I'm not in love with you... Right?

Back on the Team

“ What?, ” I said to myself, searching for my name.

“ Matt! ” I turned to Daph's innocent voice. Matt? Since when was I Matt? I doubted she'd ever even called my name before.

“ Yeah? ” I answered

“ Your name! ”

“ Yeah? What about it? ”

“ It's number 5! ” she was right. After Dakota, Amy, Jaythan, and herself, my name was next, with a 'B' and an 81%. What the heck? There was no way. I paid attention a bit this time, probably because this time I understood at most, half of what he was saying. The class ended and I started to leave when Mr. Finn told me to stay behind.

“ Your grades are... Shocking, what'd you do? ”

“ The truth? I really don't know. I'm surprised too, but I guess it's that tiny fairy over there. She bribed me into studying from school over till 7: 45 pm ” I said pointing at Daphne.

“ Just studying? ” he said with an arched brow

“ Yup, ” I said stuffing my hands into my pocket

“ You never study, heck, you don't even take the tests ”

“ I know! She managed to make me anyway. She's really something ” I said with a small smile

“ What'd she bribed you with that was that important? ”

“ CocoPops ”

“ Well, the principal said that you can play in Friday's match ”

“ Really?! ”

“ Yup. Whatever you two are doing, I suggest you continue it. You just might be back on the team in a few weeks ”

“ Of course ” I turned to look for Daph and tell her the good news, but she'd already left, along with everyone else.

“ Foodie. How is she still that thin? ” I said to myself before leaving the classroom.

                             Daphne

   I nibbled quietly on my sandwich under the canopy of a tree. I'd even brought a picnic blanket. Then a shadow cast over me as cologne filled my lungs.

“ Oh, Hi. What are you- ” he pulled me into a hug. “ Uh... ”

“ I got a B ”

“ I didn't think you cared that much about that stuff ”

“ I don't ”

“ So? ”

“ I get to play in Friday's match ”

“ That's great. Right? ”

“ Yeah, it's the semifinals ”

“ That's great! ”

“ Yup, ” He said and stared at me with those beautiful gold-flecked, Emerald eyes.

“ Oh yeah, reminds me, ” I said reaching into my bag “ You seem to really enjoy these ” I handed him a pack of CocoPops. His eyes widened in surprise.

“ Yayyy! ” He exclaimed and snatched them from me like if I held it any longer I'd refuse to give him unless he learned facts about the digestive system. He was acting like a child.

“ Are you sure you're the school's bad boy? ”

   He traps me against the tree, both his hands on either side of me. His eyes darkened as the gold flecks vanished. Can he do that at will? My heart raced as he moved closer and closer to me as he whispered in my ear.

“ I'm a bully, I break girls' hearts faster than I change clothes. I drink and smoke. I flunk school, insult teachers, vandalize people's precious property, etcetera, etcetera. I'm only nice to you because I'm using you, so don't let it get to your head, Nerd. I'll let you decide the answer to that question ”

“ I already know the answer ” It took all my confidence ( which isn't so much) to say this

“ Really?, What is it? ”

“ You're... A good person! ” I said the last part as I tickled him.

“ St-stop. Da-Da-Daph! Daphne! ” He said laughing. We fell into the grass laughing, me on top of him. He pinched the tip of my nose. “ Mischievous girl ”

“ Silly boy. Did you think that'd make me scared or hate you? ”

“ Dunno, you seemed pretty scared to me ” I slapped him with the CocoPops pack.

“ And everyone thinks you're a calm nerd ”

“ Aren't I? ” I replied batting my eyes innocently

“ No. No, you're not. You're so much more ”