Cheat (Chapter 1)

Hope

--

I hated airports. The crowds, the tension, the delayed flights, the wait…everything. I simply just hated all of it. And with my luck, I had been to so many of them; I could last a life time. Okay, okay, I know I'm complaining and being a selfish, little brat because we all know people in Africa don't even have enough to eat and here I am complaining about getting to travel on an airplane blah, blah, blah. But I can't help hating them alright? It's just the way I'm wired.

Today, however, was very different. Today, I wasn't worried about the crowds, I didn't care about our delayed flight, I wasn't anticipated about the takeoff and landing, and I was happily munching on the crappy airport food. Why, someone might ask? Because today, people, I was going to see my best friend-since-kindergarten after a whole five years.

To say that I was happy would be an under statement. I was ecstatic, I was thrilled. The girl I had spent seven years of my life with, the girl I had spilled every single one of my secrets to, I was finally going to see her after five years of not seeing her. When we had only been 12, her parents had decided to move across the country. But it was okay now; I was finally going to see her.

I wonder how she is now. I bet she's absolutely gorgeous, like she had always been. I know she's rich (the reason of them moving: her dad got a humongous promotion). She can't be spoiled though. My best friend, Natalie Simons, is not someone I know to be spoiled.

It's not that I haven't talked to her in five years. In fact, we talk at least once a week…but how much can a person really keep in contact with someone they haven't seen in so long, not knowing what's going on in their lives and them not knowing what's happening in yours. It's just…not that easy.

"I love you, Haley Williams! We'll be in contact, okay? We'll talk every single day of every single year," Natalie Simons yelled out to her best friend Haley Williams as she sat in her car to get to the airport.

"Yes, we will, I promise you! Don't be a stranger, Natalie Simons! BFFS, always and forever!" Haley had yelled back at her.

Too bad that didn't last long.

When my mom had told me that we were moving to Green Timbers, Colorado, I had nearly jumped her…until I remembered her condition.

"Flight AE457 is boarding now. To all the passengers taking this flight, will you please make your way over to Gate 13. All remaining passengers to Gate 13 immediately. The flight is ready to depart. Thank you."

I snapped out of my thoughts. I hadn't realized the announcement for our flight had gone before. Good thing I heard this time.

"Mom." I gently poked my mom sitting beside me. She was starring in space like she had no idea what was happening. Which, to tell you the truth, she mostly likely didn't. I doubt she even knew we were in an airport.

Mom snapped out of it. She looked around and then gave me a confused stare.

"Our flight's boarding," I told her calmly.

She continued to stare at me.

I simply just picked up both our handbags and pulling her up with me, pulled her along towards Gate 13.

It's okay. It's going to be all okay, I told myself.

Natalie…I hope you make it better. I hope coming to you will fix everything. I really, sincerely hope so.

--

"Haleyyyyyyy!"

I looked around to find a gorgeous brunette running over to me with the biggest smile I had ever seen. Her warm, hazel eyes twinkled brightly and her brown, loose curls cascaded down her thin back.

I squinted at her. Did I know her?

"My, my, look how much you've changed," the girl said, reaching me.

I looked at her blankly for a few seconds before recognition finally made its way into my brain. "Oh my God, NATALIE!" I yelled in her face, making her flinch and then tackled her in a hug.

She laughed a ringing laugh. "I thought you didn't recognize me for a second there."

"I didn't," I admitted. "Obviously because you're so god darned PRETTY now. Gosh, Natalie, way to leave me behind."

"As if," she said. "You don't even know how beautiful you are."

I laughed mockingly. "That's funny."

And then suddenly, Natalie looked behind me at someone, making me remember my mother.

I smiled weakly and brought my mom forward.

"Mrs. Williams, so nice to meet you again," said Natalie politely as she extended her hand forward for her to shake.

Mom looked at me hesitantly and I nodded at her. She then took Natalie's hand cautiously; like a person would take someone's hand they either didn't know or suspected them of something.

Natalie smiled a little sadly at me but quickly shook it away. "Let's take you ladies home. Oh, and just so you know, no way am I taking you to your house first. You're both coming to mine to eat."

I smiled at her, knowing that she understood. "Thanks, Nats."

Getting our bags, we walked to Natalie's BMW parked in the underground parking lot. I whistled quietly as I saw it and Natalie shot me a look that said 'don't start'.

Natalie was loaded, I knew that. Money had never mattered to me though. I wasn't rich, and neither was I poor. We were doing okay. Sure, there was a point in my life when we were quite wealthy and we had everything we ever wished for. Things weren't the same anymore though. And quite honestly, I didn't mind. Money was not that important. It had never been and it would never be.

