Accidentally Good & Bad

"Manhattan!" A familiar high voice called from the end of the hallway. I recognized it immediately. Let's just say I wasn't too happy to hear it.

I turned around and forced a smile. "Hey, Brooklyn."

Brooklyn's been here for two weeks and is already causing ripples at Decker High. She tried out for the cheer squad. She made it. She took Carrie Woods out of her captaincy. She's the new captain. Brooklyn wants Archer Scott. She obnoxiously flirts with him. 

Brooklyn wanted to make a name for herself at Decker High. She certainly achieved her goal. 

My twin sister smiled sweetly at me. A boy walked by and Brooklyn cocked her hip, placed a hand on her hip, and flipped her curled blonde ponytail. No joke. She flipped her ponytail. She flipped her ponytail! Actual flippage. 

"I think Archer is into me," Brooklyn smirks. I rolled my eyes discreetly but flashed her a smile. 

Let's back track a second. 

Remember Brooklyn Hood? The sweetheart who loved to wear dresses and skirts and blouses. And curled hair and soft makeup. Who literally never spoke a curse word. Who never said one mean thing. 

As Parker would say- "Fuck that."

Meet the new Brooklyn Hood. The popular captain of the cheer team who loves shorts with ass cheeks hanging out, tight tops with her boobs threatening to burst, and the thickest winged eyeliner I have ever seen. Who is, honestly, not such a sweetheart anymore.

She's been talking about Archer Scott literally every single minute. She must think I forget about how she thinks Archer is the hottest boy ever. Because she reminds me every single day. Listen, Brooklyn, I get it. You like Archer's arms. You like his face. You like his jawline. You like his voice. You like him. I get it!

And let's make it clear that I am not jealous. I will never ever think of Archer Scott that way. I am just annoyed of hearing about him 24/7.

Now back to reality.

"That's great, Brooklyn," I smile at her. I turn my attention back to my locker to hide the rolling of my eyes. Call me fake if you want. I want to pretend to be happy for my sister. No need to be a Debbie downer. 

Brooklyn pouts. "I wish he would ask me out already," She says. Then a slow smile spreads across her face. "But I heard Owen March thinks I'm totally hot."

Owen March? 

I blink. "What?"

"Yeah! He's been flirting with me all day," Brooklyn smirks. "I think he's going to ask me out on a date soon. I'm super excited!"

I laugh nervously. "But I thought you liked Archer?" 

Brooklyn gives me a look like I'm an idiot. "I do. But Owen March is hot and he thinks I'm hot," She says slowly like she's telling a kindergartner how to say the word cat. 

"I know. I understand that part," I tell her. As I such my locker, I give her a look. "It's just that I don't think you should date someone unless you genuinely like them, you know?"

"Oh, Hattie. You are such a romantic," Brooklyn exclaims. I don't miss how he makes it seem like a bad thing. 

I blink. "I don't think I'm a romantic. I think I'm just stating a fact."

Brooklyn flips her ponytail again. This time, it flies into my face. I cough and flick it away. Luckily, she doesn't notice because she's too busy eyeing up Owen March. "I gotta go, Hattie. I've got a hot hunk named Owen March waiting for me at the lunch table." 

"Wait!" She turns around to look at me impatiently. I take a deep breath before saying, "Brooklyn, I don't think Owen March is a good guy."

"And why is that?" My sister sounds so impatient with me.

"He is at the tippity top of the list of my tormentors. He's not a nice guy and I think you deserve better." 

Brooklyn smiles reassuringly at me. "It won't be an issue, okay Hattie?"

At the time, I thought she meant that Owen March wouldn't be an issue anymore. Like, she wouldn't be interested in going on a date with him. Or she'd tell him to back off. Turns out, Brooklyn had a different idea of "It won't be an issue." But that's later on in my story. We'll get to that later.

"Okay."

Brooklyn smiled sweetly at me before sauntering away. I stared after her, unsure on how I should be feeling. 

"Hattan, we've been waiting ages for you. I'm starving! What's the hold up?" Archer Scott called out to me, strutting up to me with Will and Parker following. When Archer sees my face, he looks concerned. "What's wrong?"

I shake my head quickly. "Nothing! Nothing's wrong." 

Archer looks unconvinced. I wouldn't blame him. I'm awful at lying.

Will notices my discomfort and changes the subject. "I heard there's tater tots today in the cafeteria." I shoot him a grateful smile. 

Archer whoops. "You know I'm all over that shit!" 

"The one thing that we agree on, Scott!" Parker grins. He and Archer slap each other a high five. "Will, you the man. You always know when to hook us up with the tots." 

Archer and Will start laughing at how tots sounds a lot like- well, you know. As they shove each other and laugh, making their way towards the cafeteria, I smile softly at them. Beside me, Parker nudges me. I look up at him to see him looking down at me with a smile.

"If we don't go soon they're going to eat all the fucking tater tots in the cafeteria," Is all he says.

"We better get going then," I mock despair.

"Race ya!" He grins cheekily before speeding off faster than the flash.

"I hate you!" I yell after him, but start running anyway. 

As Parker and I speed past Archer and Will, the other two pick up on the race and join us. Together, with our feet pounding the empty hallways, we race towards the cafeteria.

Because we wouldn't want anyone to eat all the tater tots, would we. 

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literally, please read the new message i put up on my message board. i have such immense love for you guys. thank you so much for the support and votes and comments and adding this book to your reading lists. this book is ranked 331 in teen fiction. i know it's not crazy high, but two days ago we were ranked 991. IN TWO DAYS WE JUMPED 600 RANKS. i literally love you guys so much.

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