418Author's Note:
So I started this story 2 years ago and I've been kind of on and off with updating it. The last time I updated was over a year ago. I apologize to my old reviewers for keeping you waiting a year to hear from me, I've been kind of struggling with juggling all my work that I couldn't find the time to sit down and write.
But I've been thinking and thinking about this story for a year now and as demanding as it is to get a chapter up each week, I can't bring myself to put an end to this story. The character's mean so much to me and I just don't want to throw this story away, especially not when I was so deep into it. All I'm asking is for you all to bear with me because I really want to continue this story more than anything. I'm trying to start afresh and get some new revised chapters up, so hopefully I'll get the story going again and this time I won't go on an unexpectedly long hiatus.
So to my old reviewers: I'm sorry to keep you waiting and I hope you're not too upset with me.
To my new reviewers: I hope I haven't scared you away and I'd really appreciate some feedback on my freshly revised story :)
Thanks for your cooperation and sorry for the inconvenience!
Yours truly,
Inked
P.S. I changed my Pen Name, hope you like it :) (old followers you can still call me Dare if you would like, haha :D)
Some Call It Fate
Copyright © 2011 InkedSoul
Chapter 1
You could easily tell life was sinking from average to below average when every day you woke up it felt like déjà vu.
It was official. My life had spun itself into a monotonous, drawn out routine. Nothing remarkably significant separated each day from the rest. There was no spontaneity, no huge expectations. Nothing to look forward to every time my eyes cracked open to greet the bright rays streaming through the curtains of my window. No defined lines marked the calendar of my life. As far as I knew, my agenda was clear for the foreseeable future.
I threw an arm over my head, the back of my hand resting on my forehead as a sigh escaped my lips.
Today marked the start of my senior year of high school. Three years of high school had whizzed passed me in the blink of an eye, and I had absolutely nothing to show for it. Was that all life would be from now on? Chunks of time slithering past me as I remained completely oblivious to life's subtle changes? People were making big accomplishments at my age and I was just lying here, wondering where the next day would find me.
A light knock resonated through the room, throwing me out of my thoughts. I rolled my head to the side as the door creaked open.
Kathryn's head peaked through the small opening. "Good, you're awake. That saves me the energy of having to throw you out of bed like I usually do."
"I thought that was the highlight of your mornings," I grumbled.
She shrugged. "Depends on what mood I'm in. And right now I'd rather save my energy for the road," she said as she dangled her car keys before me.
Kathryn had been pleading with her parents all of last year to get her a new car. It hadn't been easy considering she'd crashed the family car on what was supposed to be a simple run to get groceries. She blamed the handsome guy walking on the sidewalk. Her parents didn't buy it. Needless to say they deemed her irresponsible on the road and, as a result, made her drive strictly supervised for the next couple months. She couldn't even drive two blocks to the library without her parents getting on her case. The only way to make them even remotely consider getting her a car was to prove she wasn't irresponsible. She had to get a job.
Her parents saw her working, talked it over and just like that they made her a deal. They would match anything she made if she was serious about keeping her job. So while others were strutting to the beach in their bathing suits, Kathryn spent all summer working her butt off in an ice cream shop to save up for her dream car. In the end she managed to make only $1800 by the end of the summer, but her parents were so impressed with her dedication that they chipped in a little bit more than they intended to. And by a little more, I was talking $20,000 more.
"Can I take a raincheck?" I said, curling back into my blanket.
"Of course not. Today's our first day of school remember?"
"How could I forget? Wouldn't want to be late to that, you know, cause so many people are expecting me to show up and all."
Even though it was highly unlike me, I was seriously considering ditching the first day. It wasn't as if I would miss much. I could sift through the day's events as easily as flipping through the pages of a familiar and often revisited book: The jocks would whoop and holler their way down the hallways, alerting the entire student body of their arrival, because they wouldn't be jocks if they didn't have a crowd, of course. The cheerleaders, on the other hand, would doll themselves up, mascara, eyeliner, lipstick and all, and dangle themselves in front of said jocks in a desperate attempt for attention.
Meanwhile, the rest of the school would migrate down the hallways, clapping each other on the back, bumping fists and engaging in obnoxiously loud conversation as if they hadn't seen each other for months. And they do all this, not just for the heck of it, but because it wouldn't be the start of senior year if they didn't.
To me, however, it would be like the start of every other dreaded school year. Another year unnoticed. Another year as an average bystander to all high school antics. Three years of experiencing it was enough. Tacking on a fourth year seemed unnecessary to me.
Kathryn rolled her eyes at my typical response. "Oh, don't be so dramatic. You never know. This year could be different." She grinned knowingly.
Of course, it was easier for her to have a brighter outlook on today. Kathryn was far from the average girl at school. In fact, her and I were complete opposites. Kathryn was extroverted; I'd never known a day where she was afraid to voice her thoughts. She was fashionable, daring, sexy, a definite thrill-seeker and most importantly she was captain of the volleyball team, which definitely got her noticed. She had long legs and the visage of a supermodel, her strawberry blonde hair and amber eyes easily capturing a guy's attention.
