Crush

dangerous-fox

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Leaselle-Cross College

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He never did call. Bastard. I suppose I should've expected as much… after all, the summer is about having fun and relaxing. We had our fun and then it was time to relax. The relaxing part didn't last too long. It never does. One month later and I'm back at school.

"This sucks," I mutter to my best friend as I sit cross-legged on top of my desk. It's just after the forth and last period of the day, and I'm sitting in afternoon homeroom waiting for the teacher to come and check my name off the roll to prove that I'm still here and didn't go home early. It's only the second week of school and I'm sick of it already. Whoever said year 11 was easy, was lying… it's true that we now have less assignments, but we have twice to three times more essays and homework.

Olivia Gerda fixes me one of her cat like grins. "Think of it this way," she tells me, "at least we're not stuck with Crackers like Phil is"

That's Liv for you, always looking on the bright side. Olivia Jessica Gerda… she's quite possibly the happiest girl that I have ever met. She has a bubbly personality, contagious smile and she makes Tasha look like a mute. I swear, her mouth is always moving a mile a minute. It's hard to run out of things to talk about with Liv. I've known her since year seven, but didn't start hanging out with her until a couple of years ago when her friends decided to ditch her. She doesn't seem to hold any grudges though. All in all, she's a small girl with dull brown hair, gray eyes and a natural smile.

Crackers is one of the year eleven homeroom teachers. His actual name is Mr. Ivan Steps. But just about every student at Leaselle-Cross College knows him as Crackers. Not necessarily 'cause he's mad… but more because he tends to 'crack' it at every little thing. By the end of the year, everyone in his form is guaranteed a detention. Poor Phil.

"So, who are you taking to the formal?" Liv wants to know, taking out her hair from the short ponytail it was in and running her fingers through it. I don't know why she bothers doing up anyway in the first place. When out, it falls just above her shoulders. Leaselle-Cross rules state that you only have to tie your hair up if it falls below your shoulders. Another stupid rule is that we have to wear uniforms. Light gray dresses in the summer, with navy jumpers and dark gray blazers… let's not forget those white knee-high socks and shiny black shoes. Not that mine are looking all that shiny though… The boys are nothing special, wearing gray pants or shorts, white tops, with navy jumpers and dark gray blazers.

I shoot Liv a funny look. "The formal isn't until July," I tell her, "It's only February"

"So?" Liv asks, looking innocent, "I know who I am taking…"

"Let me guess, would that be Douglas?"

I know I'm correct when she beams broadly at me. Shaking my head with a small smile, I cock an eyebrow at her. Daniel Douglas is her new boyfriend. She met him during the summer holidays, like I had with Justin. The only difference being that they had actually kept in touch. Now, they've been going out for just over a month. I have yet to meet him.

"Caroline Kameron, get off the desk, will you?"

"Yes, Ms. Morgan," I reply automatically, sliding off the desk and onto the chair as my homeroom teacher walks through the door with all her books. Glancing at the clock, I see that she's ten minutes late. Looks like another day where we're going to be let out after the final bell has rung. I adore Ms. Morgan, I really do… it's just that punctuality is never her strong point. As a result, I generally have to run to catch my tram home. Either that or I could miss it and then wait an extra hour for the next one to come.

Five minutes later, when the final bells rings to signal the end of school, Ms. Morgan is still only up to the F's.

"Christopher Freeworth?"

"Here"

"April Game?"

"She has a doctor's appointment"

"Olivia Gerda?"

"Yep"

Liv gets up and starts packing away her books. "I'll meet you outside," she mouths, before scurrying through the door. Leaning back in my chair with my feet on the desk, I wait patiently for Ms. Morgan to get to my name.

"James Jeron?"

"Mmph… -ere!"

I glance back over my shoulder to see Jimmy stuffing his mouth with some food or another. I've known him since primary school. He's forever eating… and despite all the extra snacks, he's still stick skinny. Catching my eye, he grins at me, waves a cupcake in my direction and mumbles something out with his mouth full.

I raise an amused eyebrow at him.

