Bittersweet Affection[COMPLETED]

The kiss

Since after the resumption of this new session, I had felt like fast-forwarding my life. It is only three months away from graduation, so be calm, I said to myself, which was the truth.

Three months and I would be in my preferred college and that would only be if I got accepted into it. I had received an email last night in between my movie spree stating the criteria for getting into my dream school.

*A recent project not less than more than a year and having a B in it.

Only that would get me in as I have all the other things they needed.

I could sing, dance and act too. Isn't that enough for a performing college?

What the heck was a project needed for anyways since I would audition before being fully accepted.

Groaning, I stretched out my hand on the bedside table without standing up. I grabbed my phone and unlocked it. I stood up abruptly, sleep vanishing from my eyes as I saw several notifications I had missed. Only one caught my eyes though out of the many hundred there. Clicking on it, numerous pictures of Rey and Lee popped up on my screen with a caption from Alyssa.

#QueenofPandas: Rey looks so cute??

More like the Queen of sluts.

She didn't refer to seeing Lee in the picture as I read further. She was busy complimenting Rey and Kellen.

Looking closely, I saw the picture of Kellen I had missed. He sat at the bar in the fancy restaurant which Hailey seldom goes to when meeting new clients- perhaps I didn't mention she was an event coordinator.

Kellen seems to be staring at somewhere or something as a grimace was etched on his face.

Another picture of Lee receiving a peck from Rey flashed in my vision and my heart shattered into a million segments. He had staked her claim on him with only that small gesture and only a reasonable human would understand and stay off but I wasn't reasonable.

I was rather pissed but I couldn't do anything.

Not bothering to read the captions from others any further, I typed furiously on my laptop.

'How not to feel heartbroken seeing your crush with someone else.'

Distracting yourself by doing what you like best was the first answer that emerged. Also, the best answer suitable for me.

Hopping out of my bed, I scrolled through my music library and clicked on elastic heart by Sia.

Tuning it to the highest volume, I wore my headphones and danced along to the rhythm of the song. A few minutes into the middle of the song, Hailey barged in, startling me to death.

"s**t, you could at least knock. " My right hand clutched my thumping chest as I peeled the headphone from my head with the other, setting it on the bedside table.

"Language, young lady."

"You are the one to talk," I said, sitting back on my bed.

"Well, morning to you too," Hailey said with an eye roll. "There are some bunch of lousy teenagers outside yelling your name. I assumed they were your friends."

Lousy teenagers?

Running to my window, I put up the curtain to see, not only Lee but most of the popular squad, save for Alyssa and her clones. Okay, maybe I was exaggerating by saying 'most'. They were two of Lee's cheerleader friends who were with two of Rey and Kellen's friends. Only two cars were present, Rey's silver Ferrari and Kellen's blue Toyota Corolla.

Another perk of being popular in Sunnyville was earning a free ride to school from anyone living nearby. Then, Only if the person was nice anyway and wished to help too.

"Kindly tell them to tune down the crappy music. We ain't the only one in the neighbourhood. Also, I would hate "Miss skanky legs." setting her foot in our house to screech about us breaching the community rule." Hailey said.

Giggling at her nickname for Jessy, the hot spinster next door who also was known as Hailey but preferred to be called Jessy. She had gotten on Hailey's bad side on the first day we moved in.

Hailey had caught her flirting with my dad in the guise of offering him a pie.

A fight had ensued which landed both with bruises, broken nails and wrist for weeks. Jessy only stopped coming recently as my dad didn't come home regularly as before.

A shadow crossed my face as my dad came to my mind. Even if he had been home recently, I missed him and liked him to be home. I meant all the time.

Opening the window, I stuck my head out as I heard my name.

"Get your skanky ass outta here," Lee yelled. Her hands were on Rey's shoulder as she hopped here and there. "Or you'll walk to school which will be a nice workout. "

Or take off with Hailey or the public bus.

Leaving to school with Hailey was better than being sandwiched in between two sweaty bodies. Moreover, that was what I would do. I couldn't imagine seeing Rey and Lee all wrapped in the car acting all loved up. I walked back to the bed, grabbed my phone and sent her a quick text promising to leave with Hailey.

Her gaze met mine as I stuck out my head once more, she c****d a slender brow whilst shrugging her shoulders. She twirls to the rest of the crowd to probably relay the message to them.

Kellen smiled, nodding his head and I returned it with a smile of my own.

I flushed as Rey's gaze bore into mine. Glancing away, I blew Lee a raspberry and closed the window as they stepped back inside the car driving off.

I trudged into the bathroom, took my precious time to enjoy the hot water recently installed.

I stepped out back several minutes later to avoid being turned to prune for staying longer.

I donned a pink polka dot cropped top on a stonewashed pair of jeans. I wore a varsity jacket that I had acquired from one of the jocks yesterday as a welcoming gift to cover my bare stomach. I broke rules but did not like showing off my skin for the world to see. I did my hair in a tight ponytail, holding it in place with pink ribbons.

Light make up which consists of brown powder, lipgloss and mascara donned on my face. I took a glimpse of myself in the mirror to see if anything was out of place, satisfied with how I looked I stepped out.

"I'm ready," I called out to Hailey who appeared in a pair of blue skinny jeans. She paired it with a patterned, white dress shirt and a black ballet flat. Her red hair was done in a messy bun and light makeup donned her face making her look younger than the thirty-five she was. She looks gorgeous with and without makeup, a goal I would like to achieve when I get to her age.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★

The drive to school was one of the most dreaded ever.

"I should have trekked. " I mumbled, eyeing Hailey. Since going with Rey wasn't an option either.

I gripped the edge of the seat as she nearly rammed a red sienna off the road. "Could today be any worse?" I muttered as my eyes went heavenward. Silently, I sent a prayer to arrive in school in one piece.