I, on the other hand, had received the short end of the stick; everything about my appearance, or my life for that matter, could be marked as plain, simple and average. Plain brown eyes, plain brown hair, average body, average height and simple, average personality. I was definitely a catch.
"Yes Kathryn, this could be the year that all the jocks fall to my feet and the cheerleaders rush to befriend me," I expressed obvious sarcasm.
A chuckle rose in her throat before her alert amber eyes rushed to meet mine. "I don't know, Cami. I've got a good feeling about today."
-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-. -.-.-.-.-
I groaned as soon as we rolled into the school parking lot. Kathryn had spent the entire riding trying to convince me that today wouldn't be a total bust; unfortunately, she failed to comfort me in the slightest. The only thing I was looking forward to was getting in, meeting all my new teachers, and getting out. It sounded pathetic but I enjoyed making friends with the teachers on the first day. It was a great way to gauge just how unbearable the rest of the year would be. If your teacher hated you on the first day, then you were pretty much screwed for the rest of the year.
"Only a hundred and seventy-nine more days to go..." I muttered under my breath as Kathryn put her car in park and switched off the engine.
"Always the overly dramatic one, now, aren't we?" She emitted a small chuckle before stepping out of the car. I solemnly followed after her. Well, here goes nothing.
The minute we slammed our car doors shut, Dawn rushed up to Kathryn, squishing her into a tight bear hug before proceeding to gush over the new car.
I wouldn't consider Dawn and I close friends. We talked occasionally when Kathryn wasn't around, but there really was no true connection between us. She was experiencing a totally different part of high school than I was. Not only that, but she was practically the gossip center of the school. If you had a rumor, Dawn either knew about it or was the one who started it. As far as I could tell from my few encounters with her, she was a good person at heart, which was probably why she was such good friends with Kathryn.
That, and Kathryn craved the gossip.
I, on the other hand, wasn't much of a gossiper myself. I didn't see the purpose behind rumors and prying into someone else's life for personal amusement. Each rumor felt like another recycled rumor that was part of another recycled rumor which produced an endless chain of the same garbage that people still seemed to stomach with gratification.
Dawn's green eyes connected with mine and she flashed me a brief smile. However, she didn't spare a second for me to return the gesture before she was off, updating Kathryn on all the latest happenings. I wondered how much news there could possibly be, considering the first day had just started. Regardless, I only half listened in.
"Did you hear? This school nearby shut down last year and apparently there are going to be tons of new students pouring in all day. You know what that means, right?" She raised a suggestive eyebrow.
"New guys to scope out," Kathryn expertly answered, a smirk teasing her lips. She turned to me, "Cami, I think this could be a new opportunity for you."
"An opportunity to switch schools…?" I tried.
She laughed briefly at my answer. "Very funny. I meant an opportunity to get a fresh start. You know, why not try having a boyfriend for starters?"
I snorted. "Yeah, that's happening."
"Come on. You're young, beautiful, funny, smart. What else could a guy want in a girl?"
I started counting them off on my fingers. "Bigger boobs, bigger butt, smaller brain…shall I continue?"
She shook her head at me. "Only some guys are like that."
"We're in the 21st century, Kathryn. All guys are like that."
Suddenly, Dawn slapped Kathryn's arm, halting our dispute. "New prey, 12 o'clock."
She gestured ahead of us and we both snapped our attention to a black car that'd just pulled up into the parking space straight across from us. There was a short pause before three guys stepped out. Naturally, Dawn started squealing in place like the typical boy crazy high school girl she was. Kathryn, on the other hand, was a little subtler about her desires. She bit her bottom lip enticingly while flashing each guy an attractive grin. I inched away from them, embarrassed. Unlike them, I wasn't prepared to openly flaunt myself in front of guys I'd laid eyes on seconds ago.
I had to admit, though, that they were kind of good looking. One of them particularly peaked my interest, probably because he appeared to be the bold centerpiece between the other two. He glided across the parking lot with overwhelming confidence, each movement performed with a lack of effort. It was almost intimidating, cocky even.
Usually those types repulsed me; there was nothing more annoying than a guy who thought he was God's greatest gift to mankind. However, I noted the reserved manner in which he carried himself and his complete disregard for the gossip that erupted like a trail of fire as he walked by. He just held his head high and didn't even bother cracking a smile to the clusters of girls flashing him flirtatious looks. Either he was being overly egotistical or a total closed book. It was hard to tell when I'd barely been within 5 feet of him.
"Well, that was quick."
I jumped as Kathryn snuck up behind me. "W-what?"
"Don't act surprised. I saw you checking that guy out." She nodded toward the three guys as they slipped across the parking lot to the front of the school.
