When Opposites Attract (11 page)

"Oh yeah? How?" He whispered in my ear. A shiver went through me.

He smiled at my soft spot for him, but I wasn't going to give up that easily. With his brown eyes looking at me, and his black hair all messy I almost gave in, but no way will this boy push me around. I reached out and touched his hair.

"You have curly hair?" I asked surprised.

"Only when it's wet." He said still holding me against the wall. Not moving, not in the slightest.

"Oh yeah." I said remembering him in elementary.

"And don't try to change the subject."

"It was a good try though."

"Anastasia," I laughed.

"There is no way you can keep me here like this. I can get away any time I want."

"Oh yeah how?" He asked again. I shrugged.

"I guess like this." I whispered moving closer. Bringing my lips up to his. His arms soften and he moved slightly to the side giving me a chance to escape. I qui
ckly ended the kiss and escaped, swimming to the other side of the pool. He slowly swam my way and I got out of the pool; which was my mistake.

"You think you're so smart." Angel taunted as he slowly got out of the pool. I immediately started to back away. I stuck out my tongue out at
him, which only made him start to walk (very fast) towards me. I ran away and soon he was hot on my tail.

"Don't you know it's dangerous to run around a pool!
”? I yelled over my shoulder.

"Then you should stop,” he whispered in my ear as he wrapped his arms around my waist.
He spun me around really fast making me very dizzy. All I did was scream, and before I even had the chance to realize what was happening I was inside the pool again. I took a little while under water, since the cold water helped with the dizziness. By the time I came up Angel was serious, all traces of happiness gone.

"Penny for your thoughts?" I asked putting my arms around his neck.

"A penny is all they're worth?" He asked with a smirk on his, yummy, lips. I giggled but his face quickly returned to its previous state.

"How do you think everyone at school will react?"

"I don't really care." He looked at me.

"You don't care? You're head cheerleader
, don't you feed off of what people say and think about you?"

"Wow harsh
cliché you got there. You make it sound like I'm a leech." I said dropping my arms from his shoulder.

"Oh no I'm so sorry I didn't mean it like that." He said grabbing my arms and putting them back. Bringing me closer.

"It's okay." I said forgiving him instantly at the sight of his cute worried face. He relaxed and smiled at me, obviously glad that I wasn't mad.

"I guess
I do care, I mean I am human and a teenage girl, but I try my best to move on and usually I do."

"How do you do it?"

"With my head held high, shoulders back, and I never back down. No one can tell me what I can and can't do."

"I can see that. You know you never seize to surprise me
, love."

"Oh
, you ain't seen nothing yet." I said with a wink.

He laughed. "So
, I pick you up Monday?" I nodded.

Angel

Anastasia stayed over the whole day. It was great and my mom had to work a double shift, so we were alone. We were both used to being alone, so we just cooked dinner and ate. I put my mom’s food in the microwave then went to drop Anastasia off. I drove up her drive way and stopped in front of her door. I walked out and opened her door. She smiled up at me and got out of the car. She tripped and almost fell, but I managed to catch her in time.

"Sorry," s
he mumbled embarrassed.

"Everything all right?" I asked as I helped her straighten up.

"Yes... yeah I'm just nervous and I was thinking about school Monday, I wasn't watching where I was going, but I'm fine."

"You sure?" I asked looking into her diamond like blue eyes.

"Mhm," she nodded her head and managed a small smile.

"Okay." I leaned
 down and touched her lips with mine. Her lips were soft but cold. I didn't deepen the kiss, even though I really wanted to. Feeling Anastasia right now in my arms I could tell she wasn't really in the mood for hot and sexy, so I settled for a sweet goodnight kiss. I pulled away and looked at her. She still had her eyes closed. She breathed in deeply and placed her forehead against my chin.

"Thank you," s
he sighed.

"No need,
I love you." I said as I brought her closer and hugged her. I smiled like I always do when I'm with her. There was a moment of silence and then she pulled away.

"I should probably go inside."

"Right," I said slightly disappointed.

"It's not that I don't want to be with you
, I do, but I want to shower. I'm kind of tired and I just ruined a perfectly sweet moment." She said looking down and shaking her head. I laughed.

"Don't worry about it
, love. I'm a man, I can take it." She smiled up at me.

"Okay good
night." I kissed her cheek.

"Good night,
" I said then watched her go up the front steps and wave good-bye before disappearing into her house. I smiled to myself, got in my car, and drove home. As I drove home I started thinking about my dad. I don't know why, but the thought snuck into my head and glued itself there. After a while I couldn't take the subject anymore and just turned on the radio and blasted the music up high. When I got home my mom's car was parked outside. I went in and saw her sitting alone in the kitchen table eating her dinner.

"Hey, mom," s
he looked up from her book.

