She's an airhead

Good grief, I thought walking into school head down and I groaned inwardly. Alice had warned me just as I was seconds away from school and it had felt like the air had been taken from my lungs. Who would have guessed social media would do that to me?

Yesterday had ended on a good note, well given how you take it. It was crazy how time seemed to whiz so fast while we were together. So much that I was almost late for my shift and he had gone on to surprise me even further as he sat down by the corner with a book not even fazed by the looks of surprise and shock I threw at him before I learnt it wasn't the first time he'd frequented around the place from the other girl who worked in the cafe when she noticed the glances I'd been throwing his way. The next surprise though wasn't for me but rather Tess who immediately glared at me. I didn't understand why though. I didn't invite him for dinner, Kate had. But that was the least of my problems, I realized as I glanced at my phone once again.

Fun times with this one, I repeated again and again in my head yet finding no reason why he would post that along with one of the pictures we'd taken together. And especially that one. It was the most intimate of all and if you knew me well, you'd know I was the one in the picture. My face was barely visible and infact buried into his wet chest. His arms were halfway around me, pulling me towards him with water dripping down from our bodies and hair. I remember being so mad at him when he dropped me in the water clothes and all before bursting out in laughter. Maybe seeing him in the same situation didn't let me feel as bothered and I'd eventually found myself laughing along as we splashed around in the water after putting on the swimsuits and my hair tucked into a hat when Zayn took the picture. Before we finally got out to and dry off, when he'd bought me other clothes to change into. I had no choice but to agree of course, but it made me feel bad that he had to spend on me. Back to my dilemma, half if not all people in the school and most of the world had already seen this picture and as far as I could tell, everything bad was about to fall on me given the subtle glares thrown my way. They already suspected. It was going to be a long day.

"So? Fun times, huh?" Alice asked swooping in out of nowhere and I jumped startled. Good grief, I was never this skittish around people.

"Would you stop doing that?"

"Doing what?"

"Nevermind. Sorry I'm just not in my best game."

"You're worried about Heather?" She said as if she'd just come into realisation.

"Not really," I let out through gritted teeth before she grabbed my hand before pulling me with her and into the girls' washrooms before checking the stalls just to confirm we were really alone.

"What's going on with you?"

"I just.. I don't know. I mean I'm not  an attention seeker, never have been and I doubt I ever will be but...this plague namely Ryder Stone is just spreading way too fast for me."

"Baby girl, love just does that for you."

"I'm not in love with him!?" I snapped before falling back onto the sink and I groaned out loud. "I'm sorry, Alice. I just.."

"Well, well, if it isn't little Miss wannabe," Heather interrupted and we turned to her, one with a glare and the other with a blank look.

"What do you want now, Heather?" Alice asked as I regarded her blankly.

"You always speak for her?"

"No. I can speak for myself but you've proved to be much of an airhead already, I rather not waste my breath any longer than I have to," I said dismissively and I could see her jaw drop slack for a moment as she glared at me.

"What is that supposed to mean?"

"If you're so sure he belongs to you, you wouldn't be as wary as you are now? But then again you have to worry, I mean I don't blame you with a guy like Ryder you have to be on the lookout for others trying to claim your guy but I'd say you have the wrong girl. If you want to believe otherwise that's on you. I don't make a habit to force what isn't there. If he's yours, why should I try to make him mine? If he isn't, he's allowed to make his own decisions, isn't he? I suggest not being too desperate with your advances," I said before turning to Alice. "You coming? Ms Carmichael doesn't like it when we're late."

I said and she nodded as I brushed past Heather and she grabbed my arm, nails digging in to my arm.

"I don't know what kind of game you're trying to play with me, but I don't like it. If you think I've forgotten the stunt you pulled, you're mistaken."

"Aww, but I love games. Especially the one you think you can intimidate me," I said 'innocently' and she narrowed her eyes at me as I shrugged her hand off. "Stay out of my way, Heather and you won't get into any trouble with me."

"You think she'll still try something?" Alice asked as soon as we were far from the washrooms.

"I'd hope she does, then she'll learn never to mess with me," I said and she laughed.

"Damn, you're scary when you're mad."

"You haven't seen the worst of part of it."

"Do you think Ryder would find it hot?" She asked cheekily and I stopped short before continuing forward.

"I'm not talking to you anymore," I said pushing back the nasty words I could conjure up at the annoyance.

"I know you didn't mean it."

"What?"

"That you don't like him."

"I never said I didn't like him. All I said was that I wasn't try to claim him. I mean why would I? I'm already annoying and obnoxious on my own why do I need another equally obnoxious person in my life? I'm already miserable as it is," I said with a sigh and she stifled a laugh. "What?"

"I'm not sure you realise you have a crush on him."

"A crush, really?"

"Well, I don't think you both realize it. You hit on each other every time you're in a room. You did it the other night."

"Don't get any ideas. He's a staked claim, and I have whatever this is with Kyle and I'm not sure where my future lies after high school and all, I'm just stuck," I said and she patted my back as we sat down and I tried to ignore the stares and murmurs around us that hushed as the very pregnant Ms Carmichael walked in. "And then he posts this. I don't know what to think of it."

"Well, you can ask him."

"Huh?" I asked confused before I realized the other teacher of english had walked in and with a few of her students.

"There was a rumour we'd have a joint class. I guess it's true."

"Umm, the other class has some issues with their equipment and they'll be joining us," she explained before inviting them in and I could see the three musketeers hightailing towards us despite the fact that they had entered last and I could feel my frown deepen as I glanced at Alice.

Strange how they seemed to automatically walk towards us or how the other students avoided the seats near us, this was so messed up.

"Hello, Sunshine," Ethan said taking up the seat in front of us before turning around. "What's with the long face?"

He asked and I was at a loss for words and not for any other reason but the fact he had sat right next to me. It was as if he was setting me up for daydreaming I mean how exactly I'm a supposed to concentrate when every breath I take is of his musky cologne. Okay, maybe that's just an exaggeration but after yesterday and the post today, I could do nothing but sit frozen in my seat and get lost in my thoughts.

"PMs, you know how it is," Alice saved and I let out a small sigh and yet I could feel his steady gaze from my left and I refused to let it bother me. If he had the brains he'd figure it wasn't for another couple of weeks and it was something else.

But I wasn't the only one who had a problem as of now. As it turned out, today we were to watch narratives of the books we had to do through the year. But what was playing was a movie that seemed to be jammed in and I could hear excited chatters and Ms Carmichael's frustrated voice as she declared everything had been fine when she left for the staffroom some minutes ago and my gaze was drawn to the three males around us as the gears in my head started turning.

"Did either of you have anything to do with this?" I found myself blurting out and they turned to me.

"No."

"No, why would you think that?"

Cody and Ethan let out simultaneously and I would have almost believed them if at that moment I hadn't met Ryder's gaze. I hadn't known him for a long time and yet the glint in his eyes seemed oddly mischievous and I shook my head letting out a small smile before he leant over me me.

"You okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be?" I asked sweetly and he gave me a stiff smile as I glared at him.

For a moment he opened his mouth looking as if he wanted to explain before he seemed to think better of it after assessing my mood and I turned away from him. And the worst part of this is that I didn't even understand why exactly I was mad.