the lunch line.

"Thanks for standing up for me." I say quietly, a bit sheepish.

She brush me off like it's no big deal. "Don't sweat it, Shawn is an Ass and Jenny is a straight up bitch. I would've told them both sometime this week anyways."

          --- THANKS FOR READING ---

Author's Note: I'm so amazed by the responses I've got since I posted this story. I know this story is a little slow but I promise it'll pick up pretty soon.

Cameron is making an entry in the next chapter! Whoop whoop!!! I'm excited!

Now please leave loads of comments as feedback is the only thing that motivates me (and a particular little orange star 🤣)

If anyone of you feels like making me a cover then pleaseeeee go ahead ☹️😘

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{7th of November, 2020}