𝗧𝗘𝗡 - 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗙𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧

•••

School was different for me back when Brooklyn was here. I had friends. Or well i had her and i had Charlie.

Separately

I was also on a conversation basis with her friends and would almost always go out with them on a weekend.

The summer before she left was probably one of the best summers, i spent days and nights with her and the in between with Charlie.

We got golden tans from the hours we spent out in the sun, i had pierced her ears and my own belly button out of impulse, and of course she was all for it.

As a 'I'm sorry I'm going away and didn't tell you until three months before' gift she bought us both tickets to a near by festival.

But of course that summer couldn't last forever and soon she moved to the east coast and I returned to the school, this time it was much quieter.

Unlike it is now.

But of course It wasn't always whispers, faint voices that travel through the high school hallways calling me a whore.

It wasn't always girls starting rumours and boys trying to fuck me.

Or maybe that last part is only half true.

The boys here will try to fuck anything with a pulse.

But it certainly wasn't always me breaking a footballer's nose at a party and it definitely wasn't me reeking havoc in lessons with Charlie and Noah.

It was fourth period, chemistry and Charlie, Noah and I had grouped together for the experiment.

I mean, personally I didn't know what the teacher had told us to do because chemistry is just one of those lessons that I never know what's happening, but i knew that what we are doing is definitely not what we was told.

Noah had took sulphur from the chemistry lab, and began burning it, creating this horrid smell.

Little did we know that that smell would lead to the entire class coughing up a lung and being evacuated.

All thirty off us stood in a line, backs against the wall along the corridor.

"Whoever burnt the sulphur better step up before the whole class is reprimanded for it" Miss Clarkson spoke in her southern accent.

Charlie and I kept a straight face, however this seemed all too difficult for Noah.

"Mr Wilson, something you'd like to share?" She raised an eyebrow with possibly the most unimpressed face I ever did see.

Noah couldn't suppress his laughter and let the most hearty laugh out, it was loud and echoed down the hallway, soon enough he was wiping tears out of his eyes and Charlie and I had joined in laughing as some students were still coughing.

"I suppose it was you three who burnt all the schools sulphur" her judgemental tired brown eyes scanned the three of us, Charlies arm draped over my shoulder as i leant on him for support and Noah was crouched over in hysterics. "Noah, I expected this from you, and I'm not surprised that you're involved Charlie" she began, the three of us beginning to sober up "but you, Nyx, I'm surprised"

I suppressed another laugh and let out a quiet "sorry Miss" and covered Charlie's mouth with my hand to stop him making another noise.

"Ah well, I'll see you three in detention tomorrow"

Noah groaned and Charlie and I did synchronised eye rolls.

It appeared that Miss Clarkson was about to say something, parting her cherry red lips before being cut off by the shrill sound of the bell, signifying the end of lesson and beginning of lunch.

"Well... i guess class is dismissed" The teacher trailed off, she was a young teacher, perhaps in her thirties with caramel brown hair and matching eyes.

Quite frankly i felt sorry for her, being a young-ish teacher who isn't exactly the strictest with a class like us meant that people took her kindness for granted.

Charlie and I walked side by side for all of five steps before Noah wedged himself between us and draped his arms over our shoulders, the three us walking like this meant knocking people out the way if they hadn't already moved at the sight of the oh-so-badboy Charlie King and captain of the football team.

It became clear we was heading towards the outside of school, the field. Today was a warm day so pretty much everyone was outside apart from those who hated people and or were ginger.

Just as we made it to the double doors, we were joined by Alex, he was sporting his football varsity jacket.

Our schools football team was the Knights, school colours were navy blue, pale blue and silver.

Alex's number was ten, he was a wide receiver, Charlie was a quarter back so his number was two since he was also the co-captain and Noah was the captain and kicker so his number was one.

Each of them had their varsity jackets and Noah was almost always holding his if he wasn't wearing it, Alex worn his often, especially when there was a game coming up and before and after practice whilst Charlie only worn his before and after a game.

I also had one of his jerseys but never have i worn it to a game, for obvious reasons.

Out on the field, the footballers and cheerleaders sat and laid across the grass, some of the guys had unbuttoned their shirts and the cheerleaders in full cheer outfits, as always.

Charlie, Noah, Alex and I was greeted with a series of loud hoots and hellos and more specifically, glares from the cheerleaders which were directed towards me.

The football team were actually alright guys, well most of them were and they were more than welcoming, whether that was because i already slightly knew them and they're nice people or they're just scared of Charlie.

But non-the-less they were nice to me.

And lets just say I'm definitely more popular with the boys.

Alex was sat legs criss crossed next to Noah, near the cheerleaders and i could see Alex getting flustered from here.

Bless him.

Charlie was making conversation with one of the line backers about the upcoming game when all attention was drawn towards someone who had cleared their throat from behind Charlie and I.

From the smell of sickly sweet perfume that carried in the wind, i knew all too well who was behind us.

"What is it Scarlet" Charlie asked in a deep gruff voice and i don't know if she knows this but that's definitely his 'don't say anything stupid and don't annoy me' voice.

"How did you do it?" She asked, her uncomfortably piercing gaze directly looking at me.

I could practically feel her tearing my appearance apart.

"Do what?" I question and look around to see everyone else look just as confused as i felt.

Well almost everyone else, some of the cheerleaders had got up to stand with her, since she was a cheerleader herself.

"You know what" she stepped forward, just a mere foot between us.

"Enlighten me, please" i said in a monotonous voice.

"Getting the most popular boys to notice you" she took another step forward "the footballers to like you, Charlie to fuck you" I'm sure she thought her stance and face looked menacing but it genuinely looked like a pitbull chewing a wasp.

"Scarlet, we've already been over this you're the one who made up the rumour of Charlie dicking me down, so please do yourself a favour and stop embarrassing yourself" i smiled.

What happened next, I didn't see coming.

The sound of skin on skin contact rung loudly and I'm sure the slap caught us all off-guard

In an instant reaction, i swung my fist in an arc, connecting it with her cheekbone. The punch sent her staggering back whilst the football team let off a loud series of amused hoots.

"Embarrassing myself? All i wanted to know was how you became an overnight whore" she spat, getting in my face again and yanked my arm to pull me forward but before she could yank on my hair which I'm positive she would try, i shoved her back.

Scarlet fell to the floor in an ungodly fashion, pulling me down with as she landed, i landed myself on top of her, a knee on each side as though i was straddling her, her sharp stiletto acrylic nails began clawing into my arms, chest and my face.

"You're literally insane" i pulled my left hand back this time, about to throw another jab when i was pulled off of her and over the shoulders of a footballer.

"Sort her out" I heard Charlie bark as the guy carrying me began walking towards to emergency exit that led from the field to the front school car park.

Whichever one of the boys carrying had massive shoulders which are currently digging into my still sore ribs.

I was thrown into the back of a car, the car smelt of clean cotton which was probably from the air freshener that was hanging from the rear view mirror.

"I actually like you, so we don't need you getting expelled, Scarlets aunt is the head teacher" Noah said with an amused smile.

I looked down at my arms and seen small spots of blood that have seeped through my white shirt.

Charlie climbed into the car from the other side as Alex got into the passenger seat. Noah shut my door and jogged around to the drives side.

"Everyone likes the beach right?" Noah asked, giving us all his signature wide smile as he looked around at the three of us.