Chapter 17: Quicksilver

I hate the inventor of alarm clocks.  I mean fair enough I don't use my phone as an alarm because leaving it near your head causes brain cancer but how is it my fault it smashed when I threw it against the wall this morning? Why the heck must it make that annoying beep beep beep sound. So basically now I'm rushing downstairs, putting on my red hoodie and I grab an apple before sprinting out of the house and guess what? The bus left me.

Great. Just great.

I decide to call one of my friends and they all happen to be in school already. Darn their good time management. Looking at my wristwatch I see I have seven minutes to get to school so doing the logical thing, I make a run for it and just skip homeroom. Crap. This is really bad for my school records. As I'm about to cross the stop street, a white Mercedes AMG with a red and blue striped paint job pulls up.

"Sorry, I don't take lifts from strangers," I say bending my head, realising the sports car stopped for me.

The driver rolls down the tinted window. "I'm no stranger sweetheart"

"Xavier?"

"The one and only," He winks with a cocky grin. "You coming or not"

"Sure, yeah, uh . . . Thanks?" That came out more like a question. I opened the passenger seat door and got in giving him an incredulous look. "How do you drive with an injured leg?"

"Automatic car, I can drive with one leg just fine, " Silver shrugs nonchantly speeding away. "So overslept?"

I let out a long sigh. "Yeah unfortunately and you?"

"Only manage to get some sleep in the morning before realising it's morning and got pulled out of bed," He says glancing at me.

I nod thoughtfully. "You have insomnia?"

He grips the steering wheel causing his knuckles to turn white and I regret saying what I did. The topic seems sensitive. 

"Just don't tell anyone," Xavier snaps his face quickly morphing.

"Will ruin your I so perfect badboy reputation," I imitate his voice much worse at any rate. Flip why do I have such a big mouth?

Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.

"Firstly, I don't sound like that and second don't talk about reps to me, I hate them," He retorts the anger diminishing like that. 

I take out my hands from behind my head.

"Sorry, I brought up a crappy topic, I know what it's like to have reputations and expectations," I say earnestly this time, my voice softening. 

He looks at me for a second with those calculating amber eyes. "You have a rep?"

"Well yeah, don't we all? I have to be a genius goody two shoes, nerd with no social life but here I am late for school sitting I'm a car with the 'badboy' who's driving at 200 miles an hour," I say in one breath looking out the window as I speak.

He nods processing what I just said. "Well it's true you're a nerd but I've seen the sassy, fighter, badgirl attitude- what other reps are you hiding, Rose?" He grins raising an eyebrow.

"Apparently I'm a tomboy according to my friends," I shrug like it's nothing.

"It is false but you're more of a tomboy-ish girl" 

"Kinda, I'm a girl that loves sport, trainers, t-shirts and video games . . .oh and definitely food but to be honest I wear dresses now and again"

"So in other words you're a tomboy that wears dressed and likes pink," Xavier concludes as his eyes twinkle with an answer. "So a tomgirl then?"

"Possibly, but pink? Yuck!" I stick out my tongue and scrunch up my nose disgusted. The car slows down as we enter the school.

Silver laughs at my look of disdain. "Alright not pink but definitely red . . . Rose"

I roll my eyes and realise I'm wearing a red go hoodie. "Ugh flip"

"What's wrong?"

"I told myself last night that I specifically won't wear red just to prove you wrong," I explain stepping out of the car.

Silver gets his schoolbag fro the backseat and hands me mine. "You should know by now princess I'm never wrong"

I scoff and walk away,. "Narcissist"

"I heard that," he calls out catching up to me,"You didn't even thank me"

"Merci," I tip my imaginary hat and run towards the school before he can react.

I get my things from the locker hoping I'm not to late to class and as I transfer the books from my left hand to my right I can feel a sort of presence next to me, the door of my locker slams shut and I yell in shock almost throwing my books on the person's face.

"Oh sorry Daniella,"  Jackson laughs leaning against the neighbouring locker.

"You better me," I mutter walking past him without sparing a glance.

Jackson's catches up to me so we're walking side by side.

"I saw you coming to school with Xray, what's going on?" He asks in a teasing voice suggestively.

"Nothing, scared I'm going to steal your best friend?" I retort with a playful smile, going along with his game.

