XIV | Confidence

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If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals.

-J.K. Rowling

XIV | CONFIDENCE

"You look like utter shit," Ronnie admitted to me. It was the first period and Reece had only texted me to say that he couldn't pick me up, I was slightly annoyed at him, I had to quickly drive myself to school in hopes of not being late.

"Well, I sure do feel like shit," I groaned, plopping down on my chair. I knew I looked like it. My eyes are dark with bags beneath and my hair looks like a birds nest, mostly because I had to quickly put my hair up in a messy bun, which looked like shit. I also had to quickly pull on sweats that - you can guess - looked like shit. In conclusion, I am now a shit.

"Ugh, don't tell me it's Brooke again, cause I swear--".

"It's not Brooke, I'm just naturally tired," I reassured her.

She gave me a look of disbelief, looking over my half-assed appearance. "There's a fine line between being tired and looking like complete shit."

"Ronnie, that doesn't even make any sense, so shut up," I snapped and she only chuckled.

"Anyway, have you found this mysterious guy to set me up with?" Ronnie asked. How was I going to tell her Jake didn't have any interest in her? I would never want to hurt her. The only thing i could think off was searching for someone else.

"Erm, still searching'" I gave her a quick tight smiled. She stared at me as if she knew I was lying but decided not to pry. I thanked the heavens that she didn't.

"--and then Jim totally took my target, I wanted to kill him!" Chase exclaimed as we approached my locker. It was a free period for me and Chase would soon have to head to his own class.

I turned to him, before placing my book bag in my locker, "for the tenth time Chase, I do not care about the dumb idiotic game you and your geek friends play," I stressed. I don't get why so many people were obsessed with that game. I tried it once, well, rather Chase forced me to play it once and I immediately got bored of it soon after starting.

Chase scoffed, "you don't have to be so mean about it," he pouted, receiving an eye roll from me. I brought out my Jane Eyre book before I slammed my locker shut.

"I don't care. Now go to your next class and leave me alone, before Miss Haston gives you detention again for being late," I practically ordered.

"Sometimes I think she just gives me detention so I can be alone with her because I turn her on," he said proudly.

My face twisted in disgust, "you're disgusting and I sometimes question how Laurianne deals with you." I said truthfully and he smirked.

"When the sex is good, you never want to leave," he licked his lips and I closed my eyes, taking a deep breathe in before opening them again.

"Please leave my presence before I castrate you," I spoke truthfully. All he did was smirk before turning on his heel. I watched as he walked down the hallways until his figure was completely gone. Idiot, I thought as I walked down the empty halls.

Reece said there was a place on the rooftop to chill so I figured, maybe this would be the perfect time to actually go up there. It took me about half of my free period to find where the rooftop was actually located, despite being in this school for two year-odd. I walked up the final stairs and opened up a brown door before entering into the cold, breezy rooftop. I was grateful I decided to wear a jacket today.

I looked around, impressed at what I saw. There were flowers scattered around, growing in their own large patches, each flower separately beautiful. Also, four benches sat in place, along with some tables and chairs accompanying them.

How come I never knew this place even existed?

This would have been the perfect place for me to sleep and not be scolded by a teacher while doing so because I'm sure no teacher comes up here. If they did, would I get in trouble?

I sat at a nearby brown bench, the cold, soothing wind blowing gently over me as I flipped through the pages of one of my favorite books, besides Harry Potter of course. I was deep into the book, that I had not realized someone had walked in.

"Surprised to see you here," I looked up to see Reece, Miles and Jake all standing near the door, all with greeting smiles on their face. I did a mental sigh of relief that they didn't look like they were in a fight, or in a cult...I should really stop with the accusations.

Reece's still wounded face haunted me from time to time. I hated to see him like that.

I quickly closed my book and smiled at all three of them, "hey, I have a free period, so I decided - why not come here?" I informed softly. I hoped I wasn't intruding with being here. They all nodded and Reece sat next to me, wrapped his lightly muscled arms around me. Butterflies immediately engulfed my stomach.

