FALLING FOR MY BESTIE

11. Drama.

I was currently at the entrance to the cafeteria. I walked to the door, pushing it open and making my way to Jaden's table. It had been two days since I got the letter from him.

Enough of this fear. Always hiding in the corner like I'm not good enough. I felt dreadful doing things behind Alessandro's back. I couldn't be more grateful that Alessandro was held back by their coach.

I rounded the corner. I spotted Jaden with his friends, looking dashing in a black outfit. His friends were with him, chatting and smiling. A beautiful girl in a black designer off-shoulder spaghetti gown planted herself in the only empty seat among them. With a boost of energy, I approached their table. Their group consisted of five, all dressed in black. Rumor has it their parents were the richest in the country.

"Hi," I greeted, avoiding making eye contact with any of them.

"Excuse me." The redhead replied, scanning my appearance from head to toe. "Why today again? I really thought I wouldn't have to witness this..." she muttered, busying herself with the now-cold food on the table. "Okay, who are you here for?" she added in a fashionable manner with a neutral look on her face.

The three guys gave off a nonchalant attitude. Cole and Connor Oxford—the twins. Kennedy Lawson, calmest of them all. And the Spanish redhead whose name I couldn’t recall. Her emerald green eyes flickered with mischief.

"Jaden," I said. The guys cooed at Jaden, whose eyes shot open.

"Sunshine..." he whispered. The rest of his friends quieted down as he acknowledged me. I felt more eyes boring holes into me.

"It's really you," he whispered again, leaning forward.

The redhead smirked and laughed. "Have the mighty fallen?" She furrowed her brow.

"Please, Alejandro, can you quiet down?" Jaden said.

"Oh really now..." Alejandro continued, earning the infamous dropped brow from Jaden. "I'm only asking because you called her Sunshine?" she smiled.

I turned to Jaden and offered him a weak smile. "Can we talk?" I said, watching as his eyes widened in surprise. He stood. His blue eyes flickered up to mine.

"C'mon, you don't want to talk to me here," he said.

I felt my nerves ticking. This was my plan, so I had to handle it. I needed a tutor who wasn’t Alessandro.

"Of course," I nodded. I turned to walk away, but someone grabbed my hand. Alejandro smiled broadly and held out her hand for a handshake, but before I could react, Jaden dragged me off.

The whole cafeteria started buzzing with gossip. He pulled me out, his electrifying blue eyes looking cold and dull. We walked until we reached the janitor’s closet. He opened it and shut the door behind us.

"This will soon become our spot…" I told him, chuckling nervously.

"Janitor’s closet? f**k no," he said.

"I got your letter…" I said, leaning on the wall and watching his face. His expression was unreadable.

"Okay…" he said, breathing out heavily. His reaction wasn’t really encouraging.

"I'm nervous..." I chuckled, swallowing the lump in my throat.

"Really... you made me nervous," he sighed, biting his bottom lip. "Are you angry with me?" His blue eyes bore into mine, as if searching for answers.

"No. I forgave you. Besides, I understand." I glanced back at him. His eyes hadn’t left mine.

"I was desperate," Jaden said hesitantly.

"I understand... it’s okay," I said, playing with my fingers.

"You look tired," I said.

"Just stressed out... family issues," he replied, chuckling a bit. He leaned back against the wall, gazing at me. "Don’t tell me you missed me," he teased.

I snorted, giving him an annoyed look.

"I’ve been trying to talk to you for days now," I said.

"What took you so long?" he asked, his forehead creasing.

"You looked so poised and unapproachable. Especially in your group," I replied truthfully.

He laughed more freely this time. He had a beautiful smile. His eyes could light up a room.

"I think you’re right. It ain’t easy being attractive and hot," he chuckled.

I c****d a brow at his pompous self, but he laughed on. I couldn’t help but join in.

"So we’re good?" I asked.

He nodded. "Yes... but I need your help," I said. He looked confused as the words left my lips.

"My grades aren’t going well. They’re really down. I don’t want to end up not getting accepted to any college." I continued, avoiding his gaze. "I’ll do what you want in return..."

Jaden’s mouth opened and closed without a word.

"I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, Sunshine," he said, calmly. "I’ll tutor you, but you don’t have to model for me if you don’t want to."

I arched my brow at his selflessness.

"Did you find someone else? It’s been a week already," I asked, a bit disappointed.

"It ain’t easy finding someone who completely fits," he chuckled. "But nope, still searching. Alejandro offered to model for me," he said. "But she just isn’t the one."

I felt a pang in my chest. Alejandro was a sight to behold—fiery red hair that sometimes looked like flames, emerald green eyes, and a one-sided dimple.

"She’s a sight to behold," I whispered.

"She’s beautiful, no doubt, but she just doesn’t carry what I want. I need someone more... explorable." He explained. "I won’t lie. I want you to model for me. But I don’t want it to be at your discomfort."

"I really want this... I don’t know if I can do it enough for you, but I need something for once in my life." I spoke out. He tried to dissuade me, but I just shut him up.

"When will the contest start?" I asked, ignoring his amused expression.

"All submissions will be closed in a month…" he replied, still looking amused. I didn’t know what was tickling him.

"So shouldn’t you be clicking poses?" I asked. He still didn’t look convinced.

"Are you sure you won’t back out when it gets tough?" he whispered suddenly, caging me between the wall and his warm body. But I didn’t back down.

"Just make sure I understand what those motherfuckers teach," I pleaded.

He laughed, his messy brown hair falling over his face.

"Welcome to the Elite world, Sunshine," he said.

"I never asked for a welcoming," I replied, slapping his hand away.

*

*

The bell rang before either of us could say more. I barely made it to class in time, my thoughts still stuck in that cramped janitor’s closet—his voice, his eyes, the way he looked at me like I mattered.

Then reality hit. Pop quizzes. Back-to-back tests. A brutal reminder that this day wasn’t done messing with me.

Modeling couldn’t possibly turn out bad. Just making poses and nothing else, right?

The last class dragged on slowly. Professor Johnson kept droning on about advertisement—stuff I regretted signing up for. Totally boring.

Just as I was considering faking a bathroom break, the classroom door creaked open. Heads turned. And then... click, click, click.

Alejandro.

She walked in with a coy smile playing on her lips. The class paused, then came to life again. Her high stilettos echoed across the room. Her long red hair swayed from side to side like she was in a shampoo commercial.

"How may I assist you, Miss Alejandro?" Mr. Johnson asked. I almost puked at the way he blinked at her. He should check himself in a mirror—looked like a frog with crossed eyes to me.

She gave him a full smile. He didn’t even reprimand her for interrupting. Might be because she’s an Elite—one of the town’s founding families. The founding families made up the Elite, while others like Cole and Kennedy earned their status through wealth and influence. I’d heard Cole’s father controlled most of the airlines in the country.

"I’m here to see someone," she said, her Spanish accent making her sexier than she already was. Her eyes swept around the class.

I tried making myself invisible. She couldn’t possibly be looking for me.

More eyes turned my way. I looked up from my fingers, and my lungs emptied as her gaze met mine.

"A friend. Hello, Summer." She winked.

Heat crept up my cheeks as I awkwardly stared back at her.

"We have some catching up to do, girl," she added, catwalking out of the class.

The murmuring rose again, and more eyes turned to me. My nerves ticked.

What the hell does she mean by catching up?