0.6

~ Skye

The second my palm connects with Ethan Reid's face, I'm suddenly aware of the stunned silence in the hallway. I was right; half of the school is watching, their conversations forgotten.

I sighed. Since when did my life get so messed up? Why do I have to be the main event in the school every single time? It's all his fault. Ethan is to blame for all these. I was just a girl with her best friend who came to school and went back home. But getting myself entangled with Ethan has changed my life.

A low laugh makes me come back to reality. He's chuckling slowly, an infuriating chuckle that makes me so angry.

"That was cute, Anderson," Ethan drawls, his hands rubbing his jaw, and that stupid, cocky smirk still on his face. "But Baby, if you wanted to touch me that bad, all you had to do was ask."

The silence turns into whispers, gasps, chuckles. My cheeks turn red with embarrassment; I curl my fingers into fists as I search for the right words to defend myself.

"Why are you so..." I groan when I can't find the right words to complete my sentence. Ethan tilts his head, and I know he's going to say something worse.

"What? Are you gonna hit me again? Go ahead, Baby. Show everyone how obsessed you are."

I'm so embarrassed. I want the ground to open up and swallow me right now. I slowly glance around. Ethan knows what he's doing. He's doing this on purpose.

Without thinking, I grab Harper's half-finished coffee and I throw it at him. The liquid splatters on his shirt, it darkens the fabric, dripping down.

The disappearance of the smirk on his face brings a smile to my face. Immense satisfaction is what I feel right now. Ethan is now so still that I want to laugh and rub it in his face but someone grabs my arm and yanks me toward the door.

"Oh, why are you being such a killjoy?" I whine at Harper.

"Why did you do that? You ruined his shirt, Skye." Harper hisses and I snort.

"So? He started it. He was... he..." My words come out breathless. I'm grinning from ear to ear now. I can't believe I just did that.

Way to go Skye.

"You've just played right into his hands, Skye. You just made this so much worse by doing that, in front of so many students." Harper groans.

What is wrong with her? Isn't she supposed to be on my side on this? Since when did she tolerate Ethan? I press my lips together as the bell rings, and I walk away from Harper.

Thursday mornings are always so good. Since it's sports day and you don't get to wear a uniform. I'm in my sportswear—a grey tank top and shorts, my hair is in a high ponytail, and as I tie my sneaker lace, Harper is glancing at her wristwatch.

Finishing with my sneakers, I get up, and just as Harper and I are about to leave the girl's washroom, we hear whispers from two girls who have been silent since.

"Did you hear about the slap?"

"Skye lost it on Ethan,"

"I think they are a thing. Why else would she care so much?"

I grit my teeth, and I'm about to walk back to these girls and tell them off, but Harper pulls me out along with herself.

"Ignore them," She mutters as we walk. We have a class this morning before sports practice and we are walking to it. "They will get bored and stop talking about you soon enough," Harper says again.

"So easy for you to say," I grumble, with a pout. "You're not the one everyone thinks is in love with Ethan Reid."

Harper makes a face and I want to laugh at how silly it is when she says. "You know that's disgusting right? You should sue for defamation."

I chuckle. "Trust me, Harper. If I could, I would."

We turn and enter our class, sliding into our seats just as the bell rings. The fresh scent of lavender makes me notice that someone new is sitting next to me. I stare at her, shoulder-length dark brown hair, light brown eyes... I smile and she catches me looking and grins.

"Hey. You're Skye, right?"

I blink. "Skye Anderson. Yeah...?"

"Riley Carter," She introduces herself. "I just transferred from Chicago.

I'm still thinking of what to say when Harper, always the social freak beats me to it. She turns in her seat, smiling at Riley. "I'm Harper. And you're so welcome to this mad school."

I gape at Harper but Riley chuckles. "Thanks," She says easily. "So, not to be that girl, but I already heard about you." She nods at me. "Or to be specific... you and a certain Ethan Reid."

I groan at the mention of Ethan's name. "Of course you have. What do you want to know?" I fake a smile.

"In my defence, it was so impossible not to have heard about it. Everyone is talking about how you slapped the golden boy and how they think you two make a cute couple..."

