10-An unforgettable sweet sixteen
Shawn's pov
Wow, those past few weeks really haven't turned out the way I thought.
Ever since I've become a sort of sensation for the school and I'm tied to the popular gang, there hasn't been anything looking up for me.
Lately, it feels like I have no control over my life and I hate that but finally, there's one thing that's looking out for me and to my surprise, it's Axel.
I never thought that would ever be possible but everything changed since we started working on the French project. Not only did I gain the courage to talk to him, we got along quite well. I never thought it possible that I could ever get along with Axel. He always seemed cold and distant. He's still quite distant but he isn't as bad as I thought.
Even if it's just a small thing for me it's a big thing because getting closer to Axel was secretly something I wanted and I feel like it's the first time since I got into Selcan High that I get to have control over what I want.
I don't get to talk to Axel often despite him being a part of the same gang but whenever the opportunity arises, I can't help but gravitate to it and be happy to talk to him.
Yeah, I admit I think I might be crushing on him but I can't help it, there's something about him that draws me in and even more so now that I get to be close to him.
However, I am quite surprised that we work so well together. I rarely get along easily with others but with Axel...it just clicked. Our ideas match and he doesn't talk about the toxicity of popularity and it feels like those days he's the only one around me that doesn't talk about it.
Even if I rarely trust others, I oddly feel at ease when I'm around him.
Ok, there are times when I'm not but it still works. I don't feel at ease when I'm around Tessa or Grace and Zayne, I'm just not close to him but Axel...
I was already deeply curious about Axel before but now I'm falling for him hard and even if it does freak me out, I can't help but like the feeling of crushing on someone. I never thought I would like it but I do.
At the same time, I still haven't quite figured out my sexuality, it's hard to grasp but at least I'm making progress by knowing I probably like Axel maybe one day I'll figure it out.
Despite our surprising casualness, I still feel shy and embarrassed about him, I mean it's normal when you like someone, right?
What's annoying is that he always seems like his usual nonchalant self minus the rare times he laughs with me. Yet, I can't help but think of our surprising chemistry and what happened the other day...
Oh dear, we were so close and we could have kissed but I blew out my chance, yeah, I freaked out but it was for the better, who knows if Axel likes guys or not? He was dating Grace just a month ago so I doubt it. Thus, I doubt my feelings would be reciprocated.
But as sad as it is right now I just want to cherish the last moment I have with Axel. Gosh, it sounds like Axel will die or something.
However, it's not that, today it's the French presentation and it means I'll have no reason to talk to Axel except for the music club meetings. Well, I could but I don't have the courage to do it in front of the group members, they already seem like they are about to blow up Axel any minute from now, so it's best not to.
Still, it makes me a bit bitter that those days spent at my house come to an end especially because I became surprisingly attached to Axel.
Through this, I should put that behind me and focus on the presentation. We can't mess it up but I'm still nervous it won't go well. Last time we weren't so good because we kept changing everything up! Gosh, I just hope it'll go well.
I enter the French class alongside Zayne and Tessa.
Upon entering the class my nerves became worse. I know I have good grades but public speaking really isn't my thing...Practicing with Axel wasn't like it, now it's in front of everyone, where everyone judges your French.
I walk to my usual seat but as I do I notice Axel next to Zayne and we make eye contact. My heart skips a beat but I make sure to calm down as I sit down at my usual seat next to Jasper.
My jumbling thoughts are disrupted when I notice Jasper isn't here yet neither is Grace. Huh? I thought Grace might be already here but maybe not. They're both probably still practicing for the presentation.
"Hey, ready for the presentation?" Tessa asks from behind, disrupting me from my nerves.
"I don't know, I feel quite nervous," I say.
"Yeah, everyone is, I am too." I look at her but I don't believe her, she looks rather irritated, not nervous.
"Are you nervous because of Zayne...?" I say and I immediately regret it as she grows even more irritated.
"I'm not nervous, I'm mad at him. The jerk wants us to act as if we're a couple." She says annoyed but I can't help but find it funny I refrain myself from laughing."
"It's probably not gonna be that bad." I try to reassure her even if I honestly couldn't care less about Tessa.
"Yeah, it's just for the grade." She rolls her eyes and I can't help but feel bad for Zayne.
Poor guy probably likes her and here she is saying she only cares about the grade.
We get interrupted by Grace's arrival alongside Jasper who's trailing behind her. They are both smiling but Grace seems odd and Jasper's doesn't reach the eyes. How odd, did something happen?
Grace sits down behind and Jasper is next to me.
"Is everything ok?" I ask concerned.
"Yeah, all's fine." Jasper smiles to prove a point and I can't help but feel like something isn't right but we are interrupted by the teacher.
Not too long after the presentations start and then one after the other people get picked to go up front and eventually, I hear my name.
My nerves pick up some more as I get up from my seat and go up front, joined by Axel.
Axel startles me by coming closer to me, cussing gasps from others.
"Pretend that we're in your room just us two without the whole audience, just focus on me."
He whispers and I blush. Then I look at him and nod.
Then we started our presentation and as if Axel's words were magic, I started presenting without too much issue, indeed forgetting that there was a crowd and focusing on him. This earns a few smiles between us and eventually, it comes to an end. Everyone claps and I look at Axel and I smile in relief, and he smiles back.
As I go sit down I am quickly reminded of reality once I notice the irritated mood the girls are in.
I sit down and immediately I'm not left alone.
"Wow, Axel and you were so good at there," Jasper says impressed but immediately gets cut off.
"What was that earlier?" Grace says sharply and I frown.
"What?"
