The Golden Boy

Who He Is

My school-code acceptable black heels clicked on the linoleum floors, albeit their sound disappearing in the constant humming of students.

Throwing my books in the locker and keeping a certain one out, I slammed it shut.

I wasn't surprised a bit when I saw him standing in front of me—appearing out of nowhere— with two large styrofoam cups in his hand and a soft smile lingering on his lips. "Hey." He pushed one out for me.

I eyed the cup. "What's in it?"

"Your regular, iced-latte."

I grabbed it with satisfaction, lifting it up to my mouth and letting me follow to my first class, silently.

"Hey!" He protested, "no thank you kiss?" He murmured, remembering to keep it low in public.

I bit my lip to suppress my smile. "You remember we're going to hangout at someone's place after school, right? You think we can sneak off for a few?"

A surprised chuckle left him as his cheeks tinged pink.

Cute.

I liked making him smile or blush. And I liked making out with him more.

Chase Peter Hartford has become a new addiction for me. If he was in the same room as me, my eyes wouldn't be not looking for him in every corner. If I can get to kiss him there's no that way I won't.

But I still wasn't ready to tell my other friends of whatever was happening between us because I wasn't ready to get into anything serious with him, either. I wasn't ready to give things lable. So in short, we would have to keep it all a secret for a little while more.

He walked me to class and left for his own with a wink and a scandalous air kiss.

It was after the bell rang for lunch and I was heading to cafeteria when she called from behind with a rare frown. I turned— a bit surprised. "Hey, Caly. Wassup?"

Since that one lunch when I sat with her group, she had been bugging me trying to get me hangout with her be it at her home, at mall, at a diner or a birthday party. Any thing I could think of.

And I get it that she wanted to make me her friend to either persuade me into cheerleading or just genuinely I don't know but, she was acting desperate.

And desperation is appreciative in only some cases.

But it's been a couple days since she stopped. Well, it was good while it lasted.

Now, here she comes again. But the odd thing is, she was always so bright and cheery when she spoke to me and today, she was frowning in determination.

She was here to confront me and what for, don't ask me.

"You're seeing Chase, aren't you?" She crossed her arms, her hip jutting out, nails tapping her arm.

"What?" I squinted. "The f**k no. Who even told you that?" There was a weight in my stomach, thinking that someone knew.

"You don't have to lie. I've seen it with my eyes. So please, don't f*****g deny it." There was a fire in her said eyes that I had never seen before. A fire that was going to look like a flame in front of a familiar fireball that was starting to swirl inside me.

"First of all, I don't have to anything to f*****g deny or confess for you. And second, that's none of your damn business. Who even are you to try to confront me like this?" Her eyes were widening in size. Seeing b***h Fiona for first time might do that to you. "His ex? My ex? Why do you even care if I was really seeing him?"

She pursed her lips, clutching the strap of her handbag as her eyes watched me unrelentingly. "Frankly? I don't really care.

Do whatever the f**k you want with him or anyone. I'll just advise to keep watching your back." She said in a bland voice. All her heat dying down. "He's not what you think he really is."

That were her last words before she spun on her heel and stomped down the right hallway, probably going to the outdoor seating area.

I was frozen in my place barely containing the incredulity and the rage I haven't felt in while. My fists were shaking, urging me to let some steam off by punching the guy in the face who was innocently walking away with earbuds on.

I have a very long history of violent contact with the male species but never had I felt anger with such ferociousness towards a girl.

She is a f*****g first.

I wanted to f*****g shove my fist in her face for sticking her nose in my private business and trying to slander Chase for something entirely unbelievable and utter lie.

Fucking liar. Nosy, fake ass b***h—with fake eyelashes—jealous w***e.

Yeah, that totally makes sense.

She is jealous because she most probably wanted chase for herself like the half the population of this school did. I mean, who wouldn't? Even I did. Maybe.

He practically is the most eligible boy friend material in this town. The f*****g golden boy.

"Woah. What's with the redness in face?" Ashton came behind me with raised eyebrows.

I subconsciously touched me cheeks. "Did someone piss you off?"

I pinched my nose. "Don't ask. I might just smack you if I had to recite all of that?"

He took a step back throwing his hands up between us. "Yup. Nope—I'm cool."

We only walked seven steps when I couldn't bottle it anymore and burst. "Who the hell does that lying w***e thinks she is?!" Ashton visibly flinched.

"Which w***e are we actually talking about?" He asked, still rubbing his chest in the left.

"Caly f*****g Johnson." I seethed.

"Caly? The cheerleader one?" I nodded vehemently. "What did she do? She is a pretty decent chick as far as I know." He shrugged and then added in a hushed, scandalous tone. "And do you know that she's Mia's ex-best friend?"

My scowl turned into a thoughtful expression. Was it why she was unnecessarily trying to meddle and cause s**t between us by denouncing Chase because he's Mia's cousin and I her friend?

Not to mention she deliberately asked me to sit and hang out with her. No doubt she's a mean girl who can't let people who she doesn't like live peacefully.

And here I was thinking she was just being nice.

"What did she do by the way?" He nudged my shoulder and quickly stepped away before I could punch him.

"That, apparently Chase isn't who I think he is." I huffed.

"Oh."

"f*****g oh? Aren't you two best friends? Shouldn't you have something to say more than an 'oh'?"

"I am his best friend, not his bodyguard. He can fight for himself. Guy's friendship work that way, you know? You always have their back but you let them fight, too. Well…who do you think he is, by the way?" He wiggled his eyes at me.

I didn't have reply.

What do I tell him? That I think his best friend is a best possible candidate if I consider being in a relationship? That he is the first guy I like? How could I tell him any of that when no one—except Bree—knows about our secret?

"Umm… a good friend?"

He chuckled at my answer. "You don't have to hide it, you know? I already know."

My slow steps came to a complete halt. "What…what do you mean? There's nothing to know." Fake it till you make it, right?

"Fiona," he started. "He's my best friend and I would know—"

"He told you?" I interrupted. Boy, I was so gonna kill him if he did.

"Nah, that little s**t stopped telling me anything after that one party we all went to. You might remember it. But I knew something was happening when he suddenly started mopping like a dog pissed on his Tessa and a few days after he was practically glowing like he got laid. Did he?" His eyebrow shot up.

"No!" I threw my hands up on horrification. "We never sle—we never had s*x!" I whispered frantically, careful if someone was eavesdropping.

He shrugged. "Okay."

I felt relieved that he believed me and more relieved that Chase kept his promise. Good for him. "Well…what…what did he actually tell you." I tried to appear nonchalant by checking my nails.

"It's basically violating the bro code but frankly, I wanted to gossip about this and that's only reason I'm telling you." The giddiness in his voice told clearly how much that was the only reason.

"Yeah, yeah." I waved my hand, rolling my eyes.

"He said that… that he wants to ask you out but he has a girlfriend."

What. The. f**k.