|| Arabella ||
I was riding a horse in my dream in the open field with a clear blue sky over my head. As if to disrupt my peaceful journey, Theo appeared beside me on his black horse, dressed as an evil magician. Along with him came a dark sky and a thunderstorm.
He started to poke my cheek with his antique wand, murmuring something incoherent, but I couldn't hear him.
'What are you saying?" I asked, trying to brush off his wand and straining my ear to hear him over the growling weather.
'... up! Wake up, Annabelle!" he hollered all of a sudden.
My eyes jolted open. But not in the field anymore, rather inside a car, in a dark parking lot. As I was trying to string my thoughts together, I felt hot breath tingle my earlobe.
Just as I turned my neck to the side, I found Theo's face only inches away from mine. For a few seconds, I just stared into his deep eyes blankly, my breath caught in my throat until a loud honk broke our trance.
My eyes widened in surprise, and so did his. He quickly settled back into his seat, muttering under his breath, 'I should have just left without you."
I blinked a few times, adjusting my thinking process.
'I was only trying to wake you up, I swear. No perversion intended," Theo quickly justified.
A smirk made its way on my face as I feigned a scared look. 'What were you doing to a poor innocent girl like me?" I covered my chest dramatically.
'Yelling in your ear to get you to wake up from your beauty sleep because we have reached school," he deadpanned.
'How can I believe you?" I demanded.
'Why not?" He narrowed his eyes on me.
'You're a hormonal teenager with needs, and I'm a young gorgeous pure maiden with a beautiful smile—"
His lips twitched upwards as he tried to stifle a laugh.
My nose flared in anger. 'Hey, are you laughing at me because you don't think I'm beautiful? Well, excuse you. I don't need your trashy opinions—"
'No, it's just that," he laughed a little, 'You would think that I would take advantage of you in a parking lot filled with our schoolmates, instead of at home where there's just the two of us most of the time."
Well, that certainly was... dumb.
I frowned and dropped my hands from my chest. 'Whatever." I grabbed my bag which was now lying in front of my feet instead of my lap. I must have been in a deep nap. 'Thanks for the ride," I said and got out of his car.
Today we managed to reach school early with lots of time to spare before the first period. Coral came early as well. She was always early. She had only been late because of her mom being in the hospital. But now, her mom was well and back at home. Her mom even started going to her job.
'Hey, good morning," I chirped when I found Coral in the cafeteria. The cafeteria was where everyone lounged around during their free time.
Her amber eyes were sparkling like cartoon characters for some reason and a mischievous look adorned her face.
'What's with that look?" I asked cautiously, taking a seat beside her. From the corner of my eyes, I noticed Theo joining his usual friends' table at the other side of the cafeteria.
'I heard from a little birdie that Theo and you were in his car k-i-s-s-i-n-g," Coral said in a teasing voice.
The first question in my head was, what the fuck? When did that happen?
My second question was, did he actually kiss me when I was asleep?
Finally, the third question made sense, which was, did someone mistake the scene of me turning to Theo after he yelled in my ear?
Since I came to a logical conclusion soon enough, I let out in amusement, 'See, this is why I love rumors. I always find things about myself that I never knew."
'Huh?" Coral asked in confusion.
I waved a hand in dismissal. 'The rumor is fake. Someone misunderstood. Theo was just trying to wake me up."
Coral's happy expression turned into a pout. 'So no kisses yet?"
I narrowed my eyes on her. 'Why do you still ship that jerk with me? He dropped a bucket of water on you," I reminded her.
'But it wasn't meant for me. Plus, you guys are too cute together for me not to ship," she gushed.
'Whatever."
God knew what she saw in us. All we ever do is fight, bicker, and get on each other's nerves through pranks. Not to mention, he was the last person on earth who I would date.
While Coral was sulking, I remembered something.
'Since we are talking about ships, I think Wyatt and you would make a good couple," I commented.
Coral laughed. 'Please, you know, I don't do relationships."
'Still you should give it a chance," I encouraged.
'I don't even know him that well. We only worked together in a seminar before encountering him again in your apartment. He probably even had forgotten my name from that event," she said casually.
Little did she know that Wyatt not only remembered her name but also has a big fat crush on her ever since.
'You don't know that," I simply said. I was about to speak more, but when I saw a few of our friends walking towards our table with similar mischievous looks like Coral, I understood what they wanted. 'I'm going to head to class early," I informed Coral.
She raised an eyebrow in question, and I motioned at our incoming friends. She made an ‘O' face and gave me a thumbs up.
I didn't want to deal with more people teasing me about Theo.
I could hear whisperings about me as I walked through the hallway, but I ignored them. Rumors never bothered me, anyway.
However, I was curious to see Theo's reaction. He had said that he would never live it down if anyone thought we were a thing. He must be freaking out.
