5

Love is like a war; easy to begin but very hard to end.

Chapter Five

N O E L

Dumb face, leave me alone. I'm trying to concentrate here.

I squeeze up the paper and throw it at Aaron when Ms Jenkins back was turned. He has refused to let me be, I had up to five papers under my foot that he threw at me. I wonder what his problem is. Although I'm not concentrating on what Ms Jenkins is saying, I still don't like paper balls being thrown at me by an annoying person.

In less than a minute another paper hits me; I sigh and pick it up. I could just ignore it and leave it on the floor but he'll keep throwing more and a little tiny part of me was curious to see what he has written this time.

Dumb face? Is that a code word for 'attractive, handsome, gods- worthy, drool and swoon worthy face’? I know it is, get more creative Noel, I can see past your code.

I scoff, this is unbelievable. I quickly tear out a paper from the back of my jotter and scribbled quickly.

'Attractive? Handsome, gods-worthy? drool and swoon worthy face?' Yea, keep telling yourself that until you believe it. It's not your fault you're shy of an ape.

I smirk and I throw the paper at him. He really is something else. Yes, he is attractive but that's for us to see and judge not for him to build his ego around. Another paper hits me and I pick it up.

Ape? That's not what your heart was saying when you were about to kiss me yesterday.

My jaw drops down, seriously? I furiously tear off another paper.

Kiss you? I think you really injured your head when I hit you. You're confused. And now you read hearts?

I throw it at him without checking on Ms Jenkins and I see the smirk on his face his blue eyes practically sparkling. Noel you're falling into his trap, this is exactly what he wants, for you both to be exchanging paper balls when class is going on. Another paper hits me and I reluctantly bend to pick it up but before I do, another hand beats me to it.

I look up and see Ms Jenkins; she was glaring at me as she opened the paper. I gulp waiting for the embarrassment that's bound to follow after this. She clears her throat and reads out loud.

"Yes, but I don't read all hearts, just yours. Only you, Noel." The whole class starts "wooing" and a few whistles and cat calls are heard here and there. Only Ms Jenkins had a stiff frown on her face.

"Mr. Altamira, Ms Atkins, I would really appreciate it if you stop writing and sending love notes in my class. Last warning." She throws the paper to me and I catch it giving her an apologetic look.

As soon as her back is turned, my neck snaps to Aaron giving him the iciest glare I could muster. This is his entire fault. He shrugs smiling sheepishly. I shake my head at him and mouth that he should leave me alone. I turn back to Ms Jenkins, making up my mind not to spare him another look. During the last few minutes of class, all I was able to grab was that we were discussing a book. Which book? I have no idea.

I leave class packing all the papers from under my foot. I wanted to throw it into the trashcan but I feel students’ eyes on me. If I throw it in they might come and pick them out then use it to make fun of me or laugh behind my back or spread unnecessary rumors. So instead I put them all in my locker, one day I'll through them out and burn it.

I start walking hoping to head to my next class fast so I won't be late. I feel a presence behind me and a slightly familiar scent of masculinity. I frown hoping that if I pretend not to know he is behind me he would go away. But that doesn't happen, he keeps following me and when I've heard enough, I stop and turn to face him.

"What?!" I shout, if I was a Disney cartoon character or any cartoon character he'll be seeing steam coming off my nose and ear.

"Calm down," he says smiling like this is funny.

I release two long breaths, "why are you following me?"

"I'm not following you; I'm just escorting you to your next class." He says dumbly.

I clench my fist, "why are you escorting me?"

"Because I want to. I'm protecting you from the dangers of the hall way." He says looking around like some spy detective.

"You're not funny," I say.

"Really? Girls always smile and laugh when around me though," he says smirking.

"Leave me alone Aaron," I turn to continue my journey.

"Its Aaron or AL".

"Al?" I ask pronouncing it like the first syllable in Alfredo. Al- fredo.

"No not Al, AL. A and L." He says.

"Boring it's either I call you Aaron or I call you Lee, pick one." I say.

"But my name's Aaron, together," he whined, it was cute.

"How about I don't call you altogether and you leave me alone," I suggested glancing up at him. He was really taller than me. I reached my class and I turn to tell him goodbye forever but he beats me to it.

"Aaron," he says, I'm startled and I don't say anything, mainly because his blue eyes were looking at me intensely. My teacher says something and I turn my flustered self around entering the class neither of us saying anything. He doesn't move until somebody maybe Jesse calls his name and he walks away.

What's with him looking at me like that? And what's with me too getting lost in his eyes. He's dangerous specie, I have to stay away before I find myself doing things I don't want to.

*

Lunch rolls around and I have second thoughts about going to the cafeteria.

"Noel you can't avoid Nadine forever, besides she seems nice and maybe, just maybe it would be good to know at least somebody in this school," I say to myself, as I walk to the cafeteria.

I choose a slice of pizza with apple juice and water. As I was moving over to my new spot-- the secluded seat near the door-- I heard my name being called. I turned around and saw Nadine waving at me to come over.

"This is it Noel, run." I tell myself but my legs do the opposite and walks to her, taking a seat in the seat of six, I being the sixth person.

"Noel, you came." Nadine says excited, I smile at her. "Guys this is Noel, a new student from California. Noel these are my friends, Liv, Raymond, Peyton and Luke."

I wave at them sure that I won't remember their names. They wave back, all looking at me like I’m some alien.

"I love your beanie," the dark haired girl with huge glasses said. Since I remember the first girl as Liv, she's the only girl left and she's not Nadine, I'm guessing she's Peyton.

