4

Tory's POV

I looked out the window and saw the students entering the school. Mr. Alvarez, our Spanish teacher took it upon himself to make sure that no one loiters around the school premises in the morning.

As he urged everyone to walk into school, I watched each student, dressed in our school's uniform, chatting with each other and I suddenly felt nervous.

" You can do this Tory," Tia said as though reading my mind and she got down from the car, Toni also got down as well and I straightened my now very fitting jacket that was depriving me of easy breathing - thanks to mom.

 I took a deep breath before I came down from the car and followed my sisters into school. 

When we got to the hallway, Tia left me and Toni did the same, they weren't gonna babysit me all day and I knew it. I kept on walking, ignoring the stares and whispers, I wanted to find Rachel as soon as possible, but Zach, one of Nate's stupid friends spotted me as I walked past him and immediately started to follow me but I walked faster and heaved a sigh when I saw Rachel, hopefully, she will handle him for me, that's if she's not too surprised at how I look.

" Hi Rachel," I said to her as she opened her locker. She looked at me briefly and gave me that look that she gives to Olivia - her competition for Jake Simmon's heart and then she rolled her eyes and shut her locker. Okay, I didn't see that one coming! What's with her? 

" Woah, wait!" She suddenly said as her head snapped back staring at me in shock. Now, that's what I'm talking about...

" Tory!" She gushed so loud that everyone turned to look at us, those who were pretending not to stare, stopped their act, and gawked at me. 

" Nothing to see here," she said waving them off and some of them snickered as they minded their business.

" Girl, you be looking like some model!" Rachel hyped and I grinned at her, the girl knew just how to lift my spirit.

" What brought this on?"  She asked, folding her arms after she tucked her brown curly hair behind her ears. 

" Well, let's just say that I had a moment of clarity and decided to stop dressing like a hobo"

" Well I know that ain't the full story, you're gonna fill me in later tonight!" She said grinning mischievously as she followed me to my locker. 

" I will, and trust me. It's quite pathetic" I said as I opened my locker. 

" Uh-oh, your nemesis and your crush are approaching," she said cringing a little and I sighed as I opened my locker.

" Why can't Nate just not be around Rex so much?" 

" You mean it the other way around right?" 

" No, I don't," I said as I placed my Math, Science, and Geography textbooks in the locker. 

" He's doing it again..." She said with a mischievous smile and I knew what she was talking about, Rex often stole glances at me and it gave me the feeling that he wanted to talk to me. Maybe he used to feel bad for me, I don't know. 

" Damn, Nate's stare can be quite intense," she said with a smirk.

" What? Nate's the one staring?" 

" Well, it was Rex..." She said and I sighed, "... and then it was Nate" she added and I immediately groaned at the mention of his name. 

" Why do you hate him so much?"

" Are you kidding? He's literally the Lord of all Jerks!" I said subtly so he won't be able to read my lips. He and Rex's locker were directly next to each other and almost opposite mine. 

" But he's hot," Rachel said through clenched teeth as she moved her brows up and down mischievously, she too didn't want Nate to read her lips.

" Not hot enough to make me care," I say as I wore my cute glittery bag.

" Burn, too bad he didn't hear that," she said hitting me playfully on my shoulder. She was just testing me, she already knew how much I hated Nate. Janelle one of Rachel's friends who talked to her only came and they started talking while I waited for them to finish.

" Sup McClain!" Zach said to Nate and I turned just quick enough to find those sexy eyes of his on me. He quickly looked at Zach and they shook hands in some weird pattern. 

" Zach, my man!" He said in his trademark deep husky voice. I rolled my eyes at how much he tried so hard to make his voice sound so deep, did he think it made him seem sexier?

" Rex!" Zach said and they shook hands too, but in a different and even more complicated pattern. 

" I saw you looking around like you were searching for something, what were you looking for?" Rex said as his lips curled into a mischievous smile.

" Not what but who... And it's that sexy señorita over there." He said pointing at me and Rex's eyes were fixated on me. I stood there, wondering how to react but I got nothing.

" Hey beautiful," Zach said as he approached me and I just smiled at him. While Nate's face took on a slight frown, Rex's expression was blank then all of a sudden his eyes widened in the realization that it was me. He probably thought I was some new girl since my hair is now back to its original golden blond color.

" I am stunned by your beauty, honestly," he said as he took my hand and bent low to kiss it. Ewww! I don't want you doing that! I said, in my head. 

" Zach, I think you scare her," Nate said and two other guys - his friends snickered.

" Forgive me" Zach simply said with a smirk before he released my hand and went to meet Nate and Rex.

I just sighed and told Rachel that I would be in class. I was disappointed that Rex didn't even say a word to me, or at least flirt with me like he does when he sees a hot girl, or maybe I'm not hot. 

" You look gorgeous Tory," Rex said and I stopped dead in my tracks, he just spoke to me for the first time in two years and his words are a freaking compliment! Okay Tory, don't freak out, just turn around, give a reserved smile, and say thanks. 

" Thank you, Rex" I said, doing as I planned and just as I was basking in the euphoria of that moment, Isabella came and hugged him. 

" Morning beautiful," he said to her before he leaned in for a passionate kiss. 

Great timing! Just when I decided to win Rex's heart, he and Isabella start dating!