"I don't know what you're talking about," I denied, my eyes lingering on the guy for a moment longer than they should have. It wasn't my fault. I couldn't help it. And I definitely wasn't the only one. A good number of people had craned their necks in his direction, a couple of girls pulling together here and there to discuss him in hushed whispers. He'd been on school grounds for less than a minute and already half the school was asking questions about him. Well played, mystery guy.
"Don't play dumb. I can see you, you know." Kathryn's voice jolted me out of my thoughts once more. I shook my head, walking away. I didn't come here to discuss guys. I just wanted to get this day over with already. But before I even made it half a step, she slid in front of me, wearing a coy smile. Dawn was nowhere to be found; she'd probably gotten bored with us and ran off to stalk the Three Musketeers.
Suddenly, Kathryn snapped her fingers. "I've got it."
I raised an eyebrow. "Got what?"
"I'm going to set you up with this guy." She took my hands in hers and shook them, as if trying to shake some sense into me.
I flung her hands away stubbornly. "Oh no you're not." I brushed past her and began walking toward the front entrance. We'd been standing out in the parking lot for too long, the crowds on the front lawns were beginning to recede, and something told me we didn't have much time before the first period bell rung.
Kathryn's heels clicked the few steps that it took to catch up with me until she was right beside me, her steps soon becoming in sync with mine. "C'mon, Cami, don't be so stubborn. Try to be more open-minded."
The only reason I wasn't more 'open-minded' about this idea was because I knew nothing good could possibly come from it. "Uh, why don't you try being more realistic? What could I possibly get out of this?"
"That's why you've got to think outside the box. Talking to this guy could open up a lot of new opportunities for you. You could gain a new friend, who could introduce you to new guys, who you could in turn introduce to me..."
"I'm sorry, who are these new opportunities for again?" I jokingly asked.
"A friend doesn't receive juicy opportunities like that without letting their best friend reap at least some of the benefits." I raised a questioning eyebrow at her. "Oh, c'mon, I'd do the same for you."
I emitted a short laugh. "Well, too bad. I don't want whatever new opportunities you think this guy'll give me. I'm just gonna play it safe and steer clear of him, if that's okay with you."
"Play it safe? Have I taught you nothing these past few years? Playing it safe isn't going to get you a boyfriend. The most it'll get you is into a nursing home."
"Well, good thing I don't want a boyfriend." I said as I swung the front door to the school open for her, motioning her inside. I didn't understand why it was such a big deal. Getting a boyfriend wasn't a girl's only purpose in life. As far as I was concerned, there were only three goals on my agenda this year: getting straight A's, getting into a good college and getting the heck out of here. As a matter of fact, they'd been the only three goals on my agenda for the past four years, but that was besides the point. Nowhere in my itinerary was there any mention of getting a boyfriend.
"You don't even get to play that whole independency card when you haven't even had a proper boyfriend. Those are reserved for girls who've had their hearts broken by worthless assholes and want nothing more from men than to see them all burn in hell."
"So I have to go through all that just for you to be okay with me being single?" I tried to keep up with the conversation while weaving my way through walls of excited, hormone-packed teenagers.
"Of course not. If I thought this guy was a worthless asshole I wouldn't even let you go out with him in the first place." I was about to ask exactly how she didn't know he was a total jerk considering she hadn't said two words to him, but I decided against it. "My point is, the whole independency thing is a fluke. Girls may seem to enjoy being all powerful and on their own but the truth is, deep down inside they crave the company of a strong, protective male. I mean, what would Juliet have been without Romeo? Cinderella without her Prince Charming? Beauty before she found her Beast?"
"Feminists."
"Oh don't even go there," she stubbornly responded as we rounded the next corner.
I sighed. "What is it going to take for you to drop this conspiracy you hold oh-so-dear to you?"
Her eyes rolled over as she pondered over the question. I knew whatever her answer would be I wasn't going to like it, but as long as she wasn't pestering me to get a boyfriend all senior year, I'd take my chances. Kathryn was persistent; as soon as she latched onto one idea, she wouldn't let it go until she saw it through.
She finally reached a conclusion. "Okay. If you actually go up to this guy and talk to him, actually talk to him, and prove to me that you don't need or want a guy in your life— which I highly doubt because every woman needs a guy in her life, I mean, come on. They're so—"
"Please get to the point."
She released a defeated sigh. "…then I'll forget about it. I'll stop pushing you to get a boyfriend and I'll let you make the calls from now on."
"And all I have to do is talk to him?"
"Yup, that's all."
I thought about it for a moment. It seemed like a small price to pay to get her off my back for the whole year. I mean how hard could it possibly be to just talk to the guy? Okay…maybe that wasn't the best way of looking at it, but regardless I assured myself that this wasn't going to be as hard as it seemed.
"Okay. It's on."
Kathryn flashed a triumphant grin.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the first chapter. Please review and tell me what you think :)