"What?" Harper starts laughing hard.

"That's gross. But... He's kind of my boyfriend so..." I pause when I see how wide Riley's eyes have grown.

"You slap your boyfriend in front of so many people? You're my new hero!" She whines and I laugh heartily. Gosh! I like her already.

"Do not encourage her, Riley. She's already so dramatic." Harper says after the laughter dies down.

"I respect the drama." Riley shrugs. "Besides, from what I've heard, Ethan is nice and all... You guys make him sound like a dick."

"That's what he is," I repeat.

"You know what I think? If you hate this dude, then why let him win? You should make him regret whatever he did."

I stared at her. "I like the way you think."

I can hear Harper groaning and I stifle a laugh. "You're going to make everything worse, Riley. You shouldn't urge her on when you don't know anything."

Mr. Greens walks into the class, and we stop talking. He's one strict teacher, with his tiny glasses and green coloured tie. He's our English studies teacher.

Mr. Green studies everyone for a while before going ahead to stand on the whiteboard and scribbling something on it. I don't even take a glance at what he has written because I know what it is already.

It's a group project. Mr. Greens starts writing out randomized groups, and my eyes are twitching to see who he has paired me with. I'm always paired with Harper.

But today, right there in smudged blue marker, is my name written.

Group 4: Skye Anderson, Ethan Reid, Caleb Rivera, Riley Carter.

I hear a muffled laugh and a snort from both sides. Harper rubs my back before she leaves for her assigned group. I turn to Riley and she's grinning like this isn't such a big deal.

"This is gonna be fun." She says reassuringly to me and I glance across the room, searching for Ethan with my eyes. He's smirking, arms folded and sitting next to him is Caleb who looks like he would melt into the floor any instant.

Don't get kicked out of the class, Skye.

You have zero self-control. I keep telling myself as I take in a deep breath and exhale. Mr. Greens clap his hands startling everyone.

"Alright, move into your groups. You'll have the rest of the period to start brainstorming your research topic. And remember, this is twenty per cent of your grade, so take it seriously."

I gasp.

Twenty per cent?

I have to pass this. Which means I'll have to try not to commit a crime today. Riley and I drag our chairs over to where Ethan and Caleb are sitting. I make sure to avoid eye contact with Ethan as I sit farther from him. I think he notices as his smirk deepens.

Stupid.

"Relax, Baby. I don't bite." He drawls.

I bit back a retort, as I relax in my seat and smile to ease the tension. Caleb rubs his temples, and he's whispering to Ethan, "Can you be mature for once?"

Ethan ignores him, tilting his head at Riley. "You're the new girl,"

"And you're the guy Skye hates." Riley snorts.

Ethan chuckles. "Is that what she told you? That she hates me? Obsession looks like hate, don't you think?"

"He's insufferable." Riley comments.

"Right?" I shoot her a see what I mean look. Caleb puts his head down on the table muttering some words I can't hear.

"I think we should just pick a topic and get this over with. I think... Climate change is a great option. What do you guys think?"

"Not!" I say, my arms crossed, and I'm shaking my head at Riley, who's looking at me with pleading eyes. She has been on the case for over 30 minutes and I'm so tired.

I glance at Harper who's lying on her bed, flipping through a fashion magazine. "You know she's not gonna let this go, Skye. Just say yes now and save us the trouble." Harper says.

We are in Harper's home, her room. I'd made a call to my Mum to tell her I would spend after school with Harper. Riley joined us, claiming she's not gonna get into trouble. And now, she's pleading with me so we can go to a party.

Parties aren't my thing.

"I'm not going to some random party with a girl I just met today. I don't know you, Riley. You could be a serial killer."

Riley grins like what I just said is the funniest thing she has heard. "Yeah, but I'm not a serial killer. Come on... Why are you avoiding fun?" She questions, as she tugs on my sleeve.

I sigh, exasperated. "I'm not avoiding fun, okay? I just don't see the point in spending a whole night pretending to have fun while being surrounded by sweaty, drunk people."

Harper looks up from her magazine. "You know, Liam is gonna be there."