Laughing, he swallows down his food before offering me the cupcake again. "Want one, Caz?" he repeats, before remarking proudly, "made it in food tech"

I take one look at the crumbling cake in his hand, drowning in chocolate icing. "I'll be right, thanks Jimmy"

"Caroline Kameron?" Ms. Morgan has finally reached the K's.

"Here," I call out, before grabbing my books off the table and jumping up. Stuffing them into my backpack, I wave bye at Jimmy and head out of the classroom and into the school corridor. It more or less looks like your average school hallway. Neat lockers lining the walls, fluorescent lights hanging over head. Down one side of the corridor though, are huge floor to ceiling windows that over look a beautiful courtyard. It lets enough natural light in, so that the fluorescent lights are not needed. All year 11 and 12s are in the new building the courtyard. The rest of the school is in the more crumbled down and gloomy complex.

I find Liv waiting beside my locker, bag slung over one shoulder. "Ready to go?"

"Just about," I reply, as she moves over so that I can reach my lock. Twisting it to the right combination, it clicks open and I grab my English books out. Just my luck to be stuck with Crackers for English. He has a reputation for being a hard marker and seems to enjoy a student's misery. My teacher from last year recommended that I take up Advanced English… if I had known that Crackers took it, I never would've accepted.

Having grabbed all my books, Liv and I set off down the near-empty corridor. With Liv half-skipping down the hallway like she usually does, we turned the corner and nearly ran head long into another student. It was just out luck that it happened to be Scott Brooks. Our bad luck, I might add.

"Oi, watch it, retard," Scott snaps out to Liv, taking a step back in time to avoid crashing into her. Upon hearing his voice, my eyes narrow slightly as I look up. Scott and I are not what one would call the best of friends… In fact, he's one of the only people at LC College that I do not get along well with. Him, his little band of followers and his stuck-up girlfriend.

"It's just as much your fault as it was ours," I point out, knowing that it isn't exactly true.

Scott shifts his light blue eyes from Liv to me. His face doesn't register any delight at seeing me there. I'd say that the feeling is mutual. Instead, his lips curl up into a sneer. "I don't exactly recall skipping down the hallway with my eyes closed"

Standing behind Scott are several of his mates, who all snicker as though their oh mighty leader had just said the most amusing thing.

Liv is far from angry or embarrassed. Instead, she states rather plainly, "I never had my eyes closed"

Both Scott and I stare at her. "Whatever," he grumbles, running one hand through his sandy-coloured hair. It's about the same shade as mine. Scary. Once again, he eyes return back to me, "I'm in no mood to put up with your attitude this year, Caz, so you'd better watch it"

Without a second word or glance back, he pushes past us and continues walking down the corridor like he owns it. His friends trial along behind him. Wait, what the hell did he just say? My attitude? Did he just say that I had an attitude? And he knows that I hate being called Caz!

My hazel-green eyes flashing now, I start to turn around and shout down the corridor, when I feel Liv's cool hands resting on my shoulders. "Geez, Caroline," she murmurs, "ease up there. You know he's just trying to get to you"

And it damn near worked too. Who am I kidding? Of course it worked! He infuriates me! Weird thing is, aside from being a cocky pain in the ass, I have no idea why he gets to me so much.

Scott Brooks came to LC College in Year 7 like I had. He wasn't too bad then, though he didn't have his whole group to back him up either. Either way, he was actually decent. Still arrogant as hell, but bearable. It was only around Year 8, did he start getting weird ideas into his head, such as if you're wealthy and good-looking… you're automatically better than all the rest. Scott Brooks is fairly wealthy from what I can tell. He's had several parties over the years that I've been to… all were held at his modest sized mansion. Well, I'm not sure if it's a mansion… but it's a pretty large house with a long driveway and well kept grounds. I think both his parents are doctors at a private hospital.

As for looks? I hate to admit it, but Scott Brooks does have a certain appeal. Sandy brown hair and light blue eyes, he has a medium build and isn't too much taller than I. Shorter than Justin, but not by too much. He's somewhere in the middle. He's on the athletics team and plays basketball with the year 12s. Most of the girls in our year level swoon over him, they don't even let his insolent manner deter them in the slightest. They don't know what the hell that they're getting themselves into though. All these little crushes simply go straight to his head and makes his inflamed ego even bigger (if it's possible).

