Chapter Nine - What the Heck is a First Love?

"Okay, let's go," I quickly said when my voice had returned to me.
"Hold on a second. Who is this guy?" Hunter asked, stopping me in my path.
"Get out of my way," I said assertively.
"Who is it?"
"Who is who?" I asked innocently, beginning to get severely annoyed.
"The guy...that one right there," Hunter answered, gesturing towards Archer.
"A student?" I questioned.
'You know what I mean." His voice lowered significantly.
"Am I to report all my associations, friends, family to you? Who the heck are you anyway? You're not my mum, my dad, my boyfriend or even a close friend!" I exclaimed.

"Okay guys. Break it up," Ace said, stepping in between us. He wheeled Hunter away, but glanced back before going into the hallway.

"He's back," Ella sighed.
"Evidently," I grumbled.
"You still like him?" she teased.

"No. It's just...I didn't think he'd be coming back," I answered honestly. Ella made stupid lovey-dovey faces and I whacked her in the arm for it. I turned back quickly and Archer was still standing there. I looked away immediately as his eyes moved in my direction.
"We should get going. I would like to avoid any awkward occurrences as much as possible." I grabbed Ella by the shoulders, spun her around and pushed her along into the hallway.

So far, so good. Maybe he forgot me. Hang on a second, would that be a good thing, or a bad thing? The first person I liked forgetting me? That couldn't be seen as 'good', could it?

Hunter and Ace stood at the end of the hallway talking. Hunter noticed my presence and immediately began walking towards me. No questions, no questions, I pleaded in my mind.

Just then, a far too familiar voice exclaimed, "Cathy!"

I spun on my heel, mouth and throat dry. "Long time no see," Archer smiled, hands in his pockets.

Ella nudged me sharply in the ribs and I realised I'd been gaping for far too long. What the heck was I supposed to say? Oh good you decided to return? Fantastic, how was France? Did you go to the Eiffel tower?

"Hi," I said in a really weird, airy voice.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot." He swung his bag around to the front and unzipped the middle pocket, fumbled around. It took a while. Occasionally, he would look up, smile at me and I'd give a stupid smile back. "Eyes shut," he said, his hands clasped around something I couldn't see.

"What?"

"Close your eyes," he repeated, laughing. "Seriously. I'm not going to punch you in the face or anything."

I shut my eyes. "Hold out your hands too," he added. I held out my hands palms up next to each other, wondering what he was doing. He placed a rectangular object in the middle of my palms. "You can open your eyes now."

I opened my eyes, and gasped. "Wow," I said breathlessly. I brought my arms up higher to further inspect the amazing thing. It was a golden Eiffel tower with fake diamonds – I assume they're fake – attached. It sparkled and shimmered inside the clear glass case.

"It's one of one hundred made. You should feel honoured," he grinned.

"Seriously? Wow. Thank you! It's so amazing!" I half-squealed. There were probably actual stars in my eyes at this point. His phone beeped and he looked at it.

"Ah, how inconvenient. I have to finish transfers. I'll see you around."

"Okay, bye," I replied, still in awe at that thing.

"I'm not surprised. Your prince charming never fails to meet expectations," Ella sighed wistfully as Archer walked away. "How much do you think this thing costs?"

"I don't know...I hope it's not that expensive," I muttered, still staring at the amazing, wonderful, shiny, awesome, gobsmackingly glamorous little Eiffel tower. Words could not describe my awe.

"Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but anything that comes from him is obviously worth a fortune." She bent down and inspected it. "I think these are real diamonds," she finally said after a while.

"What? No. That can't be. It would have costed a fortune."

"Exactly."

"What am I going to do?" I moaned. "I don't work, and even if I did, it'd take me months to pay him back, or get something of equal worth."

"I don't think the cost of this will phase him at all."

"Regardless. It is a huge amount to me."

"Okay, enough of this. Is it just me or did he get at least ten times hotter after coming back?"

He had always been incredibly, amazingly, unimaginably good looking actually.

A bunch of freshmen girls walked past, squealing. "Apparently /the legend/ is back. You know? Archer? Hopefully, he's as hot as rumours make out," a blonde girl said to a brunette.

