4. Project and Fate
1449 Words
Blake looked back at them, then reached behind the leaves, his heart pounding.
Instead of a stalker, a small cat meowed behind the tree, recoiling to the side.
“I thought I saw a girl following—”
Ethan and Matt peeked over his shoulder and burst into laughter. The tiny creature stared up at them before darting off.
“I swear I really saw a girl.”
Ethan threw an arm around Blake’s shoulders, watching the cat disappear. Matt laughed, barely holding it in.
“Blake saw a cat and thought he was in a detective movie,” Ethan teased, flashing a mocking grin.
Blake shrugged him off, annoyed. He could’ve sworn someone—maybe a girl with wet hair—had jumped behind that tree. Maybe it was just his imagination.
“I’m tired. Let’s head back.”
“No, come back! Let’s catch the—”
Blake shot Matt a glare, and Matt quickly pressed his fingers to his lips.
Ethan and Matt howled with laughter as Blake jogged off, fuming.
“He saw a girl. His Cinderella,” Ethan joked.
Matt laughed harder.
---
Lisa exhaled as they moved farther from her hiding spot. She stepped out, quickly slipping in front of the flower bed near the tree.
Blake’s hair bounced as they jogged away. She narrowed her eyes. It was the first time she had ever really looked at those boys.
They were good-looking—especially Blake.
Lisa sighed, her gaze trailing after them. A glance at her watch reminded her it was time to head to Josie’s. She flagged down a cab.
---
JOSIE’S APARTMENT
“I can’t find what to wear.” Josie flung dresses out of the closet with a frustrated sigh.
She held up a red micro mini-skirt and an oversized shirt. “Lisa, boots or heels?”
Lisa barely looked up.
“Please, I need your fashion advice! Cute brown boots or sexy red heels?” she begged.
Lisa rolled onto her side to glance at the shoes. “Boots. Hot but effortless.”
Josie cheered and tossed the heels back into the closet.
“Did you fight with your dad again?” Josie asked, scanning Lisa’s face. As always, it gave nothing away.
“No. But I saw those guys at the estate,” Lisa said, scrolling through her phone.
“What guys?” Josie perked up. Lisa never talked about guys.
“The guy who bumped into me the other day…”
“You mean Blake?” Josie squealed, hopping onto the bed beside her.
“Yeah. Blake.” Lisa’s voice was flat.
“Did he see you?” Josie gasped, tugging Lisa away from her phone. “I’d do anything to make him notice me.”
“Let go, you horny teenage girl.”
“Blake Carter deserves every bit of my dripping wetness.”
“Gosh, Jo!” Lisa groaned, flinging a pillow over her head. “You have issues.”
“Ouch.” Josie pouted dramatically.
“I didn’t bring any clothes.”
“My wardrobe is your wardrobe.” Josie tilted her head, studying her. “Do you like Blake?”
“Gross. No way. Why would you even think that?” Lisa frowned, her brows tight.
“You never talk about boys. And you avoid gossip.”
“Whatever.”
“You really need to start acting like a young girl.”
Lisa scoffed. “Are you saying I act like an old lady?”
“More like a grandma,” Josie chuckled.
Lisa hadn’t liked being around boys since the r**e. She didn’t talk about it—not even to Josie—until three months ago, when someone posted about it on the school blog using Avery’s account. Avery claimed she had no idea, but Lisa didn’t believe her.
“Go away, Josie.” Groaning, Lisa plugged in her earphones.
Josie’s eyes widened at the gesture. Huffing, she stomped into the bathroom and slammed the door.
A few minutes later, the door opened and closed again. Josie stepped out dressed—except for shoes.
“How do I look? Cute or hot?” she twirled.
Lisa pulled out her earphones and blew her a kiss. “Smoking hot.”
“Thanks, baby girl. Now get changed!”
---
CRYSTAL COLLEGE
Josie and Lisa stepped into the hallway like usual, grabbing everyone’s attention.