We drove to her house. I watched the beautiful view, the city I'd be living in from now on. It was green and the sun was shining down brightly at us. It wasn't a very big city, neither was it small. I liked it.

After 10-15 minutes of drive, Natalie turned into an area with big houses. The houses looked liked they belonged to spoilt rich kids. Natalie's parents had already bought a three-bedroom house for us near their own. That could definitely be a problem.

Not that I was judging all rich kids to be spoilt and bratty, I mean, I was best friends with Natalie after all, but from experience, I knew most of them were what I thought of them to be. And I didn't exactly prefer having rich, spoilt kids as neighbours who'd look down at me every single day because of my money status.

Suddenly, Natalie pulled into a long, beautiful driveway. In front of it stood an enormous house. It was white, standing tall. It was absolutely beautiful. The lush green grass was well kept and surrounded the perimeter around the house.

"Well, this is my house," announced Natalie as she led us inside where we were greeted by Mrs. Simons.

"Oh, Haley, it's wonderful to see you!" she exclaimed, enveloping me in a tight hug.

"You too," I barely choked out and was glad when she let me go.

"And Debra, oh, it's so great to see you again." Mrs. Simons hugged my mom as well, though not as tightly as she hugged me. I gaped at her. She can't…hug her. Even I can't do that.

Mom looked a bit uncomfortable but went with it. I sighed with relief. If she had pushed her away, God knows what I would've done.

"Hales, let's go to my room. We have a lot of catching up to do, Missy," said Natalie, pulling me with her towards the stairs.

"I…uh…." I hesitated, looking back at my mom. Surely I couldn't leave her alone. "Nat, I…my mom…my mom's condition…"

"Don't worry about it, Hales," she told me. "My mom will take care of her. She's a physiatrist after all."

I looked at her, still unconvinced but she just nodded, reassuring me. Finally, I followed her upstairs to her big room.

It was painted a shade of light pink, posters of all types of things (half I didn't even know she was interested in) hung on the wall, magazines were scattered across the floor, and a big, flat screen TV resting against the wall. I made myself home on the bed and admired the room.

"Nice room," I commented.

"Thanks," she said, picking up a few things here and there. "Buttttt, oh my God, I cannot believe you're going to be going to MY school."

"I hope it's as good as you told me." I grinned.

"Oh, it is. Tons of hot guys everything," she said, sighing dreamily.

I smiled how some things were still the same. Natalie had always been boy-crazy. She loved to flirt, she loved having boyfriends, and she loved having boys flock before her. And seeing how gorgeous she was now, she would have all of those things. I, on the other hand, was the complete opposite.

"Well, that's always nice."

She nodded, her loose curls (which must've taken her hours to do right) bouncing lightly. I didn't understand how people could put so much effort in looks. Just barely running a brush through my dark hair was work enough for me. Her face glowed with a stunning radiance. She was tall, skinny, and gorgeous. If I didn't know her better, I would think she was one of those girls. The girls I had hated so much at my previous school.

"Whatcha thinking about, Hales?"

I snapped out of it. Had I been starring? "Nothing, just a bit apprehensive about school. But yeah, you um, seeing anybody lately?"

Natalie looked away uncomfortably. Clearly I had touched a topic she wasn't keen on discussing. Why? I had no idea. She was someone who loved gushing about their boyfriends and whatnot.

"I, er…," she stumbled. "Actually, yes, I am."

"Oh." I looked up in surprise. "You are?"

"Yes, I am. This boy…," she started to say. "Never mind, you'll meet him in school."

"School," I shuddered, remembering again. First day of school all over. I really hated those.

"It's okay, Hales. I know you'll love it as much as I do."

Let's hope so.

--

"God must love me," I mumbled to myself, clearly lost in a school so big, my last one seemed puny compared to it. I had no idea where I was going, I couldn't get my locker or schedule because I didn't know where the office was and to top it off, I had lost Natalie somewhere along the way. She had met some of her friends who had rushed her to the washroom to discuss some "important" news. She had promised to return in no more than five minutes, but of course she hadn't…thus me getting lost.

"Why me?" I asked, looking up at the wide sky where I imagined God was sitting and laughing at my pathetic-ness (no, really it was just the ceiling…a very ugly ceiling to be exact).

"You laugh at me and I will…I will…laugh at you!"

Um, yeah, ignore me. I'm lame.

As if He hadn't had enough, suddenly I felt a sharp pain rise on the back of my head as I felt something hit it really hard. Oh yeah, this was just great.

I rubbed the back of my head in pain. Ow. It really did hurt. Then I looked around for what had hit me.