Why do I have butterflies in my stomach? No, no, no, you do not like Reece! You do not like Reece!

YOU CAN'T HAVE FEELINGS FOR REECE!

I chanted in my head repeatedly. I told myself this was a 'no feelings attached fake dating relationship'. I like Xavier, not Reece. Yup, Ree-- I mean Xavier.

Jake and Miles both brought out a cigar and lit it. I studied Reece. He was just looking straight ahead, clearly deep in thought and I didn't want to interrupt him.

"So, Violetta, you coming to the party tomorrow?" Miles asked, taking a big puff of his cigar.

I looked at Reece but he was still zoned out, I turned to Miles and smiled, "oh nah, especially not on a school night," I spoke. Even though the past party was on a school night.

"Oh well, that's a shame." He shrugged.

"Yeah, I heard there's going to be strippers," Jake said smirking.

"Will male strippers be there as well?" I asked and immediately regretted it as all the boys laughed at me. I mentally facepalmed, not believing I literally said that out loud.

"Well, I'm bored, so I'm leavin'," Reece spoke suddenly, standing up and looking to me. "You comin'?" He asked.

I shook my head no. "Can't, sorry, my perfect attendance still must be in good tact," I grinned and he shook his head with a chuckle.

"Suit yourself," Reece said, walking towards the door and I hesitantly bit my lip.

Ugh, Violetta, you have been a goody two shoes throughout your sixteen years of living on this earth. I think it is about time you do something actually fun besides binge-watch Netflix and read great books.

"Wait!" I piped and all three boys looked to me as they were about to leave through the brown door.

"Let's get going shall we," I said smiling and all three boys smirked at me.

This was a bad idea, a very bad idea. I said to myself as we walked into a what seemed like a club. I rolled my eyes when I spotted strippers dancing.

Seriously, I skip one day of school for the first time in my whole life and they bring me to a strip club.

We sat down on a four-person table, me sitting next to Reece and Miles and Jake sitting across from us.

I groaned. "I can't believe you guys brought me to a strip club and only a female one. You guys seriously suck," I spoke, disappointed. I wish I had brought my school bag to clean the seat with my hand sanitizer. This whole place was full of sin.

Miles smirked, "well, you never asked us where we were going," he pointed out. I hated that he was right. "Besides, this may be a female strip club, but at least we get to see girls basically naked," he watched a girl twirl around a pole, making sure to push out her bum, letting the men (mostly) see.

I mentally gagged, my inner feminist was dying to speak, but then again, the girls volunteered to be strippers. As long as it was not by force I was okay with it.

"Yeah, well I'm not into girls, so I'd rather not," I said.

"If you want, we can go somewhere else." Reece wrapped his arms around my shoulder.

Sweet mother of Jesus.

Xavier,

Xavier,

Xavier!

Remember he's the guy you like and not Reece because Reece still loves Brooke and always will. He is off limits.

I smiled at him. "No, we can just stay here, it's okay," I shrugged and Miles clapped. I looked at Jake to see a stripper near him whispering something in his ear as he smirked to him myself. Yup, definitely should have stayed in school.

Just then, a waitress came over, her boobs basically popping out of her tight shirt, her short mini skirt barely covered her ass too. She walked up to us, making sure her breasts bounced as she walked. How delightful...

"Hey boys," she cooed, winking at them. She then looked at me and gave me a fake smile, which I gladly returned, bitch...

"What can I get you?" She asked.

"Three vodkas and--" Reece paused to look at me.

"Oh! Lemon tea with a little bit of ginger added to it," I spoke without thinking where I was, causing four pairs of eyes to look at me weirdly. What? I didn't know strip clubs did not have tea. This is literally my first time being here. "I'm joking," I tried to save, "I'll just take a coke, thanks."

"Anything to eat?" She asked.

