You Get Me

Chapter 2 — Wilde

          "Keep running," I tell them when I've had enough of their constant pestering. That encounter with Kai Hunter had got them reeling with fantasy that someday somehow, we'll end up together.

          I glance at the subject of my curse. Kai Hunter, what a name very well suited for a bad boy with steel grey eyes that can hold you captive with his stare. He is the concrete example of the person my mom warned me all about—smug smirk, black leather jacket, tousled hair and dangerous vibes. He is also from New York and I don't trust people up there.

          My sperm donor—I'm tired calling him dad because he never, even just for once, manned up and acted like a father to us—resides there.  He chose that place over his own family. 

          "I'm just saying..." Avery says, her sleek black hair swaying as we run. I frown at her and she grins mischievously at me. Normally, it's only Zoe who pushes me to open my doors and let men in. I can't believe she's up for this. "...that Kai is hot."

          You know the feeling of having to catch your breath and cough at the same time? It feels like drowning and that's what I'm going through right now. I couldn't believe those words came out of Avery's mouth. She's not conceited, she's actually a flirt. I'm not just used to hearing her shoving me to any guy that comes rushing my way. Between her and Zoe, she always wanted to get to know the guy first. 

          "Imagine a perfect girl turning the bad boy good," Zoe dreams, making my frown grow deeper. Her eyes are sparkling, an indication that she just officially entered fantasy land.

          What a cliche. 

          I roll my eyes as my mind drifts off to thinking how typical their fantasy for me is. Am I really that dull and boring and basic right now that I deserve some cliche love story? Is my lack of adventure in life bothering my bestfriends now? To be honest, I'm ambitious when it comes to my romance. I just want to have something epic.

          I want an epic love. Not the kind that sprung out from cheesy novels or tv shows. I want something different, something that will make my waiting worth it. I told you, I'm ambitious.

          "Head's up!" shouts a booming voice that startles me and snaps me out of my reverie. 

          My eyes flutter for a second and it was already too late before I notice the pole in front of me. I collided against it with a loud bang, making me stumble down the floor and groan in so much pain. My hand flies to my forehead and I clutch it like my life depended on it. 

          "Who puts a freaking pole in the middle of the tracks?!" I wail in the middle of my groans.

          Big, rough and warm hand circles my arm and helps me to my feet. As I look up, a pair of deep grey eyes are set on mine. Like I said, they have the ability to hold you captive. It's Kai Hunter and he's sporting a mischievous grin on his face. 

          "Hate to break this up to you, luv, but you're no longer in tracks," he says and I reluctantly look down.

          Grasses are underneath my feet instead of  the rubberized path where I'm supposed to be. How did I get here? 

          I hear my bestfriends giggle so I whip my head to where they are— and they are standing six feet away from me! Their eyes are on Kai's hand still wrapped around my arm. Of course, they'd rather fantasize about us and watch their fantasy unveil in real life than ran to help their bestfriend who was five seconds ago, a freaking damsel in distress.

          I jerk my arm off Kai's grasp and instead of thanking him for helping me, I send him a glare. How did he even got to me so fast? I was just looking at him afar.

          "You okay, Wilde?" asks Coach and I nod though my forehead's still throbbing like a b***h.

          "I'm done with my laps," I lie and I bet my bestfriends' eyes are widening at me accusingly. Coach Wilson, on the other hand, gives me a proud smile. Did I mention I'm one of his favorite students? "Avery and Zoe both have two more left."

          I quickly turn my back to them. I can't afford to see their scowls or else I'll burst into laughter and I'm busted. I'd rather sit with our classmates listening to Coach than have two more tiring and annoying laps with my nagging bitches.

          As I take steps away from them, my mind swims back to where it was prior to me bashing my head to the pole. I'm always studying and even though I'm always present at parties, I never flirt with anyone. Everyone practically knows I'm closed for relationships even though I haven't said a word about it. They just assumed. It's hard when people assume and suddenly, they make the decision for you. Is that the vibe I give off? That I'm too closed off?

          "Bad girl," Kai whispers on my ear and I jump away on my feet in surprise. Jesus! Why does this i***t keep on appearing when I'm deep into my thoughts! He smirks at my reaction making me flush crimson red.

          By the freaking way, did I really just jump away from him like I have an allergic reaction to boys? 

          "What do you mean?" I ask as I try as hard as I can to act normal—or should I say, totally unbothered with how close our proximity is.

          Kai raises his hand and I notice his biceps flexing. With his index finger, he touches the tip of my nose and I scrunch it up. I can smell his perfume caressing and arousing me. It's icy but not too intoxicating. In fact, it's very welcoming unlike any other scent that sends me nauseous and gagging.

          "You're suppose to be running with your minions. You have two more laps, luv," he says with his English accent.

