Sometimes, you can't understand what has been holding you back.

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"Have you seen Cole? He is looking so damn good," no reaction.

"OH god he is so sexy," still got no reaction.

"And he smells like flowers, deep and fresh ummmm! " oh god! This is the stupid thing I have ever heard in my life, but still, I got no reaction from him, he just ignored all the girls, or everything to remain geeky in his own pun.

"He is too serious for his nerdy role, or maybe he converted himself in a saint, " Vess whispered in my ear quite frequently when we were following Cole in the hallway. And he is such a brilliant actor! But I'm not going to make it easy for him. HA! I'll make sure to make him lose his excellency in his acting.

"You are such a donkey shit! Asshole, " Dylan whacked at his head again while laughing. And he was laughing so hard that his face became red he even had to stop himself to get his breath steady. Still got no reaction! He is way hiding his face too much by looking down and he is even not making eye-contact with anyone.

Seriously? What? Does he want to do? Does he want to win an Oscar for his performance? Well yeah, he is playing his role with that much efficiently- that one would almost believe for his innocence. Which is nothing in real self-sufficient to believe for anyone?

Deliberately, or not I have to keep it up with him otherwise he will win whatever he is playing and I'll lose which I don't want to do. Again.

I think he knew that we are or especially me following him in the hallway because he had sped up his speed. So what? You know what Cole? I'm not going to make it easy for you, and the hell with your acting of what you did in literature class. When everyone knows that- you are a player then how come you became a saint? Or are you that much desperate to win the mess what have you created against me! Because last time I checked you were a jerk who mostly knows how to play with girls. Yeah I also know that you don't actually do seriously wrong with them because they know you are a player, yet they come for you, but what I don't understand is why? Why is it bothering me too much?

Hell! I do have to act like you only in a female version for a month just because of the bet. Well, I don't actually regret it. however, it is an opportunity for me to change my stupid made up the nerdy title.
But for just once, I want to see if you would care about whatever I'm going to do, or you will just insult me by making fun of me.

"Ouch!" a yelped escaped from that girl who has crashed her soda bottle on my already spoiled top.
Great. Just great! Twice in a day, this thing has happened to me. What is wrong with this day or even with this top! Hah! And now what? This has become the favorite destination to spill their liquid stuff today? Or It is just to put me down?
Whatever it is! The harsh truth is that I don't have any spare cloth in my locker nor do vess have.
The girl who has drained my top has vanished in front of me because I was too busy thinking about all the scenarios in my mind.

And Dylan and Vess are too busy to hunt down that girl, but it is stupid seriously. I'm fed up for this seriously.

"Let me punch that girl Amanda," Vess shrugged her shoulders in my not approving gaze.
"You need to let go of that top of yours otherwise you will going to suffer from cold," Dylan's Concerned eyes met mine.

"But I do not have any spare in the locker nor do Vess have." I tried to soak the top again somehow by dragging its corners to move in one direction by pressing them.

"Geez! This day is going worse minute by minute if you didn't remove that top you will make yourself ill Amy." Truth to be told I had my bra underneath it, but how can I roam in the school in my bra?

Oh, get a hold on lady! Remove that stupid top of yours will you? And what are you thinking! Bitches doing this purposely now give them in return with your attitude of not caring.
Besides, you can gain some attention. moreover, you can smack Cole on his head though he is doing brilliantly in his pulled up act by attracting all the school towards him. So just play it, girl!

Oh yeah! Spontaneously, my fingers roamed around the corners of the top Grabbing the sides of it I rolled it over on my head and knotted it around my waist.
At least it is going to soak in some minutes from here. Besides, it doesn't harm me; girls always do this kind of fashion these days, so yeah we can consider it as one of them.

Suddenly, I heard a whistle around me and when I looked up I saw everyone was whistling and asking who is this girl? In the school who has gotten out from her shell.

The hallway got stuck with numerous boys and girls. I think it is an overreaction. By the way, it is not that something like this has happened; in fact, Some girls of cross-river high wore it on daily basis, so it is not a completely big deal and the fuck I care if anyone is going to say something.

I was heading to my locker when Vess and Dylan practically got stoned at their place. They didn't even budge out their foot. Dylan's Adam apple was moving as he has gulp under his throat.

"Hey girl, never thought you got a nice body, " a remark of the Joseph, teammate of basketball engraved through my ears. And he came close to stand nearby me... His presence was rotting blood in my veins making my heart jump like it was about to explode at any moment. And why the hell I was sweating? When the sun is perfectly fine and I'm in the school building.

