Chapter-3

Affection is an astonishing thing 

-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+;+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-

Amy...." A low whisper dragged me out of my sleep. I opened my eyes slowly, my sight was blurred and a figure was standing near me but my sight was still blurred. "Amy.." again that voice yelled. "Wake up wake up", then someone poured a whole bucket of freezing water on me. "Holy freaking bubblegums! What's the matter with you." I yelled.

"Language! Watch your language young lady. Now wake up." Mom yelled. 

And there she stood Samantha Parker, my mom, in not so good mood. "Amanda Parker!! You've 5 minutes to get ready, now hurry up. And don't get late I won't allow you to be late for school."

"But.." I whined.

"Don't but with my lady."

I quickly ran towards the washroom for a shower.

"You don't have much time, eat  your breakfast in school." Then she leaves. Let me tell you one thing, my mother is very strict about timing. I can understand it. She's a very busy woman as she's a lawyer, that's why my childhood is still in a blur as she was very busy back then. She works very hard for us so that we can live a peaceful life. My father's memories are still a blur for me. I can't even remember his face but it's good because I don't want to remember that bloody heartless man who cheated on my mother. Whenever I see my mother I feel so proud of her. The way she managed herself and me, she's the type of person who always wants everything in time and follows all rules so here I am trying to get ready on time. 

I moved to my closet. Today I'm not in a good mood so I decided to wear simple yet comfy clothes. I wore baggy jeans and a plaid shirt. My hairs were in a messy bun. The ride to school was also not good. Whenever I see something weird my mind takes me back to yesterday. 

I was already out of the bus and heading to the school entrance. There is so much crowd chattering around. I got straight to the locker to get my books when my phone started ringing. Taking it out of my pocket, I see it's an unknown number. I was about to answer the call but I bumped into something and everything became blurred. My eyes were closed and I was ready to fall when someone grabbed me by my waist and I crushed it into someone's hard chest. A strong cologne hits my nostrils.

"You're so clumsy, nerd." He whispered looking straight into my eyes. His brown orbs meet my blue ones and I can't explain anything at that time. He was so close to me that my heart started beating fast, it was as if a volcano arise in me. He's just smirking and I know why. He's Cole, the player and for him, it is very common to get to close anyone but for me, it's not. I was just about to get up but he winked as if he knows how I'm feeling and how my heart is beating so fast.

Enough is enough Amanda, why are you getting affected by this jerk. I told myself and shoved him off.

"Oh, miss nerd is getting affected by a hot boy." He chuckled.

"No, I am not." I lied.

"Yes, you're."

"What do you think of yourself? Tom Cruise? Do you think that every girl will get flattered with your hotness?" I demanded and regretted it because I indirectly admitted that he was hot.

"You admitted that I'm hot." He showed me his full-fledged smile.

"Oh shut up and listen you're just an idiot," I yelled. 

''You listen, girl, oh sorry you don't t look like a girl," he said eyeing me from head to toe.

"What do you mean?" I asked. 

"Do you think that I was interested in you? You should look at yourself you don't even look like a girl. You should go and study.'' He replied with a chuckle.

Anger boiled in me. "You don't know how to talk to a girl, do you?" I yelled.

"Who says you're a girl?" He demanded. 

This time I couldn't control myself and kicked him in his leg. He groaned in pain but before he could say anything I ran away saving my life towards the class but I heard him.

"Parker you're dead," he yelled. 

For the rest of the day, I decided one thing for the very first time I'll skip all the classes which Cole and I share. I don't want to face him right now. I know that I've done something stupid but what can I do he was saying all these harsh things to me but my mind was yelling why should I care if he says those things to me. He's a jerk, what would you expect him to say.

"Oh stop just stop." I groaned in frustration.

"Amy!! What are you doing here I've been searching for you everywhere in school forever and why did you skip Maths class? What is wrong with you, you never skip classes, especially your favourite subject." Vess says all these things in just one second without taking any breath.

"Ah! Vess, I've done something very wrong and now I'm in danger" I whispered so that no one will listen in the washroom. This is the only place I can think of to hide from Cole because he will never come into the girl's washroom.

"Oh not again. What did you do this time," she demanded. Just at the way she's is saying I couldn't control my anger and this problem is getting very big day by day. Last time one boy said that I'm not good for anyone and he had made fun of me in front of his friends. At that time I had slapped him but he was not the popular one, just a boy. This time I kicked the 'Cole Maxwell'. 