Unfortunately for all his admirers though, he's taken. It's amazing… I never thought of Scott as the loyal boyfriend type. Come to think of it, I don't know for sure whether he actually is loyal to Carly. Carly Montegna. She's one of those high-status girls who believe that they're better than everyone else is. Like Scott, she comes from an extremely wealthy family, though hers is old money that has been handed down through the family. With incredibly dark green eyes, a pert nose and dark brown hair (with red and gold highlights) framing a flawless heart shaped face, she is no doubt the girl of Scott's dreams, (and he of hers). Pretty, wealthy and a snob… they fit together like two peas in a pod. (Oh, I just rhymed!). There are rumors going around that they share the same agent who gets them modeling and acting gigs. I don't doubt it.

Carly likes to label herself as the most popular girl in Year 11. This could be the case, as she does seem to always be surrounded by a group of giggling girls and admirers… but then again, I'm fairly sure that I have just as many friends as she does. Wow, does that sound conceited, or what? But when I say friends, I don't mean best friends, but good acquaintances. For most elections where the captain is voted in, (which we all know are simply popularity votes), we usually end up neck and neck. Sometimes I get it, sometimes she does. The only difference is that she likes to make it known that she has a large group of friends. I think it's great having friends (what would I do without them?), but I don't really mind if not everyone knows about it.

Stepping out the front doors of the school and starting down the steps, I gaze up into the deep blue of the sky and shade my eyes from the afternoon glare. It's nearing the end of summer, but it's not necessarily getting any cooler.

"Hey, Caroline!" a new voice calls, while we're walking down the long driveway of the school. One of the only things I like about our private school, are the grounds. They are beautiful. Turning my head slightly to my left, I spot Cara Sitch and her best friend Chase Grenier walking towards us. Liv and I slow down and wait for them to catch up.

"What took you two so long?" she asks me, medium-length light golden-brown hair swaying behind her. "We were waiting for you guys to get out. I knew Ms. Morgan was bad at arriving on time, but still…"

"We-" I began, before Liv cut me off.

"-had to get some books from our lockers," she finished off, obviously not wanting to get me riled up about Scott. Once I get started talking about something, I'm generally hard to shut up.

"Ah ha, okay then," Cara says, not too convinced. We chat for a while as we start down the driveway. Cara and Chase are next-door neighbours and usually catch the same tram home as I do. Cara does most of the talking out of the two. A nice, moderately pretty girl, Cara is a natural high-achiever. Near fluent is French, learning Spanish and in both Advanced English and Specialist Mathematics, she is guaranteed to get one of the top marks at our school. She came in Year 8, and this is the first year that I actually have a class with her (Advanced English). The really annoying thing is that she hardly has to study to ace her tests. While not quite a party girl, she goes out every weekend and spends just as much time out with her friends as I do. She's one of my good acquaintances that I was talking about.

I don't really know Chase Grenier all that much. He only came last year, and I have yet to have a single class at the same time as him. He's got a good group of friends, but keeps to himself when around those that he doesn't know as well. He has grown up next door to Cara and she was the only person he knew when he first came. He has a cute, almost shy smile and curly dark brown hair. He has something about him that makes you just want to run up and give him a hug. Or a cuddle is more like it.

"I can't believe that we only have one new student in Year 11 this year," Liv is chatting amiably.

Chase looks surprised, "there's a new student?"

"Ada Nathaniel"

"Who?"

I shoot a glance at Cara, "is she the one that Carly has taken into her group?"

"Yeah, I think so. Poor girl"

I laugh. Though Cara sometimes hangs around with the girls in Carly's 'group', she holds no more affection for the girl than I do. Slowly the talk moves around to the other new students in the school.

"Oh, how hot is that new Year 12 student?" Liv asks, her gray eyes lighting up noticeable.

My ears prick up and I grin at her. Well now, I'm always happy to welcome a new hottie to the school. Chase doesn't look all that interested, but Cara definitely is. "Who's this?" she wants to know.

