Bittersweet Affection[COMPLETED]

Rude Awakening

WINTER

I stepped Into the cafeteria to see people gawking as well as taking endless pictures of whatever Gawd knows what. I shifted closer, then craned, which was utterly useless as a result of my deficiency in the height department. The giants and giantess at my front did not help either as they chattered happily whilst creating a noisy kissy sound which made me want to see whatever had gripped their attention the most.

I wonder what was going on.

I scanned the cafeteria and spotted my best friend, Zaylee, babbling with Alyssa, the snobbish b***h who assumed her father controls the whole world.

Lee waved when her eyes met mine. Her hair fanned across her face as she trotted towards me. "Oh, my Gosh Winnie," Her sea-green eyes sparkled as she gushed. She paused dramatically, fanned her face and let out a deep slow breath. "You've got to see this!" she clapped.

Before I could question what she meant by that, she dragged me to where I stood earlier. I tilted my head and furrowed my brows as she cleared her throat noisily.

The students continued what they were doing without swerving.

I anticipated what she planned to do next as I gazed at her scowling face.

She glared at their back for the lack of attention. "Okay everyone, make way for the queen here!" She yelled, this time succeeding in gripping their attention. She giggled and I rolled my eyes.

Typical Lee, the drama queen.

They created a path, and I saw what had captivated their minds. My name, written in bold letters on the floor with six lovely candles of different shades on each letter of the name. Red rose flowers were scattered everywhere and Rey was on his knees in the middle.

This was by far the most lovely thing I had ever seen in my life. I squealed inwardly as my eyes bore into his.

Rey, king of the jocks, captain of the football team, the boy everyone dreamt of, the one that plagues every of my fantasy was about to ask me out! My beating heart halted as he stared at me. Right there on his knees, he professed his undying love for me.

"I love you with all my heart and being. Without you, I'm not sure how I'm going to live. Also, I want to use this chance to ask you to be my....."

And then the alarm went off.

I heard it, the sound. The deathly screech of the alarm clock. I knew I was up, though I didn't want to be. Feeling like I got run over by a truck, with arms controlled by impulses, I reached out and found the snooze button.

With eyes clamped shut, I mused for a moment that I might recover as well as slipped back into the comfort of that fantasy. I sensed the relief of silence overcame my body as I relaxed into the bed, then..... BEEP BEEP BEEP!

This time was the worst.

The alarm sounded like the horn of a juggernaut, blaring increasingly, maiming my thoughts and assaulting my ears.

"I'm up, I'm up," I yelled jolting upright to smash the snooze button as hard as I possibly could.

Stroking my hand through my golden brown, dishevelled hair, I grabbed my phone on the bedside table to check for missed messages or calls. I sighed as the screen stared blankly at me.

Falling back on my bed, I stared at the room I had acquired six years ago, still small but I had successfully managed to make it habitable. It used to be a bathroom before it was renovated, the tiles were replaced with dark blue carpet and floral wallpaper donned the wall. Also, I had created enough spaces so I could put them in a study table and a vanity mirror.

Rolling out of bed, I thrust my feet into fuzzy slippers and quickly drew up the pink bathrobe that lay in a heap on the floor. My father had presented it to me last year before I would turn the ‘big eighteen' as he had called it.

The material was a fine silk robe and it felt like velvet against my bare skin. It looked expensive. Heck, it was. My jaw had dropped to the floor when I saw the price tag. It was a f*cking five hundred and fifty dollars for only a bathrobe. I could buy ten clothes with that.

I wasn't petty, however, I knew what to do with the money when I had it.

"It is just a birthday, dad." I fingered the collar of the robe whilst staring at him.

"You are worth more darling. " He said, chuckling.

I smiled, as the memory filled me with warmth.

A single beam of daylight permeated my room through a break between the curtains. I paddled across the room, pulled open the curtains. I let the warmth of the sun caress my face before glancing around the room.

I groaned as I spotted the time on the old clock hanging up the wall, 7:00 A.M and the sun was up already.

Whilst trudging into the bedroom to freshen up, I glimpsed at my reflection on the vanity mirror closed to the narrow passage leading to the bathroom and my wardrobe. I had also received it last year as a birthday gift from Lee's parents. Aside from the robe, the vanity was the most expensive thing in the room which cost a thousand dollars.

I halted, giving myself a once-over.

Crinkling my nose, my hazel eyes narrowed as I scanned my face for any form of imperfections.

