Why I'd Rather Be Wrong

Chapter 3, Part 1: Weird Attraction

Jaze D'Angelo

     "Hey, Harris, wake up, we're gonna be late..."

     I was woken up as someone shook my shoulders, I tried to open my eyes but it kinda hurt because I didn't really sleep well, and I think I'm having a hangover for drinking so much last night, this is all Garrett's fault... I opened my eyes halfway, and there I saw Ian staring at me, and as always, he's shirtless.

     Why am I always mentioning that?

     I stretched my arms out "What time is it?" I asked while looking for my phone around my bed.

     "It's almost six, aren't you going to school today?" he said then left my room already.

     I sat on my bed and that's when I just found where my phone's at, I grabbed it and realized that I forgot to charge it last night, silly me. I stood up and stretched my arms out again along with a yawn. I headed to the kitchen and Ian's the only one there, and this is the type of morning I'm always used to waking up, that they're all still asleep while Ian and I prepare for school. Trenton does go to school too, but his schedule is around 9 so he'll wake up right before Ian and I leave the house. I grabbed a bowl and a box of cereal from the cupboard, and a carton of milk from the fridge. Ian was staring at me while I prepare my cereal, so I squinted my eyes and he just continued eating his oatmeal.

     "You're so weird," he said then grinned along with shaking his head.

     I got even more confused "W-what's wrong?" I asked while I'm holding the box of cereal and the carton of milk mid-air.

     "It's supposed to be cereal first, before the milk, you psycho," he then smirked and then shook his head again.

     "It's just the same, dummy, why do y'all have to argue so much about that," I replied then laughed low-key.

     I sat and started eating and someone just kissed my cheek - and it was Garrett, what the heck.

     "Good morning, baby," he said sarcastically, and the way he pronounced baby was so inappropriate. For a moment, I've started to question myself about what really happened last night, but I couldn't remember such a thing. "My head hurts like hell," he said while he made himself a cup of coffee and went to the bathroom right after.

     I wiped my cheek "What happened last night?" I asked as I'm literally clueless.

     "Don't you remember? You, Garrett, and Trenton were so drunk last night, like deadass, and you two even got married, Trenton was the pastor," he explained, trying so hard not to laugh. "Garrett even had the idea to take off the curtains and put it around his body like a gown," and then he suddenly burst into laughter.

     I looked around, and it's still a little bit messy, so it makes sense.

     "I was able to record the whole happening though because I didn't even drink that much," Ian said then put his phone out and started browsing through it. He handed me his phone "Here," then he laughed again.

     I grabbed it and played the video, and even I couldn't resist laughing.

     "Harris from wonderland, do you take this bearded woman, that's face is already as red as a tomato, as a part of your wife - I mean, life?" Trenton asked as Garrett and I held hands in the air.

     "I do," I replied in the video, and the clip ended already.

     "Wait, is that it?" I asked.

     "Oh, yeah, I accidentally cut the first clip, just swipe right and play the clip," he replied and I just did what he just said.

     "Garrett - I mean you, Juliett, that looks like a Romeo, do you take this man as a part of your life?" Ian asked Garrett in the clip.

     "I do," Garrett replied while mimicking a female voice.

     "You may now chug the beer," then we chugged the beer on the table, rather than kissing each other, which was a relief.

     And the clip ends there, that was so ridiculous, I never thought that I could somehow end up like that when I'm drunk. I gave his phone back with a grin and then started eating my cereal that's already been soaked in milk. "Just don't use that against me, I'd let you keep that," I said while glaring at him.

     He shrugged "Why would I? Don't worry, bro," he replied then continued eating his oatmeal.

