Chapter 5

Chapter 5 - Sean. Sean O'Connell.

~~

The fault in our stars.

I sniffed into another tissue as I ended the book. Why didn't anyone tell me it was so sad? I knew it was sad but this sad... gah! Thank God I didn't see the movie, they would have thrown me out for crying and wailing like a baby. I don't like sad books or movies, probably that's why I have never seen or read 'A walk to remember'. But despite the end the book was overall splendid even if it bought a bucket full of tears to my eyes. I looked at the small heap of wet tissues and grimaced, so maybe I am an extremely emotional female but the book was also equally sad. How I hate sad endings!

Books take you into a different world and if they can't make you smile, laugh, scream in exasperation and cry then it's not a great book. But happy endings are better and... happier.

I sighed as I changed into my denim shorts. I needed a walk with my headphones or this depression of my new fictional crush's (Augustus Waters) death would haunt me for at least two hours or days or months. First escape books. Second escape, music.

Books with awesome and addictive fictional guys should be banned. They simply increase real life expectations.

"Mom, Connor, I am going to the park." I shouted as I jogged down the stairs.

"Okay, take care. Come soon." My mother's voice came from the living room, where I could hear the murmurs of television. I rolled my eyes, if my mom isn't in the kitchen then she's either in front of the idiot box or at some friends place planning the next shopping spree.

"Don't kiss random strangers or fall on your face or lick a chewing gum off a tree branch." My brother's teasing voice rang through the house. I looked at his half open door, scowling at it. He said this or something else equally annoying every time I went anywhere. At first it was amusing but now it was just plain aggravating.

The last time I went to the fair, he had shouted - "Don't kiss guys who have just eaten cotton candy, their tongues are usually sticky and don't go on roller coasters with a full tummy, you puked on your date last time." On top of that, he said it right in front of parents. To say it was extremely embarrassing would be an understatement.

"Whatever. Go get a life instead of sticking your ass in front of your laptop." I hissed back. And I knew he heard me when his laughter came through his open door.

"I have a life, Joey. Way better than yours."

Rolling my eyes I went outside. It was near evening and the weather was pleasantly good. I put my playlist on shuffle as I jogged towards the park.

The song 'This is what makes us girls' by Lana Del Ray came and my mind immediately drifted to Ace. Anything related to girls made me think of him nowadays and his hatred towards it. It was pretty irksome.

It had been one week since the first tutoring lesson. The next day he had surprisingly come to help me in the school festival preparations or so I thought. All he did was sit there and brag to the girls about how he developed his muscles and six pack. That freaking prick even removed his black V-neck tee to show off the protruding muscles.

It was impressing, no doubt. Drool worthy even. That body could turn a straight man gay. Hell even the guys helping were asking him tips and advices. Needless to say, nothing was done that day.

The next day I myself prevented him from coming inside the room, so that I could get some work done. That day he decided to get a tutoring lesson and we had gone to that run down cottage of his.

Our conversations that day revolved solely around school and math. Mainly because I still couldn't get the picture of him and the cancer sticks out of my mind. He had wisely said nothing about it.

The next tutoring class was the same except for the little talk attempted by me because I was bored. I came to know that his favorite color is black, not surprising since all his jackets are black, majority of his t-shirts are black, the skull on his nape is black and red, even his bike is black with red flames around it. His favorite food is Mexican and Chinese which is my favorite too. He is in love with Natalie Portman and Megan Fox but lately is crushing on Jennifer Lawrence. The cottage was previously owned by his granny who passed away last year due to a heart attack, she left it to Ace and now only Ace uses it. Also he loves Oreos, pretty predictable considering it is the only edible food available in the cottage.

After our third tutoring lesson (which was three days back), he didn't contact me. I saw him a few times around the school and canteen but every time I went near him, he would vanish into thin air like a genie. Was he avoiding me? If yes - why?

"Fuck." I swore as I banged into a wall. A blue wall? My eyes went upwards, I realized I had banged into some guy. Correction- a hot guy with great hard chest.

He smiled apologetically and a dimple of his left cheek was formed. I almost swooned at that. His eyes were almost black but there were hints of grey in it. He had slightly curly golden-ish hair and a slight moustache. A lady killer.

