Chapter Seven — G is for Good Riddance

Getting to school the next day I was excited to find out that my first day in school debacle had been replaced with more juicy high school gossip.

Everyone's favourite power couple, Kenneth and Rebecca had broken up last night.

Not that it was any of my business, but it took all my willpower not to do a happy dance in the middle of the school.

It was my secret wish that something would cause them to break up soon, not because I wanted Kenneth — pfft! He and I couldn't make a good couple. Besides, he doesn't even know I exist — but because I hated Rebecca and it was nice for Little Miss Perfect to be reminded that she didn't own everybody.

After normal classes we all assembled in the gym room for physical education aka the most unimportant and utterly useless subject that Satan himself gave birth to.

I hated P.E!

First of all, our gym uniforms were sleeveless and exposed the two stretch-mark-invaded pale twigs I call arms.

Secondly, I hated exercise. In my opinion, it was a form of legal torture. Seriously, what kind of healthy lifestyle can't you get from eating right? And who's the a-hole that started it? I hope they've put him or her to the chair or whatever hurts more.

Thirdly, Coach Bryson knew I hated exercise and made it his special duty to see that I got double dose of the normal routine which may or may not have resulted from my article on him. Which says, and I quote, he was the word ‘gray’ personified in every essence of the word, unquote.

I could go on and on about reasons for my hatred of exercise but right now I'd got more things to worry about.

Like how Rebecca was glaring daggers at me and why on earth Coach Bryson chose Anne to lead today's exercise.

With strawberry blonde hair tied up in a bun, determined green eyes and a strong body build, she was the perfect health-obsessed cheerleader.

“OK people,” her deep voice boomed in the almost empty hall, “we're going to start with jumping jacks. Arms out and we'll begin.”

After a grueling thirty minutes filled with cramps and sweat, we finally finished and I lay on the gym floor heaving from lack of breath.

I'd ran six laps instead of the four other people did. Guess Anne hated me too. Figures.

I lay on the floor and soon Andrea and Indy stood over me.

“Are you alright, Taylor?” asked Indiana.

I raised my thumb to her.

I sat up, my breath slowly coming back. It wasn't ten minutes after I caught my breath that Rebecca walked to me, her white sneakers making screeching noises on the polished floor.

“You are a terrible person, Taylor Crewman! How could you? Dumping garbage over my things? That has got to be . . .” she groaned. “I can't believe you'd stoop that low!”

I got up and faced her flaming blue eyes.

“Says the person that humiliated me in front of the entire freaking school. Don't talk to me about stopping low when that's already where you are. Besides, it wasn't me, any living creature with half a brain cell could guess your locker combination.”

“Sure, and I'm the queen of England. Only you could that, Taylor. Don't lie.”

“Prove it,” I challenged her crossing my arms.

She ground her teeth, her face aflame.

“Don't test me, Crewman,” she whispered, poking my chest with her blue artificial nail. “You'll regret it.”

I stepped closer to her and put my face so close to hers that I could see the tiny pimples that her probably-over-expensive face mask missed. “You might feel all high and mighty after that stunt in the cafeteria but bitch, I'm coming for you and this time, I'll take you down so hard, you'll wish I had just minded my business and left you alone back at Kings.” I whispered.

With the mention of how we met back at middle school her mascara-lined eyes and lip-glossed mouth widened with shock as she took in a sharp breath.

It took a while for her to get her composure back but when she did she humphed and walked away.

It was a bittersweet feeling watching her walk away. I was happy I'd finally confronted her but my gut coiled against itself at the thought of what she'd do in revenge. Because if I didn't know anything about Rebecca Griffith, I knew that you didn't threaten her and get away with it.

“The most epic confrontation ever!”

I turned around and Andi and Indy were still there. I had totally forgotten they were there.

“Shut up Andi,” said Indiana. “Seriously.”

Indi handed me my satchel and we started off to the changing rooms.

“What was that all about?” Indy asked with concern in her baby blue eyes.

“You mean Rebecca? Apparently she's unhappy with the state of her locker.” I gave a smirk.

“Stooping to her level is the worst thing that can happen, Tay.” Indy reprimanded.

“I just had an idea,” Andi suddenly gasped. “What if Rebecca isn't the real Rebecca. Maybe,” she gasped again, this time putting her hand over her chest, “she was abducted by aliens and switched. So what we're seeing isn't Rebecca but an alien in disguise. That would explain why there's a giant hole where her heart should be.”

Indy and I groaned.

After changing, I went to see Mr. Lancaster. He was deep in conversation with Rebecca who narrowed her eyes when she spotted me.

He turned around and saw me.

“Oh hi Taylor! I was just briefing Rebecca on her next scoop.”

“Which is?” I asked, interested.

“I just handed her a new assignment. She's going to investigate the level of job satisfaction between the teachers in this school and the one in the next town. A little investigative piece that's long due in my opinion.”

Well, that's going to be fun, I thought as a smile slid unto my face. Rebecca caught it and her eyes grew even narrower. Have fun, I wiggled my eyebrows at her.

Rebecca rolled her eyes obviously detesting her assignment.

“Really?” I asked.

“Yes. She's going to be gone for a week.”

“A week?” Rebecca whined.

“Bet you thought this would be an easy one, that you wouldn't have to do anything. Just show up and look pretty. Sorry to disappoint sunshine, but you're gonna need a lot of elbow grease.”

“Ew!” Rebecca's face morphed into a disgusting look. “What's elbow grease? I've never heard of it before? Is that what's popping now?”

Mr. Lancaster and I exchanged looks.