     We already reached the school parking lot, Ian had to ride shotgun because his car won't turn on. I already went out of my car and we walked inside the campus together, and the stares from the people make me feel powerful. We're kind of like one of the "bad boys" here. Just from the way we look, walk, and about how the people around here know us. When someone had the audacity to confront us, we don't even tell Flynn and Garrett but they immediately come for the rescue because they have allies here that we don't know anything about. I've never been so scared of being in trouble, it's just the consequences I'm afraid of. Ian already headed to his classroom but I had to go put some stuff in my locker in the hallway. The hallway is crowded but certain people went out of my way as I walked towards my locker, except for this one guy, Jansen Stephenson, the one that I'd consider as my rival, socially and academically. He's a few inches taller than me, and kinda buffed too, but I ain't scared of him. He looks kinda fierce, but he's an asshole. We used to be friends ever since I transferred to this school, not until I discovered that he's been doing that so he could mess with me without my knowing, like a backstabber. He's the reason why I failed some classes before and failed to have a scholarship because he's the one that used to mess with my paperwork and I wasn't truly aware. Long story short, he tried to be friends with me just so he can bring me down. And now, he's standing right in front of me with his arms crossed.

     I intentionally hit his shoulder with mine as I passed by him "Oh, didn't notice there's a post there," I said sarcastically.

     He immediately charged towards me and grabbed me on both of my shoulders then pinned me to one of the lockers. He glared at me "You're still a bastard, huh," he said then spat on my face, but I closed my eyes right before he did.

     I wiped his saliva off of my face using the sleeve of my uniform and clenched my teeth as I've been triggered already. "Always have been," I replied then hit him down there using my knee and kicked him away from me, he got knocked back, down to the locker on the other side. The people in the hallway were surprised, and the others had already run away because of fear of what could happen. But I just decided to let it go already. "Top of the morning to ya," I said sarcastically while I carried my coat on my back using only one finger then already fled the scene and walked towards my classroom. I heard the people from behind already gossiping about me, but I just smirked.

     I walked inside our classroom and all of my classmates immediately lowered down their noises. I threw my bag into my seat and sat down comfortably. Our professor is just sitting at his desk, browsing through a series of papers. Jansen then entered the classroom, walking like an amputee as one of his legs hurt. He glared at me as he walked past by my chair and headed to the farthest row on the back, with his ugly as heck friends.

     I just got home, and it's currently 5 in the afternoon. I just decided to go to the gym while it's still pretty early, and I have nothing else planned to do this dinner but I do have a shift tonight since Dylan messaged me earlier. It's been quite a while since the last time I've been to the gym, I have gotta work these muscles out.

     I knocked at Garrett's bedroom door subsequently "Hey, Garrett, I'm goin' to the gym, you coming?" I asked right outside his room.

     "I've already been to the gym earlier, I'm gonna pass, g-good luck man," he shouted as he replied, and he's kind of panting though.

     I put my ear against the door and I just heard something I'm not supposed to hear. I just shook my head while grinning, Garrett's just so naughty...

     I headed to my room to grab my duffle bag, I put all of the things I might need inside my bag. Then I changed into my black sweatpants, black fitted shirt, and white rubber shoes.

     Flynn put down his phone down "Where are you going?" he then put his elbows against the table while he stared at me.

     "Oh, yeah, I think I'm gonna go to a date in my freaking sweatpants with my freaking duffle bag," I said sarcastically as I headed towards the door. "Obviously though, I'm going to the gym."

     "Mkay," he replied then took a sip of his coffee. "I still have something to do for later though, I can't come with you."

     For a moment, I wondered about how many cups of coffee does he drink every single day. Well, I couldn't even count, all I know is that he always has coffee by his side like it's the only thing that keeps him hydrated which is insane. I couldn't even remember the last time he drank water.

     "It's fine," I replied and then grabbed a spare key on the counter, "I won't open Garrett's room, if I were you," I said as I warned him before I step out.

     He smirked like he already knew what's going on "Yeah, I know, just let him, he's missing his girlfriend already," he replied, and yeah, he already knows. "Don't even act like you don't do that too though," he said then looked at me with a judgy face.

     I glared at him low-key "Pfft, not anymore. Anyways, I grabbed a spare key just in case I might go straight to work already after working out, see ya later," I said then already went outside.