The ravenet puts a hand over his heart. "Ouch! You really are trying to steal him"

I laugh at his fake sorrowful expression my hand covering my mouth.

"Hey Jackie"

I see Trey walking up to, Mark next to him.

"Is told you not to call me that," JK deadpans in a flat tone.

"Sorry I'm deaf I the right ear can you talk louder next time?" Trey curves his hand around his ear taunting the ravenet.

"Willy Wonka," Mark shakes his head referring to kid's all time favourite character by Roald Dahl.

Both of them dressed in black, actually all four of them are always dressed in black. Hoodie or leather jackets, jeans, trainers, Raybans, beanies and snapbacks, I wonder if they all share a wardrobe? The two do that bro thing with Jac and Trey looks at me confused.

"Is she safe?" He probes unsurely as I roll my eyes.

"Oh yeah, dudes meet my lady-friend here Daniella," Jackson introduces me slinging an arm over my shoulder. I am so going to be late to class.

"Hey you're the girl with Xray right?"

Why does everyone keep saying it like that?

"Woah okay let me get this straight, Jackson don't ever call me your lady friend again," I hold up a hand shrugging off his arm. "And I'm no where connected with Xavier, heck I'm not even his friend"

The last part I had to make myself believe.

"Oh right the girl Xray was talking about is Rose," Trey snaps his fingers in recognition.

Mark nods rubbing his jaw. "He spoke a lot about her from after the big game"

I blush unexpectedly. What the hell is up with female hormones. Just because one of the most popular and badboy as well as the captain of the football team speaks about me doesn't mean I have to react like this.

"Aww, you're cheeks are turning rosy," Jackson coos earning a glare from me.

"Wait she's Rose? I don't get it," Trey cocks his head to the side confusion etched on his face.

"No you retard," Mark hits him on the back of his head. "That's Xray's nickname for her, right Daniella?"

Always the clever one.

Jackson answers for me in affirmative.

"Alright so now that's cleared up who's coming for ice-cream?" He rubs his hands together eyes gleaming like a five year old with excitement. He and Becky would make an amazing couple.

"Um . . I have an AP Maths test next period and would rather not bunk exam time," I say pointing my thumb towards the door as we near it.

"So if it wasn't would you of bunked?" Jackson asks disbelieving.

"Maybe," I shrug leaving them gaping.

Alright so in my old school Thomas and I bunked a couple of times when our favourite hangout place had crazy hour Fridays where everything was half the usual price. Yeah he wasn't the best influence but the teachers couldn't care less and I still managed to perform well. I walk into class, Science first period and the teacher is running late. I took a seat near the window after getting some equipment for today's lesson.

"Look here girl," A really squeaky voiced person stands by my table slamming their hands on my desk showing her perfectly pink manicured nails and causing a noise.

I look up to see the queen bi- sorry queen Bee, yeah that glaring at me her face still as always caked with makeup. With her friend Vanessa standing by her side as always. The attention around me is nauseating.

I cock an eyebrow and answer boredly. "What do you want Stephanie?"

"Don't go near Xray he's mine!" She hisses with venom in her words. Snake. Like seriously you can't get a better metaphor for her.

I yawn and slump in my chair, the best thing to do is give her no reaction. Otherwise there will be murder and I don't have enough allowance for bail money. Maybe the police will understand and not hold me responsible for trying to help society.

"Yeah sure, whatever," I sigh, trying to keep my cool. Why did Xavier date her again? That boy is an idiot.

"Listen here loser you better stay away or else," She warns with a wicked gleam in her eyes.

"Or else what?" I whisper darkly not realising what I said, my eyes widen and I slap a hand over my mouth. Everyone is looking at the two of us. Why does this always happen to me?

"How dare you up talk to Stephanie like that?" Vanessa interjects snapping at me. Oh yeah,  I forgot she's here to.

"Or else I'll make you pay," The blonde says flipping her hair, struts to her place and puts her arms around her science partner Zane I think. That dude is so lost. He couldn't be more unsure to what's going on.

I roll my eyes an amused smile forming on my lips, now I know why Silver kept the girl around. She's like a walking drama series. Who needs Netflix when there's the Stephanie series! Oh joy I sound like a dead brain.

Note the sarcasm.

"Hey Danny, just saw Queen bee walk away what up?" Ty greets me fist pumping mine.

