Chapter 10

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October 14th, Wednesday

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My confidence from yesterday must've rolled over into today because for school the next day, I decided to try and look cute.

I had on some nice fitted dark blue skinny jeans (no sweats), a cute black long-sleeved shirt that had a designer pocket of gold glitter (no hoodie), and I had on my black converse (no Uggs), and my hair was up again.

Lotte was drinking her Pumpkin Spice Frappe at her locker on her phone waiting for me, and when she saw me her eyes nearly popped.

"OMG Dee!" She squealed. The few people that were in the hall looked over at us, but I accepted her greeting and even saw Celeste with Nikki and Jasmine a little ways ahead of us. "You're so cute!!"

"Thanks girl. Is that mine?" I asked her sarcastically at the Cotten Candy Frappe.

"It is Wednesday," she gestured smiling. I took it chuckling. "So girl..." She left a dramatic pause. "Tell me....EVERYTHING." I gasped nearly forgetting.

"Omg, okay..."

I began to tell her every detail from yesterday with Asher, from him opening the door for me, to us hugging in the parking lot before we departed and just me remembering what happened yesterday made me even happier.

It was maybe five minutes of me finishing the conversation with Charlotte and Asher came by.

"Dee!" He greeted.

"Ashhher," I dragged out.

"Annnnd Charlotte," he pointed to Lotte. I looked at her.

"Asher," was her greeting. "I hear you took my girl out yesterday from some tacos," she crossed her arms with squinted eyes. I chuckled.

"Yes I did and I have to say, I know why you guys are friends. Dee's a fun person to hang out with," he glanced at me. I blushed giggling.

"Of course she is boy, that's why we're best friends," she commented back. I laughed and Asher sighed.

"Well, it seems I can't get you to like me, but I guess I'll see you in physics Dee," he waved.

"Hehe, bye Asher," I blushed.

"See you too Lotte," he smiled. I gasped as he called her Lotte.

"Don't call me Lotte stupid. You have to have a privilege for that," she told him upfront. He chuckled coolly.

"Oh alright. Sorry Charlotte. I will see you later then," he corrected.

"Hmhuh, sure," she nodded with narrow eyes. Asher and I chuckled and he left with a small wave and I did too. "Ugh, now I don't even know if that's the same boy you went out with yesterday," she sighed tiredly. "He's so annoying."

"Omg Lotte, you were totally asking for it," I smiled exchanging my books in my locker.

"No way! But I'll back off. Besides...." Suddenly as she was stating her sentence, Jake came by with Kevin and she glanced at me after looking at them and she finished, "I still have Kevin." They came by and stopped by us and Lotte slammed her locker closed.

"Kevin..." She famously squinted her eyes at him.

"Lotte..." He said back with an raised eyebrow and a lifted chin.

"Hello Kitty," Jake smiled moving back and forth on his heels.

"Hello Jake," I said back with a titled head. We all kind of stared at each other for a minute, pacing glances.

"Say Dee," Kevin called over to me. I looked at him. "You goin to the Halloween party in the near future right?" I shrugged.

"I guess am I now. Lotte already bought me a costume," I pointed to her rolling her eyes.

"You're welcome," she evil smiled at me. I breathe in smiling. "Hold up," Charlotte said awkwardly. We looked at her. "Does Jake Lander....have a book in his hands?" We all looked down at Jake's hand to see Bubble Gum and Cigarettes, with a folded page as a bookmark. I quickly looked at him and he looked at me too.

We can't let them find out.

"I just noticed that," Kevin commented. "You read Lander?" Jake paused a minute while I let him answer this.

"Yeah, it's alright. I just...decided I'll try it out," he shrugged changing his weight to left leg. I chuckled. I guess that's somewhat true.

"That's cool," I nodded my headed at him pretending I didn't know what was going on. "You're starting to look like me now..." Jake chuckled.

"And you're starting to act like me now," he nodded down at me. I looked down at myself as I actually looked presentable today and Jake and I just stared at each other for a split second until the first bell interrupted us.