“Ok 'Becca, off you go. I've gotten permission for you from Principal Alderman.”

Mr Lancaster planted himself behind Rebecca and started shooing her out. I wiggled my fingers at her as she passed me.

“Wait!” she yelled as she got to the threshold of the door.

So close.

“Taylor's my assistant, why isn't she coming with me?” she planted her hands on her hips and shot an accusing stare at Mr. Lancaster.

“Simple. You don't need assistance. Just get a couple of history and English teachers to tell you about their job. I'm sure even you can manage that.”

Rebecca opened her mouth to argue but Mr. Lancaster stopped her. “Honestly, the sooner you go, the sooner you get back.”

“Mr. Lancaster's right, Becca.” I tittered because I knew she hated that nickname.

Rebecca's face flushed. “Yeah, well try not to bring the school down with your ugly face, freak!”

She flung her blonde hair in my face and marched out.

I told myself to ignore the prick of pain that her words brought as I fished out the strand of hair that was assaulting my tongue.

“Isn't she a ray of sunshine?” I mumbled.

I turned to Mr. Lancaster. “Now that she's gone, who's going to be anchor?”

He just raised an eyebrow. “Good one, Taylor, but I've got that covered. You should head on home.”

I groaned and opened my mouth to argue but I closed it and did as I was told. I took comfort in the fact that it would be a Rebecca-free school for a week, seven whole days! That's a dream come true!

I turned the last corner to reach my locker and the sight that greeted me was enough to knock the air out of my lungs.

Kenneth — in all his handsome glory — was seated on the floor in front of my locker, head bent in something close to misery.

I'd never talked to him before even though we were in the same class and I was a little scared. My heartbeat increased and my palms got sweaty.

Oh good Lord! Why?

I needed my copy of Wuthering Heights from my locker because I intended to start reading the junk and finish it as early as possible.

Remembering he saw me drenched in slop at the cafeteria the other day caused the thumping in my chest to increase.

I was just considering borrowing Indy's copy and turned around to leave when his husky voice stopped me.

“Taylor? Are you OK?”

I turned back to him. His blue eyes assessed me in a way that made me squirm inside.

I hated attention. Especially this kind and oh my God, Kenneth Avalon knows my name!

“Yeah, I'm fine,” I managed to squeak out, wincing at the sound of it. “You're sitting in front of my locker.” I pointed to the pale blue metal above him.

“Oh!” he looked up and scooted aside. “I'm sorry.”

“It's OK,” I mumbled putting my combination and opening it.

Wanting to make small conversation as I searched for the book in the clutter in my locker I said;

“I heard about your break-up.”

I brought out a book and it fell, hitting him on the nose on its way down. He made a small cry of pain and I bent down to his level to see if I hurt him, apologies running from my mouth.

“I'm so so sorry, Kenneth. You know what they say, gotta get your nose outta those books and live a little.”

He chuckled showing me he was fine. But my big mouth just had to blurt out the stupidest joke in the history of stupid.

Why oh why did I say that? Guess I'm also the goddess of awkward conversations and future nose jobs.

“I'll just . . .” I grabbed my book from the floor, exchanged it for the Wuthering Heights and slammed my locker.

“Never speak again.” I whispered, walking away.

“Taylor?”

His voice made me turn around again. He'd stood up and shoved his hands into the pocket of his blue hoodie.

“Thank you,” he simply said.

“For what? Emphasizing that you're recently broken up or hitting a book on your nose?”

“You're the first person who's made me laugh all day.”

He gave me a breathtaking smile. His eyes showed he was being sincere and I couldn't help giving him a smile of my own.

Somehow, we ended up on the school bleachers having a true-to-life conversation.

“We were at this party,” he was saying. “I was talking to Jake and Rebecca just comes in yelling about how I was ignoring her, forgetting that I'd spent the past hour enduring the mindless chatter of her and her . . . should I say, pack?”

I nodded and squeezed the giggle that threatened to escape my mouth down.

“Anyway, I tell her that it can't be physically possible that I spent every second with her and I kid you not, she says that I could make it happen if I really was interested in her. So there I was confused and — I'll admit — a little drunk, trying to explain how ridiculous the thought was. Then she walks away talking about how a million guys would die to spend every second with her and to enjoy all my precious seconds alone.”

Wow, in love with yourself much, Becca.

He sighed as he concluded. The wind whipped his brown hair and made mine enter my eyes.

“She yelled at me in front of the guys, I mean if I can't talk and reason with my own girlfriend, how are the guys gonna respect me on the field as their captain? C'mon I have an image to protect.”

“My grandmother used to say, what other people think about you is none of your business.”

He chuckled, grabbed his backpack from beside him and swung it on.

“Grandmother sounds like a cool lady.” He looked at the semi-dark sky and stood up. “Hey, it's late, mind if I drop you off?”

I smiled and reached for my bag at my feet.

He took me home in his snazzy red convertible which would no doubt end up in my daydreams about us. After we stopped outside my door, he brushed strands of my hair behind my ear sending sparks through my body and took my hand. That singular gesture tripled my heart rate while I silently pleaded for my bad luck to have mercy on me so I didn't say or do anything idiotic.

“I'll see you tomorrow, right?” his eyes willed me to say yes.

I nodded not trusting my voice.

He smirked and nodded, withdrawing his hand from the back of my ear.

“Bye, Taylor.”

I couldn't help sighing and blushing and giggling when I finally entered my house. I ignored my mother, allowed Malcolm to watch a cartoon on my laptop and even hugged Adrianna.

My crush talked to me OK, give me a break