Chapter Eight

Eight

❀

Surprisingly, NJ and I didn't get a punishment. Our guidance counselor only nagged at us and gave us a warning but I was still mad at NJ. So, by the time we were dismissed by our guidance counselor, I got on my feet and walked out of the office, leaving him behind. But of course, he followed me.

"You are still mad? We didn't get a punishment and you're still mad? Don't be like that! Come on, cheesecake!" He said while following me. I stopped on my track when he called me "cheesecake" . I really don't like people calling me names like that. I mean, I am a human! Not food! And besides . . . besides . . . it sounds like an e-endearment to me. I-it's embarrassing, y'know?

I turned around and faced him with this serious look on my face. "Don't call me that. I don't like it." I said. At first, he looked confused but suddenly, his lips curved into a smirk.

"What? Cheesecake?" He said and I threw him a glare. "What's wrong with cheesecake? It's much better than nerdy or dork or whatever they call you."

I crossed my arms ``I'd rather be called nerd or dork than to be called cheesecake, y'know?" I said and continued. "At least those names are my traits. I mean, I really am a dork. I am clumsy. I am no good. I am --"

I trailed when I felt NJ's hand on my shoulder and looked at me directly in my eyes which caught me in surprise.

"W-what now?" I stammered.

"You really like belittling yourself, huh?" He said.

"I-I am just telling the truth!" I said. What? It's true! I am a clumsy girl who's not good at anything and has no talent.

He caressed my cheeks which gave me goose bump . . .

In a good way.

"Listen, you may not see it but you are pretty. I'm sure you have a talent but haven't discovered it yet but I'm sure you will. You are beautiful inside and out. Believe me."

I could hear and feel my heart pounding fast like crazy. My heartbeat wasn't in its normal condition right now. I wonder if he could hear it? I could also feel my face warmed up so I shook my head and quickly stepped back.

"D-don't touch me!" I yelled as I pushed him and ran away from him.

What is going on?!

To be honest, I've never felt this feeling before. My heart always beats normally and I've never blushed before like crazy so why?

I was running when I heard a cry and girls laughing so I stopped and followed the voice. The sound led me to our school's backyard, under the big pine tree to be exact.

"You deserve that, fame whore!" I heard a girl said then laughed. I peeked behind a wall and there, I saw Audrey Ford, being bullied and was crying. They were throwing paint balls at her and the bullies looked like they were having fun.

"You think you're pretty? You're just famous because you are rich! You used your money to become famous!" Another girl said as she threw the paintball on her. I think her name is Archie. If I remember correctly, she's in the same class as mine last year.

"T-that's not true! I didn't use my money to get famous! Heck, I DON'T WANT FAME!!" Audrey yelled. Another girl walked up to her and grabbed her hair which made Audrey scream and gritted her teeth in pain.

"Fighting back now huh?" Another girl growled. I think her name is Angela -- really suits her -- sarcasm included. Suddenly, a smirk formed her lips.

She pushed Audrey down the mud and said, "Girls! Do it!"

The rest of the girls smirked and stepped forward. I saw them pull out a pocket knife which made my eyes widened. I suddenly saw myself in her. When I was still in my freshmen year, I always got bullied like that. There are no days when I don't get a wound. Seems like my bullies have a habit of hurting me both emotionally and physically huh?

Nice.

Audrey suddenly looked scared. Usually, I would just ignore students who were being bullied. But this is different. The bullies are overdoing it and Audrey doesn't deserve that kind of treatment. I know I couldn't fight those girls so what I did is, I ran as fast as I could and grabbed Audrey's hand. She looked really surprised when she saw me. Well, she's not the only one who got surprised. Even the other girls.

"Let's run!" I said.

And we ran.

And they didn't follow.

Which was a great thing.

* * *

We found ourselves in the garden, panting heavily as we sat on the bench. We didn't really run far away but for me, it feels like we ran in a marathon. Probably because I have weak stamina.

"W-why did you do that?" Audrey asked, catching her breath.

I leaned on the back rest of the bench and looked up at the sky. "I don't really know why." I responded. "Maybe because you remind me of myself back when I was still in high school. You see, I was always getting bullied like that like you. Except you're famous and I'm not." I sure am really honest.

In the corner of my eyes, I saw her smile. "Oh, but you're famous too."

"Yeah. Famous because of NJ" when I realized that I called him NJ, I quickly said, "Johnson, I mean."

She giggled. "You two are so close. You even have a nickname for him." When I looked at her, she was clasping her hands and was smiling widely. "Like a real couple!"

"W-we are not a couple!" I defended myself. But well, I sounded more defensive than I intended, making her smirk.

"I didn't say that you are a couple. I only said LIKE a real couple." She corrected me. She moved closer to me and nudged me in my waist.

"Hey, do you like him? Do you?" She asked over and over again like a kid. I didn't really expect that Audrey would have that kind of attitude. She's kind of childish and is quite nosy. It's just funny that just a while ago, she looked terrible. And now, she looked so excited and intrigued about me and NJ.

Anyways, I moved back and shook my hand in defense. "No! I-i don't like him that way."

But the truth is, I really wasn't sure about that.