I was giggling at the thought when I bumped straight into someone. The overwhelming flowery scent that hit my nostrils made it obvious that I had bumped into a girl.
Mumbling a small apology, I was about to walk past, but the person didn't move to the side.
Annoyed, when I looked up, I realized that it wasn't just one girl but three caked-up girls. From the way, their nose was in a perfect ninety-degree, as if looking down on me, confirmed that I was witnessing something I hadn't yet in my high school life.
High school bitches.
'I heard that you were kissing Theo in his car," said the preppy blonde girl named Michelle. She was in the cheerleading team if I remember correctly.
I was going to deny the claim just like I did with Coral, but then an evil thought came to my head. Theo really has rubbed off me. I lost the good girl me—thanks to him. Sorry, Mom. But it doesn't feel so horrible.
'Yes, why?" I lied politely, smiling at her innocently.
My response seemed to have angered them.
'What gives you that right? All you did was get some gum stuck in your stupid hair and you get to make out with him?" Michelle bellowed.
Oh, she was thinking that I made him do this by blackmailing him for my hair? Dumb bimbo. That incident happened weeks ago.
I pondered over what to say before settling on, 'Sorry. I had no idea you owned him." The shocked look on their faces was worth watching.
'Oh, my God, I really thought you were a nice innocent girl until now," exclaimed one of Michelle's minions named Ashley.
'I don't get what does he even see in her dumb face." Well, at least I didn't have a plastic face. 'You're not even pretty, at least your hair was, now that's gone too," Michelle spat out.
'She must have blackmailed poor Theo," Ashley consoled. As if that cunning fox would let me.
'Do you guys think that I'm not good enough for Theo?" Michelle asked her friends melodramatically. I doubt anyone would be good enough for his mighty standards.
'Of course, you are. You are so gorgeous, so much more than this Annabelle," the other girl Brianna said. I was almost about to call her ‘banana' but that would be too childish.
'You're, in fact, one of the prettiest girls in school. So many boys are head over heels for your natural beauty, Michelle," Ashley added. All I saw in Michelle's face were expensive makeup products.
Even though I was trying to control myself, a chortle managed to escape my mouth.
'Why are you laughing?" Ashley glared at me.
I composed myself and stated, 'No, it's just that I think I can remove 90% of Michelle's beauty with a wet tissue."
Michelle gasped at my insult.
'She would still be prettier than you, you mug," Brianna fired back.
'I didn't know you were one of the judges in the Miss Universe this year. Congratulations though," I said with a smile, not taking her insult to heart.
'Why you—" Brianna started to say but paused when she saw someone behind me.
Before I could turn around, a hand grabbed mine, tugging me forward. I got startled and looked up at the black-haired boy, who usually had a bite for me in his tone. 'C'mon, or you will be late for class," Theo said, but he sounded softer towards me somehow.
I recovered from my initial surprise and followed him silently in his fast strides, sparing one last look at the three girls behind me, who now had their jaws dropped.
'What were those girls saying to you?" he asked, slowing down his pace for me.
'Nothing much," I said with a shrug. 'Wait, do you know that Michelle likes you?"
'Hard not to when she shoves up her chest on my biceps after every match and gives me all those weird flirtatious signals," he grumbled, and I laughed.
'If you were thinking that someone else was stealing your right to insult me, then you have got nothing to worry about. Because I have gotten better with the sarcastic replies," I said proudly, flicking a strand of my short hair.
Theo remained silent for a few seconds before he said, 'Yes, that's exactly what I was worried about. 'Cause, no one gets to insult you, except me."
I chuckled. That's so typical of him.
'By the way, I'm sure you have heard about the rumored kiss. I lied to those girls about it," I informed.
'If it stops her from inducing me with a love potion, then you're getting a treat from me," he said.
'Wow, really? What will you treat me to?" I asked excitedly.
'Cafeteria burger."
I hit his shoulder and muttered, 'Cheapskate."
He chortled.
I looked down at our adjoined hands, wondering for a second if I should tell him to let go. It's not that I liked the feeling. But I didn't dislike it either.
When I spotted some students ahead, I let out, 'You can let go of my hand now."
I swear I felt his fingers twitch over my hand before he yanked them away.
Just as we were near my first classroom, I asked mischievously before Theo could walk away to head to his class, 'Hey, how are you holding up against the rumors? Want the earth to swallow you yet?"
He shrugged. 'Like you had said, I don't care what people think of us as long as we know what we are. Plus, the rumors will dissolve soon enough 'cause I have told the truth to the one who spread it. I told him—"
'That he needs to get his eyes checked?" I completed for him.
'Yep. As if we would kiss each other," he said with a chuckle.
I nodded, laughing at the thought. 'That's never going to happen."
