The Boy Next Door

Chapter 3

Monday morning came sooner than I expected. Mom dropped me off at my new school, noted the sarcasm, and eyed me curiously as I tipped towards the school's building. I don't blame him though, because I'd caught myself eyeing me. I mean, who goes to school in baggy sweatshirts and crazy jeans?

It was my first day in a new school, and I'd not even met anyone yet. I felt nervous.

The school was magnificent.

I forced myself to move towards the hallway, wishing in my heart of heart that I had worn something else. I was looking so undressed. I glanced around to find other students had on nice clothes looking good. I noticed other girls were wearing tank tops, skirts, and trousers. I was the weirdo.

Finally, I found my way through the hallway which was inscribed in big bold letters. I walked into the big glass room where you could see outside and then there was the principal, vice principal and school attendant stood, a hug mat on the floor with a n arrow on it where it had welcoming both new and returning students.

Mom had thought it would be great if I knew my way around school before I resumed and it was. Seeing the timid position I was in now. I had her enough to thank. Yes, I had my map to locate places in the school, but even heaven knows I hated map reading. Where was the map currently? Showed into the bottomless pit of my school bag.

Finding my locker wasn't hard as my name was boldly inscribed on it, thanks to yesterday's tour. I spun the lock and withdrew a few pens, notes, deodorant and dropped them inside.

"Hey", A voice called out of the blue, making me freeze in midair.

Spinning around, I came face to face with a wild alfro-haired girl who had long legs and a model body. She was breathtaking, but didn't she comb her hair? Mom would never let me leave the house that way.

"Hey" I replied, glad that she couldn't read my thoughts.

Leaning on the locker close to mine, she said,"your new here right?'

Eye rolls. I hated being the new girl right from the time. It sucks. "I am".

"Your beautiful.'' She said, making what felt like a blush creep up my face. "I'm Maddison Finn", by the way, a returning student.

"I'm the newbie." I said, rolling my eyes now that I felt more comfortable with her, ''Lexus Walker".

Congratulations, you just got yourself a friend babygirl.''

That made both of us laugh, drawing the attention of the students nearby. Some gave us eye rolls, some acted as though we were some annoying things, while others went about doing business. I tried to stiffle a laugh.

"What? It's a free world. The sooner you stop caring about your impressions on others, the better for you." Maddison said, popping a chewing gum in her mouth. She had a very nice set of dentition and was very sparkly. She smiled in a way that it reached her eyes. She was a beautiful girl.

I watched her pile textbooks on the crook of her arms from the third locker across mine.

"Well, welcome to Garfield High School, San Diego.'' She said, her aromas flailing in opposite directions, "welcome to where life sucks."

I couldn't help but laugh. "So schools where life sucks, huh?''

"Yeah" She popped a gum.

"So what time does class start exactly?" I asked. I knew already I just needed something to keep talking before she saw how much of a bore I was.

Homeroom starts at 7:40, class officially starts at 8:00" Maddison said, because it was boring.

"Where's your homeroom''? She asked.

Room 112, I believe "I said, producing my schedule.

"Luck you is the same as mines." Maddison said. Grab your stuff so we can get going. I'd brief you about our school on the way.

I grabbed what I thought I would need, heaping them on the crook of my arm.

"Well, the teachers here are friendly. But you should look out there are some you don't want to step on their toes.

Processing the information, I asked. "So what do you guys do before school starts?''

"Well, we just walked around. It's the only time we can see our friends at lunch and study hall''. She explained," Oh! Here are my friends.'' She announced, pointing to a group of brightly colored girls walking towards them and smiling as bright as the sun.

And right behind them was Twin. I felt my heart skip a bit in my chest and my hands grew warm instantly. I clenched my fist to stop my trembling fingers. Holding my gaze, he took purposeful strides towards our direction.

My entire body grew stiff and cold. It wasn't from the way my heart fluttered. It definitely was a result of the way he was looking at me.

Maddison laid her hands on my arms and started to drag me into her group of friends, but I was locked in an-eye embrace with the sexiest man of the year.

Before I could be introduced, Twin welcomed himself into our circle and stood beside me. Turning on his mega-watt smile, Twin smiled distractedly, silently disarmed and charmed every lady in the circle. Why did he leave to be this fine? "Ladies... Good Morning.

He directed the statement to their circle, but he turned his head and looked straight into my eyes. His eyes twinkled in amusement at my speechlessness and obvious nervousness. His eyes looked me up and down, making me clutch my necklace in my fist.

"Hey Todrick" someone said.

"How was your holiday?''

Beautiful morning to you too.' Some of them said.

All eyes were on us. I felt their gaze lingering on me and Twin, who intimately leaned into my space as if he belonged there.

"Good morning, Lex." Twin said in a mesmerizing low tone that all girls in this school wished to hear over the phone late at night as they lay in their bed thinking of unspeakable things.

"Morining, Todrick. I said, clenching and unclenching my fist, "You don't get to call me that. It's Lexus, nothing else.''

"Oh" he feigned innocence, "I didn't know that."

"Now you do." I rolled my eyes. ''Took time in dressing today. Any special occasion?''

"Does it entice you?' He asked, c*****g a brow and giving me the puppy dog eyes.

"Come on mister. You have to put in more effort than upgrading your dress sense. And stop keeping your face that way.''

"Why? It affects you that much?" He said, giving me the look of a lost puppy. I hated to admit that it made him look charming. More charming.

"Nope. It doesn't.'' I lied. "Just that you look like a goat when you keep your face that way. And where I'm from, that's not a good thing.

The circle of onlookers gasped. I heard whispers of "does she know he's a senior?

"She shouldn't be talking to him that way!"

"The nerve." Others said.

Winking with his right eye, which was perfectly hidden from the group of maddison's friends. "Have a good day Lex." He said my nickname again before pushing off the locker and continuing on in the same direction he came. But not before his fingers grazed the bare smooth skin of my thigh along the jean in a very intimate manner on the skin that otherwise would not allow to be touched by boys without my permission. Fire erupted over my leg where he touched me. That fire flamed over my body to my heart where it flourished in my chest."

Spreading her hands dramatically as if returning from a trance, Maddison said, "meet my friends. Ashely and Sarah. The only girls I've ever seen stand up to the queen bee.''

"Queen bee?" I asked "it's a name of a person?''

"Nope, she's Twin girlfriend.'' She said popping the p, Amber Drew, AKA, the queen Bee."

"OW! I said, unable to explain why, for some unknown reason I felt a tug in my chest.

The bell rang, signifying the end of homeroom.

"What's on your schedule?'' Maddison asked.

"History." I replied, my emotions at war with each other.