chapter 6

Ding ding. Ding ding. Ding ding.

I blinked a few times, attempting to adjust to the light in my room. I reached next to me on my bed until my hand finally found my cell phone that was using the ‘Twinkle’ ringtone. "Yeah, what?" I asked croakily.

"Well, hello to you, too!" Tori chirped into the phone, causing me to cringe.

"It's too early for me to function," I grumbled, placing my face back on the pillow.

"Well, maybe you should change that. But anyway, I'll be over in a few. You have ten minutes to be ready unless, of course, you want to be late," Tori said.

"Yeah, that's cute. I'll see you in an hour," I told her, knowing that it was only six o'clock.

"I thought I'd for sure get you this time," she said and I smiled slightly.

Only she would do this to a friend.

"Not today. See you at seven," I told her before saying my goodbyes and hanging up.

I took my time getting out of bed, sliding my clothes off on my way to the bathroom.  Once I was completely undressed, I got in the shower, taking a quick one. When I stepped out, I quickly got in my usual routine.

I put my hair in braided before adding the wig cap and brown wig. Careful to brush it out before I put it on. I then put on the fake nose and the makeup that went along with it. I finished up everything and added my other accessories before putting on a pair of leggings and an oversized hoodie over my cute bra configuration I was planning to show off later after my meeting with a coworker. Next, I slid on lace underwear and nodded in approval. Matching undergarments make a queen.

"Hey, babe," Tori said, causing me to jump as she walked into the room.

"You could knock, you know?" I said, holding my hand over my heart.

"I mean, when your mom gave me a key, that kind of took away the point of knocking." She waved the key in front of my face.

"Yeah, yeah," I said as I searched through my stuff to find my glasses.

"What are you looking for?" she questioned, not surprised to see me all distressed while looking for something.

"My glasses," I mumbled, making her frown.

"Think about the last place you had them," she told me. 

I bit my lip, thinking carefully. "Last place I remember wearing them is Andrew’s," I said, while silently praying that they'd show up any minute now.

Tori shook her head. "Yeah, you're probably screwed. Look, we can just go after school and buy new ones." 

"You're right. One day without them won't kill me. I mean, I still have the fake nose," I said before grabbing my book bag. I grabbed a change of clothes that I knew I would look cute in, a blue turtle neck, a leather jacket, and a pair of black pants and boots with heels.

"After school, I have to be seen at the mall walking with Ashley," I said, while grabbing my keys.

"Ashley Hunter?" Tori asked with wide eyes. 

I nodded, sharing her disgusted look.

"Why would you go out with that bitch?" she questioned. 

I shrugged. "Mary claims that it's a publicity stunt to fix that tweet she was totally trying to throw shade at me with. In other words, it's to show we're still the best of friends so no reputations are hurt." I rolled my eyes.

Ashley Hunter was one of my biggest rivals. We both modeled a new line for Chanel and when they went with my shoot over hers, she grew a vendetta against me. It didn't exactly help when she moved over to model Victoria’s Secret's lines as well. If there was one thing that girl wanted, it was to see me fall and lose my spot as the number one angel.

Something that would never happen.

"Well, if you need an out, just text me and I'll get you out of there in five seconds flat," Tori said. 

I smiled. "This is why I keep you around." I lightly patted her cheek as I walked past her.

"No, you keep me around to bring you Starbucks." She took the drink out of the carrier and handed it to me.

"That, too." I tossed her a five-dollar bill before placing my wallet back in my bag.

"Now, let's hurry because if one is late, one is dead."

I shook my head with a small playing on my lips. "Of course, one cannot be late."

We headed down to my garage and slid into my poor rusty Cavalier.

This thing was probably ready to retire.

I started the car and backed up perfectly, using the button on the remote to close the garage after pulling out. I turned out of my driveway and started the way to school. As we drove in comfortable silence with only Ariana Grande playing in the background, I let myself think about my time at Andrew's house yesterday.

I hated to admit that I actually wasn't miserable there, and I wouldn't mind going back next time, but it was the truth. Part of me wanted to see more of the Andrew Carter I met yesterday and less of the one I met in detention.

I suddenly felt a slap on my arm, causing me to jump and swerve the car a little. Luckily, this road wasn't that busy or else I probably would've hit someone.

"Are you trying to kill us? I'm trying to drive!" I snapped at Tori.

"What aren't you telling me?" She exclaimed, completely ignoring my last comment.

I raised an eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

She held up a finger in warning. "Don't even try to hide it. I was trying to tell you something for the past two minutes and you haven't said a word."

I sighed. "It's a long story." We pulled into school.

"Well, long stories are always the best, and I have plenty of time," she pushed.

I parked the car in my assigned space and looked at her. "Look, I promise to tell you at lunch when Katy isn't there."

"Is it about Andrew?"

