Chapter 4: Ending The Beginning

Blossom's POV 

"How was your first day?" my mother asked as I walked into the kitchen and found her cooking at the stove. 

"It was fine," I answered. 

"You made any friends?" 

"Yes. With two girls and...." I paused when I remembered her warning me to stay away from boys. 

"And?" she asked. 

"And they're super nice."

"What are you their names?" 

"Sophia and Nina." 

"Okay. I'm happy you're already adjusting here. I'll be starting the new job tomorrow so when you get home from school, I wouldn't be here. Lock all the doors and windows and don't open for anyone but me. 

Do you understand me, Blossom?"

"Yes mama," I answered. 

"Good. The food is almost ready. Get freshen up." 

"Okay." 

_______________

The very next day at school, I ran into Nina and Sophia in the hallway. We walked together to our locker. 

"Guys, I got this new lipgloss. You need to try it," Nina said. They rushed into the bathroom and I followed suit. 

I watched as they applied lipgloss to their lips. 

"Blossom, try it," Nina said. 

"Umm.. okay," I said and Nina help me put some on. 

"Well we'll well, they're trying to beautify the African Baboon," a voice said, followed by laughter. 

We turned and saw Brooke and her clique, folded arms and in their cheer leading uniforms, standing at the door way. 

"Isn't that exciting?" Brooke said again, making steps towards us. She reached up to me and watched me from head to toe then toe to head. 

"I don't know if I should just bash your face in or feel sorry for you because you don't have enough common sense to figure out where the lines are drawn around here. 

You're new so I'll let this one slide but let me make something clear to you, Jevan Hollen belongs to me. He'll always belong to me so you better watch yourself!" 

And with that, she left. Her friends made signs with their fingers slicing at their throats and pointing it at me before following her out. 

"I think I'm going to be sick," I said and ran into the toilet. 

"Blossom.." 

"Bloss. Are you okay?" Nina and Sophia called. I walked out the stall and cleaned myself off. 

"How am I to stay away from him when I'm his partner for the baby project?" I asked my friends. 

"Maybe have Mrs. Smith give you a new partner. Let someone else team up with Jevan. We did warned you about him. Brooke is crazy. She wouldn't hesitate to beat you silly if she catches you with him again," Nina said. 

"Okay Nina, that's enough. You're only scaring her more." 

"I'm sorry." 

"Guys, let's just go to class." 

___________

When it was time for Mrs. Smith class, I went quickly before anyone else could enter the classroom. 

"You want to switch partner?"

"Yes please Mrs. Smith. Jevan isn't a match." 

"Why do you say that? He's my 'A' student and I know he takes his studies seriously. So what's the real issue with you and him?" 

I wrecked my brain for the perfect answer. 

"I think he wants to be too close to me and I'm uncomfortable with it," I lied and hoped I wouldn't get him in trouble. 

"Hmm. Well, okay. I'll talk to Jevan and..." 

"No! You don't need to do all that. Just please pair me with someone else." 

"Okay Blossom, I'll pair you up with someone else." I heaved a sigh of relief and my racing heart calm down. 

When the other students filed in and took their seats, I did the same. Jevan came in with Jason since he had him for the first night. 

"Jevan, your new partner is Cindy. Gary, your new partner is Blossom," Mrs. Smith said once we had settled. 

"What, why?" Jevan asked. 

"No questions Mr. Hollen. Switch seats now." 

Jevan looked at me in confusion and I felt awful afterwards. Without any words asked to me, he got up and went to the back of the classroom, next to a girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. 

________

For the remainder of the class, I felt terrible and like a coward. Jevan was the perfect partner and I was looking forward to working with him on this project. I couldn't stop myself from stealing quick glances at him. 

He appeared to be comfortable with Cindy. 

After class, I quickly slipped through the door and entered the halls. 

"Blossom!" I heard his voice calling. I turned around and he was right behind me. There was no getting away from him. 

"What?" I asked him, trying to sound bold. 

"Why you had Mrs. Smith switch us? Did I offend you? I'm sorry if I did." 

"Just leave me alone Jevan. I don't want to be your friend. I don't want to get to know you." I looked up and it was as if my words had cut right through him. 

"Fine. Thanks for letting me know," he responded and walked away from me. 

Something inside of me ached and squeezed tightly against my chest as if it wanted to burst. I was steeling myself from running after him and tell him all about his terrible girlfriend but I didn't. Plus, I didn't even know Jevan. 

_________

At lunch time, I sat with my friends. They saw the sulking expression on my face. 

"Aww, are you missing him?" Nina teased me. 

"Jevan?" Sophia asked. 

"Yeah. She had Mrs. Smith switch them."

"You really did that because of Brooke?" 

"Is that a stupid thing?" I asked. 

"Yes," Sophia said. 

"What?" Nina and I asked together. 

"Come on you two, Brooke is a bully and if someone doesn't stand up to her, she'll continue doing this because we're afraid of her. She needs someone to knock her off her high horse for once," Sophia told us. 

"Good luck with that. I'm not crossing Brooke and her minions. And you shouldn't encourage Blossom to stand up to her." 

We ate in silence. Jevan and his friends were sitting on their usual table. I looked at him and he looked at me too then he quickly looked away. 

I heaved a sigh and walked out of the cafeteria. 

___________

"Blossom!" someone called. I turned and saw Gary, my new partner, running towards me. 

"Hi there." 

Gary was a skinny guy with straight black hair that hang down his neck. 

He handed me the doll and rushed off. 

"What? You didn't even tell me her name!" I yelled after him but he continued on his way. I stared at the new doll, my new 'child' and she started crying. 

"It's going to be a long day," I said to myself. I took the doll home that night and she kept me up for the whole night. 

_____

'I wonder if Jason kept Jevan up the first night like this?' I thought when I prepared for school the next morning.

For the remainder of the week, I avoided Jevan. We would glance at each other in class and at lunch but that was about it. 

On Friday, Mrs. Tisdale sent for me. 

"Have a seat Miss. Wright," she gestured when I walked into her office. I complied. 

"I've been looking at your extra curriculum activities.. and.... You don't have any. 

A new position is open on the squad and I think you should join. You did do gymnastics in Africa, right?"

"Yes ma'am, but which squad are you talking about?" 

"The cheer leading squad." 

I gulped.