"Oh hey, honey,
you know the food came out great. You’re best yet."

"Thanks,
Anastasia was here so she helped me out."

"Well then tell her I loved it." I slowly walked over and sat down across from her.

"Something wrong?" She asked.

"Does something have to be wrong for me to talk to you?"

"Well no, but usually when you talked to me something is."

"I just wanted to talk to you
, I mean I feel like I haven't seen you in forever."

"Yes and I'm sorry
, it's just that I have been so busy and-"

"Why do you work so hard if we don't really need the money?" I asked interrupting her.

"Well I enjoy working and its not like you need me around and your father...." I looked at her and she was holding back tears.

"Mom
, just because I don't need you doesn't mean I don't want you around. I want you to talk with me about nothing and I want you to spend time with Anastasia and get to know her, because she’s incredibly special. I don't want you to cry every time we bring up dad. I want you to move on and be happy again and bake like you used to, because I miss you and how you were before."

"You thin
k I don't miss you too? I just can't be all alone in this house-"

"And you think it's fair to leave me alone in it?" I asked feeling my temper going up. I barely talk to my mom and I don't want to spend that time I have with her arguing
, but I can't stop myself. "You don't think I miss him too? Don't you think I also feel sad every time think about him? I hate the thought that he's dead, but he wouldn't want us to be crying over him all the time, and I know people always say that, but it's true! Death happens and people move on. I wish it never did happen, but it did; nothing I can do about it now! And I already lost my dad, I don't need to lose my mom too." I lowered my voice and mumbled the last sentence. I didn't yell at her, but I was harsh about it.

I walked out and went upstairs to my room. I thought about cutting myself for a few minutes
, but decided against it. I got my IPod and plugged it in and threw myself on my bed. After a few minutes there was a knock on my door. It didn't take a psychic to know who it was. She came in and I turned my head to stare at her. She sat down next to me. I didn't move and when she noticed she pulled my earphones off.

"Listen to me." She said sternly. I stared at her. "You don't have to talk
, in fact I don't want you too, for once just listen." I nodded and she continued. "I loved your father so much. So it's very hard for me to let him go and move on, but that doesn't mean that you were wrong. I do have to move on and be here for you and I should be happy and stop working so much. Which, even though I love working, I got to admit I am sick of that hospital. I do miss you and it's not fair that you have had to grow up so fast and that I left you alone to deal with your dad's death by yourself. I was selfish and a bad mother."

"Not all bad
, I turned out okay." She smiled.

"Yes you did and I am so proud of how you have handled this situation. I promise I will do better and lay off the overtime. I will also talk to Anastasia and tell her all these embarrassing baby stories about you and get to know her. I will try to move on."

"That's all I ask." I said and gave her a hug.

"I love you mom."

"Love you too, now go ahead shower and get to bed."

"Mom I'm seventeen."

"Yeah well I have a lot to make up for, so come on." She said and then got up and left me alone. I got my phone.

Sweet dreams.
 
I text Anastasia and then got in the shower.

###

I woke up Monday morning with maybe 4 hours of sleep. I had taken pills for sleeping, but that didn't help much. I turned off the radio alarm and went to take a shower. I just put a beanie over my curly hair. I didn't feel like doing anything today. I walked out of the house dressed in my typical black. When I got into my car I noticed what a great day it was today, it hasn't been this nice for weeks. At least the worst day of my life had nice weather. I took hold of the steering wheel and noticed how sweaty my hands were. Angel, pull yourself together. How bad can today be? You are already an outcast. Anastasia is the one that's going to have the worst day of her life… because of me. I dried my hands on my jeans and drove to Anastasia's house to pick her up. When I saw Anastasia all my nerves went away. She looked so cute dressed up in all her preppy clothes. How can she look so calm? She walked towards my car smiling like if this was just another regular day. This was the first day an emo and prep would go to school together. As a couple on top of everything!

"Hey
, brown eyes," she got in and kissed my cheek.

"Hey." I said.

"You okay?" She asked.

"Mhm,
I'm fine."

"Today has been the prettiest morning yet." She said admiring the sky.

"I hope that means today will be a good day." I told her as I pulled out of her driveway. As usual, I was wrong.

Anastasia

When we got to school everything seemed normal, like the calm before the storm. Everyone was hanging out outside. Waiting for the school doors to open just like every other morning.

"I'll open the door for you,
" Angel told me. He didn't sound nervous at all anymore.

"I thought you were nervous?"

"I am nervous; for you mostly."

"Thank you."
 I smiled and squeezed his hand before he got out.