"Why would you invite my ex to your party, Riley?" I snap at her.

"Same thing I was saying. She planned that," Harper makes a face.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Riley plops down on my bed, she's resting her chin on her hands as she starts talking again. She never gets tired. "But hypothetically, if Skye were to go and hypothetically look hot as hell, certain people would start reevaluating their life choices."

I know she means Liam choosing Ava over me. I narrow my eyes at Riley. Why do I feel like she's up to something? She's been suspiciously vague.

"Okay. Even if I'm going. What makes you think Ethan would go? I mean, everyone thinks we are a thing, so we need to go together." I say and Riley waves her hand.

"Trust me, the moment he finds out you're going, he'll show up."

Harper nods. "Yeah, I'll tell Caleb. He's a horrible secret-keeper. Ethan will know within, like, five minutes."

My face is buried in my hands as I think what a terrible idea this is. I peek through my fingers. "You girls think Ethan will care that I'm going?"

"Skye, Ethan loves the spotlight." Harper gives me a look.

"Which is why we have to make sure you look, irresistible."

I glance at Harper. "Fine. But if this stupid idea blows up in my face, I'm blaming both of you."

Harper grins. "That's fair."

"Don't worry, I'll take full credit."

---

The party is already in full swing as we arrive. The house is packed with so many people and music is booming. The moment we get out of the car, Riley drags me and Harper inside.

"Your house is beautiful," Harper tells Riley.

I don't have the luxury to check out the house as I'm scanning the sea of faces, for Ethan's. Harper leans in and tells me she's going to grab some drinks and Riley is talking to some guys she knows, leaving me alone by myself.

I spot Ethan, and he's not even alone. He's with some blonde I vaguely recognize from our school. She's draped over him, laughing at something he's saying to her.

I look away from the scene.

This is why I did not want to come.

I turn my body away, an idea in my head. Whatever. If Ethan wanted to play games, I could too. As if on cue, a guy I don't recognize appears in front of me. I take in his appearance. Blue eyes, dark hair...

Not bad.

"How's it going, pretty." The guy asks while handing me a drink.

"Skye," I say, as I gulp the contents of the drink in one go. "My name is Skye," I say again. The guy grins, and he grabs my arm, stepping closer. I smile at his boldness.

"Skye, that's a pretty name." He says. "You look like the type of girl who'd stay home and read on Thursday nights."

I frown at his comment. "I'm not really..."

I don't get to finish my statement when I start to feel lightheaded. I stagger a bit as I push the guy's hand over my arm.

What's wrong with me? I can't feel this way over a cup of drink, right? Except... it's being drugged. "Did... did you put something in the drink you gave to me?" I ask as I try to keep standing.

"What are you talking about?"

I can't hear what the guy is saying anymore as I close my eyes and reopen them. I can feel his hands on my waist and I'm struggling to get them off me.

"Leave me alone, idiot," I say.

"Let me take care of you, Skye."

I'm about to reply when I hear a loud thud and my eyes snap wide open. The music has stopped and I can see two people, on the floor. It's Ethan, and he's raining kicks, punches, slaps, on the guy who was just trying to grab me.

"It's okay!" I hear some guys telling Ethan as they manage to pull him away from the other guy.

"She said to leave her alone. What part of that didn't you get, dickhead?" Ethan yells at the guy as he gives the guy a final kick, which makes the guy groan in pain.

I see Ethan walking toward me.

He's standing in front of me as he touches my cheek softly. "Are you okay, Babe?" He asks and I nod involuntarily. I'm still trying to understand what is going on.

"Are you sure? That motherfucker didn't touch you, right? If he did..."

"I'm fine," I say, and the next thing I know, I'm in Ethan's arms.

He hugs me.

I can feel the warmth radiating as a result of the hug and before I can say anything, flashing red and blue lights are everywhere. I shut my eyes as someone yells.

"Cops!"

I can feel the sudden chaos as everyone is running and scrambling to escape. Ethan grabs my hand. "Come on," He tells me.

"B... but my friends. Harper... Riley..." I muttered as I ran through the backyard with Ethan, our fingers tangling together as sirens and shouts filled the air.