"Thanks," I say unconsciously reaching up and touching my black beanie, my prized possession.

"I think you're in my gym class," a blond boy says, Duke I think.

"I don't know," I say truthfully.

"Guys Noel and AL is a thing," Nadine says excitingly.

"What?!" Everybody asks in the table including me. They all turn to me confused. I raise my brows at Nadine.

"What? Aren't you guys a thing?" She asked clearly confused.

"Um...No...no." I say feeling as if the rumor was choking me up. "I just came here like...Yesterday. I'm not a thing with anybody."

"Ok, that's the point. You just came here like yesterday and you guys are already exchanging notes," she nudged me winking an eye, "he even followed you to class today."

"Wait like, Aaron? The AL?" Peyton asked her eyes looking really big through her glasses. Nadine nods so fast and continuous I think her head is going to fall off. Peyton mouths drops open.

"Wow, so she's the lucky one?" Duke asked. They all look at me and I start laughing uncomfortably my hand going to massage my now cramped neck.

Rumors...I hate them.

"Guys we're not a thing," I say hoping the message gets through.

Nadine wanted to speak some more but she gets interrupted by the other guy at the table that has been quiet all through. "Ok stop it people. Noel says they're not a thing, so then they're not a thing. End of discussion." He says with finality.

Nadine and Peyton shrugged, "okay."

"Too bad," Duke says.

I look at him and his grey eyes are already looking at me. I nod at him saying thanks with my eyes. He smiles at me. "So, you're from California eh?"

"Um...yea?" I answer thankfully we were no longer on the Aaron topic.

"My grandma lives there," he says biting off his sandwich.

"Really? Where,"

*

Lunch ended well, I had small talk with everyone mostly Raymond. He is really nice and fun to talk to. It is funny how I want to be alone and stick to myself but here I find myself in the company of people actually bearable to talk too.

It’s my free period and I'm in the mood for a good swim. I’d like to wash away all the stress and everything. I'm sure a bath already did that but... a swim never goes wrong.

I find the pool and I'm about to go find the janitor to help me with keys but I see the door already open. I shrug and get in, locking the door behind me. We don't want anybody to come in and see my lovely bikini now do we?

I walk and stand beside the blue pool. It's very quite in here, just the way I like it. I start with my converse taking it off first. Then my jacket, my shirt and when I'm about to take off my shorts, I hear a noise, like someone's cough.

I quickly pull up my jacket to cover my exposed chest, "anyone there? Hello?" I don't hear anything. I walk around but I don't see anything. Its pitch black in here, the only source of light is the bright blue pool.

I shrug, moving back to my clothes. I remove my shorts, then reach for my beanie and take it off, running my fingers through my light blond hair.  "Here it goes, I'm coming for you pool." I say laughing as I wiggled my ass like a duke. I laugh some more at my childishness before taking a deep breath and jumping into the pool, the splash disrupting the perfect silence.

I do two laps, and then surface for air at the middle. "I'm the queen of the world," I laugh to myself swimming on top the water and splashing my hands on the water.

"You're the queen of something alright," a voice says startling me. I yelp and sink into the water, hiding.

Slowly I reveal my head and my eyes immediately met sparkling blue ones. My mouth opens slightly, a little pool water getting in. He looks so beautiful; his hair looks more ruffled up than it was this morning. With the water reflection, he's just about the most beautiful person on the planet. I spit out the water from my mouth, shaking my head slightly. "What...what are you doing here Aaron?"

He shrugs, "relaxing."

"Uh...relaxing?" I asked feeling like pulling my hair out. "And for how long were you relaxing?"

He smirked, "as long as needed."

I gasped, "Pervert!" I hit the water causing it to splash loudly.

"Hey hold it," he says using his hand to cover his face, so the water splash doesn't touch him. "I closed my eyes."

"Liar," I punched the water again feeling as if my rights were violated. "You totally looked."

"No I didn't," he defended, and then smirked. "I just stole a peek."

I huffed turning all red. Then I suddenly got an idea. I smirked, turning on my sultry voice. I do have one, every girl has one and I'm no different. "Just a peek?"

He looks confused by my sudden change in attitude. "Yea, just a peek."

I swim to him, helping myself up; I sat down on the edge leaning into him, exposing my fine boobs to him. Oh my dad would be turning in his grave. "Liked what you saw?"

He backed away a little, his eyes moving from my chest to my face. I could see and feel his struggle. I smirk and grabbed a handful of his shirt pulling him into the water. He fell with a mighty splash, the water splashing everywhere.

He fell like a drowning person clearly taken by surprised. He struggled to the surface, spitting out water and shaking his head to get his hair out of his eyes. I burst out laughing, the scene in front of me too hilarious to ignore. "How are you like'in me now boy?"

He frowns then grab hold of my legs, I yelp as I'm pulled into the water. I surface ready to tear his head off but he takes me by surprise, his hand go below my back pulling me to him. I gasp as our body come in contact with each other.

"Truthfully?" He asks his hot breath fanning my face. I try to concentrate on the water droplets all over his face but I can't. My eyes move up to meet his and I gulp. "I'm like'in you real good.

My heart does a strange flip and I jerk away from him quickly, like he was fire and I was ice. He slowly let's go of me, looking disoriented.

"Bye," I squeak out. I jump out of the pool gathering my clothes ignoring the fact that I'm giving him a fine view of my ass.

I need to get out of here.

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