I watched as he walked around the car and opened
 the passenger door for me. A lot of people turned and looked at us as I got out of Angel's car. There was a lot of staring and whispering going on. People were surprised that I wasn't lying. Angel put his arm around me and pushed me forward. All anyone could do was gawk at us like we were a pair of aliens or something. Geez people! MOVE ON! GET OVER IT! I was about to say something when I heard Hailey calling me. I turned around to see people make way for her. She ran over and hugged me.

"For the record you two actually make a really cute couple." She said looking at the both of us.

"Thank you." I smiled at her. "Thank you 
so
 much." I hugged her again. That was the highlight of my day.

 
                                                                           ###

Second worst school day... of... my… life.

I had lunch with Angel, Pete, and Hailey. It would have been nice if people weren't staring at us, or if I couldn't hear everyone talking about us. People have been treating me as if I was a completely different person. No one made room for me to walk through, no one came up to talk to me, and the only looks I was getting were looks of disgust from the preps and looks of disapproval from the emos and goths. I think everyone is just overreacting. The only reason I didn't burst into tears was because of Angel and his reassuring hand around me. But, now it was after school and I was slowly making my way towards the locker rooms for cheerleading practice all alone. I used to think cheerleading was the best part of the day. I looked forward to it all day, but now it was my own personal hell. When I got to the door I froze.

"What are you waiting for?"
Hailey asked appearing out of nowhere and scaring the bejesus out of me.

"Ay,
don't scare me like that." I said putting my hand over my racing heart.

"Well what are you standing around out here for?"

"I don't want to go in." I whined.

"Anastasia you are cheerleading captain for Pete's sake
, not some scared little new girl."

"I know you're right."

"Damn right I am, let's go." She grabbed my elbow and gave me a push forward. Once I stepped inside everyone stopped talking. That just means they were talking about me. Well I knew this would happen. I hope I'm as ready as I thought I was. Okay so, head held up high and shoulders back.

"What are you doing here?" Someone asked from the back of the room. That pissed me off.

I grinned, "I am captain." I said through clenched teeth.

"Not anymore,
" Jessica said as she stood up to face me.

"What the hell are you talking about?"

"According to the book." She threw a book at my feet. "A captain can be replaced if the majority of the squad doesn't see her or him fit for the job." I didn't even look at the book.

"The only reason this squad is anything is because of me." I said looking at all of them "I made all of this.
 I hand picked you and made you all popular. Mark my words when I say that, without me you will all crash and burn. So who will be taking my place, 
you
?" I brought my cold gaze back to Jessica. I saw her cringe a little, no matter what I still got it. Although I was mad as hell I tried to keep my cool. If I lose it now I lose everything for sure.

"Oh no
not me, but she will." She cocked her head in the direction of... Sakura? What the hell? It took a second for all of this to sink in. Then Sakura with her plastic smile and her face (her face just made me want to punch her teeth out) walked forward.

"She's ten times better than you, cleaner landings, faster flips, way better at making up routines." I started laughing;
 laughing really hard. Everyone turned to stare at me. I don't know if it was all the stress from today or something, but I lost control. When I finally got control I looked at everyone.

"Okay
, so why am I being kicked out again?"

"No cheerleader dates an emo." That
statement made me laugh even harder. I couldn't hold it in. I laughed so hard I almost peed myself.

"Okay so let me get this straight." I said catching my breath. "I'm being kicked out because I'm dating Angel who's an emo and being replaced by an
 
emo
?" I laughed even harder. "You... people... are... so stupid." I said between breaths. I calmed myself down again and everyone was silent.

"That's what I thought,
no one has anything to say. But you can bed that I do. You will all come crawling back to me, you know after my dear friend Sakura here fails miserably as a captain. I will not guarantee that I will be back to save your, oh so stupid, sorry asses and if I do come back you can make sure that there will be cuts and the team will be ten times better than before whether you are in it,” I said looking at each of them, “or not." I then turned around and walked right out of the room leaving everyone behind me speechless. Angel was going to pick me up after practice, but I didn't call him I just walked home. On the way home I kept replaying the scene over and over again in my head. I ran up my driveway and slammed the door shut. Once that door closed tears burst out of my eyes and ran down my cheeks. All my work to get me where I today was ruined, by Sakura. Everything I can't believe Sakura actually managed to ruin my life. I fell to the floor and just cried. After a good 20 minutes of crying I slowly got up and walked towards the kitchen got a spoon and a jar of Nutella. I went up to my room and changed into an over sized shirt. I started to scoop a spoonful of Nutella into my mouth. As I did this the thought of Hanadi's liquor cabinet slowly made its way into my head. I walked down to the basement and stared at the liquor cabinet. After thinking about it I got a bottle of vodka and took a long sip. I felt it burn down my throat creating a warm sensation on my chest. After a few I became numb. I didn't care anymore. I loved Angel and I was going to be with him no matter what.