"Oh don't play dumb, we saw you all smiles with Axel, what was that about?" Tessa says curtly and all of my good mood disappears even if I'm flustered a bit.
"It was nothing." I try to convince them but they don't believe me.
"Nothing? Well, it sure didn't seem like it." Grace says.
"Oh, quit it, Grace, leave him alone," Jasper defends me but Grace grows even more furious.
"I can say what I want, loser," Grace says sharply and I gasp in surprise but the teacher interrupts them before I can say anything.
"Ms Myers and Ms Peterson, do you have something to say to the class?"
"No," Grace says coldly.
"Good, speaking of you two, would you mind coming up right now?" Grace and Jasper both look at each other and then stand up abruptly.
They go up front and start their presentation.
Immediately it's obvious Grace keeps stealing the spotlight of Jasper and it annoys me to see that but I can't do anything about it.
After a few minutes of disruptive French coming from both of them, the presentation finally comes to an end. That presentation was quite unpleasant...Of course, people clap but it's only because it's Grace if it were someone else, she wouldn't receive anything. Through I clap only as moral support for Jasper.
They both leave the front of the class and come to sit down. Jasper seems defeated, yet still faking a smile and Grace is smiling brightly. I can only smile in sympathy for Jasper.
———————
Ever since the presentations earlier, I can't help but feel like the tension within the group is growing.
Whatever it is, I hope it's not because of Axel and me but then again, it probably is. The girls hate that I'm getting closer to Axel and it would honestly be worse if they knew he went to my house but I refused when they asked me.
Speaking of that, right on my first day Tessa started to blackmail me and I was sure that by now she would have used it since I went a bit against her word but she hasn't. Even if she seems to have forgotten her words, I can't forget that she could decide to ruin my reputation any minute from now. If it weren't for that, I wouldn't care about my reputation, I never asked to be where I am today anyway.
Regardless lunchtime comes and as it has been since last week, I head to the VIP table at the cafeteria alongside the popular gang, which does not include Axel to my grand displeasure.
We sit there and not too long after Axel arrives but immediately all eyes at the table.
"You're no longer allowed to eat with us." Tessa breaks the news and Axel frowns, so do I.
"What is this about? You've always let me eat with you despite everything but now I'm suddenly no longer allowed."
"You broke the rules," Grace says plainly and I look at her confused.
"Rules? I thought there were no rules?" Axel asks skeptical.
"Do you need me to spell it out for you?" Grace says annoyed.
"Yeah, why not?" Axel taunts her and I already fear what comes next.
"You, Axel Schneider is banished from this table," Grace says coldly and Axel looks at Zayne but he shrugs.
"Wow ok, so even Zayne changed his mind. Fine, it's not like I liked eating with you."
I can't help but stare at him as he leaves without another word.
"Gosh, I can't believe he dared to come here after what he did," Tessa complains.
"What did he do wrong?" I ask confused but immediately regret it as they look at me intensely.
"You don't know? He's taking you away from us." Grace says plainly and Zayne looks at me apologetically.
Wait does he know it's not true? But why didn't he...?
"Oh..." I answer acting dumb and they believe it.
"Anyways, that's in the past. I heard it's your birthday tomorrow." Tessa says and immediately my eyes widen in surprise. How does she know
"Oh, honey, I know what you're thinking it wasn't that hard to figure out," Tessa says smiling devilishly and I shiver, not the good kind.
"Yes, it's my birthday, what about it?" I ask unseasy.
"We were thinking of doing something for your birthday, so what were you planning to do?" Zayne asks.
"Oh, I was just gonna stay at home and watch my favourite movies with my...sister." I decide to say sister in fear they might not take it well, maybe that's why they don't like Jasper...
"What? Come on! You're turning 16! You can't possibly do nothing!" Grace says in disbelief and I get caught off guard.
"It's just another birthday. I'll probably celebrate with my parents too."
"No, your birthday needs to be memorable, it's your sweet sixteen, and we have to celebrate that," Zayne argues and I can't help but hate that they forget it's Jasper's birthday too.
"Is it that important?"
"Yes!" Tessa says in disbelief and I feel uncomfortable.
"What are you planning to do?" I ask confused.
"We could throw you a sweet sixteen party," Zayne suggests.
"Yes! It would be perfect! I had that for my birthday and it was so much fun!" Tessa says excitedly.
"Yes, we should do that for you too. Even I will get one for my birthday later this month." Her birthday is later this month.
They continue to discuss their idea but I can only listen halfway.
"Could we do it at your house?" That alarms me and snaps me out of my thoughts.
"Sorry, what?" I ask confused.
"You didn't hear? We were thinking we could maybe do it at your house." Grace says and I look at them in disbelief. A party at my house? Have they lost their minds?
"No, it won't work at my house."
"Is it because tomorrow it's a Thursday? We could do it on Friday instead." Zayne says.
"No, I can't."
"It's your parents the problem, right?" Tessa says and I feel pressured to answer.
"My parents would never agree to that," I say and immediately regret it once their eyes light up.
"That's it! I know what to do! We don't need your parent's approval! We just need to find a way to leave your house on Friday and we'll get to do the party without any issues!" Tessa says excitedly and immediately fears the idea knowing how bad it is.
"I don't think..." They shut me up.
"Yes, this is perfect, just find a way for your parents to leave and everything will be alright," Grace says I want to disagree but they continue talking about how excited they are for the party and I no longer find it in me to turn down the idea, making me even more guilty.
Ugh, I wish Axel was still here at the table, I'm sure he would have found a way to avoid things escalating like it did and turn down the idea but no he's not here...
Instead, I'm stuck with their idea of throwing me a sweet sixteen party at my house of all places! What a horrible idea...
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