Chapter 7

You know that moment when you have closets full of clothes but nothing to wear. i ran my hands through my hangers one by one trying to find the perfect outfit for tonight.

I literally screamed out in frustration. Why can't I find something to wear? Why can't I focus?

"Maybe because your thoughts are filled with Drew" my sub conscious teased

"Shut up" I said to no one in particular.

*knock knock* A knock sounded from my door

I groaned. I am so not in the mood for company right now.

''Come in''

Gerald walked in and laid on my bed. Well, I'm always in the mood to talk to my brother.

''Tough day , huh?" I asked him, noticing the sad look on his face

He nodded. I went to sit beside him

''Wanna talk about it?"

''I feel empty" he said "I have the perfect family, money, girls flocking around me but something is missing. My classmates have something I don't have"

''Which is?"

''A father''

I shivered as bad memories of my dad came into my mind. I can't remember on good thing my dad did for us till he entered jail and got life sentence for embezzling money and molesting me.

''I'm so sorry'' I whispered

''Tomorrow is bring your father to school day. What am I gonna do?"

''You can take Steve. He treats us well even though he's our step dad. He's practically a father to us''

''I know I can but it just won't feel the same way''

I sighed

''I get what you mean"

I hugged him, letting him cry on my shoulder.

I may act like a bitch, be popular and do great at school but that doesn't mean I'm perfect.

My life is far from it actually, that's why when some people say they wish they were me I laugh.

I have an allegedly cheating mum who comes home drunk most times

I have a dad who's in jail which nobody knows about, not even my closest friends.

I'm being pressured at home to be perfect. I have to be the golden child who smiles at people in social gatherings.

''Hey cheer up'' I told him. I even sobbed

''I can't''

''You know what, I'm going for a game tonight how bout you help me pick what to wear''

I pulled him to one of my walk in closets

''Hmm, I think you should go with these '' he suggested

He held up an outfit on a hanger, that's the way I sort my clothes.

It was was a striped black crop top with black jeans

"Perfect"

I took the clothes from him and quickly went to the bathroom to do my make up.

A few minutes later I was done. I went to the room to show Gerald

"What do you think?"

He nodded in approval

"You look fine"

''Thanks''

I put on a pair of white sneakers, grabbed a cross body bag and I was ready,

''You know for a sixteen year old, you're kinda cool''

He smiled

''Well, I am your brother after all''

''I'm off. I love you''

''You too''

I blew him a kiss before leaving the room

*****

Everywhere was dark when I arrived at the football field.

I noticed that I was already a bit late. From what I could see, the game had gone far.

It was a sight to see; students cheering for their teams, people screaming, no lights except for the moon and tiny light bulbs.

It felt like a breath of fresh air.

''So, you made it'"

I looked ahead to see Amber and Tiffany walking up to me

''Yeah''

''Where's your future boyfriend?" Tiffany asked

"How did things go by the way? I was surprised when I saw both of you conversing" Amber added

I flipped my hair in pride

"Oh, you know, its nothing" I said "just worked my magic and got him to come to the game tonight"

Their mouths hung open in shock

"You what?" They shrieked

"Does that surprise you?"

Of course, it did

"Yeah" said Tiffany "I never knew you'd make progress"

"You got the beast to come to a social gathering?" Amber sounded surprised "he's been in this school since kindergarten and he hasn't come to any gathering once, even when he heard the football game two years ago was a must to attend"

"Where is he anyway?" Tiffany queried

My heart skipped a beat at that question. What if he didn't come?

I looked around the bleachers trying to find Drew in the crowd. I spotted him drinking a can of soda at the very first row of steps at the top.

"Found him" I said pointing to where he was sitting

"You got 60 days babe" Tiffany reminded

I winked at her before walking away.

I went up the bleachers to where he sat down. There was an empty chair beside him, probably for me.

''Hey, you came'' I acknowledged with a smile

''Yeah. I kept a seat for you''

My assumptions were correct.

''Thanks''

I sat beside him and we watched the game.

Drew brought out a cigarette from his pocket and started smoking.

I arched an eyebrow

"At a game" I said "really?"

He blew two rings of smoke in the air.

"I don't care"

"You know you could get expelled right?"

He shrugged

"Life is short, so why not rebel once in a while"

I chuckled shaking my head. He really did have a point there.