"I am sorry, I wasn't looking." He apologized. His voice was modulated and charming.

I gulped before answering. "It's okay, I wasn't looking too."

"So you are from around here?" He asked, sinking his hands into his blue jeans front pockets.

I nodded. "Yep, I go to New Era. What about you?"

"St. Dominic's." He said.

"Our rival." I gasped and internally face palmed myself. Way to start a good conversation.

He chuckled, "Yup your rival. But hey our schools are rivals not us." He pointed out and I nodded agreeing with him. Frankly I don't even know why our schools were rivals. Apparently this rivalry has been on since decades and still continues something to do with an old lost bet on a football match I think.

"So you come here a lot? Never really seen you."

I shook my head, "Sometimes when I am in a mood to jog."

"Moody person?" He guessed and I chuckled, "Yep. A lot."

"Should I be afraid?" He joked.

I grinned and winked at him. "Maybe."

"Well I am glad it was your mood to come here today."

I chuckled softly. "Yeah am glad too."

"So a walk?"

Our playful bantering and talking continued for quite some time and before I knew it I was looking at my phone screen as 'Connor' flashing repeatedly. I moved my eyes to the top to see the time. 19:22, that's almost two hours since I left home.

Uh-oh trouble.

"Hey bro." I greeted cheerily, hoping it will cool him down. But by now he was immune to my antics and pouts.

"Don't hey me sis. Wherever you are, I want you home in the next fifteen minutes or else I am coming to hunt you down and it won't end well. Fifteen minutes and your time started five seconds ago." And the call ended.

Sighing to myself, I look into the amused face of the person I was with. I realized that I know his favorite food and country but not his name. "Hey what's your name?"

"Sean. Sean O'Connell." He formally said, making me giggle.

My phone suddenly vibrated and I rolled my eyes when I saw Connor flashing again. "I gotta go or my brother will hunt me down and feed me to the neighbor's dogs." I joked but Sean didn't understand it, his face instantly turned into the one of pure panic.

"Should I report him?" He asked seriously.

I rolled my eyes, patting his shoulder. "I was kidding Sean. Our neighbor's don't even have dogs. Bye. Good night." I turned to go but Sean stopped me.

"I still don't know your name yet." He pointed out.

I smirked and winked at him. "Find it out." I challenged and jogged away, feeling extremely pleased with myself and secretly hoping he would find out my name as well as my number.

A girl can only dream.

*

...

*

Every high school has one girl that basically rules the school with her hypnotic eyes and over honeyed voice. She makes guys swoon for her and girls beg to have a body and fashion sense like her.

That Regina George in New Era High School was Alicia Chandler. Smart, sexy, sly, sardonic, savage, seducer, self-centred, skittish, spectacular and snobbish. Basically the looks of an angel but mind of a devil. A very good-looking bitch.

I looked at her as she made her way to the center of the canteen where her puppets were sitting. Her three girlfriends and four main football players.

Unfortunately my table was beside her. I still never understood why she hated me much. Always did. But now she knew better than to mess with me. The perks of being a class president.

"She's glaring at you." Janice whispered from besides me.

"Nothing new." I shrugged back.

"You must have done something to piss her off." Logan said, drinking his diet coke.

"I wish I knew what I did." I muttered, getting fed up of her death glares. I must have done something in the freshman year, she isn't the one to hate without a valid reason. It was senior year now and I still didn't know what I did. Although I had an idea but I hoped it wasn't that.

"Your student finally makes his presence known."

I followed Brittany's eyes and saw a completely frustrated Bryan in what looked like a very heated argument with Max.

"Does he ever smile?" Janice asked, curiosity dripping in her voice.

I thought back to the tutoring classes. He had smiled at a few occasions but they were all half-smiles, more like smirks. I had never seen his full smile or a happy genuine grin.

I shook my head. "He's never really smiled in front of me."

"I bet he looks better when he smiles." Janice sighed dreamily. It was no secret that she had an innocent crush on every good looking guy.

"I doubt." Brittany spat rudely, making us look at her with surprise.

"I got to go." She hurriedly said when she noticed our curious glares. Before we could stop her she was out of the canteen.

"Something's fishy." Logan commented staring at her retreating back.

"I bet. Was there something between Britt and Ace?" Alan questioned.