"Guess we all better go our separate ways," Kevin mentioned. "See you Dawn," he looked at me.

"See you later," I semi waved.

"Um, you better text me in class today," Lotte threaten Kevin seriously. He chuckled.

"Alright, alright," he backed off. "I will." He began to walk away and Lotte tilted her head seeming agitated.

"What the heck? Uh, walk me to class," she demanded. Kevin chuckled nodding once. Charlotte was so aggressive, but the funniest person you'll ever meet at the same time. She turned to me sweetly.

"Bye Dee, see you at lunch...." I wiggled my fingers at her; she turned to Jake. "Bye....you." She looked at Jake up and down and shrugged her shoulder to Kevin and walked away slapping Kevin's arm for something he had said to her, but laughed and she ended up laughing too, and then it was just Jake and I.

"So you are dedicated," I smiled with crossed arms.

"Huh?" He asked me. I glanced my eyes at the book and back at him,

"To the book." He nodded.

"Oh yeah... It's actually pretty good. I finally read a little last night before bed. I'm better now," he nodded. I nodded too looking up at him smiling.

"That's good..." He was looking at me for a little until I heard heels hit the hard floor and it was Celeste with a firm face, but when I turned to her, she smiled brightly.

"Hey bbbbbaaaaabe," she grabbed Jake's face and pulled him in for a kiss. He didn't even get a chance to answer as she smothered her lips all over his. I rolled my eyes making sure I had everything from my locker. "What's up?" She turned to me stupidly when she finished.

"Oh hey Deeeee," she said sarcastically. "Nice outfit."

"Thanks," I said just as fake. "What? Do you not have this shirt in this color?" I asked her.

"Noo, it's kind of overrated," she scrunched her nose at me nodding. I nodded as I should've saw it coming.

"Really babe?" Jake asked her. I thought he was kidding, but it was actually pretty serious and he seemed mad she said that.

"What? I'm just sayin'," she said back rolling her eyes. She huffed her breath. "Whatever. So you goin' to Caleb's house party on the 31st?" Celeste asked me her arm over Jake's shoulder. 'Why would she care?' I thought disgustedly.

"Yes," I didn't look at her getting the last of my journals.

"Oh well, too bad you have no one to go with. Jake's taken," she had the nerve to say. I slammed my locker closed and turned to her. She jumped.

"That's...awesome Celeste," I held my Starbucks in my hand. She looked surprised at me for talking back.

Jake just stood there.

"Like I even WANTED to go with him," I faked smiled. Jake kind of fidgeted. "Instead being clingy and protective of your boyfriend, you should stop acting like a slut with him, but I guess that wouldn't matter because October the 31st is your time of year right?" I asked sarcastically. She just took it all in turning red. "You can wear your ugly mask and not be judged for it. In which I mean your personality." I tapped my chin thoughtfully. She was totally flustered by now.

"So that must be a win-win right?" I asked her with nod and a small smile. "Only you'd know."

"You little-" she began. But I talked over her.

"But I'm happy for you. Really. I am. And now you have a little accessory to go with it, yes?" I pointed my drink at Jake taking a sip. She stood there totally mad and I shrugged my shoulder still drinking my drink. Jake held in a laugh. I know I just insulted him, but honestly, I think he knew I didn't mean it.

Surprisingly.

"Well I better to get class. See you when I see you Celeste, hope you have a fab day, and bye Jake. It was nice chattin'." I winked then walked away to the library and when I did I got a text from Lotte that read,

8:18am
'R....O....T....F.....L.....' -Lotte

I turned back to see Celeste angrily talking to Jake and Lotte at the end of the hall laughing uncontrollably, yet internally with a thumbs up while Kevin waited for her smiling. I shook my head smiling too and I texted back,

8:19am
'Ikr;)' -me

I know then I acted like a bitch, but Celeste was asking for it. I don't like Jake nor was I even thinking about him. Celeste was just scared of me. Scared I'd take her place. Scared I'd take her boyfriend...but I didn't even want him.

I didn't want any of it.

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