COTTON CANDY

Chapter 7

Monday morning.

I was hurrying through the hallway for my English. Settling down before the cheerleading squad arrived always gave me the high ground. But I doubted they would bicker with me after they became the reason of my trip to principal's office.

I was walking on full pace and pulled out my phone as it beeped. New text from Noah.

"Dude, where r u? I give u ride in my car nd u forget meh?"

I know better than to reply that. We would start texting on every other lame topics in the world. I was worried how Noah would react after how I behaved yesterday. Apparently he just thought it was from the stress agent Savvaro caused. Hell right.

I was about to put my phone in my pocket when I bumped into someone and fell on my butt scattering everything that was on my hand on the ground.

"What the-" the words stop at my mouth as I face startling green eyes just inches away from me.

"I am so sorry. I was looking at my phone." He reaches out a hand and I take it. Brown hair, green eyes, a handsome yet devious grin. Alex Cove.

He already gathered all my belongings and was handing them over to me. "I'm sorry," he said with a concern I never thought a guy like him could show.

"It was my fault too. I was texting." I shrugged at him.

"Jenny, right?"

I was trying hard not to blush. A new guy, definitely hot, already knows my name.

"Yeah." I wanted to say and you're Alex Cove. But I kept my mouth shut. I clearly didn't want him to think I kept tabs on him.

"I'm Alex. I'm new here. You probably know that already. I moved from Brooklyn. This is my second time as senior," he paused and rubber his neck. "Sorry. You didn't wanna know that. I talk a lot when I'm nervous."

Wait, what? This guy is nervous talking with me? Last few days, I saw him flirting with girls smoothly and he is nervous around me?

"It's okay. Why are you nervous?" Smooth Jenny, real smooth.

"Actually, I never apologized for hitting your face last week. I tried to tell you on P.E. but I got stuck."

Yeah, all those girls ogling him always. How can he be free?

"I didn't aim for your face. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. Not that it's my exquisite feature." I glance at him for his reaction. he seems kinda worried, angry even.

"I like your face. It's sweet innocent and has that sharp feature."

Now I was really blushing. I know he is flirting. But I can't stop grinning stupidly. Boys usually don't flirt with me because it results in receiving a glare from me. I might have glared at him too. But those green eyes. They are wrapping around my mind like cotton candy. That was a very lame comparison, but it was it.

I snap out of my cotton candy realm when Hannah links her arm with Alex.

"Hey handsome," Hannah disgusts me with her moaning voice.

"Hello beautiful. You look stunning in those short skirts." Seems like he can't avert his eyes from her legs.

Alex is the role model of the league of boys I hate. Athletes with no sense of decency and most of all no emotions and no brain. I scold myself for getting lost in his eyes.

I was about to leave when Alex holds my arm, "We'll catch up later." Then he winks at me like we are sharing some dirty jokes.

PUKE.

I enter English and find the cheerleading squad already on position. But none of them says anything. I catch Skyler and wave at her. She just shrugs indicating we are not that friendly and there's no way she's gonna abandon her posse and be friendly with me.

I should've known.

Double faced bitch.

**************************

"First session of practice, this year. I am assigned to train the seniors in order to qualify them for their desired college," Coach blurted through the megaphone. Coach Sandy is assigned to the seniors every year to help them get scholarship. I pretty much know everyone here because they were the ones with me when we beat up Timothy High's ass last year.

"We have some new applicants. Meredith and Naomi." I glance at Meredith, she's a sport I can tell by one look. But for Naomi, she could've been one of Genevie's posse with her bleached hair, tall lean body and eye make up.

"Let's have a look at what you got. Then we will lay out the plan for this year. Then you can all go home. Meredith try taking ball from Ivy. Naomi you go with Jenny."

I wasn't sure if I should go easy on her. She might break her nails. I placed the ball between my feet and pointed her to take it. She fakes coming from my left then turns to right. But I was fast. I turned around with the ball and did a full spin around her.

"She can never take the ball like that. Try taking while running," Coach yells at me.

"Let's make a run for it," I wink at Naomi. She takes the rubber band from her wrist which I clearly thought was an accessory, and tugs her hair in a high pony tail. I start running with the ball as soon as she's ready. After a few failed attempt, I saw her not running for the ball, rather running past me. She was a few hand front and did a 180 turn and tackled me with the ball. Unexpected move. So guess what, I fell. Twice today.

Naomi grinned at me and gave me her hand to get up.

"You got some serious talent, girl," I nudge at her. "Can you teach me that? It would come in handy." In reply she just grinned like crazy.

"Gather round girls," Coach said as I was watching Ivy who didn't even break a sweat.

"Naomi, you're in. Jenny you gotta get your game up. Meredith, You're good. But these fellas here are way too good. I'm not gonna kick you out. But my advice is, you should find some other traits to get a scholarship." Straight to the face. Why can't the coaches be a little softer.

We planned our schedule for the year. We got a match next month. Coach tried to ban all the fun out of life. But he too knows that it's our senior year.

"Now it's time for our laps on first day." All the girls started groaning as he said that. He makes us take laps on first day of practice because we usually don't practice on that day.

We started our laps on the tracks. Naomi was beside me. I was filling her in about our practices and schedules.

"Looking hot, babe," I heard boys snickering from the gallery. They are probably done with their hockey practice and was now feasting over the girls.

"You got some serious hot guys in hockey team," Naomi flickered her hair which was now loose over her back. She was clearly the most beautiful one among us soccer players. And she was loving the attention.

I saw Dylan from science, Riley's boyfriend Adam, Chase, Chris, Liam, and kinda like all the athletes of our class. But the most horrifying part was Alex. He wasn't snickering at Naomi. He was looking straight at me. I evaded his gaze and settled my eyes on the track.

"Girl, that hot brown haired guy is seriously checking you out," Naomi said with a slight disappointment in her voice.

"No he isn't," I said firmly.

"Maybe. You're not his type anyway."

Ouch.

I sneaked another glance at Alex to make sure. That was my biggest mistake. Not only was he staring, but also he winked at me and grinned a devious grin.

I finished the rest of the track with a sprint. Noah was waiting for me just like he promised.

"What's wrong? Why did you run like your pants were on fire?" He eyed me from head to toe.

"I didn't wanna keep you waiting,' I told him in a haughty voice.

"Like I'm supposed to believe that." He turned towards the approaching hockey team. "lemmi just say hi to my hockey buddies."

I was not gonna face Alex.

Not right now.

"You missed practiced today. They're probably pissed at you."

"I informed them. Plus no one's ever mad at me. Come on, just a minute," Noah tried to mimic my pouty face.

"I have a better idea," I glanced over my shoulder. Alex was heading over here with the team on his heels. The grin still plastered on his face. "Let's get out of here." With that I caught Noah's sleeve and puller him towards his suv.