Lea glares at the bright sun in the baby blue sky. Another new year at Seaside High, another year of studying, and another year of enduring annoying teenage boys. And now that Dove and her had the fight, she felt awfully lonely. But she can't let this go. Lea well knows that this can be a matter of life and death, much less a huge threat to their chances at Harvard. Lea and Dove are both A students, Lea more so without the distraction of cheerleading. Dove had always joked about never being able to catch up, and laughed it off when Lea asked her about it. But now it seems like she cared more than Lea thought. She would even sink low enough to...
Lea shakes her head wildly, messing up her already messy bun and clearing the thoughts from her head.
"Not now..."she muttered to herself, "but as soon as I see her in class, I'll..."
Her muttering was cut off short by a heavy pat on her back. Lea spun around to see who it is, ready to let lose her rage on the person who had rudely interrupted her thoughts. But when she sees who it is, she breaks out into a grin, completely forgetting her earlier worries about Dove.
"Jones!" She cries, throwing her arms around Joshua Jones, giving the heavy set quarterback a hug. Josh was the captain of the football team. Lea had known him for even longer than Dove, as they were childhood playmates and were in the same class since elementary school. Josh is dating Dove, obviously, as Dove is the captain of the school's cheerleading team. Almost every single cheerleading captain dated the football team's captain. Well, as much as Lea knows from all the highs school novels and gossip from her older sisters. So, naturally, in their second year of high school, Josh had asked Dove out in the end of year party she hosted. And Dove said yes. Naturally. Before then, Lea had always looked at Josh like he was a friend. But after Dove and Josh started dating, she felt a weird feeling in the pit of her stomach that didn't feel comfortable at all. She had gotten used to hanging out separately with her two best friends. Now it just felt wrong.
Joshes arms tightened around her shoulders, steadying her. His muscular arms are especially visible under the tight blue sports shirt with the Seaside High logo on it. The lines of his arms and his broad back seem sculpted, like a piece of artwork-not that Lea would ever admit to looking. She has already caught a few girls looking -or rather, ogling- at Josh. Her arms tightened instinctively around his back. Even with her tall lanky frame, she could barely wrap her arms around his waist.
"Whoa there, Shells." Josh held his arms straight, examining Lea's face. "You alright? Your eyes are a little puffy."
Lea retreated from Josh's embrace quickly, and rubbed the heel of her hand across her eyes. She had been crying the night before, worrying about Dove. Whether she should call her out or not, whether she should tell an adult and get help, how she could have paid more attention to Dove's emotional state, how she could have been a better friend in general. Those thoughts stirred up a storm in Dove's head last night before she slept, leaving her tossing and turning all night long. Her conclusion was: She is going to find Dove, and convince her to quit the meds. And if she doesn't cooperate, she'll tell an adult. It's for her own good, she tells herself over and over again in her mind. Even if it makes her hate me.
"Shells? You still there? Earth to Lea, come in, come in." A familiar voice shakes Lea out of her thoughts.
"Huh?" She asks, dumbfounded. "What did you say?"
Josh tightens his brows, making a furrow between his dark eyebrows. Lea suddenly has the urge to reach up and smooth the skin. She pushes the thought out of her mind right away. He is Dove's boyfriend, she tells herself, avoiding Josh's eyes, which are growing more and more worried by the second.
"Shells!" Josh screams right beside her ear, making Lea jump.
"What was that for?" She yells.
"It's the third time you blanked out on me today!" Josh looks at her, the furrow between his eyebrows growing deeper as he inspects her from head to toe. Lea squirms, uncomfortable underneath his scrutiny. "You have to tell me what's going on! Why are you acting so weird today?"
"It's nothing." Lea says, trying to sell the lie the best she can. "Really. I'm fine."
Josh doesn't buy this for a second, and starts to open his mouth to say something. Then, as if scripted, the bell rings, signifying the start of the first period. Lea jumps, as if electrocuted, and started rushing towards the main building with the other students.
"I gotta go to biology now! Talk to you later!" Then, before Josh can say anything, she bolts to the science room as fast as she can. As soon as her back is turned to Josh, she grins, showing her pearly white teeth. Saved by the bell. She thought. Literally.
"This conversation isn't over, Shells!" Josh calls after her, obviously annoyed that their conversation is cut off short.
"Yeah, yeah." Lea smiles, "You can be such a grandpa sometimes. Stop being so grouchy! I don't know why Dove likes you. You're no fun at all." Then, she turns around to give him a naughty wink and a smirk to let him know she was joking, and hurried into the main building for first period.
Josh's expression changes after he sees Lea rush inside the building. He looks after her longingly, murmuring in a voice only he can hear, "I don't want Dove to like me. I only want you." Then he shakes himself out of the stupor, and lumbers off to his morning football practice.
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