Story Eighteen: Battle of the Cliques

“Angela!” I looked up and smiled when I saw Kristin Duff, most popular girl in the school, walking up to me.

“Hi, Kristin. How was the history test?”

“Horrible,” she said as she plopped her lunch tray onto my table. She opened her arms and engulfed me in them. “It’s so nice to see you after that torture,” she mumbled. I cringed a bit away from the strong rose perfume coming off her hair.

“Yeah, glad to see you too.”

She apparently hadn’t heard me. “Hey, Tyler,” she squealed. That was the last I saw of Kristin’s face, after she disappeared in an intense make out session with her boyfriend. Gradually, all the tables on the left wing of the cafeteria were filled with Kristin’s friends. I turned away from her as my other friend, Olivia, sat down next to me.

Without even greeting me, she blurted, “Tristan’s dating JT!” You could always depend on Livvy to have the most scandalous scoop.

“WHAT?” Kristin was looking murderous, her face finally apart from Tyler’s. “JT’s on Christian’s side!” Tyler started fidgeting nervously.

Right. The thousand year long feud. In Blue Hills, there were two sworn enemies. Christian Martinez and Kristin Sheppard. Anyone who went to the school was either on Christian’s side or Kristin’s. There was no in between, and both Christian and Kristin tried to get new kids on his or her side. I had three classes with Christian, but I didn’t think he knew I existed. Kristin had been the first to acknowledge me; it was for that that I’d gone to her side. I couldn’t believe Tristan, a nice cheerleader, was dating JT, Christian’s best friend.

The bell rang, and I breathed a sigh of relief. At least I wouldn’t have to see Kristin rage some more. I had no idea why Kristin hated Christian so much. Rumors said that it was because Kristin liked Christian in freshman year, but wasn’t liked back. It was all very petty, if you asked me. Tyler and the rest of his football team were all on Kristin’s side. Most of the cheerleaders, and now Tristan too, were on Christian’s side, along with his other popular friends. There was a fair share of nerds among both groups.

My English teacher clapped her hands. “We’re going to switch seats today! Yay!” I hoped that I would get seated next to my friends. I saw Christian whisper something to JT, looking pointedly at Tristan, and snicker quietly.

“You, Christian will sit right in the front, where I can see you,” Mrs. Tierney said, pointing to a seat right in front of her desk. I wasn’t surprised; Christian’s name didn’t suit his personality.

“And Angela will be sitting right behind him, to keep the boy in line!” She grinned. I mentally groaned. Oh, great. I was stuck sitting behind my best friend’s worst enemy. At least I wouldn’t have to do any projects or things with him.

Even before that thought finished, Mrs. Tierney exclaimed, “Your next project will be done with the person behind you. That means-” Then she started showing people how to pair up. Oh, crap.

Christian whipped around. Hmm. The girls didn’t lie. He was cute, with short brown hair and a small face framing mischievous brown eyes. “Hi, partner and friend of Kristin,” he said.

“Huh, I didn’t know you even knew me,” I blurted. I was surprised. It did make me flattered that the most popular boy in school knew my name. I had to remember that he was Kristin’s enemy. But I didn’t even know the boy. Why couldn’t I be friends with him, or try to be?

“Okay, we’re stuck with each other anyway; we might as well get this project done right.” I took out my pencil and paper and looked at the sheet with the instructions.

“I can do that,” Christian said agreeably. It turned out that he actually had brains; not a genius, but not stupid either. I felt kind of relieved; he was a lot better than getting stuck with….say…Devon Goodman.

“The library at lunch tomorrow?” I asked. “We can put the stuff together there.”

“Uh huh,” Christian said. I was starting to doubt him, since he’d been talking to his friends the whole time.

“Are you sure you’ll bring everything I gave you? I really don’t want an incomplete project…” I hinted unsubtly.

He finally turned away from his conversation with Trace Anderson and looked at me. “Angela, chill. I may be your best friend’s enemy, but that doesn’t mean I’m incapable of turning in a completed assignment. I don’t want to make you disappointed, after all.” He winked, and I tried to stop the red flooding to my cheeks.

The next day, I paced at the library. Kristin had blown up, naturally, after hearing the new seating and project arrangement. She’d warned me about Christian’s charming tactics. Olivia had grinned at me and mouthed, “Go girl!” Tristan had also started hanging out with JT’s group, which meant she was now on Christian’s side. I sensed a cat fight coming soon.