Liv raises an eyebrow, something she does often and yet, it still looks comically funny to see. "You mean you haven't seen him yet?"

"Are you going to keep up guessing all day?" I complain, as we finally leave the school driveway, walk out the gates and turn left. Cara, Chase and I slow down outside a tram stop. Liv, who would usually keep walking, slows down as well.

"I'm sure you'll see him soon enough," she shrugs, "I think his name is Jimmy?"

"Jimmy?" I question, the name automatically associating with the food-loving James Jeron back in class. Liv frowns.

"No, wait. That doesn't sound right… Justin? Yeah, that's it! It's Justin"

Justin? It's crazy to think that it's Justin Milano from the Summer Holidays. Right? I mean, after all, apart from the fact that they both start Year 12 this year, there is nothing to suggest that it's the same person. Only wishful thinking. But still, wouldn't it be great if he were here?

Pushing the thought firmly from my mind, I order myself not think about it. It's crazy. What would the chances be that Justin Milano would start as the new student at my school? Of all the schools in Melbourne?

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« -fox.-{ - please review

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I'm glad people are liking this fic. I wouldn't be surprised if people like it better than 'Loved Forever', as this is my usual style of writing. I wasn't (and still aren't) that used to writing in third person… it turns out a little flatter than what I would've liked. I prefer writing in first person, much more fun for me to write.. and hopefully read. Anyway, thank you so much for all the reviews! (keep them coming, hehe). I know that not too much happened here, but I want to get all the characters straight first, before moving right into the main story. Otherwise, I find that it's a little to late to start developing them later on.

I've been updating a whole lot this week… don't expect the updates to always be this fast! Hehe.

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Pyscho Saphire }-» Here's another chapter (I don't like it as much as the first chapter, but it'll do..) so no need to riot now! Lol.

~moni }-» I'm glad you like this one, and I'm hoping it'll be ten times better too. Hehe. I might think of re-writing, editing or working on 'Loved Forever', sometime in the future. Try and get it better.

Midnight Owl }-» Most people are saying that they're liking this one better, is it the style, characters, storyline? I'm curious to know what I can do to get more people interested. =)

Anonymous }-» 'Loved Forever' is finally finished! Aw, I'm still trying to decide whether I'll miss it or not. Anyway, here's the next chapter so feel free to drop by again with another review.

Kublai Khan }-» It's a little hard to read? Eh, I might want to fix that up. Any suggestions? And what can I say… I'm lazy. Hehe. I don't go back and re-read my work carefully before posting. It isn't until after I read it on fp.c that I realise all the little mistakes I make. 'my' and 'me' comes up a lot. Don't know why though, seeing as 'e' and 'y' aren't anywhere near each other. I'll try to type more carefully, but I really doubt I can type a whole piece without mistakes. I'm too careless. ;-)

Arialla }-» I'm glad you like the story. Not too much has happened, but I'm gonna try and get the characters down first before moving on too far with the story. Hope you still find it interesting!

The Wicked Witch of the North }-» hehe. I can surf, but barely… I'm probably like CK. Standing up for a maximum of two-three seconds… does that even count? Hehe. I thought about making CK good at surfing, but thought it'd be more fun to have Justin tease her. All my characters used to be 'mary-sue-ish', but I'm trying to break away from that. However, I don't want to make her hopeless at everything, so there are going to be things she's good at. Trashketball? Hm, I can grow to like that word.

Annchick1273 }-» Hehe. Thanks so much for the review! I'm glad you like it.

Finnigan Irish }-» I remember watching 'Bend it Like Beckham' during an excursion at school in year 9. We were playing soccer in PE and our teacher thought it would be a good end of year thing is the whole year level went to the cinemas just down the road. At that stage, I hadn't even heard of the movie and was expecting a pretty boring documentary or something. Anyway, getting off track here… thanks for the review. =D

ShOrTsHeT59 }-» These chapters are slightly longer than my other story (don't know if you've read it), so it may take slightly longer coming out. Either way, I hope you like it. She should find out about Milano at her school sometime soon…

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I won't always write individual replies... but I had some time, so I thought it wouldn't hurt to write some now. =) now, please review~!