"I kicked someone." I uttered and she just looked in my direction, not with the 'approving' look but the look which says 'you're impossible.

"And who's this someone?"

"Playjerk"

"You mean? No no, tell me it's not true. If it is then you're dead Amy." She said with a shocked look.

"Yes, I kicked Cole Maxwell in his legs but what could I do, he was being a jerk and said harsh words to me. Now, what am I going to do? Tell me." I asked.

"Calm down I have an idea you already skipped the class which you share with him. Now don't come to school for two days and I think after two days he'll forget about this."

"Uh oh, then I'll say to mom that I'm not feeling well."

"Yes, now hurry up history class is about to start and I know that Cole doesn't take this class," she assured me. 

"Let's go then," I replied as we walked towards the class.

                                                                                       ****

My mind is somewhere else. I didn't get whatever Ms Woods is teaching and then out of nowhere, Cole came. My heart started beating fast. What is he doing here? I know that he didn't take this class then why?

"AMANDA PARKER" I heard my voice.

''Yes!!" I uttered. 

''Principal wants to see you." Ms Woods said and Cole's smirk grew bigger second by second. I almost got a heart attack. I don't know what am I going to say to the principal. What if Cole complained about my behaviour? What if I got expelled? Why God why are you doing this to me, I'm not that bad. I quickly glanced in the direction of Vess. Her face looks the same as mine but she nods her head in my direction saying that I should go.

"Come on hurry up Amanda. Cole is getting late!" Ms Woods yelled. I nervously started walking towards where Cole is standing. When I reached, he just winked and headed straight towards the principal room. I followed him silently. When we reached, he knocked and a voice came saying "Come in". My breath hitched I'm so afraid. What if I got expelled? Mom will surely kill me. I was just thinking that when he asked, "So you're Amanda Parker?". I just nodded my head. 

"Well, you know that Cole is an upcoming star player on our school's football team. He's the captain and he has the potential to become a star one day and make his school proud but..."

First of all, I didn't know that he plays football not just plays he's a star and now my mind started working why he is so popular, why every girl wants him and like the playjerk he is, he used them and ditched them. That's why he has built a body. "How can I be so unobservant," I asked myself. 

"But?" I uttered nervously. 

"His grades in maths are falling day by day." 

"Oh," I was surprised I had never expected that. 

"So Cole said that if you can tutor him he can improve his grades and then there will be no problem for the school's football team. You're excellent at academics so I want you to help him in maths it will also improve your skills."

"But .." 

"No buts! It's up to you to help him so he can improve his grades and can remain in his position as the captain and our school can win in the next match," he uttered all this in one breath with so much hope.

"Ok, I'll tutor him, Mr Bennet,'' I replied but in my mind, I've planned something else.

"Good, then you may go now."

I was just about to go when Cole said: "Mr Bennet ask Amanda to give her phone no. to me." He said with a smirk. 

My heart skipped a beat. What am I going to do now? It was like he read my mind and asked Mr Bennet because he knew I can't say no to him." For God's sake, what am I going to do now?

"Why?" Mr Bennet asked. 

"Mr Bennet I don't know where she lives and we hardly have any classes together. How will I contact her for tutoring me?" he replied with a smirk.

"Ok, then Amanda give your phone no. to him now." Mr Bennet demanded.                                                                                                                        ****

I gave it. I freaking gave it!! I know he just wanted to take his revenge but I'm not that stupid. I'll do something so he can't get back to me. I thought to myself as the rest of the school day passed and I was waiting for Vess near her car when she came.

"Vess, for two days I"ll be in MIA. Don't contact me, please! I" ll also not come to school." I pleaded. 

"But what happened in the principal's office?" she asked.

"I'll tell you everything after two days. Please just do what I say."

She just nodded her head in reply. 

"Good girl now I"ll get going. Bye!" then I ran towards the bus. 

                                                                                       ****

When I reached home, the first thing I did was switch off my phone and throw it in the closet. Then I changed my clothes to something comfortable. Mom is not home yet so I decided to watch TV while eating popcorn when suddenly the house's phone started ringing. I don't expect any call and if mom was not at home then who's calling? I ran towards the phone and picked it up. 

"HELLO PARKER'S RESIDENCE." in reply all I received was a chuckle and not just a regular chuckle but a dangerous yet sexy chuckle. My heart started beating so fast and then......

 chuckle. My heart started beating so fast and then......