“Hey,” Christian said as he rushed in. “You didn’t wait too long, did you?”

“Nah, but do you have all the stuff?”

“Yeah, yeah, relax.” He pulled out sheaves of paper from his backpack.

“Huh. Nice job,” I said.

He shrugged. “I’m not stupid.”

“I guess you aren’t. I’m pleasantly surprised.”

He laughed. “You’re a funny girl. How about coming to our side? Tristan needs a friend from her old side. You can bring that brunette you always talk to.”

“Olivia,” I supplied. “But you’re using me, aren’t you? This is just a way to piss off Kristin, huh?”

“Why can’t I be friends with her friends?”

“Uh…Because you hate each other? Duh.” I rolled my eyes.

“Hey, that’s not my fault! Kristin started this whole thing.”

“Then end it. I’m not going to even think about sitting with your cliquey group until you actually do something about this huge split in this school.”

Christian huffed. “Fine. Why’re you on her side?”

“Because she took me in. She was nice to me.” Unlike you, who never noticed me until now.

“I always noticed you.” I mentally gasped, thinking I had spoken out loud. “After all, Kristin absolutely fawned over you and talked about all the adventures she had with the “new girl”. But you know how she is; she was probably just rubbing it into my face. I didn’t get what the whole point was.” He peeked at me under his eyelashes.

I looked away from his brown eyes. “I’ll put all this stuff together. You can go now.” Christian shrugged.

“Think about it. Don’t do it because I told you, but because Tristan needs somebody. You should see how uncomfortable she is around our tables.” He chuckled and waved before disappearing out the door.

I tried to get rid of his nagging suggestion. It would be nice, wouldn’t it? I didn’t want to be stuck on one side of the cafeteria forever. Wasn’t the most powerful high schooler the one who could flit between cliques?

I made my decision. I’d do it. If Kristin asked, I’d just say I needed to help Tristan or that it was part of some project with Christian. But even my heart knew that this wasn’t going to be as easy as I told myself it would be.

“Where are you going?” Kristin called to me when I walked straight past our lunch table.

“Um…Over there?” I pointed shakingly at Christian’s table. I saw Tristan watching us, TJ’s arms around her. She smiled reassuringly, and that gave me the strength. “I think it’s time for a little change, Kristin. I want to try sitting at Christian’s table.”

“You what?” Kristin’s voice was low and threatening.

“Sorry,” I said, and walked toward Christian’s table. Everyone stared at me as I sat down next to Tristan. She threw her arms around me.

“Thank you!” she whispered.

“You decided to accept my offer after all,” Christian said, appearing next to me. He sat down beside me and casually put an arm around my shoulders. “Everyone, welcome Angela to this side. She has no evil intentions.” He winked at me.

“The only reason I came here was for Tristan, okay?” I shrugged out of his arms.

“Okay, fine. Enjoy it while you’re at it.” Christian unwrapped a sandwich.

“Why’re you sitting next to me? Don’t you have a girlfriend?”

“I don’t have a girlfriend,” he mumbled through a mouthful of chicken and lettuce. “And why can’t I sit next to you? I may not get a chance like this again.”

“Huh. How come you don’t have a girlfriend?” I was curious.

“None of the girls at this school have appealed to me much. The ones I have gone out with are cranky and clingy.” He swallowed his food and looked at me. “Why’re you so interested?”

“Um…”

He smirked. “Trying to see if you have a chance too?”

“No!” I exclaimed. “Why would I?”

He flicked his dark brown hair out of his eyes. “I don’t know. But you are pretty interesting.” He lowered his head and pressed his lips to mine. I heard small gasps from people in his group.

“Your first kiss, new girl,” he said as he leaned away. My reflex reaction, and apparently his too, was to look at Kristin. Her face was purple almost, and Olivia was giving me a scared stare.

Kristin attacked me at History, our only class together.

“What was that?” she raged.

“What? The kiss? I don’t know! He just grabbed me!”

“I don’t know. It looked like you were enjoying it pretty much,” Kristin snapped angrily. “He’s using you, Angela. He’s trying to get back at me. Now he’s targeting you.” She folded her arms and glared at me. “This whole seating chart was a mistake. I wouldn’t be surprised that Christian bribed the teacher just so he could do this to you and me.” She leveled a disapproving glance.

“That’s impossible! I think you’re being dramatic again. How could one boy want to do so much to get back at you?”

“This is high school, honey.” Kristin patted my shoulder. “Anything can happen.”

