Chapter 6 Join Us

What did he say? Join the student council?

I threw my head back as I laughed. "Sorry. I thought you said to join the student council."

His face remained expressionless. "I did." 

I stared at him to see if he was perhaps kidding about his invitation but he's not. Handsome or not, I glared at him. "Really? You chased me all day just to invite me in-" I gestured towards them and made a circle with my finger. "-your group?"

"That and to keep an eye out for you." Added Sheen and I glared at him to shut up. He did.

I returned my gaze back to Leo. "No."

This time, it was Sandy who spoke up. "Please, Hailey. Think about it. I would love to have another girl in the group." She said and offered me a friendly smile.

"Sorry but no." I said again. "Joining the student council is not my style. I'm not like you guys. I don't care about this school nor the students to spend my time joining this group." I got up and place the teacup back on the table. I grabbed my bag and swung it over my shoulder. "If you don't mind, I'm leaving. You guys just wasted my time for nothing. I already assured you that I won't tell anyone about your secrets and I will keep that promise." Having said that, I headed for the door. Feeling nervous and excited at the same time as I neared for the exit.

But just as I was about to head towards freedom, someone grabbed my arm and pinned me to the wall so quickly that I hadn't had the time to react. Xander's arms now serve as some sort of cage, locking me between him and the wall behind me. It took all of me to suppress myself to show any emotion except annoyance. I swear, all those rumors about him being nice are false.

"Wrong." He suddenly said. I then raised an eyebrow at him. What is this fool talking about? Wrong about what? "You're wrong, Ms. Collins." He said again. "You're just like us."

What?

"What are you talking about?" I asked, trying not to pay any attention to our closeness.

"Punch me." He ordered.

Again....What?!

"Xander." I could hear Leo getting up from his seat. His tone was hard and commanding, just like how a leader should be.

Xander only gave him a side glance. "Let me handle this, Pres." He told him before snapping his attention back at me. "Go on. Punch me in the face. If you do, then I'll let you leave and we'll never bother you again."

"Dude, that's too much, don't you think?" I heard Sheen’s worried voice behind him, but he doesn't seem to pay him any attention. Instead, he was looking at me and expecting my next move.

All I have to do was punch him and they'll leave me alone? As tempting as the offer sounds, I couldn't. My hands balled into fists and I looked at him. Seeing the determined look on his face, I looked down and bit my lips. I couldn't do it. I won't hurt him. I won't hurt anyone for my own benefit, except when they're the ones who hurt me. Physically.

"What's wrong? Why won't you punch me?" He asked again.

I raised my head to look into his eyes. "I won't." I said.

"You won't or you can't? There's a difference between the two." I didn't answer. No, I couldn't answer him.

As if noticing my hesitation, he smirked. "I knew it." He said and inched closer to me. "You can't do it because you’re not really that kind of person who we think you are, aren't you? Why don't you just drop the act?"

"What are you talking about?"

He snorted. "You're a great actress, I might say. Hiding behind that cool girl mask when, deep inside, your just a sweet little girl."

My breath caught as my heart palpitated. My hands started to sweat and shake on their own that I had to dig my nails into them to keep them steady. How did he know? HOW DID HE KNOW?! Well, except for the 'sweet' part, but how!? No one was supposed to know about my secret.

Xander must have seen the question in my eyes because he grinned. "I saw how you reacted when you kneed me in the gut. If you were really the rumored girl that we heard about, you would have taken that opportunity to run and won't stand there looking at me with a guilt-ridden look on your face. And the way you accepted the tea from Sandy? You could have just let her hanging and not accept the tea at all since you don't like it but you did. You even nodded a thank you."

"That doesn't even make any sense at all."

"Doesn't it? Well then, explain to me how my deductions aren't all that true." There was an arrogant smirk on his face as if he already knew that he won.

At that exact moment I thought, I hate him. I.HATE.HIM!!!

Putting my arms on his chest, I gathered all my remaining strength and pushed him before I ran out of the room. But I didn't stop, I was still running. Trying to keep my mind out of everything. 

It was like I was back to the beginning where I had just started my freshman year. Afraid. Afraid of being judged and afraid of how people would treat me. I was panicking. That feeling when all those fears you have are suddenly clouding your mind and you just get paranoid of what will happen next. I just can't take that kind of feeling. That was why I was thankful to have my cool girl character. 

To hide my inner self so as not to be judged by others. 

It was alright even though people wouldn't know me for being me. At least I can avoid fights and dramas. It was my safe haven where I could sit back and just be the audience. All those years, that's what I always do.

Hide.

But now that someone has uncovered my secret? It feels like having someone rip out your blanket at night and having all the evil monsters come at you and eat you. That's how I was feeling right now as I made my way to the school's exit.

Screw the afternoon classes. It's just our first meeting. It's not like he’ll give us a quiz or something. For all I know we'll just have to and introduce ourselves yet again.

I brought out my phone and texted our driver to come and pick me up on the next street far from our school since I don't want anyone seeing me ride our car. Normally, I would just walk, but not today. 

Today is an exception.

A silver range rover stopped just on the opposite side of the street to where I was standing. I didn't waste any time as I headed towards it and got inside.

"Is everything alright, Miss Hailey?" Greg, my butler/driver, a man in his 50's, asked as he looked at me worriedly in the mirror.

I gave him a small smile. "Fine. I just wanna go home. I'm not up for school today."

I could tell just by looking at Greg that he knew that something was up, but he chose not to push through it. He can always tell whenever something is bothering me. After all, he had always taken care of me ever since I was a wee little thing. 

The car started to move at an easy pace. I leaned back on the comfy seat as I watched the scenery going by in a blur.

 I was starting to feel gloomy as I reminiscence all the years that I have spent as the school's cool girl.

But despite all that act? I was contented with that role. I mean sure, most of the time I'm lonely because it was always just me. 

Then it came to my fear. 

Fear of finding out how everyone would accept me as me. Would I gain friends and be happy or would I be labeled as a loser and a phony?

But this is really strange. Why am I being overdramatic about this? 

It's not like Xander had spread the word yet, right? And it's not like I confirmed it yet. I can still lie my way through it. WHY THE HECK AM I FEELING DRAMATIC!?!

Ohh..that was why I was feeling gloomy.

I leaned forward on my seat so I could talk to Greg in the mirror. "Um..Mr. Greg? Can you please turn the radio off? The song is kind of affecting my mood here." I asked him politely.

Mr. Greg met my eyes in the mirror and let out a laugh. "I'm sorry." He said, but there was clearly a hint of amusement in his eyes.