     The gym is just a 20-minute walk for me so I guess I'm just gonna walk to the gym, well, I always do. Garrett and Flynn and I always go to the gym together, I guess they don't feel like working out today. But when I'm with them, we always bring my car, because they're way too lazy to walk to the gym, but for me, it's a part of my workout already. That's why I also walk so damn fast. If Garrett and Flynn were to walk to the gym, it'll probably take them 10 more minutes.

     After a few minutes, I reached the gym. A couple is fighting outside the gym, and the nosy me started eavesdropping from a distance while heading towards the entrance. They started shouting at each other so I looked at them while walking - and suddenly bumped my forehead into someone's hard sweaty chest and I almost even fell on the ground because of the impact. I looked up a little bit because he was kinda taller than me, and I saw a man that's obviously quite bigger and a little bit older than me, I guess. His shoulders are so wide, and he's kinda muscly too. He has swept-back brown hair, a trimmed beard from ear to chin, fairly thick but fierce eyebrows, and the shape of his face is so sexy. I contemplated at his face, and for some reason, I am mesmerized.

     "I-I'm sorry -" I said while I looked up at him, and I'm actually feeling kinda nervous, I don't know why, "I wasn't really paying attention, and...I'm so...so...sorry."

     He laughed low-key and wiped his sweaty face with a towel while I stared in awe "It's fine, just watch where you're going, man up," he said then passed by me.

     I suddenly snapped out, then I shook my head and slapped myself repeatedly like what the hell just happened to me a few seconds ago? What's happening to me? I'm literally supposed to curse him for being an i***t that decided to stand by at the entrance of the gym but all of a sudden I became so innocent as heck as if it was actually my fault, jeez, and I even stuttered too.

     Two boring hours in the gym have passed, and I'm already exhausted, so I decided to take a rest or I might not be able to go to work later for working out too much. I just sat on the bench press while I'm wiping my hands with my towel. I looked around and I still saw the guy from earlier, it feels weird but there's something about him that bothers me. I just stared at him while he lifted the 200-pound weight. He then put down the barbell and now he's heading towards my way. I immediately panicked for no reason. I quickly laid down the bench press and started lifting the 125-pound weight up and down. He stopped and rested his arms on the power rack beside me then just watched me work out.

     "Nice body you got there," he said and then smiled. I couldn't even tell if that was a compliment or insult, but a part of me just appreciated that. I already stopped and quickly stood up because of panic but I suddenly hit my forehead on the steel bar of the weight. "Ah, yeah, but you're clumsy."

     "Ouch, s**t!" I yelled because of pain, then laid back down as I touched my forehead.

     He moved closer to me "Hey, you alright, buddy?" he asked and then put my hands aside to look at my forehead.

     "Yeah, I'm okay," I replied then I looked at my side, and there he is, staring right at me like he's actually concerned about me.

     "It's actually not that bad, good for you," he said while he checked my forehead. "Be careful next time, bud," he said then already left me alone, thank God...

    I carefully sat down on the bench press with my hand on my forehead. I looked around to see where he went but he already disappeared like a bubble that was just around me a few seconds ago. I decided to go to the restroom to have a look at myself. I might go to work with a bandage on my freaking forehead, all because of this guy. I headed towards the restroom with my hand still on my forehead because it hurts so freaking much. I entered the restroom and there I found him, peeing on one of the urinals. I walked towards the mirror and looked at myself, and yeah, it's not that bad at all, it just got red, hopefully, it'll go away later. I washed my face on the sink and he's already done peeing so he went to the sink beside me to wash his hands. I looked at the mirror while water drips down on my face, and I saw him looking at me. I grabbed my towel and wiped my face.

     "You okay now?" he asked while he dried his hand using the hand dryer beside him.

     I looked at my side, acting like I just noticed him. "Yeah, I'm fine," I replied then already left the restroom.

     What the hell just happened back there?