Unbelievable. Christian wouldn’t do something like that, would he? He said that Christian wasn’t that desperate, was he? But the seed of doubt was already planted into my head.

“Hey,” Christian greeted me at Language Arts. Was he going to pretend the kiss never happened?

“Are you still salivating for another of my kisses?” Okay, obviously he wasn’t going to pretend. I rolled my eyes and turned away, not talking.

“Aw, c’mon. Now you’re not talking to me? Is it because of Kristin?”

“Shut up!” I hissed. “We’re done with the project, so there’s no need to talk to me anymore.”

“Yep, it’s definitely Kristin.” Christian leaned back in his chair.

“So it’s true. You have been using me to get back at Kristin.” I decided to fire the question straightforwardly.

He looked surprised, but quickly recovered. “What makes you think that?” he asked coolly.

“Hmm, the fact that you decided to kiss me in public and right in front of Kristin, and start talking to me out of nowhere.”

He shrugged. “Fine, I did. I also paid the teacher to seat us next to each other.” He waggled his eyebrows. “Is that so hard to believe?”

“You-” I gasped. Words weren’t enough to describe what I felt. Christian smirked at me. And it sucked that there were twenty more minutes of class left to endure. I turned away from Christian. He didn’t talk to me either, after that, as I seethed.

The next day, I hid in the library, after seeing Christian openly sucking some cheerleader’s face off. Ducking behind some bookshelves, I sniffed. Why? Why was I in the middle of some stupid plot to ruin people?

“Angela.” I looked up. Kristin took one cursory glance at my face, and wrapped her arms around me. “Oh, honey. I’m so sorry you had to be wrapped in this.”

I let her hug me, while a few tears made their way out of my eyes.

“I hate to say ‘I told you so’, but…” Kristin laughed.

I laughed too, though it was slightly strained.

Kristin stroked my hair. “Are you okay now?”

“Yes, I’m fine. Thank you for being such a great friend, Kristin.”

“We stick together. That’s my rule, no matter what. Whoever is on my side is always my friend.”

At Language Arts, I was nearly about to jump up in joy when our teacher announced that our seating chart was about to change again.

“I guess this is goodbye, partner.” Christian stared at me, his brown eyes seeming to search for something. I merely nodded, surprised that he had spoken to me. He turned away, as if afraid of something.

“Angela and Tristan, Christian and Logan…”

Tristan smiled softly at me. “Hi.”

“Hi. I’m so glad I’m sitting next to you now,” I gushed.

Tristan looked at me seriously. “Christian never meant to hurt you this bad, you know.” I stared at her.

“What?”

“Everything was a plot. Kristin threatened Christian. Christian actually did do everything he told you he did that day. Kristin was right about that. It is high school, after all.” She smiled slightly. “But the thing is, he never thought he’d become so interested in you, so he even went to extremes such as asking you to his lunch table.

“Kristin saw how interested he was in you. She told him that she’d ruin your life if he didn’t break your heart. Christian didn’t know how she’d do it, but he’s seen her work before.”

“This can’t be true…” Kristin wouldn’t do such a thing, would she? It was cruel and unforgivable.

“Those rumors are true. Kristin did use to like Christian. She’s been targeting him for a long time. With you out of the way, she’s working on getting closer to him.”

“How do I know you aren’t just trying to get me to trust Christian again? After all, you are dating his best friend.”

“Would I do that?” Tristan smiled. “That’s for you to decide, but trust me, Angela; I’ve always admired you, Angela. Your kindness and intelligence aren’t suited for Kristin’s use.”

My phone buzzed, and I quickly silenced it. Later, after school, I received a text from an unknown number.

Meet me at Squares Park, it said.

I wondered who the message was from. A molester? But something about the number was familiar.

The park was empty. I turned to the small fountain that was spurting shiny droplets of crystal water. Then, I felt someone’s warm breath on my neck. Uh-oh, I knew the molesters were out to get me. But how’d they get my number??

“I didn’t think you’d come.”

“Aah!” I screamed. A low chuckle came from behind me.

“Don’t do that!” I shrieked.

“Your fault you decided to come. Besides, I think it’s cute.”

The blush was already coming.

“You never hated Kristin.” I knew it as a fact.

“No, I never did. She just kept at it, so I decided to go with the flow. I’m sorry for how much your first year at this school was destroyed by all this drama.”

“This year was the most eventful for a long time.” I smiled.

You don’t need to know what happened next. Because the rest is the basis for all fictional romance.