chapter 5

Chapter 5

Vanessa

The moment we stepped into the hallway, everyone's eyes were on us. Whispers came from left, right, and center. People were pulling out their phones and taking pictures.

Cole held my hand, and when we got to his locker, he acted like not a single soul was in that hallway. He stood in front of me and tucked my hair behind my ears. He leaned in, and I was pretty sure everyone standing around us thought he said something romantic, but in truth, he told me not to forget to breathe.

And I was blushing so hard I could actually feel my face beginning to warm up.

"I need to go now," he said softly. "I have a class. Can I kiss you?"

Before I could even give an answer, his lips already captured mine, and I literally felt all the air leave my lungs.

His lips were so soft, and our mouths moved in perfect harmony. I didn't know when I wrapped my arms around his neck, forgetting we were in school. The sound of the bell brought us back to reality.

Cole moved back slowly.

"See you during lunch, bunny."

I wanted to yell at him to stop calling me that, but instead, I just stood there watching him walk away without being able to say a single word.

Did I just kiss Cole? No, wait. Did Cole actually kiss me?

My legs were literally so weak I could barely stand.

Oh my goddess.

When I finally came to my senses, I walked so fast to the ladies' room and just hid in one of the stalls.

I placed a hand on my chest.

"Calm down."

I kept saying those words over and over again, but it wasn't doing anything.

"Did you see what the hell just happened in the hallway?" I heard some girls say as they walked into the ladies' room.

I made sure I stayed perfectly still because only the goddess knew what was going to happen to me if they saw me here. I didn't want to get my head dumped in the toilet like in tenth grade.

"How did Vanessa the ugly duckling get Cole? Or was he blind when he kissed her?" one of the girls asked.

"I want to be Vanessa so badly," the second person replied. "I want to know how it feels to kiss Cole."

I knew girls were obsessed with him, but I didn't know it was this bad. But at least no one was talking about my nudes, which I was so grateful for.

After everyone had left, I sneaked out of the ladies' room so fast and made my way to my first class, and the moment I stepped in, the stares continued.

Was this what it actually felt like dating the Cole guy?

Damn, this was way too much attention.

During lunch, it only got worse.

Cole and I sat at my table, the place only losers got to sit. I was shocked he didn't ask me or force me to sit at his table with the lacrosse team.

"Open up, Vanessa," he said, holding a spoon of pie to my face.

"Cole, everyone is staring at us," I whispered awkwardly.

"You'll get used to it, don't worry."

He said it like this was what normalcy felt like—people watching your every move—and I couldn't believe he was willing to put himself through all of this just because he didn't want anyone finding out he went to therapy. Or was there something more? It wasn't like I was going to tell anyone anyway, so why put himself through all of this?

"Do you want me to put it in my mouth and kiss you with it? Because I will."

"You are really having fun with all of this, aren't you?"

"Yes, I am. Shouldn't I be?" he asked, surprised that I wasn't.

"Cole, I don't like people looking at me."

"You are beautiful. Let them stare."

"And look, your douchebag of an ex is staring."

"Isn't he your teammate?"

"Yes, he is, but he hurt you. That makes him an ass. A real man would never do what he did."

I could hear the rage in Cole's voice when he spoke. This was the first time anyone at this school was truly standing up for me.

"Can we talk?"

Lilian slammed her hand on the table in front of us. Her face had this unreadable expression.

"Okay..."

I got off the chair slowly, but before leaving the cafeteria, I placed a gentle kiss on Cole's cheek.

Lilian walked in front of me, and I followed behind. When we were alone in the hallway, she turned to face me.

"What the hell, Vanessa?"

"What?" I asked, confused because this was the first time my best friend was actually talking to me after what happened that night at the bonfire.

"You know I like Cole. I told you I liked Cole, and you still went right ahead and stole Cole away from me. What the hell did he even see in you?"

"I can't believe you actually joined them. You stopped being my friend and joined the people who made my life a living hell."

She folded her hands over her chest.

"What did you expect me to do? Join you and get bullied? Vanessa, we have been friends for so long, and I have been getting bullied because of you. Don't you think I'd had enough? And because you wanted to get back at me, you went for Cole, the one guy I've liked for the longest. How wicked can you be?"

I couldn't speak, surprised by the words leaving her mouth.

"I can't even believe he went for someone like you."

I heard the disgust in her voice.

"What do you mean, someone like me?"

"I mean, you are fat. What does he want with someone like you?"

"I can't believe you are saying this to me."

She took a step closer till she was inches away from my face.

"Enjoy Cole now because it isn't going to last. Wait till he hears the truth about your family.”