Chapter 1: Amara Victorious

Chapter 1: Amara Victorious

“YOU KNOW WHAT? You’re the unluckiest person ever, Cole,” Miranda blurted out while we’re looking for our seats in the cafeteria.

I frowned at her as I kept on looking for a vacant seat. “Why?” I asked.

“Oh, there,” Gray pointed to the vacant seats he found which were enough for the four of us.

We have taken our seats before Miranda continued what she was saying a while ago. “Seriously, Cole, I’m expecting you to freak out when you got paired up with that weirdo,” she replied, rolling her eyes upon saying weirdo.

“Weirdo? To whom exactly you’re referring?” I asked and took the first bite of my pizza.

“She’s talking about Amara, who is a psycho according to some,” Dwayne answered, munching his food. Miranda and Gray giggled while I was still wondering why they are.

“I don’t know why I should be,” I ignored them and continued eating my pizza.

“Look, Cole, believe us when we say she’s a psycho!” Miranda exclaimed. “Everyone knows about how suicidal she is, maybe except you because you seem not to care around at all.”

“What about her being suicidal? Like it doesn’t matter to all of you, does it?” I told them.

“Of course it does! What if she’s out of control and she went nuts, and she’ll kill anyone just because of her screwed-up mind? Jesus, Cole!” Gray burst. “Why is this school still accepting her anyway?” He asked but more likely he’s asking himself.

I just shrugged and ignored all of them and everything they were saying. I know they were just concerned for me, but they are exaggerating things. As if someone as petite as Amara can kill a person. I mean, the things they know about Amara are just rumors. When I first saw her, those things they were accusing her of were literally impossible to be done by someone who’s as quiet and introverted as her. Or I’m just guessing wrong?

I nodded at the group of juniors who passed when they greeted us. Yeah, we are your popular kids in school who came from well-off families that anyone wants to be with. Miranda, Gray, Dwayne, and I have been friends since we were freshmen. We all have different characters but we all still clicked in an instant. Maybe because we neutralized each other.

Miranda is a big-time bitch but sure, she has a good heart. Well, it’s just that most of the time, she is so immature. Maybe that’s how things really work for a trust-fund kid. She gets what she wants without really working hard for it that’s why she tends to be immature and a total bitch.

Gray is a football player and one of the aces of their team. He is kind of hot-headed and he likes to bully anyone—only when he needs a release of his temper. That is why it's good that he has us around, just like what he said before, to pacify him. He also told us that he almost didn't make it to high school because he would always be in the guidance office—like almost every day, according to him—in middle school for beating up people because nobody can keep up with him being temperamental and no one could pacify him the way we could. During one of the nights that he got drunk, I can remember him being so dramatic telling us that we are his “for keeps” people.

Dwayne, lastly, is my high school best friend. Unlike Gray and Miranda—your campus bullies, he would always keep a cool facade. But I’d rather think that he just doesn’t care about anyone—except for his friends, family, and anyone close to him—at all. For him, he doesn’t give a fuck about what you do and who you are as long as he is not involved or something. Unless he knows that what you do is way too fucked up. Well, we can’t blame him for being so righteous and hey, the dude wants to be a lawyer someday so we gotta give it to him. Besides, no one would really wanna cross the line with him. He’s a monster also when he’s mad.

As for me, Dwayne and I are kind of the same. It’s just that, I may be the talkative and more approachable version of him. Sure he has good looks, but he also has this dark aura that scares people. And he used that to be one of the student leaders in school since he is the president of the student council. On the other hand, I am the campus MVP and a heartthrob as they all say. I play basketball and we aim for a three-peat championship for our final season this school year.

As my friends—well, just Gray and Miranda—continue blurting out their thoughts of disgust towards Amara, I just stared outside the cafeteria by the glass wall. I saw Amara sitting all alone under the tree, reading a book. She’s wearing tattered jeans paired up with her statement shirt that says “Fuck Hypocrisy” and her black sneaks. When she glanced at me without any expression on her face, that’s when I realized that I totally stopped eating only to stare at her, and I finally heard everyone around the cafeteria.

