Secret Heat: Golden Heartthrob or Forbidden Temptation

Chapter 2

Leading up to my first day back at school, I planned out everything. My chosen outfit was neatly folded and placed on top of my dresser, I practiced my hairstyles and makeup, and I triple-checked the contents of my book bag to make sure I had everything needed for each class. I wrote a sticky note of everything I needed to do before school and stuck it to the body mirror that sat above the heater in my room.

When the inevitable morning came, I woke up three hours before I would need to leave for school. I turned up the heat a little and sat on the heater while doing my makeup in the body mirror. After getting ready, I practiced my facial expressions in the mirror, making mental notes on which one looked prettiest for every emotion during a conversation. My cat, Millie, rubbed against my leg as I did so, circling between my black and white converse shoes.

I picked her up and hugged her to my chest, she nuzzled her fluffy multicolored calico face to my collarbone. I've had her and her sister for four years, since they were babies. Lilu wasn't as cuddly and preferred to sneak out the window during daylight hours. Setting Millie down, I reached for my lint roller and made sure to put it in my book bag so my light white blouse and light blue skirt wouldn't show any imperfections throughout my day.

I went to the kitchen to start coffee before my mom woke up. She worked in an office for an oil rig company doing office stuff. I wasn't sure what she really did, but she has her own office with her name on a plaque in front of her desk and she takes off early on Fridays.

Today she said I could borrow her car and she would get a ride from one of the girls she works with. A Camry wasn't the coolest car to take on my first day of school, but it was much better than taking the bus. I needed to buy my own car but something about it felt scary. I had enough money.

With my job, I had a decent savings account and chipped in with all the household products to help mom out. Plus, the store was right next to the café, so it was easier for me to go grocery shopping after work than it was for my mom. I even hid cash inside some of my favorite books on my bookshelf for emergencies, like needing to bail Robby out of jail.

The coffee pot wushed with it's noise that indicated it was done brewing. I wasn't a huge fan of coffee but the creamer made it more addicting and I poured nearly half a cup of it before adding in the coffee. This was my favorite time of day, taking my first sip of the sweetly flavored beverage, I breathed in the sunrise from the kitchen window.

In the living room, a snoring Heron stretched out across the red plush couch. My mother and I searched for that couch for six months. Every day off she would take me to a different store, testing out each piece of furniture until she found the right one. Once it was finally set up in the living room, she still only sat in her favorite beige leather recliner that we've had since I was a baby.

Heron's breath caught in his sleep and he turned over. Realizing I had been standing watching him for a little too long while I drank my coffee, I headed back into the kitchen to make my mom a cup of coffee just how she liked it and in her favorite mug. Today was going to be a good day, I could feel it.

With my coffee buzz and my mom awake, I decided to head off to school early. I was too excited to wait until the time that was listed for the first bell. I fought with my mom not to take any first day of school pictures of me, yet she still snuck one on her cellphone as I was walking out the door.

My mom always drove with the music so quiet that you couldn't make out the words being sung. So, being alone in the car, I blared the music as high as it would go. Between my outfit and the musical vibe, I felt unstoppable. A total badass.

There were several other cars in the parking lot already when I arrived, but I was able to secure front row parking in the student parking area. I didn't see any other students as I walked nervously to the front doors. Inside was exactly how I remembered, a large common area with the front office to the right, cafeteria to the left, hallways leading to classrooms, and the gymnasiums towards the back.

The clerk looked up briefly, giving me a short smile and no recognition in her eyes, before continuing staring down at whatever was in her hands. I headed into the cafeteria where a small number of students were dispersed throughout the round tables decorating the large room.

I felt so adult using my debit card to purchase a muffin and cappuccino from the counter, something I had been used to in the real world and not a school setting. I sat at an empty table and pulled out a Stephen King novel I had been reading and waited for the influx of fellow students.

Over the next hour, kids from every grade trickled in. Some I recognized from my freshman year but most were new to me. Not one person acknowledged me, everyone in their own world with their own friends. Some kids sat at the table with me but ignored my presence as they spoke about their holiday break.

I was starting to feel the familiar feeling of why I had opted out of the middle years of public school when he walked in. Victor Doherty, everyone called him V-do though. He was a rising star the last I knew him, just joining the football team and being asked by every single senior girl for dates to the only restaurant in town, the Bullhorn burger joint.

He was the most likely to succeed, most likely to end up rich, most likely to have the perfect life. Anyone who was anyone wanted to be in his presence and he was so kind, they didn't have to try hard. His dashing good looks were complimented by his completely genuine and gentlemanly manor.

He nodded his head at several people who called out his name in greetings from around the room until he caught my eye. I quickly looked down, embarrassment coloring my cheeks. Unexpectedly, he bee-lined straight for my table and took an empty chair across from me.

"Hey, newgirl. I'm Victor, but my friends call me V-do. What's your name?" I could feel the heat in my cheeks. I hated that I blushed so uncontrollably and was sure my face was beat red. What was worse is that he did know me. We shared classes in my freshman year and he's hung out with my brother several times.

"Evangeline. My friends call me Jelly." It was a lie; I didn't have any friends. Only Robby called me that, but I always thought it was cuter sounding than my full name.

I did have a best friend in middle school, Sandy Hitchman. We met in third grade when her father moved into town to work at the same oil rig company my mom worked at. The town was mainly built around the oil company and people came and went with the work it provided. Sandy's family was one of the ones who went when another higher opportunity presented itself just before the start of freshman year.

We still talk on the phone occasionally and last summer, her dad dropped her off with us for a few weeks during break. She was the one who dared Matthew Kinniman, my middle school boyfriend, to touch my thigh that one time on the playground when I was thirteen. Today would be so much easier if she were here. V-do would probably be talking to her instead of me right now.

"Well, it's nice to meet you Jelly. Where did you transfer from?" He was trying to be polite and welcoming and my social anxiety was returning, making it hard for me to answer.

"I was actually just homeschooled. We've met before. You know my brother, Robby Barreta?" Recognition flashed in his eyes.

"Oh, you're Robby's little sis! Wow, you sure have changed." A crooked smile crossed his face and I curled into myself, staring at my freshly manicured fingers. V-do's name was called, his name shooting in the direction of his football crew. He waved and got up from his seat.

"I'll catch you later, Jelly." He turned but paused and looked back towards me. "You should go by Evangeline, it suits you. A pretty name for a pretty girl." He winked and headed off towards his friends, leaving me sweaty palmed and every shade of pink and red.