The Bad Boy's Muse

Shame on Rohan!!!

Grace's POV

"So, to survive high school, there are three things you must do?" Steve gesticulated with his hands.

I was walking side by side with Steve towards the school gate trying to understand all that he had been telling me. School today was less confusing and somehow fun the only problem was understanding why there are alphabets in mathematics when I thought it was just numbers and addition. 

"First, beauty; being beautiful in high school will go a long way in college. You get noticed quickly, you get numerous favours and if you’re a bit smart or intelligent, it’s a bonus. The chances of being homecoming king or queen are very high and being asked by numerous boys to dates too”.

“Uh... Steve?” I called out tentatively “what is a homecoming king and queen?” I asked.

“Well, just crowning student leaders who show great excellence and dedication towards school activities but if you ask me that doesn’t always work. It’s a dog-eat-dog world out there and take it or leave, so many students will give an arm and leg to be that” he smirked.

“Now moving on,” he smiled “the second quality you must possess is being athletic. Most of the students in this school are popular because they’re a little bit good at sports. Take Adam Moore for instance, he’s the school star boy, he’s got girls at his beck and call and the boy knows nothing about what happens inside a classroom but put him on a field and boom; magic” he demonstrated making me jump back in fright.

“And before we continue, Grace, you’ve got to stop being such a louse! don’t jump when I raise my voice or drawback. How do you want to survive in this school if everything scares you?” he rolled his eyes sighing.

“I am sorry,” I furrowed my brows “I guess,” I said again.

“Woah!” Steve yelped in delight “I think someone is on her way to becoming a true American student. Well done dear” he brought me in for a side hug making us stop momentarily.

That was when I saw him, he was standing close to a tree, left hands gripped his back which was slung over his shoulders and right hand in his pocket. His beautiful face was contorted in a frown as he stood hunched, it seemed as if he was waiting for someone. Around him, girls flocked, some taking pictures and one particular one stood in front of him, stroking her hair. I cringed at such an open display of emotions. As part of our cultural training, we were trained to never let a man in on how you feel until you know he feels the same way for you. I was worried that such a rule may not apply to Rohan, and I didn’t know why I was worried either.

“So, the third and the most important thing you must do is joining a fraternity” Steve tapped my arm bringing me back.

“A fraternity?” I raised my brows.

“Yes, a Frat dear. A frat is a…”.

“I know what a Fraternity is, Steve. I just didn’t think it was compulsory to join anything. In all the American teenage books I’ve read, it wasn’t stated that joining a Fraternity is necessary besides the name sounds strange if you ask me” I leaned towards him with a smirk copying his former position.

“C’mon, don’t be dense, babe. This is an American Public school, a very good public school and the very best in New York. Not joining a Frat is to be eternally punished for the rest of the school year. You’ll be bullied, you’ll not fit in and you’ll be miserable and when that happens depression sets in and…”.

“Easy, Steve,” I held out my hands in protest, interrupting him for the second time today “You do not have to scare me with all of these bourgeois words. Are you in a Frat?” I asked loved the way, Frat felt on my tongue; it was cool.

“No, honey and that is because no Frat deserves me and I tell you honey no jokes” he rolled his eyes dramatically.

“But you’re still alive and you do not look like one who is been bullied either. So, I guess I could easily fit in without all of the unnecessary dramas besides I may not stay here forever” I shrugged my shoulders.

“You’re leaving?” Steve’s face fell as he stopped right in front of me blocking my vision of Rohan who was still wearing a scowl.

“Yes, I do not know how long I’ll stay here for but not too long, I guess. Once things get fixed at home, I may be asked to go back to England so I think it’s best I do not grow a lot of attachments” I tried to peer past his shoulders but I couldn’t Steve was tall.

“You can’t go. I won’t allow that” Steve gesticulated dramatically with his hands again drawing a laugh from me “I have decided that I like you too much so honey, you aren’t going nowhere” he crossed his arms.

“Well, that is not for me to decide either but you still have me, now right?” I threw my hands in the air grinning “why not just enjoy me to the fullest and teach me some of your American ways so I can take it back as a gift when I go back home” I teased.

“I am up for teaching you the American way but you aren’t leaving just yet” we resumed walking.

Rohan had changed his position and was leaning carelessly against a tree making him more appealing than before. The only difference was this time around he was watching me like a Tiger watching its prey. Warmth settled at the bottom of my stomach…they weren’t butterflies either.

“Forgive me, Holy Mary” I muttered making the sign of the cross at my wild thoughts.

We were very close to Rohan now.

“Either way, I will not let this little information deter me from loving you less, it’ll only make me love you more. So, my darling” Steve tapped my arms, he was such a toucher “I’ll make every moment worth your while and make sure you fall in love with America. You wouldn’t want to leave by the time I am done with you” he winked at me showing off his white dentition.

I burst into laughter, It was so amusing to watch Steve “Of course, My Lord” I murmured curtsying.

We had gotten to Rohan who pushed away from the tree and was standing upright too. His scowl had abated and changed into an amused smile.