It was a fucking football.

Yes, a fucking FOOTBALL!

Ahem, excuse my language.

I glared at the air, pretending it was the thrower since I couldn't find the actual predator preying on little ol' me.

Yeah.

"Wow, I'm sorry." I heard someone say behind me.

I turned my oh-so-magnificent glare in his direction.

I knew it was a him because only guys do stupid stuff like that. Not that I'm being sexist or anything…

"Maybe you should watch where you're throwing it next time," I mumbled.

And then I looked up at him…and…well…wow.

He had these amazing, orbs of blue, which were what caught my attention first. If I wasn't so angry, I could've gotten lost in them. And then there was his hair. His shaggy, blonde hair that just looked so good on him. He was slightly tanned, probably from playing sports. He wasn't exactly smiling. He actually looked quite worried. The worry didn't suit him. I wonder how those lips would look smiling…

Okay, stop Haley. Stop now. You're embarrassing yourself.

"Sorry," he apologized. "Are you okay?"

"Just…peachy," I remarked, rolling my eyes.

Man, he was really good looking. Probably the best looking guy I had ever seen. Natalie wasn't kidding when she said "tons of hot guys everywhere".

"I apologize again," he said. And then he looked at me, confused. "Are you new? I don't think I've seen you here before."

I sighed. "Yeah, and currently lost. So if you don't mind, will you please tell me where the office is?" I asked, suddenly tired.

"Sure. Well, actually, I can take you there if you want. I owe you that much," he said, a smile showing up on his face. I had been right, his smile was absolutely gorgeous.

Handsome boy was being nice to me. That was definitely weird. I knew his type. Guys like him, good-looking and most likely rich were NOT nice.

"You don't have to, I can manage," I told him.

"Na," he said. "It's okay. I was actually just heading there."

I slipped a piece of my hair behind my ear. "Okay…if you, um, insist."

He smiled again and started walking so I began following him.

"My name's Trey," he introduced.

"Mhm…nice to know," I mumbled. What else was I supposed to say?

"Aren't you going to tell me yours?" He looked over at me.

Oh. Besides that.

"No."

He looked at me, confused. "Why not?"

"Because I don't have to," I said.

Yes, I like being difficult so sue me.

"Right…," he said. Yep, he officially thought I was crazy.

We stopped suddenly and I realized that we were in front of the office.

"Well, here you go. Nice to meet you," Trey said.

"Mhm…," I mumbled and went in.

You could've at least said a thank you. For God's sake, Haley, the boy was smoking!

Oh whatever. As if that matters.

--

Trey's Point of View

Though it was only 7:30 in the morning, I could tell today was going to be a good day. I mean, why not? Weren't they all?

The guys and I were just throwing the football around, fooling around, messing with girls when suddenly Chris, the dumbfrick, threw the damn ball too hard that it went flying down the hallway.

Before I could yell out "heads", it was too late. It hit some poor girl on the back of her head.

Poor, poor girl. She had to suffer for Chris' lack of brains.

I saw her rubbing her head from the pain and then looking around for the thrower.

Though I didn't exactly feel like going to apologize, I knew I had to get the ball back so I walked over.

"Wow, I'm sorry," I apologized.

I was saying sorry. And not even for my own mistake. The things I did for people.

And then she turned around, a full-fledge glare on her face.

Her dark brown hair was pretty much everywhere, but behind that hair were these amazing greenish blue eyes. Eyes I couldn't look away from. The color…they were just…amazing. She had a petite frame. She was a bit short. Well, short compared to my 6 feet anyway. She had on a pair of slightly ripped-at-the-knees jeans, and an AC DC shirt. She was pretty…in one way, but I knew she could look beautiful if she tried. Except, she didn't look like a girl who tried. Surprisingly, I didn't quite recognize her.

"Maybe you should watch where you're throwing it next time," I heard her mumble, still glaring.

I couldn't believe she was glaring at me. How could be glare at me?

And then she suddenly lost the glare as she glanced at my face. Well, basically, she just starred after that.

There it is. There's the reaction I like and am used to.

It didn't last long though, to my utter shock. She quickly recomposed herself, shaking her head.

"Sorry," I apologized again. "Are you okay?" I even asked. God, when was this girl finally going to give me the satisfaction of falling before me like every other girl out there? I was apologizing for heaven's sake!

"Just…peachy," she remarked, rolling my eyes.

Did she just roll her eyes at me?! She's supposed to be goddamned giggling and throwing herself at my mercy.

"I apologize again," I said. What the hell is wrong with me? Would I stop with the apologizing? So then I gave her another look. A confused one, changing my tactic. "Are you new? I don't think I've seen you here before."

