Cupid's arrow

JASMINE

The ringing of the school bell cut through my thoughts, and that's when I realized how long I had been buried in one of my story books.

I have always been invested in story books because they take me out of the real world into a fantasy world where all my imagination comes true.

I've always been the kind of girl who hides her face from her classmates and never participates in any activities that draw students' attention to her.

As everyone rushed out of the classroom, my eyes landed on Jack Harrison—the most popular boy at Wilford High School. He was also the face of the school, so he always appeared in the school magazines, which added to his popularity.

Every girl in school wanted him, and that made me the least of the girls he would ever notice because I was always too shy to be in crowded places.

My eyes were fixed on him, as I watched him sleep. His eyelashes were long, making it seem like he had installed them. He was maddeningly attractive even with his eyes closed.

I swallowed hard as I stared at him. I didn't need to say it loud before anyone would notice I had a gigantic crush on him.

It all began in 9th grade. My parents and I relocated from Texas to New York, and I had to change schools and start all over again.

Jack was the one who led me to the Principal's office that day. His enchanting smile pulled me in, and instantly, it felt like my heart was pierced by Cupid's arrow.

But sadly, after that day, I couldn't even dare to approach him because he was the most popular boy in school, with numerous fans and crushes, who I couldn't compare myself with.

We have been in the same class up to the 12th grade, and yet we never talked. He doesn't even know I exist, and I wouldn't even dare to approach him, so all I did was love him from afar.

“Jack!” Xander, his friend, called him loudly as he rushed into the class.

Jack slowly opened his eyes, stretching his body from the long sleep he just had. His eyes almost met with mine, but I quickly looked away, hiding my face with the book in my hand.

“Everyone is waiting for you at the school field. The girls are excited to watch you play,” Xavier said excitedly.

He wasn't just his best friend, but also his fanboy. He was in class B.

“Really? No wonder I didn't see any of the girls lurking around me,” he chuckled, his little laughter sending shivers down my spine.

“Then we should go! I'm sure you will win over Colton” Xavier giggles.

Jack got up to his feet, and I could feel his eyes on me, but I was too shy to take the book away from my face.

“What are you looking at Jack, we should go” Xavier pressured.

“Who is she?” he asked, and I tightened my grip on the book, as my heart thundered.

“You don't know her, so how should I? Let's go, Jack, the girls are waiting” he said and dragged Jack out of the class.

When I felt the quietness of the class, I slowly brought down the book from my head and heaved out a sigh. How would he even notice me when I have chosen to hide myself from him with every chance I get?

Looking around the classroom, I was the only one in it. Everyone had rushed out of the class after the school bell rang.

Today happened to be the day Jack participated in lacrosse. Every girl in school avoided lurking around him so he'd have the energy to play, but after the game was over, they all swarmed around him like bees looking for honey.

A quiet place like this was always my comfort zone, so I decided to focus on my storybook, but then I was distracted by my best friend, Amy.

“What the heck are you doing here?” she asked, approaching me.

“Where should I be?” I replied with a question.

“At the school field, obviously,” she answered with a demonstration.

“And do what exactly?” I muttered.

“You don't expect me to answer that, right?” she asked, and I only stared at her.

“Your crush will be on the field, shouldn't you be there to watch him?”

“Not like he will notice me” I murmured.

“And how would he notice you when you have decided to be a needle hiding in sand, huh?” she raised her eyebrows.

My life in school would have been boring if not for Amy. She was vibrant, and we became friends in 10th grade after we participated in a project together.

She's gay, but she is the best gift Wilford High School has given to me.

“This won't do. We are going to the field together” she said, taking my hand.

“I don't want to,” I frowned.

“You will have to. It's time you buckle up and make Jack notice you. You have had a crush on this boy since 9th grade, always imagining a happy ever after with him, but how can that work if you keep hiding?” she asked, her hands on her waist.

She mostly wears boyish outfits and sporadically, her code of dressing always makes people think she is a boy, and she has really short hair. She chose to keep it that way.

“I can't show my face to Jack, Amy. I'm sure I will stop having a crush on him after I go to college”.

“I heard that line in 10th grade and 11th grade. You're in your final year in High School, you should make it fun. Life becomes serious after High School” she advised.

“I am just going to sit here and read my story book” I smiled at her, but Amy yanked me up from the chair.

“Enough with the hiding, when the game is over, you should say hi to Jack” she said and pulled me out of the class before I could stop her.

We both went to the school field, and the whole school was already there to watch Jack perform. The cheerleaders were on the left side of the field getting ready to cheer for him.

My eyes searched for him, and there he was getting ready for the game. A smile sipped in as I watched him. He looked sexy in the lacrosse gear he was wearing.

The whistle was blown by the coach, and the game began. Everyone, including Amy, was screaming his name, the cheerleaders also cheered for him too.

I was the only one who was quiet because I was just lost in admiration for the way he played—he was a temptation because I could feel the wetness between my thighs even when he wasn't touching me.

“We love you Jack Harrison!” the crowd chorus and Amy was a part of it. She is a fan of Jack, but she likes girls.

The game continued, and as always, Jack won over Colton. He angrily left the field after glaring at Jack. He was Jack's ultimate rival in school, but Jack didn't give a damn about him.

Girls flocked around Jack, complimenting him on how good he was, while he smiled at them. I turned to leave, but Amy held me.

“Where are you going?” she asked.

“Back to class”

“You should talk to him”

“There's no way I am doing that” I turned to leave, but she held me.

“You should talk to him” she pressed on and brought out a pack of candies from her backpack.

“He loves candies, so give it to him”

I tried to resist, but Amy shot me a glare with her eyes, and I reluctantly took the pack of candies from her.

The girls were no longer flocking around him, and I presume maybe it was a chance fate had given to me.

I was about calling his name, when Madelyn beat me to it.

“Jack!” she said, and he turned to look at her.

Madelyn is the head of the cheerleading team and also very popular for her boobs and hourglass body.

“You did great,” she smiled, flirting with her manicured nails around his chest.

“Thanks, Mandy,” he replied with a smile of his own, and instantly, they began to kiss, his hands pressing her butts.

My heart shattered and crumbled into a million pieces.

Did I forget to mention that Jack was a big time playboy?