Chapter One || Lexi

High School, where to start? This hellhole that many teenagers call high school is a place that has its social dynamics, insane academic pressure, parties, gossip and so forth.

All you know vanishes when you're in high school. You walk through those doors with high hopes, and huge dreams but then you live your teenage years and realise, oh crap, life sucks and that's only in high school. Then the time comes where you have to start thinking about your stupid future and you realise high school is a place to start stressing about life, it pushes you to think about it all and plan for everything which is a buzzkill in my opinion.

Truth is it's not about the educational institution, it's about the years of your life that you spend at said institution. From fourteen to eighteen and believe me when I say it sucks to be in high school trying to get an education while experiencing self-growth.

From trying out new sports, new dressing styles, making friends and then forming friendships that could hopefully last a lifetime. Then there's also, figuring out your place in society. It's a lot and knowing that I have most of my stuff together makes me feel put together and less normal because at this point everyone's messed up.

At least my group of friends is not as messed up as this whole school, sure my friend group is a bit odd, as I am the only girl in said friend group. I met my people. I found my lifelong friends which most can't do.

"Lexi what on earth are you doing?" My best friend looks at me weirdly. Nick and I have gone through crazy stuff together in our six years of friendship. We met in middle school, and we've been inseparable ever since, even in high school where everyone calls the super popular jock, Nick although his name is actually Nickolas.

Nick, for short, is the star quarterback on the football team, has a huge following, and a big number of girls who just love him so damn much. To Nick however, none of that matters, because he is super focused on one thing, which is getting a football scholarship to university.

He's my inspiration because he doesn't let anything distract him. He plays football, is the vice-captain and to top it off his also taking mostly AP classes. To be quite frank, our friendship dynamic is interesting, because we are the opposite in every way. He's smart, funny, cool, or whatever while I'm none of those things, I do try academically though!

"Dude, Lex. Come on."

Right, he spoke. He now gives me a black stare and sighs then starts to pack his things away.

"Yeah sorry, you know how I get in Math, it's so draining and everything." I explain as I begin to pack my things up for the next class.

"It's cool Lex, wait for me after school?" he asks me. We both have our own cars, so I ask him why.

"My cars being checked, so I have no ride. Dad took me this morning." Oh.

"Okay, I guess I'll see you."

"See you." He turns around and leaves me at my desk, as he leaves to go to his next class.

***

"Did you guys read the latest post about Sam?" Chase asks as he plants his food down hastily and takes a seat.

"Nope." I answer after taking the last bite of my burger.

"Well, the Seer was just writing about how Sam is running for Valedictorian." He quickly says before he turns his attention to his food. I on the other hand remain quiet as I try to comprehend and make sense of it all, Nick sighs before elaborating. "The students with high GPAs already qualify but the valedictorian is then chosen from those qualifying students. The Valedictorian is appointed according to the number of votes he or she can get, from the student council, every club and society in this school and the staff." Jeez, that sounds exhausting.

"Wow. So, Nickolas Carter, what are you going to do to win over the hearts of the schools' elite." I smile as my brain already fills with campaign ideas and so forth, as much as I find Everson High's traditions boring and unnecessary, I'm quite intrigued by this one because my best friend is involved.

I think back to the Seer's post which I haven't seen but I'm sure half the school already has. The Seer is an anonymous person writing about people in our high school and when I say writing, I mean, exposing people and starting rumours, basically being the one person in this school who knows how to light a fire and watch it burn.

"I'm just going to hang, talk to people and not suffocate them with all the reasons why I should stand in front of them and say a dumb speech." He shrugs before turning his attention back to his food.

Hmm.

"So, Sam has a pretty fair chance, since a lot of the runners will be probably doing the same thing." Will nods, subtly in support of his half-brother.

I then take out my phone and start scrolling through Twitter, since I'm not really into this conversation.

As I'm about to like a post, I sense eyes on me, so I look up to find everyone at my table already looking at me.

"What?" I ask.

"I asked if you're coming to Bell's party tonight." Will's girlfriend's party, hard pass.

"Yeah, no. Bell literally hates me for no reason at all, and I'm pretty sure Aubrey's going to be there too."

Will's girlfriend and her other little best friends, Aubrey and Layla hate me too. And I don't even know why, all I know is one is younger than me and is awfully annoying and the other two are in my grade and are awfully annoying too. Point is, I don't like them.

"Everyone will be there Lexi and, I'll be there, isn't that enough to convince you?"

"No dude." I scoff then grab my phone, to text my twin brother, Alex.

Me: Hi, text me back. Miss you!!

Yes, we have similar names because our parents were lazy and terrible with surprises. They never knew we were twins, they thought they were getting a baby boy, so on our birthday day instead of thinking of another name for me they decided on giving me a female variation of Alexander which is Alexandra.

"Don't worry Will, we will come including Lexi even if I have to drag her out of her room or bribe her with pizza." Nick says, then drinks his soda.

"If I'm getting pizza, I will probably reconsider." I say with a serious face, and everyone starts laughing.

"Of course, you would," Chase smiles then turns to Nick.

"Carpool?" He asks Nick when my phone finally vibrates.

Alex: Hey loser, how's it going?

Me: Meh, the guys are trying to get me to go to a party that might actually get me killed.