Satisfied with my image, a slight close-lipped smile graced my lips, I flicked my messy hair off my shoulder, batted my long lashes and winked as I pretended to do a commercial.

The click-clacking of heels sounded on the old staircase outside, making me scamper into the bathroom.

"Minty dear, hurry up and get your ass down here because Lee had been waiting for you for the past 20 mins!" Hailey or rather my stepmom called out.

I scoffed and yelled back, "Then send her in." I switched on my mp3 to drown out her protest.

I brushed my teeth, did my hair in a messy bun and took a fast shower scrubbing at the essential parts thoroughly.

Stepping out of the bathroom to my closet that could pass as a small box, I took out a dress, then walked back to my room.

I spotted a figure on my bed and I shrieked whilst dropping the clothes I had picked.

The figure startled, stood up abruptly. Her eyes widened as she surveyed me.

"s**t, Lee, you scared the F outta me." I huffed, clutching my chest as I tried to calm my erratic breath.

"Morning to you too. And oh, my best friend is so happy to see me after several weeks of vacation." She said, with heavy sarcasm dripping in her voice.

She rolled her eyes, then popped a gum into her mouth and continued with whatever she had been doing on her phone.

"I missed you, baby," I mumbled. “And it's so nice to have you back." I giggled, going in for a hug with my wet skin.

"Eww, no!" She shoved me off her, moving to the other side of the bed.

"I hate you!" I said, with a mock glare.

"I love you!" She stuck her tongue out at me.

This wasn't her first time in my room. As her tour guide during her first year, Lee and I had instantly clicked. Despite living in a low budget area due to the cost of maintenance, Lee didn't judge me the first time she visited me.

We became the best of friends since then. I smoothened my hair as I fixed the pink bow which held my pigtails in place. I zipped up the boot cut jean I donned on, glanced back at Lee who was still on her phone.

"I would have thought your phone was your best friend if I didn't know you." I joked as I applied eyeliner and lipgloss.

Lee grinned at me as she said, "Well what can I say, I love my phone." She said playfully whilst clutching it to her chest.

******************************

"F*ck it, I'm late for work!" Hailey cussed as she scanned the fancy wristwatch she always donned on.

Lee raised an eyebrow, whereas I buried my face in my hands and bowed my head.

I was not ashamed of Hailey being my stepmom. I was only embarrassed she kept on yelling profanities in front of my friends and she didn't do it discreetly.

"Was she always like this?" Lee inquired whilst trotting to the hallway which was filled with teenagers from different cliques. Some strolled towards their locker whilst others chatted on their way to the classroom.

"Not at first," I said, dodging a paper plane that came swishing towards me. I grabbed my schedules from the locker room and turned to see Kellen.

"Hi Lee, Winnie," Kellen waved as he proceeded to his locker.

Kellen, a very hot guy with tanned skin, midnight black curls, and ocean blue eyes framed by graceful brows. He had prominent cheekbones and a well-defined chin. Moreover, he was the captain of the swim team which made him the second most popular guy in school and drool-worthy.

"Oh, hi," I replied. Lee just nodded her head at him in response. He let out a small smile and went on his way.

"Hey Lee, " Alyssa passed by us, nudging my shoulder on purpose.

"Hi, Alyssa," Lee said with a tight smile.

"Oh, hey i***t, " Alyssa said, turning back with a sweet smile at me.

"Oh, is that you dingbat?" I threw back.

"Oh, yeah it's you. " I returned with a saccharine smile.

Alyssa halted, stepping menacingly towards me and I did the same. I was never one to back down for a fight and she knew that.

Everyone in the hall paused, expecting the entertainment we do give them every first week of resumption.

Lee, suppressing a giggle, stopped me. She tugged me away from her and clapped.

"Alright, everyone file out. " She said, shoving students that gathered to watch us with their phones in hand. "Nothing is happening. "

They groaned and continued what they were doing before.

“You should have let me deal with her."

“And risk you getting detention, suspension or worse expulsion?" She asked, tutting.

“Heck, I love you to see you do that to yourself. Meanwhile, we have something to deal with at the moment." Lee pointed at something above my head and my gaze followed her hand.

"Sheesh, why can't I drop this class?" I murmured whilst standing at the entrance of a class having a large brown sign with 'History' written in block letters above the door.

"I feel the same way you do," Lee muttered, scowling as we practically stomped inside the classroom.