Chapter 9: Rivalry

Dawn Everhart

There's nothing I loathed more than an arrogant tall-popper who brags on his daddy's money. We crossed paths before I confounded he was Xavier's acquaintance. The truth made it quite acrimonious for me to even think that he'll be a bother if Xavier smothers me often.

Things made it worse when I evoked him and got into a terrible dispute with him inside a public mall that must got him bear a grudge on me.

What do I care? I don't give a damn about that. Let's be fair, I basked in his anger and it gave me pleasure to see him deteriorate with my words.

I'd love to see him fall from the cliffs of success.

I would've picked a fight with him there and then if Xavier hadn't cut our verbal war and dragged me away from him.

"I appreciate you standing up for yourself, but you could've just let him slide. He's always like that. You didn't have to take it too far." Xavier explained, hoping I'd understand.

Nope.

He's cute, but just because his friend insulted me in front of him doesn't mean I am restricted to do anything just because they're besties.

"Trust me, I would gladly let him off. But that was way too much." I told him.

"He is not the man you'd mess with. I don't even know if I can keep you away from him for long so you don't end up battered like the rest."

"Who said I'm getting battered by him?" I snorted.

"Look, I appreciate your bravery, but he is not some average guy, Dawn. I'm worried about you."

"Fine, I'll let him off this time." Hell no.

"Great." He exhales, slowly breaking to a smile.

"But tell your friend if he utters a word on me, I'll give him a taste of torment for the rest of the year." I was gonna do it anyway.

Upset, I snatched the things I bought from his hand and left him outside the mall as I walked back home in a fast pace that got me out of breath the moment I stepped into the penthouse. My Pompom-Purri things felt like weights on my hands as I hurried to my bedroom to unpack them and get my things ready for tomorrow's sleepover.

"You never told me you like, those..." Mother stared at me unhinged as I threw the beige backpack on the living room couch.

"I don't." I sighed. "I don't have a choice either."

"So I guess it's still you." She broke into a smile.

"What's that supposed to mean?" I looked at her skeptically.

"Nothing." She replied.

-

I came out of the shower to find hundreds of messages on my phone as it buzzed like crazy. I ignored it and went to change and the moment I came out of my wardrobe. Now it's over 55 missed calls in 5 minutes. I answered Xavier's number first and opened my laptop in hopes to see my name on the results.

"Yes?" I answered the call.

"Dawn, I wanted to tell you I'm sorry." Xavier's voice on the phone replied filled with anxiety.

"You didn't have to." I replied, busy scrolling through the school's website.

"I know he is arrogant ever since his father got promoted to one of the high rankings in my dad's business."

"It's his father not him." I smirked.

"Yeah, but he's a smart guy. A good one too." He reasoned.

"I don't know about either of those."

"I'll tell him to let you off and consider it a 'quits'." He suggests.

"Oh no, that'll get me more upset."

"Are you seriously gonna pick a fight with him?"

"I don't see anything wrong on humbling a rotten king."

"Dawn. Whatever he says, you know I don't care whatever it is about you."

"Bye-bye." I hung up.

He was overreacting. I was just gonna teach him a thing about messing with the wrong person. I then called Jenna.

"Finally. Why aren't you replying to my texts and calls?" Jenna picked it up like she was waiting for it her whole life.

"I was in the shower." I told her. "Anyways, did I make it to the team?"

"Yeah, no doubt. Didn't you look at the page I told you?"

"I did hours ago." I replied exasperated.

"Oh, they just posted it."

"Then it's not my fault."

"Whatever. By the way, is it true?"

"What?"

"That you and Xavier are dating?"

Shit.

I knew I couldn't avoid him all day so I went and tried to know him. Then he went along saying we are dating in front of Jenna. Now she's asking me if it's true or not.

Truthfully, I'd say no. That is easy if we aren't betrothed yet. But this is a different story. I wanna say no, badly. But that would mean I'm denying my relationship with him like it's a bad thing. Who knows what would happen after that?

"Dawn?" Jenna asked again.

"Uh yeah." I replied.

"So?"

"Yes."

"What? It's true?"

"Yes." My heart raced as I brainstormed to come clean or not.

...

"Jenna. What's the matter?" I asked as she was silent for a moment.

"Nothing. It's just..." She replied hesitantly.

"What? Tell me what's up." I demanded.

"Well, Caroline has been fawning on him for many years despite her many boyfriends." Jenna explained.

"What?" I'm sure I heard that wrong.

"Caroline's been chasing him for many years."

"And you said she has many boyfriends?" I asked.

Jenna sighed over the phone.

"That's why I didn't want you in the cheerleading club. Caroline's one of those girls who feel like they can have whatever boy they like. She's dated almost all the guys in school except for Xavier which she told me he's the one for her. Now that you have him, I don't think you and Caroline are gonna..." She faltered.

"And don't you feel like backstabbing your friend by telling me she's a whore?" I said flatly.

"Oh, we're not really friends. She's only with me because I'm smart." She grumped.

"Poor you." I faked.

"I don't like her though." Jenna said.

"Well, if she has a problem with that, I'll see what I can do." I sighed. "Thanks for telling me."

"About the sleepover..."

"Not a word about him should be discussed during then." I hung up.

It was supposed to be a lowkey life in a new school and now it's all shattered. I can feel myself sighing at all possible worse events coming my way as time ticks withe every second. That'll be the worst nightmare I'll have in my journey for real.

How misfortune must favor me everywhere.