I and Janice shrugged, "She became our friend last year and she hardly talks about her past." I said, starting to wonder if Britt and Ace ever had a fling.

Until last year Ace did have quite a few flings with cheerleaders. It was rumor that he was searching for a girlfriend and that had made almost every girl wear shorter clothes and hope that she could get under him in his bed. But then after about seven months, Ace suddenly stopped even looking at the female race and all went back to their usual clothes.

Typical high school drama.

"She will tell when the time comes." Janice said her attention still on Ace. "What are they doing?"

I turned my eyes back to Ace and Max who by now were running outside closely followed by Dylan, behind them a row of staff were running, trying to stop the three.

"I am sure they are going on a drug dealing mission." Someone said from the next table, making me roll my eyes.

Of course, with a string of teachers and school staff and thousand eyes behind them.

The bell rang, signaling the end of lunch time. We unwillingly got up and walked to our lockers.

"They should really extend the lunch time." Janice complained, grabbing her books.

"I agree." Logan and Alan in unison.

"Talk to Mrs. Finn." I suggested, knowing it was fruitless.

"Yeah right and high school will suddenly become like Hogwarts University." She said sarcastically.

"Maybe." I winked at her.

"Bye girls." Logan waved, dragging a furious Alan with him who was previously busy talking to his crush in junior year.

"Dude, let me at least set a date." Alan whined, trying to struggle out of his grip.

"Later lover boy." Logan laughed, firmly dragging him to their next class.

"Boys." I and Janice sighed at the same time and looked at each other before bursting into laughter.

"You have math next." Janice wrinkled her nose in disgust.

"Yes. See ya later." I said, giving her a quick hug and walking into my class.

I made a 'God save me' face when I saw Alicia in the same class. Somehow I kept forgetting she was with me in three classes. Whoever arranges the lectures clearly doesn't like me.

"Hello there teacher! Having a hot guy suddenly besides you must be hard, not that he wants to stay anywhere near you. Poor Ace forced to be tutored by a nerd." She taunted. By now everyone knew I was tutoring Ace and Alicia made a point to taunt me about it.

"Whatever." I grumbled not wanting to get into a cat fight and earn a detention.

"Aww. Got nothing else to say?" She mocked.

I kept my mouth closed like every time and rolled my eyes.

Her eyes narrowed angrily. "I wish it was you instead of him." She spat, staring at me with hatred.

It was like a punch to my heart, physically and mentally. She had spoken about that for the first time in years. I gulped down my nervousness and shook my head to avoid tears.

The scars of past never disappear. They stay there to remind you of what you were and how far you have come.

"Shut up." I said weakly.

Her winning grin was malicious. "That's all you got bitch? It was all because of you."

And that did it. Being called 'bitch' and being blamed for something you weren't exactly responsible was my free ticket to anger.

There's a line of tolerance in every human. Never cross it.

"Look, I am not interested in your shitty melodrama okay? It happened because it had to. I couldn't have prevented it and nor could you. Stop blaming me for it. If anything you were equally responsible. And it doesn't even look like it bothers you. You are a slut now. Sleeping with everyone whose pant can build even a tiny tent. And if you are jealous that I am tutoring Ace then you might as well do the honor of replacing me. But from what I know you aren't as smart as me or even smart enough to tutor anyone. So I suggest you zip up your mouth and shove the key into you plastic ass and save all of us from your everyday shitty voice. Bitch." I snapped.

Silence. For two minutes and then the whole class erupted into claps and 'oohs' and 'aahs', some even cried for a cat fight. I felt a smile creep up my face but held it. I spared a glance at Alicia who was still shocked from my outburst.

When someone throws lemons at you, squeeze the juice out and flick it in their eyes. And make sure they scream in agony.

"Burn bitch. Burn." A girl hollered and others laughed even more.

Her face turned into an enraged one when she realized that all were laughing at her.

"You- you... just watch out." She spat and grabbing her bag she walked out of the class, her heels clicking as she went.

"That was awesome." Someone shouted and a murmur of agreements came. I grinned as I winked at them and sat on my chair feeling completely satisfied with myself. After almost three years of listening to her taunts, my restraint had broken and I lashed at her.

When thunder occurs the downpour begins.

You go bitch. I mentally patted myself.