“Earth to Cole? Hello!”

“Yeah, what?” I asked.

“He has already traveled that far,” Miranda teased and they all chuckled.

I rolled my eyes and asked them what they were talking about. “What is it?”

“We’re planning to hit the road later after class,” Gray told me. “...and go to the newly opened diner downtown. You in? Well, of course, you are!”

Before I could answer, I glanced back in Amara’s direction and I saw her staring at me for a moment before she started packing her things up and ready to go. “I’ll say no for now, fellas. I’m not in the mood going somewhere,” I told them, trying to get a hold of Amara before she loses my sight.

“What, are you serious?! C’mon, Cole,” Miranda tried to convince me. “Even Dwayne will go with us.”

I looked at my wristwatch to pretend that I’m up for something. “I’m sorry, guys. But I have to go somewhere. I have some requirements to finish and to be passed tomorrow.” I quickly stood up and began to walk away as I said goodbye to them.

I have seen Amara who’s heading somewhere in a rush. I jumped off the bushes so I can get to her easily. She was surprised when she saw me beside her already.

“Hey, Amara,” I greeted.

“H-hey,” she simply replied.

I went in front of her and walked backward so I can still see her. “Do you want to have some coffee?” I asked.

“Coffee’s bad for my health,” she just answered.

“Oh, my bad, do you want to eat or anything?” I asked, looking back cautiously at what’s behind me so I won’t stumble down the ground.

“But I have seen you with your friends in the cafeteria. I supposed you’ve already eaten,” she answered, raising an eyebrow at me. It seems like she’s being suspicious or something.

“I’m starving again,” I told her, wishing that I can already convince her.

She walked past me and said, “Why don’t you ask your friends to go with you?”

“It’s you I want to be with,” I told her frustratedly and she stopped walking. “I-I mean, you’re my partner on one of our subjects.”

She glanced back towards me. “Is that all?” She asked, frowning.

“W-well yeah,” I answered—uncertain of what to tell her.

“Still, no,” she answered and walked away already.

I was left there staring at Amara’s back, watching her go away. Why is it so hard to please someone like Amara Victorious? I mean, she’s one uneasy person to please or to be close with. She got this charisma and at the same time, a dark aura with her which kept everyone away from her. But I do want to get along with her. I want to know her more. That’s why I was so thankful that our teacher granted my request to be Amara’s partner. Yes, I planned that. I planned everything just to be with her.

But don’t take it wrong. I just want to be with her because I want to know her better. Not because I’m interested in her romantically and I don’t think I will fall head over heels for her neither she would be interested in me. In fact, I am a bit intimidated and insecure about her. Whatever people are saying about her, it’s like she doesn’t give a flying a fuck about it. She can get everyone’s attention, both in a positive and negative way. No one can do something like that, except her. Well, we got Dwayne but she’s still kind of different.

“HI AMARA,” I greeted warmly while smiling from ear to ear.

Today is Monday. After two days of not seeing her, I felt excited to see her today. I just received a frown from her and just rolled her eyes at me. I’ve also noticed that most of our classmates are already staring towards us. As she walks past by me, I can’t help but watch her move. I have also noticed her shirt. It says: “People only care when you’re dead.”

“What are you staring at?” She asked coldly when she noticed me still staring at her. The fuck? She caught me staring at her like a total creep.

“N-nothing,” I told her.

She gave me a sharp, yet bored look and said, “Your friends are over there. Not here so keep your eyes away.”

“But I want to be friends with you,” I said, sounding so determined because I really am.

She smirked and shrugged. “You’re insane,” Amara commented. She put on her earphones and leaned on her desk to sleep.

I sighed. I never know about the thing called giving up. I wasn’t born to give up. So I’ll never give up on trying to be close with you, Amara.