          My eyes are fixated on his lips because I'm intrigued. For someone who's from New York, he's flexing a sexy English accent and I can totally tell he's not pretending. It's natural so it makes me wonder if he just migrated from England or somewhere.

          But that doesn't necessarily mean he's off to your to-avoid list, Alexine, my inner self says. I know that. He could be English for all I care.

          A New Yorker is a New Yorker. No one's gonna change my mind because a certain person ruined the image of the place and the people in it forever and I have zero intention to recover.

          That man was supposed to be the one protecting me from the things that could hurt me and traumatized me but he didn't. He was so absent and that absence impacted greatly on my life and on how I view things and places.

          "I don't know what you're talking about," I give him a deadpan when I notice his lips growing into a knowing smile. I tear my eyes immediately off him. I don't want to give him the wrong idea. He is that kind of guy who sexualizes everything and think they're cute.

          Kai Hunter shakes his head and it's time for me to go. His entire presence is giving me red flags and I may be conscious right now with how detached I am but I still don't want to associate myself with people who makes my head scream to run. 

          "Not so easy," he says as he grabs my hand, stopping me from putting enough distance between us and drags me back to his chest. 

          "Let me go," I half-threaten him because really, what can I do to him if he doesn't? Knee his balls? Tell him he's a Satan reincarnate which I'm sure he already knows?

          "Why are you so..." he trails off as his eyes rakes down on my body. 

          I smirk at him. This is when I straighten my body and hold my chin up high like I always do. In fact, it's my signature stance.  "What? Closed off? Goody two shoes?" I dare him.

          Kai Hunter chuckles as he shakes his head slightly. I have no idea if it's because of me or my question. "No. I meant, afraid. Why are you so afraid?"

          A laugh escapes my lips. His chiseled jaw clenches and I know here and now that he hates getting laughed at or getting his ego wounded. "Afraid of what?"

          "Of men like me," he replies with a smug tone. Kai's voice is husky but not to hoarse. It's a typical bad boy voice with the accent of Enzo St. John from The Vampire Diaries. 

          I snort—how very ladylike of me but I can't help it. It's really funny considering he referred to his self as a 'man' when technically and judging by his looks (I know I'm too judgmental for this), he's still a boy. He has a lot of growing up to do.

          For a second, I thought Kai's going to take it negatively but the badboy's eyes glint in a way that it's either an idea crosses his mind or he's just amused of me. 

          "You don't think I'm a man?" he asks making my jaw drop on the ground. Did he just read my mind? Aside from being a badboy, is he a mindreader? Kai shakes his head. "I'm no mindreader, Wilde. Your facial expression says everything that's going on inside that brain of yours."

          "Then you should know that I don't want to be around you," I spat back with my slightly shaky voice.

          "Oh I know," he suddenly places his heavy arms around my weak frame, wrapping me under his warm chest. I raise my brow at him managing to look tough on the outside but I'm screaming on the inside. What does he think he's doing? Everyone in this field are practically are emerging fans. I don't want to add more fuel to the already igniting fire. "It's just that... I see how complex you are when everyone thinks you're a basic goody two shoes." 

          Basic goody two shoes. Huh. I couldn't think of any other words he can describe me accurately on being boring and uninterested. 

          Now I'm conscious as hell.

          "But you're far from it, Lexi Wilde. It's in your name. You're a Wilde for a reason," he whispers in my ear, the warmth of his breathe radiating throughout my body and sending tingling sensations down my spine. 

          On contrary to everyone's belief, I've had my fair share of boys in my life and all of them are no match to Kai when it comes to appeal and influence—and to his warm breath that fans my face.

          "And being a player is in your name, Hunter," I retort. "You're a hunter of girls you think you can easily manipulate and attract with your badboy facade," I remove his hand around my frame and pivot on my heel so I am finally facing him. The best way to take him down is by confronting him and telling him off. "Hate to break this up to you, luv. But I'm not interested. You can play your game to the entire female population of this school but you can never have me." 

          "Don't sound so sure," he smugly says and I'm officially done talking to him before this s**t goes any further.

          Behind him are my bestfriends who stopped running and are watching us and on my peripheral vision, our classmates are doing the same with their mouths hanging open. I need to turn the spotlight off or else it will shine down on us the entire senior year. People would be buzzing about how an Alexine Wilde set her good eyes to a bad boy named Kai Hunter.

          "I'll see you around," he pats my shoulder in a consoling manner and takes off, leaving me breathless and extremely annoyed.

          I nearly shout that our class isn't over yet and cutting class is against the rules but I don't want to prove him more that he's right about me being the goody two shoes of Vausse High School so I bite down on my tongue.

          "See? That wasn't so bad," Zoe says behind me and I jump in surprise. Again.