"Oh hi twins where were you two?" I ask on seeing Tony walk up behind his brother.

"Ty forgot to bring his bag so we had to go back to the car because this baby can't walk by himself," Tony explains annoyed, sitting behind me, his brother next to me.

"That's not true, I didn't have the keys I don't know why mum trusts you more," Ty whines. Yeah sure. I know to many under aged drivers.

"Hey, Danny when the two of us were coming from the we saw you with Xray, what's going on?" Tony asks shifting uncomfortably.

"Nothing, why what's wrong?" I crease my eyebrows.

"Haha, don't play dumb with us Danny, we thought you hated that dude," Ty pipes in giving me a pointed look.

I glance between the two of them. "People change, I've seen a different side if him lately and he just offered me a ride to school because I was late, nothing else, I can catch a ride with whoever I want"

"Okay, but just be careful dude, Xray is bad news there's a reason we don't like him sitting with us," Tony says with caution in his voice.

"And that reason is . . ." I trail off frowning.

They're not comfortable with Xavier sitting with us in the cafeteria? Maybe they should go sit with Audrey then, where ever she is. I don't understand why they didn't tell me this sooner, is Becky fine with all of this?

The teacher comes in and gives us an experiment to do on testing different substances. That's when the boys answer my question.

"Criminal records of arson, " Ty says as we take out our goggles.

"Vandalism," His brother whispers from behind us.

"Breaking into school property at night"

"Possible theft"

"Egging and toilet rolls- the classics and tons of other pranks"

"And a hell lot of school fights"

"Well done Sherlock, Watson, I see your'll did the research," I pat them on the back calmly.

So yeah, I sound as cool as a cucumber but on the inside I begin to dread talking to Xavier.  He really is bad news no joke.

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This week went by annoyingly, for someone as antisocial as me, there is a hell, lot of stupid drama. Xavier just brought in a sack of new problems down the chimney. Who does he think he is? Santa Claus? It's not even Christmas yet. Talking to me in class or throwing papers at me or kicking my chair with his none injured leg.

Also he still sits with us during lunch which the twins are trying to get use to. He dosent say a word to my alter ego but plays friendly with me on the field and doesn't mind me being captain when we make two teams and he can't play Stephanie is still rude to me, finding any excuse to make my life miserable, and the other badboys irritate me as much as Silver does, my friends actually find it entertaining, to watch Xavier and I bicker and laugh at me!

Traitors.

So during lunch today, only Bec and I were sitting in the cafeteria  talking aimlessly when the devil himself walks in and like a Disney movie everything goes in slow motion as heads turn to see the double doors open, the badboys walking like snails, Jackson pulls out his shades and winks at a girl, Mark kisses the hand of another, both girls looking like they want to faint. Xavier takes out his own Raybans and wipes it on his shirt before putting it back on, the girls start swooning and the boys give envious stares. The four are in fact drop dead-

Wait. What?

No, no, no I was not about to say gorgeous.

Right?

"Bonjour Rose," Xavier smirks at me, snapping me out of my trance.

"Sup, Silver, what you doing here?" I reply trying to ignore the constant stares and death glances.

"Duh. I sit here, where's the others?" He says matter of factly, sitting next to me. The other three find their own seats.

Becky gapes as JK sits next to her. He greets us both and ruffles my hair. Jerk. The twins spoke to me and I think they're more comfortable with the badboys constantly showing up opt our lunch table. It just takes time. Like I said before. 

I try distracting Xavier from my beloved doughnuts. "The twins both have the flu"

Mark nods in agreement as Silver's amber eyes scan my delicious food. "It is influenza season"

I swat Xavier's hand away trying to change the topic. "How football prac, I heard theres a big match coming up"

"Awesome, right guys, we're going to thrash Thornfalls," He smiles with an air of arrogance. But it doesn't show happiness it shows something else.

"Yeah, but you made Brady quit so now we need two more players since you're injured," Jackson says flatly picking a his food and giving not so subtle glances at Bec. What?

"And I thought I was stupid," Trey remarks shaking his head.

"You are," All three boys say at the same time.

So great Brady wants to quit. Ugh. There's something about Xavier and football I don't get, it's like he pretends to love the game. I would know what it's like to fake and he is faking something. Why wouldn't he love football? It's It's a great game and he's good at it.

Life is so weird.