"Asshole," Hailey yelled at another driver as he sped by us. She brought out a Marlboro package from her purse, took out a stick and stuck it in her mouth.

I scowled as she lit it. "The doctor..." I began but she caught the drill as she didn't let me finish whilst dropping it.

"Oh, sorry dear." She chuckled.

I snatched the lighted stick from her hand and the remaining packet, also. I stubbed the butt in an ashtray and put it back in the box, promising to discard it later.

I had accompanied her to her last appointment at the doctor's office. He had cautioned her against taking excessive alcohol and cigarettes if she ever wanted a baby and I had promised my dad to watch over her. She wasn't addicted to it as I had seen her the past month without it.

I realized she only took it whenever she was tense and she usually overdid it by taking more than was necessary. The meeting she was going to today with a client was perhaps making her tense up.

My eyes darted to her, she gripped the steering tight and her hands turned white in the process. I lifted my hand and rested it on hers.

"It's okay. You always do great with clients." I assured. She nodded, relaxing under my touch.

I had seen her works, had been to a wedding party she had coordinated and I had marvelled at the work of art there. She makes drab things look magical.

Hailey tapped my knee. I shifted in my seat, glancing at her.

"You are in school, dear."

"Oh," I mumbled. The school lot was packed as usual with students of different cliques. Different cars were situated in different spaces as there was parking space for the principal, teachers, parents and students.

I alighted from the car, "Thanks for the ride. Don't worry too much because you'll get the contract."

"You look a bit off. Are you alright?" Her green eyes narrowed.

I nodded, plucking my backpack from the back seat.

"Would you want me to pick you later?" She stuck her head out of the window.

"Sure." A small smile graced my lips as I waved her off.

I stepped away from the lot. My headphones back in my ear. It was prohibited to use any kind of ear covering in school because a student had been knocked down as she didn't hear the honk of an oncoming car but I could care less.

Someone slammed into me and my headphone slipped from my ear, clanging on the floor. I winced as I felt a slight throb in my shoulder. Growling, I squinted to my right to see who had rammed into me.

Greasy Will.

He got up, dusted the faded blue plaid pants he donned on. Hanging his head low, he gripped his backpack tightly, "I'm sorry." He sputtered.

Shrugging, I walked away from him towards the hallway.

"What again!" I lifted my hands in the air as students gathered at the entrance of the hallway, blocking it.

I tapped on their shoulders, asking them to move away as I attempted to get in to see what was causing the ruckus and get to class.

My heart tightened as I saw Rey kissing Lee in the middle of the hall. As if it wasn't enough, I saw a poster of their date night on the door close by. Tears burned at the back of my eyes for I knew I couldn't have him.

I quietly slithered away in the direction of the class without glancing back and without letting them notice me. After what looked like an eternity in the boring lecture, it eventually ended. I scurried into the ladies as I felt, my bladder would burst anytime soon if I kept on holding the urine.

"She stole Rey from me. She'll pay."

I peeped through the hole of the stall, Alyssa was applying and reapplying her signature nude lipstick whilst scowling at the mirror.

Flushing the toilet, I stepped out. Alyssa glared at me, lifted her pink Chanel bag where she hung it and stalked off.

"Yeah, walk away. " I mumbled. Though I was pissed at Lee, that didn't mean I was going to hurt her.

Sighing, I splashed water on my face from the sink, cooling my nerves. Brought out Lee and me, friendship towel to dab at it.

The bell rang signalling PE as I stepped out of the ladies. I didn't feel like going to any sport but I had no choice. I didn't want to run an extra ten laps as punishment for missing out on a PE.

"Boo!"

I shrieked whilst lurching. "Lee!" I swatted her hair and she giggled. "Quit scaring me like that. "

"Not my fault, you were so engrossed in your thoughts." She singsonged. Her hands went to her knees as she bent.

I whack her butt whilst twerking. My gaze caught the movement of a charm bracelet on her wrist. It was pink, consisting of all the zodiac symbols, very stylish and beautiful.

"Who gave that to you?" I asked with peaked interest.

"Oh, this..." She lifted her hands, jiggling them. "Rey. " She giggled, her eyes glazing over.

Jealousy scorched into me and I glanced away looking elsewhere.

“They're beautiful. " I mumbled.

"Miss Simms and James. Move your skanky behind over here now or two more laps for you both!" Lee and I jogged to where the PE instructor was.

Lee's teammate waved at her for cheer practice, she batted her eyes at the instructor, he nodded his head signalling she was free to leave.

I believed the cheerleaders and the jocks were the best-treated people in the school. Not only in school, everywhere and I was glad I was part of them now to receive part of the preferential treatment.

An hour passed, after a bone-cracking exercise, I was finally free for the day. My phone beeped and I unlocked it to see a text from Hailey saying she couldn't pick me up.

Moaning, I thought of how I would have to walk the thirty minutes distance home with the aches I was feeling all over my body.

I noticed Rey at the lot and he waved me over. I did an eye roll whilst ignoring his gaze.

He wasn't even an option. How would I even sit in the same car with the person that wrecked my heart unknowingly?

"Hey, Winter," Kellen said as he walked past me.

"Hi," I replied.

"Waiting for Lee?"

"Oh, her chauffeur came for her earlier than I thought and my mom isn't coming to pick me."

"Then, Hop in lemme give you a ride." He said, grinning.

"Really?" I asked, wanting to be sure it was no trouble for him. Though I know he wouldn't mind.

"Of course!"

"Thank goodness, I thought I was going to trek home or worse, take the public bus." I snorted.

"Don't worry, I'm only a call away if you ever need a free ride."

I giggled as I did belt around me. Kellen was too kind and I wished I loved him instead.