Alex: I just realised something…

Me: ??

Alex: I kind of missed your dry crappy humour.

That makes me laugh out loud at his silliness.

Me: Well, I miss your dumb face and your dumbness

Alex: My, my is Lexi bored without me to entertain her with my 'dumb face' and amazing sense of humour of course.

Me: Shut up, you ruined it.

Alex: You shut up. Miss you so much.

Me: Aww

Alex: Shut it, I have to go, talk to you later.

Alex: Oh, and give the guys a greeting for me.

I pass on the message, before I fall into silence as they continue talking.

***

"Why do you hate Bell?" The words stop my hand movement, well, there goes my concentration.

I take a deep breath before turning my head, to face Will fully. We're in art class, and he decides to talk about this here, in the class we both love and enjoy.

"According to the Oxford Dictionary and my understanding of the Bible, hate is a strong word. I prefer dislike better."

"Okay Alexa," I roll my eyes at the nickname. "Why do you dislike Bell so damn much."

"She dislikes me, remember." I say as I lean closer to his station to inspect his piece. It's a painting, one that'll look magnificent when its dry.

"Yeah, I do, but I know that's not for no reason, so tell me what makes your blood boil about her, that you can get over it." I slowly shake my head. There is no getting over the agenda I may or not have with Isabella Carter. And it's not even about me, it's about the look she gave me when the guys spoke about our spontaneous trip to Nick's family beach house with his family. She looked at me with disgust, as if I were the tollgate between the two of us.

"Will I'm so sorry you are confused about Bell and me, but if you want clarity, you should be having this conversation with her since she started whatever this is between the two of us." I then turn to painting, since we'll soon be soon resuming with our actual assignments for the semester.

He drops it with a sigh and gets back to his own work. I'm the only girl in our friend group so that means I've gotten my fair share of ugly looks from people, but what really sucks is when I have to deal with that with my friends' girlfriends. So far, I can count on three fingers how many nice girlfriends I've encountered, two dated Chase while the other was Nick's girl. All of Will's 'girls' have been surprisingly unpleasant to me.

As soon as the bell rings, signalling the end of class and the end of this school day, I get my stuff and make my way to the Football field since I have to wait for Nick. I'm about to exit the school hallway when I'm stopped by someone.

"Lexi Beverly." I turn around to see who it is, and I'm faced with the guy who was a hot topic this morning, and the one I haven't spoken to in a long time.

Sam Larson, the hottest and smartest guy (don't tell Nick I said that) in this school, the brother to Layla (one of Bell's close little friends), Will's half-brother and one of the stupidly rich pricks in this school.

"Larson what's up?" I ask him with a small, forced smile. I haven't spoken to him in a while, for a reason. So, I genuinely don't know what's up with him.

"Did you read to the post today?" he asks me as if we have been friends for years.

"Nope I didn't, why?" I fold my arms across my chest.

"No reason, do you maybe have an inkling of who it could be?" he asks me.

"No, why?" I squint my eyes. This morning's post wasn't bad, but the others of him were...something.

"Because this person really needs to stop this shit. I can't be having this during the election period. Some of us actually need to put this somewhere on university applications, just to look more eligible."

He says quickly, while he scratches his scalp. I resist the urge to scoff as I hear the words eligible fall from his mouth. He can't be serious though, what does he have to worry about? He has a perfect GPA score, plays soccer and is captain, is in the student council, is part of at least five clubs and societies. He has no issues when it comes to eligibility unlike the rest of us.

Noticing his panic, I try to calm him down by saying. "Larson, it's not a big deal, the Seer could just be fooling around this time and besides it's not like the school wasn't going to find out eventually." I say softly and shrug at the end.

Although the most recent post could've had a negative impact if he really wants to win. He just shakes his head, at me words.

"This is not fooling around, and you know it." He mutters.

"That is true. Why aren't you talking to your buddies about this?" I ask him, now moving to lean on the wall.

"Can I be honest?" He straightens up.

"That's what I'm asking for Larson."

"I don't trust any of my buddies." He says, emphasising on the word buddies.

"Not any of them? Why?" I know the reason because I wouldn't even trust them if they were my friends. Especially since some of his friends are also top students.

Talk about silent competition.

"Because Beverly, A-grade students never really have friends. On that note I kind of wanted to ask you something." This makes me stand straighter.

"Yeah?"

"I need your help for my campaign, to make myself more," he pauses before he continues as if it hurts for him to say the words, "likeable." I don't say anything as I stare at him.

"I may be popular because of soccer and all, but let's face it nobody likes me. And by having you in my corner as maybe my," another pause as if he's second guessing all this, "girlfriend and I don't know maybe my campaign manager." I blink once, the twice as the request sinks in.

"Campaign manager?" I ask slowly as I try to comprehend this mess. I've watched year after year as the seniors do all this circus shit as if it was really important and now, he's asking me. To. Help. Him.

I was willing, for Nick, but Sam Larson? Not so much. My eyes search his face for any emotion and all I see is hope. Flippin' hell. The girlfriend part is even a huge ask, the campaign part is something else, but I don't say that.

Instead, I say. "I'll think about it." Before I walk away. As I turn to leave the hallway he shouts out.

"Please think long and hard about it."

In which I did.