“Are you teaching, Steve, how to be a Lord?” Rohan c****d a brow towards me, reminded me of my Dad’s bow and arrow. He brushed away something from my shoulders and carelessly placed his hands around it.

“N-No, we were just talking about something” I blushed to my roots, trying to maintain decorum. Get a grip on yourself girl, I chided.

“What about? Steve looked so happy” Rohan teased again, removing his hand from my shoulders.

My body was boiling with strange emotions and feelings, mostly my lower abdomen. I was trying to maintain tact.

“Nothing you want to hear off” Steve scoffed crossing his arms as we continued walking towards the gate.

“Why you choose to talk to this guy beats my imagination. What do you see in him?” Rohan turned to address me; he was talking about Steve.

“There’s nothing wrong with Steve, he’s a very nice person,” I frowned in confusion, it was becoming so difficult to keep up with them.

“Shame on you, New boy” Steve clapped his hand in mockery as he stuck his tongue towards Rohan who regarded him with amusement.

“Seriously? You think so?” Rohan raised his brows towards Steve who was giving him the bad eye.

“New boy?” I echoed Steve’s last word, “Why did you call Rohan New boy?” I turned towards Steve for an explanation.

“Because he’s New just like you. Like you, he came from a school in India. He only started this semester with us, he has not always been with us” Steve explained.

“But he never told me that?” I complained to Steve, who shrugged his shoulders.

“You can talk about me like I am not here?” Rohan huffed in annoyance.

“You never told me you are also a new student like me?” I said instead ignoring his question. I was not in the mood to banter words with him.

“What difference does it make if you had known? Is there something you would have done differently that you didn’t do before?” Rohan questioned me.

“I just don’t feel hanging out with a new student is wise compared to hanging out with an old student” I shrugged my shoulders defiantly. We had reached the gate now.

I scanned the cars parked at the parking lot looking for my Aunt Harriet’s black Jeep.

“Wow! so manipulative” Rohan sneered “So, it means the friendship is over because I am new too? Well, for your information, I have been a student for more than two weeks but believe me, I know more than Steve how things work here and …”.

“Excuse you! Sir” Steve enunciate each word slowly “You do not know anything more than I do and it’s not even up for discussion” Steve hissed.

“Anyways” Steve turned towards me “I see my ride has arrived. It’s time for me to go home, I’ll see you tomorrow at school, okay?” he leaned and kissed both cheeks making me blush slightly.

“Good night bro,” he waved towards Rohan who wore a frown. Rohan grunted his response.

“So, you prefer Steve to me? He lashed out as soon as we were left alone. I was scanning the car park to spot my Aunt Harriet’s car. Why was she taking so long?

“This is not a matter of who I preferred and it doesn’t change us from being friends, I guess” I paused ignoring the cold stares Rohan was giving me.

“Then what is it all about?” he hissed “by right, I shouldn’t be relating with you since you’re a new girl but I agreed but you cannot imagine the number of girls who are dying to talk to me each day. Some will willingly do anything just to be my friend” he hissed again.

“I don’t understand what you mean” I stared at Rohan innocently.

“Don’t play some Lady s**t with me right now” Rohan hissed clenching his fists beside him.

“And I will not allow you to address me in whatsoever manner you please. It’s a simple deduction. If I had known that you were a new student, I wouldn’t have bothered asking to be friends with you or have you forgotten so much in a haze that you did not accept the hand of friendship I extended you. I only asked a question and I know how you told me off but here are we still talking and laughing with each other. Why can’t you be forgiving too? I could make claims of offence and demand to properly apologize too but I decided I do not want to make that my opinion of your first impression because it really…” I pause trying to get the right American word that fits with my emotions “sucks” I found the right one.

“You know what sucks more?” Rohan taunted me “it’s the fact that you think you can have me wrapped around your little finger. You can’t do that; you hear and I don’t care whatsoever you think of my first impression; I don’t need the whole world to like me to get approval” he clenched his teeth in anger as he stared daggers at me.

“As you please, Rohan” I smiled at him and turned my back against him.

I was done talking and I did not intend to stand under the sun whining perpetually about what he did right or wrong. I was much too tired for that.

“You want to be this way?” Rohan scoffed from behind me.

I ignored him and make a big pretence of searching for Aunt Harriet.

“You’re ignoring me?” He said with shock, I could feel his eyes burning a hole in my back.

“Alright, I won’t force you or push you either but remember this day and the exact details of what happened,” Rohan said in anger and walked away.

Finally, I spotted Aunt’s Harriet’s car…

“Saved by the car” I muttered underneath my breath trying to fight the urge to look back but because my name is Grace Wilson, a proper Lady; out of habit I raised my chin a notch higher as I clasped both hands together in front of me. I am a Lady and I will not let anyone convince me otherwise.

I stood patiently, till Aunt Harriet drove to where I was standing.

“So, sorry dear. It’s all on my dear” Aunt Harriet said as soon as she pulled up her car opening the door close to her from inside.

“No worries, Aunt Harriet. I didn’t wait for so long” I smiled in reassurance making Aunt Harriet nod her head in approval. Shame on Rohan!!!