Cut it! Don't need to hyperventilate just relax! Take a deep breath! How can you complete that bet if you will act like this?

Yep! For the very first time, my inner voice gave correct advise.

So what to do now?

Simple act smart!

"And I never thought that I would hear a compliment from you Joseph," ok maybe this is not the smartest answer, but hey at least I tried and truth to be told I never thought that someone compliments me about my body or whatever.
In the back time, I always think that- something is wrong with me and like the way Cole told that I'm not even a girl! I just want to be treated like a girl for at least once in my life.
But I knew that boys here never saw me as a girl, for them I was just a...
.... Well, to be honest, I was nothing!
But now it is good to feel that someone has finally noticed that I'm a girl, and this time I'm not hiding.

And about Joseph? He's not a player like Cole! In fact, I never heard a single rumor about him, besides he's very attractive with the masculine body. Oh, and by the way, he's a blonde with blue eyes just like mine.
"Are you free after school? " he asked in his husky tone. Now, I know that I've to go for a job interview after school, but one date with Joseph wouldn't be that bad! Besides I've to take the experience of dating and the stuff so that I can understand what type of exact things happen and what I've to do!

But before I could open my mouth, I heard a voice; the voice of my favorite person on this planet( kindly note the sarcasm)

"No! She can't go!" Cole's voice dragged the hole in my head. What the hell is wrong with him? Why can't I go? And what? He is now back on speaking terms, he has a voice now!

What the hell is his problem!

"Woah! Woah! Maxwell, what are you doing here? Aren't you were acting of a nimp today? " Joseph smirked while challenging Cole with his blue ones. And Cole's eyes were flickering with...
...I don't know what? It has some kind of intensity, and what I told you about his eyes? Yeah that he has some kind of dangerous eyes; If one would look at them, or directly gaze at them- the person is going to fall into a trap! Yes, a trap his eyes are a trap with those brown breathtaking orbs, his long eyelashes and the emotion behind it! In fact, one would surrender to him just because of his eyes.
That's why I have taken a pledge of not meeting his eyes; in short, it would be easy in that way to not get influenced by his presence.

"Cole what are you doing here? " I asked him. Yes, I just simply asked, because he was acting like an ass not even acknowledging my presence before. However, now he is here and trying to speak for me! I can't speak for myself.

He didn't answer me. Though I knew that he was not going to answer me, still I tried. And what he did? He gave ma deathly glare to Joseph, and opened his sexy mouth, "she is busy after school." wait for what! Did I say sexy? What is wrong with me? Ughhhh! Stupid hormones! And what the hell is his problem? Why is he saying that I'm busy after school? Though I know that I've to go for my job that would be quick, because today is just a hiring process, and as far as I know that wouldn't take any longer time! Then what is he saying about me getting busy?

Joseph glared hard at Cole, " busy with whom? "

It was like they were busy playing a game with their eyes. I mean the game of deadly glares. If looks Could kill they both would be dead.

Or should I say, Joseph? Though he may have the perfect muscles with that body, Cole is something else! He is more intimidating than him. The hell he is, in fact, taller than him!

You know what I'm thinking? Yes, I'm thinking to be an invisible person, or maybe moving my ass from here!
These two body-builders are busy with themselves, and there is no need for me to be here. If I've got the brain in my system then I should be moving from here.

And when I was ready to sneak around. "She is busy with me!"

I think I have heard it wrong. It can't happen in fact it can't happen in this century. Definitely, I had heard it wrong!

"What?" Joseph looked at me asking me for my opinion about his statement.

And what I'm going to say? I've no idea the way Cole giving me his looks. Actually, Joseph is stuck between me and cole. I have my back pressed against my locker, and Joseph has stood in front of me. He has his back ahead of Cole.
So, Joseph can't see now that what the wisdom of expression he had brought on whatever he was trying to say.

Just relax! Take a deep breath and if I didn't say anything then yes Cole was going to beat the shit out of Joseph, or maybe Joseph beats Cole. The whole scenario of both getting in a dirty fight flashed in my mind! And if that happened just because of me I'll be dead! Ok or maybe they don't fight like that the way I was planning in my head, but what if get involved in a heated argument then we all will get detention, and worse than that- what If? Mr. Bennett called's our parents about our misbehave in the school?

I can't bear that much! No that is not going to happen. I'll just say that what Cole said was right. And just the way he is behaving right now it is better to go this road.

"Umm! Sorry Joseph, but Cole is right. " I tried very hard to meet his eyes. He looks mad, his eyes were burning with anger and for a second I thought that he was going to punch me!
Seriously, why would I think that? When I know he can't do it in school.