          The two of them are standing with huge grins plastered on their stupid faces and arms crossed over their chests. I'd want a runover on how these two became my bestfriends. Now they're selling me like I'm helpless.

          I roll my eyes at them and also with the possibility that rumors about Kai Hunter and I will be spread by my bestfriends themselves. "Not a single word about this or else..."

          They know better than my empty threats. Zoe smiles at me and gives me the same pat Kai did to me awhile ago. She's certainly teasing me so I slap her hand and she yelps. 

          "Easy, tiger," she says and then blows on her throbbing hand. 

          Avery lays her head on my shoulder and sighs deeply. She then starts singing a very familiar and meaningful tune. "This could be the start of something new."

          "It feels so right," Zoe continues.

          But before they can proceed, a loud whistle stuns the three of us followed by a deafening shout. "Is it break time yet?!"

          I narrow my eyes at my bestfriends before facing Coach wearing my big smile. I have a hunch that this won't work on him now but at least I'll try. 

          "Five more laps for the three of you!"

he shouts and we all groan in unison. It's all their fault again. "Where is Kai Hunter?"

          I am the last person they saw with Kai so all their heads turn to my direction. I can feel myself shrinking in embarrassment. Why do I have to get partnered up with him? 

          "Wilde?" Coach asks.

          I hold my bratty self back before I can say something unacceptable to our teacher. Instead, I force out a smile and reply, "No idea. He's not my student."

          But that still came out like a savage comeback so I mentally face palm myself. News about this will spread like a wildfire. 'Oh did you hear? St. Lexi just talked back to Coach Wilson awhile ago.' 'She's not a saint after all.'

• • • • 

          And it did happen. 

          But now I have anticipated it. People were gushing about it like it's an act worthy of admiration. They're all praising me for talking back to their most hated teacher in Vausse. 

          I, on the other hand, just want to go home where peace is found at its four corners. I don't think Coach Wilson is going to like how the tables turned on him since all he ever did is ask me about the bad boy's whereabouts. I probably should meet him after class and apologize.

          Zoe snaps her fingers over my face and I rapidly blink at her. She then looks at me warily. "Are you alright? You've been out a lot of times today, Lexi."

          "Yeah," I breathe. 

          But in truth, I don't think I am. I am not myself today. I keep on zoning out on things I usually do not bother myself with. I'm becoming more conscious about how others see me as plain, boring and basic goody two shoes as that smouldering badboy with a spunk described me awhile ago.

          "Are you thinking about Kai?" Zoe teases.

          "Zo, please..." I beg. 

          She raises her hands in surrender while biting down on her lower lip to suppress her giggle. "Okay, fine. Enough for today."

          "Tomorrow is another day," Avery adds as she sits down beside us. I pull my brows together as we watch her fiddle with her fingers, a clear sign that she's nervous or thinking. 

          She left us after P.E class claiming that she's a bit hungry and needs to do a cafeteria run. But it has been twenty minutes and she just got back.

          "Okay, judgey eyes..." Avery calls me out. "I was out because the Principal called me."

          "You're not graduating?" are the first three words that came out of my mouth.

          Back when we were kids, the three of us made an oath that no one will get left behind. We'll go to the same school together and we'll graduate together—whatever it takes. That oath kind of put a pressure on Avery since she's not that good in most of our subjects. But I beg to differ.

          Avery's the biggest procrastinator. You will only see her work her ass off if it's something she's greatly interested in. If it does not float her boat, it will take Zoe and I's constant pestering and pushing before she gets the work done. Take for example, the search for our dormitory. She won't do that if she's not very into it. She spent more time googling places than researching our homeworks.

          "Ouch," she jokes then winks at me. "No, dumbass. Principal wants me to keep an eye on you."

          My jaw drops on the floor. Even Zoe stops doing whatever she's doing with her bag. We both stare at Avery waiting for her to proceed since there's a silent question of 'WHY' hanging in the air.

          Avery sighs then looks at Zoe with her sad eyes. "Words about you and Kai spread like a wildfire. Apparently, the Principal heard it too and it bothered her. She's afraid the bad boy's going to distract you."

          Not that it's likely going to happen. It's none of her business really. I may be one of her crowning jewels here in Vausse but she certainly isn't my mother. My mom doesn't even putting a pressure on me. 

          "Don't take it negatively, Lexi. I think she's just concerned," Avery adds when she sees how deep my scowl is.

          Don't take it negatively, my ass. 

          Why does everyone makes it their business to meddle with my life like it's theirs? They set up high expectations on me and I am forced to meet it every single time. 

          I am not a piece in their game. So starting today, I will do as Troy Morgan advised me to do: 'Face the demon.’ Only the demon is not just in the face of my sister but also every single person who feels like my life is theirs to manipulate with.

          With the remaining months I have left as a senior in Vausse High School, I will be Alexine Wilde.