Chapter two (A TARGET FOR THE BULLIES)
Ethan's face showed he didn't understand why Tessa would kiss him right in front of Derek. It was like she was throwing him to the lions who were right in front of him. Ethan wanted to talk, but then Tessa dragged him away without even giving him the chance to clear the air.
They were not dating, so why would she kiss him?
At least that was the answer he was waiting for. They stopped in front of the cafeteria, and Tessa let go of his hands. "What was that for?" Ethan asked, his heart beating loudly against his chest. "The kiss?" Tessa replied as she looked at his face. For some reason she should see Ethan was blushing, and his face was all pinky.
"Was that your first?" she asked with a disbelieving smile on her face. Ethan looked around a little embarrassed. He had always wanted to have his first kiss in a romantic way, but he had it under duress. "It was my first, and you stole the romantic moments away from me." Ethan said, looking at his feet. Tessa smiled, "Why don't I make a correction to that?"
Tess moved forward once again, and this time his gaze was locked up with Ethan's. The time stopped still, and only the beating of Ethan's heart against his rib cage could be heard. Tessa got to his front and grabbed his neck, kissing him passionately. Every student walking past the cafeteria was lost. "Isn't that the scholarship kid?" One of the students gripping his book tightly to his chest said
"What are they doing?" Another added. The others simply brought out their phones to capture the moment. Many didn't understand why Tessa would want to be with a lowlife when Derek was the guy for her.
All of the students knew Derek liked Tessa, but the two were too strong-headed to accept what they felt for each other. No one understands why Tessa was stooping so low to date a guy like Ethan.
"How about that?" Tessa asked, disengaging herself from Ethan. "I... II don't know what to say." Ethan said truthfully. "Well, you can just say anything." Tessa shrugged, not sure if she had lived up to his expectations.
"It was everything I dreamt of." Ethan replied, letting out a soft smile. "I will see you later; call me." Tessa placed a hand to her ears as she disappeared.
"I can't believe this! What is going on this semester?" One of the male students said slowly, looking toward where Ethan was staying. "One minute he was new, and the next, he was getting all the attention in the school."
"Derek won't like this." Another replied. "Let's see how the show unfolds."
The school buzzed with the news of Tessa, who was the prettiest girl on the campus, dating a guy like Ethan. "They are not dating. Don't you see Tessa is just using him?" One of the girls said with a weird laugh. "Using him? She kissed him twice, and all you see is Tessa using him?" Another replied
Ethan was getting nervous and frustrated; everywhere he walked on the campus seemed like his whole life was taking a new turn.
He was now having people who wanted to be his friend. "Hello, my name is Dylan." One student walked up to Ethan one sunny afternoon. "Hello, Dylan. How can I help you?" Ethan asked, eyeing him. "I actually need your help solving this arithmetical work. Can you give me a hand?" Dylan asked.
"Sure." Ethan took a seat. As they worked, Ethan noticed his gaze was always on him. "You know you can tell me anything that you want to talk about and stop staring."
"Can we be friends? I noticed you are always alone." Dylan looked at him. "I'm not. I just don't like the fact that many people want to be with me simply because I am dating Tessa." Ethan replied truthfully.
"Are you? Both of you don't exactly look like you are dating if you would ask me." Dylan said, resting his back on the chair he sat down on. "Did you see the photos, or should I say the videos? She kissed me."
"Ethan, you are new in the school, and I think you need to calm yourself down. A girl like Tessa only watches out for herself. And to think she would stoop so low and date someone like you is quite impossible."
"Are you telling me that Tessa doesn't like me?" Ethan asked, staring at Dylan with disbelief. Dylan sighs, "Listen to me, Ethan. I am not saying you don't love her or she doesn't love you, but you need to draw the line and know which side of the line you are on. If she kisses you without you initiating the kiss, then I don't see how... Dylan stopped when she noticed Tessa was walking towards them.
"Hello, Ethan," she said with a smile on her face. "Hello, Tessa. How are you doing?" Ethan asked, still feeling a little hurt by the words Dylan said about Tessa. "I can see you have yourself a friend now." Tessa looked at Dylan, who had his hands stretched out for a handshake, but funnily, Tessa did like she didn't see him. "I brought this for you. Can you help me with it?" She asked, dropping a few arithmetic books on the table.
"I will take a look at it and call you once I am done." Ethan replied. Tessa gave him a kiss on the cheek and walked away, giving Dylan another smirk look. "Do you see that? I don't think she really cares about you, Ethan. You need to draw the line and know where you stand. Don't say I didn't warn you." Dylan got up to his feet. "Thank you."
Ethan clenched his fist, trying to think hard about what Dylan said, but then he heard footsteps approaching his table. He looked up and gulped the
thick saliva at the back of his throat.