Lisa wore high-waisted jeans, a butterfly crop top, and black canvas sneakers. The jeans hugged her curves, her hips swaying with effortless grace. She focused on her phone, oblivious to the hungry eyes watching her.
Blake leaned against his locker as they passed. Josie kept glancing back, flashing her brightest smile.
Blake’s eyes locked on Lisa. Her long brown hair spilled over her waist. Her lips were a deep, bloody red, and her makeup made her foxy eyes stand out.
“I think Blake was staring at me,” Josie whispered excitedly.
Matt, whose locker was right beside them, felt his heart slam against his chest. “How can one person be this gorgeous?” he muttered, glancing repeatedly at Lisa. Her scent lingered in the air, intoxicating.
“Blake is no fun,” Josie complained. “I smiled, and he ignored me.”
“You said he was staring,” Lisa murmured.
“I was trying to mend my broken heart.”
“Which broken heart?”
Matt waited until the girls walked off before making his way to Blake’s locker.
---
LECTURE HALL
The room buzzed with chatter as students filtered in. Lisa and Josie made their way to their usual spot in the far corner.
“Hi girls,” Avery waved.
“Hey,” Josie waved back.
“Please take a seat, everyone.” Mr. Heathland strode in, files in hand.
“Good morning, Mr. Heathland,” the class chorused.
“Morning. Settle down and put away your phones.”
The noise quieted. Then came the familiar sound of swooning footsteps—Blake and Matt walking in. Blake’s messy hair fell lazily over his forehead.
“Mr. Carter. Mr. Ronald. Don’t disrupt my class.”
Blake mumbled an apology and took his seat.
“And where is your other friend?”
“Right here,” Ethan stumbled into the room, still fixing his shirt buttons.
“Finally. What atrocities have you been committing?”
“Nothing.” Ethan brushed back his hair, scanning for a seat.
“Then clean the lipstick off your cheek.”
Gasps and laughter erupted. Horrified, Ethan wiped at his face and cursed under his breath before finding the nearest seat.
Lisa shook her head, trying to tune everything out. She just wanted to survive the day. Josie, meanwhile, was drooling over Blake.
Mr. Heathland pulled a sheet from his folder. “As I said before, this project will count for 60% of your assessment.”
Groans and whispers rippled through the room.
“It’s a group project. You’ll each be paired with someone else. You’re to create a documentary on the lives of patients—either in hospitals or prisons.”
“That’s gross,” someone shrieked from the back.
“Minus 10, Miss Rose,” Mr. Heathland snapped.
“You can’t do that!” Rose gasped.
“I just did.”
He began reading the pairs:
“Erica Jones and Caleb Brown.
Nancy Weather and Mark Gilbert.
Avery Tukur and Matt Ronald.”
Avery’s cheeks flushed. She stole a glance at Matt and practically melted.
“Rose Thompson and Cain Lyon.
Sunshine Luther and Jaden Rock.”
“Josie Canvas and Zayn Hath.”
Josie gasped. “You paired me with a nerd?” she whined. Her dream was to be paired with Blake.
“Stop being dramatic,” Lisa hissed, shrinking from the attention.
“That’s another minus 10, Josie,” Mr. Heathland said. “You girls act like I’m announcing your soulmates.”
Josie sat down quickly, sneaking a glance at Blake—who thankfully wasn’t looking at her.
“Zayn should be angry. I paired him with you,” Mr. Heathland muttered, flipping his papers.
Zayn Hath—Crystal College’s brainiac. Brilliant memory, top marks. Labeled a nerd only because of his dress sense.
“No more interruptions.”
Josie scoffed. Lisa giggled behind her hand.
“I wonder who he’ll pair you with—”
“Miss Josie.” Mr. Heathland gave her a look. She smacked her hand over her mouth and mumbled an apology.
“Michelle Hunter and Ethan Miller.”
“Good eyes, Mr. Heathland,” Ethan smirked. Laughter echoed around him.
Michelle, a cheerleader with a famously curvy figure, winked at Ethan as she met his eyes.
“Lisa Walter and…”
- Writer