She sighed. "Yeah, and currently lost. So if you don't mind, will you please tell me where the office is?" she asked, suddenly looking tired.

Was I boring her?

Well, at least that explained a little bit. She clearly didn't know who I was. I was pretty sure when she did, she'd be like the rest of the girls.

"Sure. Well, actually, I can take you there if you want. I owe you that much," I said, smiling. I had to see what was wrong with this girl. Nobody does this to me. Maybe the smile would work.

She looked at me suspiciously.

"You don't have to, I can manage," she told me.

And she just rejected me. Oh, my, this was just not my day.

"Na," I said, still perusing. "It's okay. I was actually just heading there." That was such a lie. Why the hell would I ever go to the office?

She slipped a piece of her hair behind her ear, which actually looked like a cute gesture. "Okay…if you, um, insist."

OH, she is SO in.

I smiled again, satisfied, finally and started walking, leading her to the office.

I wondered how long I'd have to keep up the nice-guy role.

"My name's Trey," I introduced.

"Mhm…nice to know," she mumbled.

Well…that was weird. People usually tell their own name after that. Doesn't matter…

"Aren't you going to tell me yours?"

"No."

What the fucking hell?!

Is she mentally retarded or something?!

"Why not?"

"Because I don't have to," she said.

Okay, it's official. She was weirddddddddd.

"Right…," I said.

I stopped suddenly reaching the office.

"Well, here you go. Nice to meet you," I said.

"Mhm…," she mumbled and went in.

A thank you would've been nice. Weirdo Girl.

--

"God, I am SO sorry, Haley!" said Natalie as I met her again in my first class, English.

I ignored her.

"No, really, Hales, I'm really sorry! It's just, the girls wouldn't let me go and I tried and then when I finally got out, I couldn't find you anymore. I'm really, really sorry. Forgive me?"

I looked at her.

"You suck," I said. "But I will forgive you…for now."

She grinned at me. "Yay! So, have you met any people yet?"

I shuddered, thinking about this morning. Well, that had been embarrassing. I was such an idiot.

"Actually, yes I did. This guy who whammed me with a football in the head this morning because somebody ditched me."

"I said I was sorry."

"Yeah, yeah," I mumbled.

"Are you okay?" she asked and I nodded. "So, who was the guy?"

"Well, no one important. He just took me to the office 'cause I was lost. What did he tell me his name was…? Um…Tom? No…I think it was…Trey or something."

"TREY?! As in like Trey Harrington?" she exclaimed, suddenly shaking me.

What the hell…what was the big deal?

"I don't know, how the hell am I supposed to know?"

"Blue eyes, blonde hair? Extremely hot?"

"Um…yeah," I said, my eyes shifting.

"OHMYGOD, HALEY! You officially suck at life," said Natalie. "Trey Harrington is THE most popular guy in the school. I mean, he is fiiiiiine. I can't believe you barely even remembered his name, let alone call him NOT IMPORTANT!"

"Oh," I said. "I didn't know you knew him."

"Everyone fucking knows him, Hales. You're so clueless. How can people not know who he is? And yes, of course I know him. He's one of my best friends. I went out with him…once…too…well, but it didn't last very long. We're just better off as friends. Plus, he has a girlfriend now."

Well, that confirms it. Natalie was definitely one of the "populars". How were we ever going to keep our friendship going? I was not like them. And if she was going to be with them all the time…what was going to happen to us?

"Well, I'm sorry I ignored one of your 'Gods'," I mumbled.

She shook her disappointed head at me.

"Hey, Natalie," someone called behind her.

We both looked behind us to find a buff guy, probably from the football team, sitting a few desks behind us.

"What?" Nat asked.

"You're hot," he said and then his friends started hooting.

Wow…

Natalie rolled her eyes and laughed. "Boys these days."

"…Aren't you going to say anything?" I asked.

She looked at me, confused. "Um, why would I say something?"

"Never mind."

Well, she definitely wasn't me.

And I definitely wasn't her.

So how the hell was this ever going to work out?

--

A/N: Helloooo everybody. This is one of my first stories on this site, so I'm hoping people will read and review. I want everyone's opinions on whether I should continue it or not… I hope you all like it. Oh, and only Boy 1 is introduced so far, Boy 2 will be introduced in the next chapter so look out for that. :) And and and, I made that town in Colorado up since I know nothing about the states and cities in USA because I live in Canada. Thank you everybody!

PS: I posted this story before...so I'm reposting it (incase any of you saw it again and are confused). I just wanted to change a few things, such as the title and all.