Chapter 25 - Different

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Chapter 25 – Different

** COURTNEY's POV **

I woke up with a smile on my face. This wasn't the same smile I wear each day; this one's different. It's as if this was the first time I smiled like this.

Yeah, smiling like a lunatic.

My heart was swelling in anticipation and my stomach was churning in excitement.

I feel motivated to go to school today, well not because of the fact that I love receiving attention from my peers, no not that. That idea was completely thrown out of the window.

And I couldn't believe that I was saying this...

It doesn't matter anymore.

I rolled over my tummy and buried my face to my pillow. I shrieked out loud as I remembered what happened last night.

The conversation with Chad, the shooting star.

Oh dear heavens. I felt my face burning as I recalled those things!

I turned to my side and bit my lip.

This is so unlike me. Getting flustered over this stuff?

But then, who the freakin' cares? I'd rather be like this than the snob old boring me.

I rose from my bed and took a shower. After that, I headed towards my walk-in closet and choose my outfit for today. As I scanned the racks, I decided to go for comfortable clothes today.

Black skinny jeans, grey top, and a pair of flats; the kind of outfit I haven't tried before. I was more of dress-up-like-barbie kind of chic before. Skirts and dresses. Killer heels, boots, and tank tops. Those were my things, but not today.

I went to my vanity and looked at myself. By looking at my reflection, I realized something. I still looked pretty even without a make-up. Why didn't I notice that before? I was so eager to cover my face with cosmetic products and hide my natural look.

I thought of not applying any make up for today, but then I decided to have to to at least highlight my look. I applied eyeliner to emphasize my eyes; I leave the mascara out of the options. I painted my cheeks with light pink blush, just enough so that I wouldn't look pale, and lastly a gloss to accentuate my lips, throwing the deep red shade of lipstick out of the picture. Not too heavy make-up, just light enough to emphasize my features.

I went to the full-size mirror and examined myself. Not the usual me but I still smiled at how contented I was with my look.

I grabbed my bag and skipped my way out of my room. A smile was still plastered on my face as I greeted John. The look on his face wasn't the one that I was expecting. His eyes grew wide; shock filled his expression as if he'd seen a ghost or something.

"What's with that look, John?" I couldn't help but ask.

John cleared his throat first before he answered. "Oh nothing. It's just you look different, Miss."

"Define different?"

"Different means not the same as another or each other; unlike in nature, form---"

"Oh God, John. I totally know what different means. I was asking what do you mean by different, not literally define it." I laughed out.

"My apologies." He apologized and then he cleared his throat again. "It's a kind of different in a good way, Miss. You looked just like your mother." He added.

My smile got wider. I know that I heard that kind of compliment and the similarity comment with my mom before, but that was ages ago. And hearing it right now made me really happy.

"I know right." I told him with a grin as I continued to skip my way out and head towards my car.

It's going to be a good day.

* * * * * *

"Does this smile means something or am I just imagining things?" Terry commented as her form of greeting.

I found her at the locker area, alone. She's eyeing me from head–to-toe with a perplexed look plastered on her face. "Something's different about you." She added

"Different is better." I told her with a smile. Her frowns deepened but I intentionally ignore it and open my locker instead.

Good thing the rest of the girls weren't here because I know that they will continue to throw comments and questions here and there, which were the things that I would like to avoid at this early in the morning.

"Since when different is better?"

"Since I started it." I answered her in a matter of fact. I turned to Terry and laughed at her puzzled look. "Oh come on, Ter. Don't over react."

"This different is creeping me out. What's going on? For someone whose boyfriend is away for camp, you sure looked happy and giddy."

And just like that, my happy bubble burst. Way to ruin my morning, Ter.

"We... we kind of broke up last night." I mumbled.

"What!" Terry shrieked, loud enough to catch attention from the people around us.

"Ter, seriously? Is it really necessary to shout?"

"You broke up? Why?" She asked in a hushed tone.

"Some things are just not working out." I simply answered.

"Some things are not working out or someone is already working you out?"

I gasped at her accusation. "That is so judgmental of you, Ter. I can't believe you're saying that."

"How do you expect me to react, huh? You hopped your way here cheerfully, looking different than your usual self, and you're happy after your breakup with your boyfriend? So, tell me Court, how should a friend react to that, huh?" Terry asked me with an intimidating stare.

But it didn't falter me. Instead, I held my chin up and match up with her determined look. "Asking nicely would have sufficed, you know. Something a friend for a very long time would do instead of throwing accusations."

Terry's features softened, and her face turned apologetic. "I'm sorry, okay? It's just that... I'm worried. For the past few days you looked stress about this deal you made with the geek—"

"His name is Chad. The geek has a name, Ter." I interrupted her.

"Chad. He's Chad now, huh." Terry's brow was raised in question. "Now I'm not going to throw accusations and jump into conclusion, I'm going to ask you in a nice way. Are you falling in love with Chad?"

"What? God, no! What are you talking about? Are you insane? Seriously? Are you out of your mind?"

"You know, a simple no would have sufficed." She told me in a teasing tone.

"I'm not in love with him, Ter." I gritted my teeth in irritation because of the look she's giving me.

"Whatever you say, Court. But in case you forgot, this is supposed to be a game, remember? You're not falling in your own trap, right?"

"And what's that supposed to mean?" I crossed my arms to my chest and waited for her answer.

"It's your general idea to make the ge—Chad fall for you to get the papers and graduate. But the way I see it, you're starting to be like this to make Chad fall for you, not because of the papers anymore, you're doing all this because you like him and you want him to like you back." My eyes slightly widened at Terry's theory. I was about to protest but then she already beat me on that.

"I'm not saying that it's a bad thing, okay. I'm not going to lecture you with this social suicide and stuff thing; the important thing is you're happy. Seeing you stressed-out for the past days is stressing me out, too. The cranky Collins is not really my favorite, you know." She humored, easing the tension in the air.

"Ter, seriously, I'm not in love with him. Love is a big word to swallow, okay? So I guess not. I just... it's just that... he's funny, and quirky in a good way. And he's... he's such a gentleman, you know." I said with a smile.

"Well, in the point of view of a friend who'd known you for a very long time, I think that you're getting there." She pointed out. I was about to object but she cut off my upcoming protest, again. "But on serious note. This is supposed to be a game of who fall first lose, right?"

"Your point?"

"Just make sure that this is not a game for him. Because the way I see it, this is not a game for you anymore. Just be careful, Court. Remember that you've been cruel to him before, what are the chances that this is not his form of revenge, huh?"

What Terry said struck me. It somehow made sense.

Really.

How sure am I that this is not a game for him? How badly he wants to win just to see me join the club that I ruined?

"Hey, that's just a warning, okay? I didn't mean to ruin everything. I just want you to be careful. Maybe he's being true and I'm just being the usual judgmental me again. Who knows? No one knows him, or his background, we really don't have any idea what he's like—"

"It's okay, Ter. Really. I know what I'm doing. Of course I'm not going to fall for that kind of trap, right? I'm not dense. I know if a scheme is coming, so no need to worry. But thanks for the advice." I told her with a force smile.

But I know that my attempts failed me. Terry knew what's hiding behind that smile.

"I'll go now, okay? Text me if you need anything." She said and I just gave her a nod.

Now I'm alone with my thoughts. I couldn't help but recall the things that happened for the past days. Now the happy thoughts were replaced with doubts.

How will I differentiate the real from not?

Darn, this thing is really making my head hurt.

A tone coming from my phone made me out of my reverie. I scooped it out and saw a message coming from the person that I'd been thinking since this morning.

My heart skipped a beat when I saw his name, and it stopped the moment I read his message.

How are you feeling?

And I replied with...

I'm feeling better now.

Then another response came from him.

Well, that's great. Enjoy your day. :)

I know that there's a chance that this might be just a game for him, but is it wrong for me to wish that somehow, even just a fraction, some of this is real for him, too?

* * * * * *

My day turned from gleeful to gloomy just like that. Funny how a simple reminder from Terry flipped everything around.

It's lunchtime already and I decided to go to the school backyard instead of the cafeteria. Well, I wasn't sure why but as of this moment, I just want to be alone with my thoughts and have some reality check.

I sat comfortably on the ground and learned to the big tree behind me. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"Oh you're here."

A familiar voice interrupted my thoughts, making me jump in surprise. I turned to my right and there I saw the guy that's occupying my mind.

Chad in his usual geeky self.

"Yeah. Just getting some fresh air, I guess." I told him.

He sat next to me and offered me a sandwich. "Here, take this. I guess you didn't have your lunch yet."

"I'm fine, Chad. I'm not hungry. Besides, it's yours so just eat it. But thanks for the offer." I said with a smile.

"I have two." He grinned as he raised his hands up with both sandwiches on it.

I tried my best not to laugh at this cheeky geek, but it's impossible if that geek is Chad Treyson.

"Here," he handed me the sandwich. He opened his own and took a bite. I looked at the sandwich on my hand and decided to just eat it. "You looked different." He blurted out.

I turned to him and frowned. He gestured to my clothes and there I realized what he's trying to say.

"Oh yeah. I'm wearing a clothes now, not a piece of cloth." I said humorously, repeating the words that he said to me before at the auditorium.

Instead of laughing or joining in to my humored retort, he frowned. "Did I offend you back then? About your choice of clothes? Please don't get me wrong. Courtney, I didn't mean to offend you, I believe that everyone is entitled to dress the way they want to be. It's just that... it's just that there are men who... who thinks differently, you know... because of their raging hormones. It's their way of thinking that should be corrected but then not everyone is educated enough or have self control and I—"

I cut Chad off with a loud laugh.

Seriously, he's being his adorkable self again.

Why are you constantly doing this, Treyson?

"Take a chill pill, Chad. This has nothing to do with what you said in the auditorium. Well, technically what you said... let's just say, became an eye opener to me. You're right, everyone is entitled to dress the way they want it to be. All this time, I'd been living in a lie. I'm dressing to impress, not for myself. And this morning, I woke up and decided to go for what I want." I confessed.

Chad smiled at me. "So, this is one of the many shades of Courtney Collins, huh." He joked.

I hit his arm playfully and we're both engaged in fits of laugh.

"You know what, you have a lot of shades, too. One thing you'll be the bully and the next thing you'll be this dude who lectures about the hormones of the male species. Really, where's this protectiveness coming from?"

"Well, I guess because I believe in karma."

"Karma?" I asked; feeling confused with how he answered my question.

"Okay, not entirely karma. But..." He took a deep sigh before he continued. "I guess that's because I have a sister. I'm so protective of the girls because I want guys to treat my sister the same way... you know. I want them to respect and treat women the right way. I don't want to play with girls' feelings. I don't want to play around. Because I was thinking that there will come a time that my sister will have a boyfriend. And what if he just played her? Of course I would go hunt and beat that jerk's ass. But what if he tells me to back off and stop being a hypocrite because at some point in my life, I did the same thing? I also played with other girls' heart? That it's in every guy's nature to fool around? No, I don't want that. I want to prove that not everyone thinks like that. Not everyone wants that. Besides, my parents taught me to respect women and I'm nowhere in disobeying them."

"I wish every guy should hear that and think like that." I told him in all honesty.

My respect and admiration for this guy shot up from hundred to million, just like that.

Chad is unbelievably surreal. It's as if a guy like him is impossible in this kind of world.

After he said those things, the more I want him to like me. It's like I want to know what it feels like to be protected by him. I want to know what kind of boyfriend he is.

Did you have a girlfriend before, Chad? If yes, then she's an idiot for letting go of someone like you. But then I'm still thankful because I had the chance to meet you.

"That's the bell. Lunch is over." Chad voiced out, making me snapped back to reality.

"Oh yeah." I said and then I stood up. "I'll go first."

I started walking away when all of a sudden Chad called me out. I turned around and faced him.

"The natural look... it suits you well." He told me with a smile, which made my heart beats frantically and my cheeks burn!

"Are you toying me, huh, Treyson?" I glared at him, acting all cool and compose when deep inside I was actually flushing!

Chad shook his head sideways indicating a no, "I believe in karma, remember?" He answered with a grin.

I looked away and avoided his piercing stare.

Darn it, Treyson!

"Whatever!" I shouted as I started walking away.

I was grinning like a Cheshire cat as I made my way to the school.

I also feel that I'm as red as a tomato right now!

Dear Chad.

I sincerely hope that you really mean what you said because from now on, I'm not playing anyone.

Well because...

I also believe in karma.

-- END OF CHAPTER 25 --

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