Chapter 8: Accidental eavesdropper

Naomi's POV

Time trickled by slowly and it seemed as if the weekend would never come. Or maybe I was too excited for the book sale tomorrow.

As the bell rang signaling the end of class I wasted no time heading to my locker and then straight for the upstairs bathroom. Since it was upstairs it was hardly occupied so I always go there to read during lunch.

I go into my usual stall, I close the lid inspecting it to make sure its clean before I sit on it. About 10 minutes into reading my book I hear the slam open.

"What this about Mina?" I hear Riley's voice ask.

I stay quiet not wanting them to know I'm here. I start praying that they don't check the stalls and find out I'm here.

"You know exactly what its about." Mina tells her in a matter of fact tone.

They both stay quiet for an unusually long time  before Mina spoke up again. I assume they were having a staining contest.

"Don't play dumb with me Riley, you know its about Hero." She grits out.

Riley simply scoffs at her words.

"What about him? Mina." She says in mocking tone.

"Don't mock me. Riley." Mina says matching her tone. "Ever since he got here you've been acting like you own him. You and your friends."

"Oh please, it's been a week and he hasn't even spoken to any of you. Take a hint and stop embarrassing yourself."

"That's only because you've been forcing him to talk to all your friends. I saw what you did yesterday."

"What are you talking about?"

"To Camilla." Mina's tone became cocky again and Riley seemed to be affected by what she said.

"She deserved it." Riley scoffs in a lone tone.

"Your such a bitch. Anyways introduce him to us at the party tomorrow or I'll tell the whole school what you did to her."

"You wouldn't."

"I would. Try me."

"Whatever." Riley grits out.

"Let's see who he'll truly choose. Us. Or you." Mina says then I hear the sound of someone walking then the bathroom door opening and closing.

"Damn it!" My cousin screams angrily before kicking what I assume was one of the stall doors open.

The banging sound it made caught me offgaurd and I almost squeaked.

I held my breath until she left.

I decided to leave a few minutes after her and before anyone else came in.

I can't believe their arguing over who's clique gets hero. It's not even their choice to make.

The real question was should I tell him, ir warn him or something? Or would that be the same as what they were doing.

Would telling him be the same as forcing him to choose. Or would it be giving him an option he never knew he had.

Was even my place to tell him about anything of this? I was just unintentionally eavesdropping on their conversation, I shouldn't have heard any of that. Maybe it'll be better if I just leave this alone.

I tried to picture the outcome of the little tug of war over Hero but I couldn't see it. It doesn't matter who he chooses, he'll still be popular at the end of the semester. But if he's smart hell choose Riley since she's his neighbor and she gives him rides to and from school.

Why I'm I even thinking about this? It none of my business.

I shake my head clear of their dispute and head for my locker.

The school day went on as usual dispite what happened between my cousin and Mina in the bathroom.

By the end of the day, the whole school was buzzing about a party tomorrow, even the less popular kids where talking about it.

And as usual I was the only one who didn't know about it, the only who wasn't invited and the only one who won't be going.

"What are you wearing to the party tomorrow?" Amber asks her friend.

"I'm going to the mall to get something right now, I only found out about it today." The girl says.

"Me too, let's go get something together."

"Thanks your a life saver."

I subconscious start listening to everyone's conversation about going to the party as I mindlessly rearrange my locker.

"Hey your going to the party right?"

"Yeah, a hot senior call Brad invited me."

"OMG! I've seen him and he is smoking."

"You going to the party?" Hero says startling me for the second time this week. "Woah, calm down." He says with a smile.

I return his smile before going back to my locker.

"So are you?" He asks again and I look at him lost. "The party?" He says urging me for a an answer.

"Ohh. No, I'm not going." I tell him.

"Why not?" He asks confused.

"I wasn't invited. Besides I have something important to do tomorrow night." I tell him while returning his smile.

He shoves a few books into his locker before pulling out a jaket, he then closed it and leaned against it and started watching me.

"What?"

"Just wondering if that important thing is what had you so excited the other day"

"It actually is. How'd you know?"

"You have the same smile you had the other day." He tells me.

"No I don't."

He replies to my denial by laughing.

"Let's go." He says laughing lightly as he pulled me away from my locker and closed it, then he proceeded to pull.me out of the building.

"What are you doing?" I ask him confused and a bit embarrassed because of all the stares we were receiving.

"We need to get going or Riley's going to leave us here. I'm not in the mood to walk today." He says in a nonchalant tone.

"I don't care, I just take the bus."

"Nope. Let's go." He says dragging out the o.

When we finally get to Riley's car she and a few of the girls out of her clique were laughing and talking. Her back was turned to us and she laughed happily at something one of the girls said, there were 2 of them in total. One of them pointed to us and she turned around to look, a blank expression was on her face and all traces of laughter was gone.

"Hero, what's going on." She asks eyeing my elbow which he was holding on to.

"What do you mean?" He asks her.

"Why'd you bring Naomi along? I told you we were going to the mall after school." She explains with a confused expression.

"Isn't she coming alone?" He asks.

Riley doesn't answer and looks back at her friends for approval but and they look at the ground. I feel Hero's grip tighten on my elbow so I pull me had away from him.

"I don't want to go the mall. I have other plans." I tell them and quickly scurry away.

My throat burned with the hot tears I was desperately holding back as I hurried to the bus.

I took the same seat I took last time since it was empty. I took deep breaths trying to calm myself but was taken aback the the freshman from earlier this week sat next to me again.

"Hey." He says in the same timid voice I remembered vividly.

"Hey. Hows it going." Say.

"Um, I didn't introduce myself last time. I'm Jarred." He says fiddling his thumb.

I smile at his nervousness.

"I'm Naomi." I tell him and he simply nods.

We stay quiet for awhile, listening to everyone on the bus talking the party.

"Are you going?" Jarred asks out of nowhere.

"No. What about you?" I return is question.

"I wasn't invited."

"Me too."

"But your I senior." He says seemingly shocked and I just laughed at his genuine reaction.

"I don't want to go anyways. I have something important to do that night." I tell him with a smile.

"My older cousin from another school says I should crash it." He tells me looking down on his hand unsure of what to do.

"If you really want to go. Just go." I tell him with.

He looks at me shocked by my words.

Wanting some time to my self I decided to get off the bus two stops early.

"Have fun Jarred." I say as I got off the bus.

"Wait! This isn't even your stop!"

"I know. Have fun tomorrow!" I yell waving goodbye to him.

I'll be enjoying myself when I purchase those books. I say to myself with a smile.