Chapter 4

“You like her?” I whispered to Leo while we joined the others in getting out of the hall. The blonde guy who had told us where to sit was far ahead and I’m taking a wild guess here by thinking he is in my class. And from the looks of it, I may be right. We passed the junior block and walked down a hallway with a square courtyard on one side into the senior block. Just down that hallway was the notice board where a group of Class 1 to 3 seniors were checking out the info on the notice board. I didn’t miss the curious glances many of the students passed my way.

Believe me, I’m not an attention seeker but I can never seem to go anywhere without pulling attention.

As we turned past a column, one of the four columns set at the edge of another courtyard with grass and flowers, Leo caught my gaze.

“Like who?”

“Emmy,” I tried to hide the envy in my voice.

He frowned. “Who’s Emmy?”

“The girl who sat in front of us at the assembly. You said she was pretty.”

“Oh, she? Yeah, she is, any problem with that?”

A lot. “No, I just thought…well you seemed interested in her that’s all,” I replied with a noncommittal shrug that was very much committal.

“You seem to be more interested in her than I am,” Leo smirked at me and if gravity wasn’t holding me down, I kid you not, I would have levitated.

Suddenly somebody bumped into me and nearly knocked me off my feet. Leo reached out to hold me before I could face plant my face in the ground.

“Watch where you’re going, newbie.”

Oh, it’s that voice. I’m guessing I’ll be hearing it very often now.

“You bumped into me, Emmy.”

She and her minions stood in our way and she crossed her arms over her chest. Too bad she has nice boobs. Why do girls like this always have it all?

“Oh look who is so smart. What are you, stalker?”

“Eww look at that hair, did a bird nest there?” one of the minions said. I’m guessing she and the other minion are twins or maybe their plastic surgeon only knows how do one look.

Anyways, just kidding, they are actually pretty. And that sucks.

“Don’t even get me started on those shoes,” the other one said.

The hallway had gone kinda silent with a few students watching us. No doubt Emmy and her wing women draw attention everywhere they go. Unfortunately, this is not the kind of attention I want on my first day of school especially after I got on the wrong foot with Mary Thompson.

I started to shoulder my way past them when Emmy pushed me back. She is surprisingly strong for her size.

“What do you want? Aren’t you tired of playing into every 2000s high school teen movie? They called, they want their plot back.”

“Ohhu look who has a great comeback. But I’m not interested in you,” she waved her fingers in a discarding gesture. “I’m more into you,” she batted her lashes at Leo. “Who are you?”

“Leo.”

“Sexy. You should be with me. I am on the Student Welfare board, let me show you around the school.” She hooked her arm through his and started to lead him away but Leo held back with a glance at me. Emmy stopped. “You can’t possibly be with this patch doll.”

“Actually, Leo is my…” I started when Leo cut in.

“She’s my sister,” he said.

“Oh. Could have sworn she was Anastasia from Cinderella. Whatever, I’m sure she’ll find her way among the nerds or the outties, no one talks about those. So what do you say Leo, let Emerald take you around school, hot biscotti."

It wasn't a question, it was an order.

And right before my eyes Emerald led Leo away. He took one look at me and gave a helpless shrug before turning toward the deceptively charming smile she was flashing his way.

Her minions hit me on their way to join them.

“At least you tried. Some of us couldn’t stand a chance against her,” someone said beside me. I looked to see a brunette girl with her arms crossed over her chest as she watched Emerald and Leo with their entourage leave.

“Who are you?” I queried.

“Whoa hold your horses. I’m a friend. Actually, I’m one of the outties, I’m not smart enough to be a nerd.”

She wasn’t that pretty and I knew right away she was the kind to be a people pleaser. We call those ass lickers where I’m from. “Who gets to say what you are?”

“Emerald, duh. She basically runs the school. You’re new here but you’ll get the hang of the hierarchy.” She looked away and smiled at me. “I’m Lindsay by the way, president of the Outties. Welcome to the club.”

I looked down at her hand. “Uh no thanks,” I brushed her hand aside. “Just because Emerald says I’m an outty doesn’t mean I’m one. Who is she anyway? And who names their child after a stone.”

“Who names their child after a root?" Lindsay retorted.

Touché. I fought a smile. “Go fuck yourself,” I told her as I walked in the opposite direction Emerald and Leo went.

“Ouch. You’re not very friendly.”

“And you are not very smart if you don’t keep your distance from me. No wonder you didn’t make it among the nerds.”

Lindsay laughed. “You have a huge mouth on you, Ginger. I hope you make it here, you might actually make this year bearable.”

“Yeah sure I will when Emmy picks me apart bit by bit. And try to remember to call me Ginny. Not Ginger.”

Lindsay shook her head. “Don’t sweat it, you’re not that special. That’s how she treats every new student. She has to assert her dominance. She’s going to be head girl, everyone knows that.”

Of course and we think we are evolved species. I really could beat her to a pulp in front of everyone but look this is a new Ginny and I don’t want to insult Maggie by wasting this opportunity she has given me.

“This is our class,” Lindsay said as she led me through the crowd. She gave me a guilty glance. “I peeked through your file and found out that you are in Class A. However, Leo is in Class B. There is another class and that’s Class C.”

I couldn’t help the frown that marred my brow. “Is there a reason for the distinctions?”

“You wrote an entrance exam, didn’t you? They grade you based on your IQ.”

Lindsay led me to an unoccupied desk and slammed her hand on it. “Unfortunately we are in the same class as Emerald.”

“We?”

“Turns out I’m not so dumb after all.” She smiled and took the sit beside me. “Anyways, whether you like it or not you’re stuck with me and we are both stuck with Emerald.” She suddenly laughed when she caught the look on my face. “Don’t look so disappointed. I’m not that bad.”

“Yeah, but you sound desperate for friends.”

“I am. I used to be in Class C until the last session when I came third behind Emerald and her Ken. Although Emmy spread a rumor that I fucked Mary Thompson to get here.”

It was my turn to laugh. “You mean Ken as in Barbie Ken?”

Her brown eyes lit up as she gave me a new look. “Ginny I think you and I might just become best friends. Pity his real name is Parker and not Ken."

I rolled my eyes. “Yeah right, in your dreams. So is that Parker over there?” I used my gaze to indicate the tall dark-haired boy with hazel eyes surrounded by a group of other boys. They had the build of football players and guess what? The other girls in the class were staring off in their direction. There’s no way you would miss that!

To be fair, he is an eye candy though so I can understand why they are staring. And that smile of his increased his already off-the-chart sex appeal.

Even Lindsay who had turned to look in his direction was staring dreamily.

“Yup,” she practically sighed. “That is Parker.” She must have noticed me staring with an amused grin because she shook herself and looked away. “Anyway he’s out of reach for me. And you too. Actually, you don’t even stand a chance, he’s every bit as bad as Emerald. Unsurprising.”

“You don’t say,” I deadpanned. “Does he know his girlfriend is trying to hook up with my ‘brother’?”

“Don’t bother yourself with that, they understand their relationship. The rest of us are just living in their world.”

Lindsay continued to fill me up on Highschool gossip and by the time the first teacher of the day for us Class A students returned, Emerald was back in class looking prim but I know she’s been up to something – nobody spends a second with Leo and not fall under his bad boy charms – and I was already well – educated on the hottest news in school.

And also aware that somehow, Emerald and I will never become friends.