"Why is his name Archer? Is it because he's like a predator? No prey escapes? If he wants a girl, he gets the girl?" the brunette replied. They were awfully excited over Archer.

"If I were you, I would just confess first before he gets snatched up," Ella suggested, smiling rather deviously. That smile usually resulted in horrible plans being devised.

"It's been two years. I don't think so."

"Who cares?"

"I do," I answered. "Besides, don't you remember my number one rule?" She shook her head. "I never, ever confess first."

"Yes, and that is why you're never, ever in a relationship."

Actually, I had been once, unfortunately, at that time, the guy was a tad too serious for my liking. Also, at that time, I had imagined a 'relationship' as a boy and a girl being incredibly good friends, just with the labels of 'boyfriend' and 'girlfriend'. I had no idea of the feelings that were entailed with those labels.

"Who is this guy? What's the fuss about?" Hunter asked, strolling over. As per usual, Ella kindly told him all the details. Thank you Ella. Really.

"It's obvious why there's a fuss. He's hot, tall, smart, athletic, and you know what else? His parents are gazillionaires or something!" she exclaimed. "Too bad they have no idea they've got no chance."

"And why is that?"

Ella pointed at me. "What? What? What?" I asked spastically.

"Everyone knows they had this thing for each other," Ella whispered not-so-silently.

"What the heck is that!? Stop making up stuff!"

"He's her first love," she kindly added.

"What!?" I screeched. "No!" I exclaimed.

"Well, she liked him. More than any guys she'd liked before, okay?" she corrected.

Well thank you for telling the world Ella. I snarled, continued cradling the mini Eiffel tower in my hands and went to my locker. I shoved my books in and carefully put the Eiffel tower inside at the front to make sure I would always see it and not knock it right off.

The bell tolled and the hallways were flooded with people. Luckily, I had already grabbed my books. I locked the locker and made my way to the first class, chemistry. I sat in my seat as per usual and slowly, the students trickled in and also took their seats.

"Okay everyone, we welcome Archer back today," Mrs Smith announced from the front as Archer stood beside her. He smiled and looked around the classroom. We met eyes awkwardly and I quickly looked down. "You can take a seat now," she said to Archer. "Okay. Just a reminder your presentations and the research attached is due tomorrow. This is worth fifteen percent of your overall grade people."

The class groaned. I mentally groaned. Archer walked past me, grinned and sat down somewhere in the back row.

"Your prince charming is in our class too?" Hunter questioned.

"Stop calling him that," I snapped quietly.

"Seriously? First love?" he scoffed.

"He's not."

"Well then why –"

"It is not of your business. My personal life is none of your business. I told you before already," I said firmly. I didn't need people poking their noses into my life, or trying to find out things that I would rather hide. Why couldn't he just leave me alone?

"Today must be your lucky day," Mrs Smith began. "I'm tired, so you have today to work on your assignments in class. Move around the classroom if necessary, but please keep the noise to an absolute minimum, or I'll have you back in your seats writing out notes from the textbook.

Hunter didn't budge, despite the fact that his other group members were on the other side of Ace. I leaned forward and looked at Ace. "Are you going to move or do I have to?" I asked.

"Eh. I'll move." He got out of his chair and kicked Hunter's chair leg.

"What the hell?" Hunter growled.

"I need this seat,"Ace replied plainly. After the intense silent war was over, Hunter finally moved and Ace sat down.

"I've timed the presentation so it should take about five minutes. We'll do one slide each so you can make your own palm cards and I'll do mine." He nodded. "Seriously, I want to keep my average up. Please don't stuff up. Please do everything properly," I pleaded.

"Or maybe I'll have an off day and decide to not turn up to school? Or should I mysteriously lose my voice?" he grinned. He was in an awfully grinny mood today.

"I'll kill you if you do," I threatened. He just shook his head and laughed.

We spent the class finalising details while Hunter seethed for some queer reason. I was fairly sure that Ace found this somewhat entertaining because he would occasionally say something and get Hunter boiling again.

"Why do you keep doing that?" I asked.

"Doing what?"

"Pissing him off."

"Why not? It's funny. You should see his face. Really." He looked at me for a bit. "Why are you looking at me like that?"