I wish I could live my life the way Drew did; care free and unbothered about what people think

Unfortunately, I have an image to uphold

"That's not allowed" a boy behind us said

"Mind your fucking business" Drew snapped at him

The boy turned away in fear.

We watched the game in silence but at a point I realize Drew wasn't concentrating. He seemed lost in his thoughts

"What's got Drew Parker's head stuck in the clouds?" I asked

He scoffed

"Like you care"

"Jeez I was just asking a question. Be nice for once"

"Look who's talking"

"I know I'm mean but I'm way better than you"

"I wouldn't hold my breath on that love"

The game was getting boring.

Why did I come to this in the first place?

Oh yeah, I have a bet to win

"You wanna get outta here?" Drew asked

In that moment, I was so grateful for him

"Yes please"

*

Drew took me to the rooftop of the school. I've never even been here before.

I never even knew there was a way to get up here. I smiled in content. The view looked divine.

We sat down on the roof, our legs dangling over the edge

"What made you come up here?" I asked him

"I don't know. I was just messing around school then I found the flight of stairs that led here"

"You come here often then?"

"Yes. Its a good spot to get smoke and think. Its really dope to get high while having a perfect view of the sky you know"

"I feel you"

Drew was mysterious in a good and attractive way. It made me want to know more about him

I kept quiet thinking of what to say

''Uh... so why don't you have any friends?'' I asked him

"People come and go Bella. Nobody really knows the true meaning of friendship"

"Elaborate"

"Friendship means staying there even when things are tough. It means being there for the person physically and mentally. Who's willing to do that for me? People practically make way for me to pass in the hallway"

He started smoking again

"But you wouldn't know about that, would you?" He continued "you think those girls you hang out with are your friends just because they're pretty, you can go on shopping sprees and take hot selfies with them. Go broke and see if they'll stick around"

He wasn't wrong at all and that just made me scared. If I wasn't who I was, would I still really have friends?

''The sky's beautiful'' I commented, trying to lighten the mood

''Yeah, I guess''

''Someone told me that when our ancestors die they become stars watching over us'' I quoted from a movie

''You thief, you got that from lion king''

I gasped

''What?" He asked me

''Oh my gosh... Drew Parker. You watch the lion king''

''No... I just hear my little sister talk about it''

''You do!!"

''Fine, but no one hears about this unless you're dead''

"What's the worst you could do to me? " I questioned "pluck out my fake eyelashes?".

He laughed

"I'm serious Bella"

I put my hand on my chest

''Scouts honour'' I promised

''You're so fucking extra'' he shook his head

''I know. I really love the theme song. "ants ingonyama bagithi baba Sithi uhhmm ingonyama

Ingonyama"

"The fuck? You learned the lyrics too"

"Of course. I'm a huge fan"

We laughed at how goofy I was

"Do your friends know that the queen bee is like this?"

"Shut up" I giggled playfully punching his arm

''It never gets old'' I said

''Yeah''

He looked at me

''What?'' I asked him

''You're alright Bella'' he said "I used to think you were a spoilt stereotypical white privileged girl, I still do anyway. No offense"

I giggled

"None taken"

"Apart from that, you're pretty cool"

"Thanks Drew. So are you"

" Thanks"

We stayed in a comfortable silence for a while until his phone rang

'Hello? Okay" he answered

A black SUV was down waiting for him I guess

"That's my parol officer" he said "I have to go"

He stood up and dusted the dirt off his jeans

" I had fun tonight'' I told him

''Me too''

I pulled out my phone

''Can I have your number?" I asked

"Why?"

''In case you wanna do this again sometime''

''What makes you think I'd want to hang out with you again?'

My hopes dropped. I felt embarrassed that I even brought it up

''Forget I asked'' I mumbled

He walked away

'071... '

I quickly typed it into my phone

''Thank you" I shouted

He didn't answer me. He just went downstairs and straight to the car

I watched as it drove away

Later that night I sent him a text when I was about to sleep

Me: Hey its Bella

I waited for his reply

Drew: What's up?

Me: I'm good, you? '

Drew: Same

Me: Goodnight😘

Drew: Eww I don't want cooties

Me: ouch

Drew: kidding, night

I dropped my phone and went to bed with a big smile on my face

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