"Fries will be fine," Jake said to her. She nodded and briskly left.

"So, Violetta, may I ask why you are dating our annoying best friend?" Miles asked smirking. I knew Reece gave a glare to him.

I cleared my throat, "because I really like him," I spoke with a smile. I didn't know if this was a lie or a fact. I'm still very confused on how I feel towards Reece, but I know I still have feelings for Xavier. I know it's stupid, liking someone who you have barely ever spoken to, but I'm sure most people have experienced my type of situation.

Miles smirked at me while Jake wasn't even paying attention, as he already was typing on his phone, probably saving the stripper's number because I saw her slide him a piece of paper while talking to him.

Just then our order arrived and we all dug in.

It was hard to eat while Reece's arm was still wrapped around my shoulder, not because it was heavy or obstructive but simply because I was so nervous.

After Miles had finished eating, he stood up, "I'm gonna go watch the strippers dance," he said smirking. I rolled my eyes at his comment as he quickly walked off.

Jake smirked, standing up as well, "and I'll gladly join you to that, my brother," I mentally rolled my eyes at the two as they made their way to the dancing strippers.

I looked over to Reece to see that he was texting someone on his phone. Was he texting Brooke? Violetta, it shouldn't matter if he was or not, the whole plan is to help them get back together, right? You should be happy if they are actually texting. I even decided to keep my mouth shut on the assault Brooke did to me yesterday, as a friend I wanted Reece to be happy, so he didn't need to know that.

So why does the image of Reece and Brooke getting back together hurt you?

Shut the hell up conscience!

"Hey, you okay?" I turned to see Reece looking at me with concern. I smiled at him and nodded.

"Yeah just really excited for being here...in a strip club..." I said.

That's your best excuse Violetta? Jesus can I actually switch with someone else's body.

I rolled my eyes, realizing it was so stupid that I was actually having a mental fight with myself.

Reece laughed and looked to me with humour in his eyes. "I didn't know you were into strippin'," He gave me a confused smile - one of entertainment. He clearly found it funny I 'enjoyed this'.

Dear God...

I bit my lip, this can either go two ways, I tell him I'm a str--wait this is so stupid, why would I even consider that? Violetta Ariel Maxwells is no stripper.

"I mean, I just like their confidence," I lied.

He smirked and looked towards the stripping direction. I followed his gaze to see many strippers getting up close and personal with Miles as he drank a big bottle of alcohol. Jake recorded him, laughing while doing so.

Reece gulped down the rest of his vodka before turning to me, "wanna join me with the strippers?" He offered.

I rolled my eyes. Is this guy for real? "I think I'm good," I stated, he chuckled and got up. I watched him as he joined Miles and Jake with the strippers.

Yup, once again, should have stayed in school...

When I came back home after Reece had dropped me off, I was surprisingly greeted by my parents, who both had scowls on their faces as they sat down on one of the living rooms couches. Did someone die? No, they would have been crying.

"Violetta Ariel Maxwells, why did the principal call to inform us that you were not in school?" My Mom said crossing her arms, staring at me hard. Well fuck.

"Um I was - screw it, I skipped school to hang out with Reece and his friends, I'm sorry, please don't ground me!" I begged, almost going on my knees.

My parents glanced at each other before smiling, "I've always liked that Reece kid, such a nice boy." My Dad said in awe, despite only meeting Reece once and completely forgetting that I had skipped school.

My mom agreed, "I know right, plus that accent, oh God David," my Mom gasped dramatically as she and dad began to gossip about Reece and I's relationship right in front of me. I rolled my eyes and decided to retreat to my room. I had the weirdest parents in the world.

I went to my bedroom to see Coco laying on the edge of my bed, sleeping soundly, slightly snoring. I sighed before changing into my nightwear and opening up my laptop, bringing out my earphones and picking up a still sleeping Coco as I rested her on my lap and began to play a movie to watch.


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