"Because you're incredibly weird."

"I'm not so sure. You positive it isn't my good looks?"

The bell rang. "Good looks? Surely not you." He stuck out his tongue, picked up his books and left as the others did. Mentally laughing, and possibly smiling outwardly, I packed up my stuff and prepared to make my way out.

"What class do you have next?" Archer asked, stopping by my desk.

"Oh uh, I have Physics. You?"

"Great. We're in the same class. Let's go." I followed him out of class and to physics. Surprisingly, he remembered the location perfectly.

"You still remember the way around?" I sighed.

"It's good to be back," he smiled, looking me in the eyes. I looked him back in the eyes. How could dark eyes be so beautiful? I shot my eyes down quickly and I heard him chuckle. "Still afraid of boys?" he joked.

"Shut up," I mumbled, reddening.

The teacher opened the door and we all went to our seats. Jenny waved as I made my way in and sat down in my usual seat. There was still one seat beside me. "Does anyone sit here?" Archer asked. I shook my head and he put his books down.

"Oh, I have to introduce you guys. Archer this Jenny, Jenny, Archer," I introduced.

"Hi," Jenny said awkwardly.

"Hey," Archer smiled. Did he have to smile so often? Because it really drove my mind afaejfa;lkefjae;flaejf.

"Okay, reminder, physics test Monday. We don't have class tomorrow so make sure to study," our teacher reminded. "Archer, I'll speak to you after class. Okay, open up your textbooks and continue the exercises from yesterday."

I flipped open my exercise book. Archer just sat there. "Do you know what you're doing?" I whispered. The whole class was silent and the only sound that could be heard was the scratching of pencils against paper. He shook his head, laughing silently. The teacher looked up and we quickly looked back down, shutting up.

"I'll help you out after school if you want," I said as we walked out of class.

"After school? Don't you have tutoring?" Jenny chimed.

"Oh yeah. That. Right."

"You do tutoring?" Archer sounded surprised.

"Eh. I'll explain it later," I answered.

It turned out that Archer was in all of my classes. Well, except sport. He was in Hunter and Ace's class. The end of the day had gone by slowly. Basically, I would have to spend this afternoon finishing and practising chemistry and studying physics.

It was cold and I recalled hearing that it might start snowing this afternoon. "I have to go quickly home today. I have work to do," Ella said, waving as she walked out of the gate. I stood by the gate, ready to leave.

"Oi! Cathy!" Archer exclaimed, jogging up. "You heading home?" he asked.

"Yeah. You?"

"Do you need a lift?"

"Nah, it's fine. I just walk."

"Great. I'll walk too."

"Why would you walk? You don't even live here!"

"No reason. If I get tired, I'll call the driver," he laughed.

"Whatever you say. Don't come running asking for compensation because your feet hurt."

"No promises."

I laughed and we got walking.

"How was Paris?" I asked. "Did you go up the Eiffel tower? Eat croissants?"

"Definitely. It was nice. You would love it there. It's everything you describe. But better."

"Seriously? I wanna go one day."

"We could go together." I looked at him weirdly. "I mean with Ella as well," he added quickly to heal the awkwardness. We continued chatting casually and then reached the intersection.

Archer had slowed down significantly. "How can you be so unfit for the school's old quarterback?" I joked.

"It's the shoes," he answered, obviously trying to keep his appearance up.

"Anyway, I'll wait till you call your driver, then I'll head off."

"Okay."

I looked around. There was an oval just on the other side of the roundabout and intersection and the rest of the roads were lined with houses.

"Oh! Look!" Archer exclaimed, pointing. I looked at where he was pointing. It was a tree. A tree.

"Hey what the he-" I began as I turned.

All of a sudden, his lips pressed against my forehead. I could feel my face reaching boiling point. He straightened up again. The snow started to fall down, flakes landing on the ground around me and on my blazer.

"Honestly, I missed you," he sighed. "Okay okay, you can go now before the heat on your face melts the snow." He spun me around and pushed me along.

Without thinking, my legs carried me all the way home. I arrived silently home and went silently upstairs. 

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Sorry about spacing amg.

Who are you guys liking the best so far? (: