Love Me Love Me (English)

24

Ari

I hadn't slept a wink in over twenty-four hours, but I was still doing cartwheels down the hall. I skipped to and from the bathroom. I obsessively checked my pupils in the mirror. I didn't want Brian to notice anything. I adjusted my hair and lipstick and then went back outside.

I waved at Poppy and Amelia from far away as they rushed to class to review. The homework was due third hour.

"Honey, don't we have a test today?" asked Brian, surprised to see me there bright eyed and bushy tailed before the bell rang.

"Yeah, but your candidacy is important," I whispered caressing his cheek.

I hoped with all my heart that Brian had forgotten about last night's outburst.

"Well, my dad forced me, now that it doesn't matter to you as much," he whined.

"Come on, you know I care."

I pouted, and Brian kissed me immediately.

I closed my eyes to savor cuddling him, but I couldn't fully enjoy it because of a little voice in my head.

This is what he usually did; he acted like nothing ever happened.

I opened my eyes again because the kiss vanished into nothing, and noticed James and Jackson passing behind him. Jackson joined a group of guys, while James headed to his locker.

Brian squeezed me harder as soon as he saw him.

"Sorry about yesterday," I murmured.

But he was too preoccupied with staring at James.

"I'm going, sweetie. Don't stay here too long," he ordered, without taking his eyes off James.

"I just hang up the last flyers, and I'll—"

"You're the best girlfriend in the world," he whispered in my ear. Oh, no, Brian. Not at all.

James flung his locker door open and paper flew onto the floor.

"Damn that tramp! Taylor!" he cursed.

Speak of the devil, and she shall appear.

"Hey, asshole. So you're finally gonna run?" she asked, trampling on a flyer with her heel.

"What the fuck do you want?" he spat, leaning against the lockers.

As usual, James was wearing the fire-engine red vest that belonged to Jackson instead of his uniform. It certainly looked better on James. His broad, powerful shoulders jutted prominently out of the sleeves. Jackson had a pale complexion like milk while James was a tan muscular statue.

"Now that I won't be taking care of your campaign, we'll see what you do alone. Since you don't know how to do things alone."

Taylor pointed her finger at his chest, but James seemed unperturbed.

"No, you're right. I prefer when your friends help me," he answered, amused, pushing a vape pen behind his ear.

"You son of a bitch. Don't talk to me ever again."

"And quit sending me those pics first thing in the morning. It has the opposite effect on me than what you're looking for."

Taylor stormed off in a rage, swaying her hips like she felt like the most beautiful girl in the world, impervious to insults like that. I wanted her self-esteem.

James scoffed indifferently and closed his locker. Then he saw me.

"Ariana." He pronounced my name, and his hoarse voice hit me like a lightning bolt.