And after getting in another heated glaring match with Cole; he back away.

I, unconsciously, started grabbing my books from the locker when I felt a hand on my shoulder.
And I know who he is... "What the hell Cole? " Ok I was annoyed, yes I was annoyed as hell. He can't overpower me. He can't make decisions for me! He knows my situation very well, yet he took it an opportunity to use against me.
"Where the hell is your top Amanda? Why are you roaming around in your bra instead of your top? That much desperate to be in attention Amanda?

"Excuse me? " I bluntly stared at him for what he just said!

"Don't do excuse me! Now put on your top otherwise I'll do it myself" he glared at me while challenging that- if I didn't do what he has said then he will going to do whatever he has in his mind.

But the hell I care! Who is he to say me what to do, or what not to do! And since, when he became so bossy! He even dismissed my chance to have a date, or whatever you call with Joseph today. That boy who has noticed me today. Now he is giving me orders! What is wrong with him. Last time I checked he was busy in his acting; not giving a fuck to anyone and now what? He has completely changed his side of ignoring me to ordering me!
And what he said- that I'm desperate for attention! Ughhhhh! I want to kill him now! He is stupid! He is an idiot! He is arrogant especially with his stupid sexy smirk which has plastered on his face. But you know what Cole? I'm not going to obey you!
And I also know that you don't consider me as a girl, so you are not going to touch me!
As he read my mind that I'm not going to do what he had said; he took a step closer to me.

Somebody give me oxygen! I can't breathe. My stomach is doing somersaults, I'm going to faint if he will come near me. And you know what? I must be looking like a boiled tomato now.

I can't stand his closeness, and he knows that. He is playing a dirty game with me in which he has won.

Because I have worn that top of mine which was hung around in my waist before Cole closes the distance between us.
Where are my two friends when I needed them the most?
In fact, they are nowhere to be found! Or maybe this has to do something with this jerk who has stood in front of me.
Now that I have worn it and covered my upper body that stupid Cole looks satisfied in fact looks almost triumphed as he has won some kind of lottery.
There is no need for me to stand here and make him get on my nerves, and make my blood boil. This isn't going to help just try to ignore him. Besides, he only said about me busy with him, so that he can spoil my any chance with Joseph.

He can't be serious about spending time with me! No. This is some kind of game for him. And yes it is stupid just like his face which is giving me chills of spending time with him alone.
A shiver went down under my skin when I thought about his lips against mine.
No! I need to put a stop to my imagination
But as I think about all this I couldn't stop my self from thinking that- does he really care? Or he is just trying to do it so that he can beat me up in his bet.

What is it cole? What do You want?
I want to shout! I want to ask him, but I couldn't open my mouth and decided to walk away from his presence.

I need to get out from here, besides school is already on the verge of closing. Oh, and I got to go for the interview for the job.

AS I ran towards the exit area of the school. I couldn't stop my self from thinking that- I'm doing right? This is the right thing to do? I mean what the hell is this bet? Who even cares about this? Why I'm doing this? This is the most stupid thing someone has done in their life.

But I know what is holding me back in this situation! The determination to remove that label of the loser from my head, and to tell. Mom; that I can do anything I want on my own.

"Where are you going? " Cole's voice engraved in my ears.
As I moved my head back; I saw Cole is following me. Now, what does he wants from me?
Can't he just leave me alone?

"What do you want Cole Maxwell? " I spurted his full name this time, just face him.

"You know exactly what I want Amanda Parker, " He whispered, directly gazing into my eyes.
His eyebrows were pooped up with determination, and a muscle in his jaw twitched.

"And what do you want Cole? " my bored eyes met with his.

"Get in the car! " he ordered while opening his front seat door.

First of all, why should I listen to him? And the second thing is where are his manners. Doesn't he go to open the door for me?
Oh, my mistake Cole and manners don't go to the same place.

But I'm also stubborn! I'm not going to budge from my place. Who is he? By the way; is he a king or a prince?
Then why should I listen to him? "You are not my mother to tell me what to do! " I yelled at him angrily, While folding my hands. Just so that he can understand How serious I'm and leave me alone.

"No! I'm not your mother." I exhaled and relaxed a little bit that he is going to back away, but his sharp voice invaded my thoughts, "I'm your father! " and with that- don't know what happened to my footsteps or what came over me; I obeyed what he has said and took a seat in the car.
And what he did? He just smirked.

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Finally! After getting stuck in the bundle of exams; I've been able to publish this chapter. And now I'm really looking forward to finishing this book.

Thankyou 💖