I nodded. "It's nothing bad. I just keep thinking about everything that happened at his house. It was weird."

She groaned loudly in response. "As much as I'd loved to know right now, I'll let it go until lunch because I can clearly see you're still half asleep. Start drinking your coffee, girl."

"I will," I said, taking the drink as proof. She smiled at that before taking a sip of her own before we got out of the car and headed to our locker. Inside, the school was fairly empty, as most people were still hanging around in the cafeteria. We had plenty of time before our first period of the day.

"Awe, Hailey, look who it is," Stacey said with fake excitement as she stopped next to us.

"Is that really Clover Thompson? Friends with the so-called model?" Hailey asked with the same fake attitude.

"Tori, I saw you in my catalog yesterday. I honestly thought you were a bit skinnier under those shirts you wear, but I guess I can't say I'm surprised to find out you're not,” she said with a small fake pout.

Tori glared at her. "Stacey, sweetie, you shouldn't talk. I mean, what are those?" She dramatically pointed both her hands at Stacey's shoes.

Stacey only rolled her eyes, clearly not amused by the old joke. "Anyway, on another note, how is everything, Clover? I mean, your friend’s career isn't taking off, and you're still nerdy and single with nothing but detentions piling up. I'm here for you if you ever need anything." Stacey put her hand on my shoulder as she made eye contact with me.

I shrugged off her hand. "Stacey, isn't it time for you to move on to your next victim?" I questioned.

She had a routine, one she was breaking by constantly messing with me now. I had a feeling it had to do with Andrew, but I still didn’t want to deal with her confrontations anymore. 

"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about, but whatever it is, I'm sure it can wait." She pursed her lips before standing up straighter and squealing obnoxiously as a fake smile appeared on her face.

"Andrew, baby!" she yelled, waving him over. 

I looked over to find him and his friends walking over. I would have sent him a small smile if it wasn't for the bloodshot eyes he supported and his unbrushed hair, along with his sweatpants and t-shirt.

"Hi, baby cakes." Stacey leaned her breasts on his arm, causing him to smirk as he looked down at hers

"Hey, Stace. What's going on here?" he asked with a lazy grin as he looked over at Tori and me.

"Oh, nothing! Daisy here offered to do my homework for this weekend since she knows how long and hard my gymnastics practices are due to our big competition coming up," she said, making me narrow my eyes.

"Who in the hell said they were doing your homework?" Tori snapped, raising an eyebrow.

"Obviously not you. It was your best friend, Daisy!" she said and I cringed. How did she get Daisy from Clover?

Andrew studied me carefully before his grin lifted even higher and he sent me a wink. "Awe, you can't do that to her, babe." Was Andrew actually helping me? Was he defending me?

"She has to do my homework, too, so we'll make it easier for her. You both can come over to my house later," he said, making my jaw almost drop.

Tori looked like she was ready to kill while Stacey's jaw actually did drop at the suggestion.

"Andrew, honey, why on earth would you let the trash in your home?" she asked sweetly as her nails dug into her palm angrily.

"He lets you in, doesn't he?" Michael, Andrew's friend, asked, causing everyone to burst out laughing.

"Very funny, Mikey," she said, referring to his elementary school name that he despised now.

"You know I was having a chat with Daisy here the other day. She's not too bad. Actually, I think you're right, Stacey. You and I can meet in about twenty minutes in our usual spot. After that, we'll call it a day and Clo and I can meet up after school to work on homework." He threw an arm around my shoulder.

He leaned down a little with his warm, minty breath directly next to my ear. "You know what they say, don't mix the cats with the dogs." He pulled away with a grin.

Stacey's eyes didn't miss the movement, and it seemed as no one else did either as the whispers immediately followed. I stepped to the side and pushed his arm off. Last thing I needed was rumors circling around me. I'm supposed to be the nerd or, at the very least, the quiet one people always tend to ignore.

"So, you're fucking her?" Stacey asked as tears started to slowly fill her eyes.

Her friend, Hailey, quickly saw how upset she was and looked around the hall. "Get to class. You thirsty drama-wanting asses can get your fill later. This is over." She waved everyone away.

"Yes," Andrew answered, making a gasp leave my mouth.

"Like hell we are," I snapped, without needing to think about it.

"Andrew Carter, you're such a prick!" she snapped before turning away.

"Does that mean we're done?" he called back. 

She paused, not looking back. "We'll talk later," she said before continuing her walk.

Once she was out of sight, he turned toward me. "You're no fun."

"You have issues," I said, before looking at Tori. "We still have five minutes till class, so I'll walk you to yours." 

"I actually have to go talk to a teacher, but I'll see you later?" she asked.

Way to take my escape route away.

"Yeah, see you then," I said, watching as she headed toward the art wing. I didn't wait around for Andrew to say something and only headed straight to class.

I could definitely live without high school confrontations.