Chapter 22: My Stalker!

By the time lunch rolled by, I was ready to crawl into a hole and die. The death glares from Aiden's girl fan clubs and the curious look on the guys' faces are enough to send spiraling for the hills.

I rushed to the restroom, suddenly feeling a little nauseous. Bumping into someone, I tendered a small apology before running into the toilet, spilling my insides into the bowl. The doctor said I would have to deal with this migraine, and with migraine comes nausea. Lucky me!

Rinsing my mouth, I glanced at myself in the mirror. My brown hair is up in a ponytail, my baby hairs framing the sides of my face. My eyes look puffy from not getting enough sleep.

"You can look for as long as you'll like, but it won't change what you look like." A voice sneered teasingly from behind me. Looking behind me, I come face to face with Ella Mackenzie.

She is gorgeous, and I couldn't deny the fact that no matter how fake she looks, she is someone every girl aspired to be. Her blonde hair cascaded down her back smoothly, outlining her smooth jawline. She wore a floral blouse and shin-length pencil skirt, showing off her tanned legs, her entire look ending with red ballet flats. We have never spoken before, just once or twice during cheer practice. But I think I know the reason why the school's queen bee is cornering me in the bathroom right now.

"What are you staring at?" She snapped, yet she had a cheeky smile on the corner of her pink-colored lips. She knew I was mentally comparing myself to her. Suddenly feeling self-conscious, I ran my tongue over my dry and cracked lips. "You're so pathetic."

Letting out a breath through my nose, I muttered quietly under my breath. "What do you want, Ella?"

"I hate having to repeat myself, so you should listen and get this." She stepped closer to me with a deadly scowl on her face. "Know your place. Whatever made you think you are good enough for him. You belong with the dogs, so you remain with the dogs. Stay away from Aiden. Stay. away."

She smiled, satisfied that she left her mark before walking out of the restroom. I splashed a handful of cold water on my face before walking out of the washroom. I can't be bothered by the way she was treating me. I have nothing to do with Aiden, so screw what they all think.

I walked into the cafeteria, ignoring the looks I was getting from everyone. Knowing Riverview High, words would have gotten around about the little episode in the classroom.

"Hey, Athena!" Gabe said. I whirled around to see him running towards me.

"Hey," I said. "I haven't seen you around much."

He nodded, looking around the room before redirecting his gaze to me. "I've been busy. My mom told me about your accident. How are you feeling?"

"Yeah, I'm better now." He smiled before his friends started waving him over to his table. He hugged me before walking off to meet them.

When I reached our table, it is filled with my friends- and Aiden. "Why are you here? That's my spot."

"Is it suddenly illegal to sit, Sweetheart?"

"I told you my name is not Sweetheart. Quit calling me that." I hissed under my breath.

"But I love calling you that."

The room is silent. Everyone was waiting to hear what I was going to say or do. Biting my tongue, I slid in next to Aiden and grabbed my lunch from my bag, opening it. He reached out to take the granola bar I had as a snack, and I slapped his hand away.

"Ow!"

Ashton hissed, "Don't mess with Athena and her food, man." He glanced at himself through the camera on his phone as he fixed his hair.

"Ever!" Ari chimed in, texting away on her phone. I wonder who she's talking to now as I made a mental note to ask her later. She has been texting someone since she came to the hospital yesterday.

I pushed Aiden's arm away as he tried to put it around my chair. "Hazel here is glad to share her food with me, aren't you? She is probably ecstatic to see me."

"Hazel?" The three of us asked. Okay, that wasn't freaky at all. How did he know my other name is Hazel? Aiden looked between us, confused at our reaction.

"Yeah?"

"Why will you call her that?" Ash asked. I could see he was a little uncomfortable under our heated gazes.

"Her eyes. She hates it when I call her Sweetheart, so I'm going to start calling her Hazel. Why?"

"Well, her..." I kicked Ash under the table, shooting a glare in his direction to keep his mouth shut. He shot lasers at me as I stuck my tongue out at him. Jesus!! He gossips more than the ladies.

"Is she always this violent?"

"Be glad she hasn't tried to throw a plate at your head." I choked on my laughter. Ash shot me another glare as I remembered the day he was talking about. He snuck in on me during one of our sleepovers at Ari's place. It was dark, and I thought he was an intruder. Wanting to protect myself and my friends, I threw the first thing that I laid my hands on.

"That wasn't my fault. You shouldn't sneak up on people at night." I said, rolling my eyes.

"You almost ruined my face. My. Face." Aiden chuckled, surprised.

"I knew she was feisty." He winked. I rolled my eyes again, bringing my attention back to my food.

"Ever heard of there is love in sharing?" Aiden asked.

"Then I guess it's a good thing I don't love you or like you." I passed him my best fake smile, and I knew he could see right through it.

"Is that a challenge I hear, Hazel?" As if on cue, Ella walks over in her perfect Queen B status. Eyes follow her as she stops in front of Aiden.

"Would you like to sit at my table?" She asks, batting her sapphire eyes at Aiden. She is standing so close to him that she's practically in his lap.

Ella walking over isn't a surprise, especially after our little session in the washroom. I quietly ate my food as I watched the exchange between the two. "No thanks, I'm pretty good right here." He leans back in his chair, propping his arms behind his head to exaggerate his comfort.

Did he just say what I think he said?

What guy in their pathetic, sex-driven mind would turn her down? To them, she was a goddess. Only very few saw the true demonic nature. That's especially someone like Aiden, who attracts ladies like bees.

Ari drops a cookie, and Ash goes silent. The rejection doesn't sit well with Ella. Her plump pink lips inch closer to his face as she attempts to invade his personal space even more. I'm not going to lie. I feel bad for him, or any person that has to talk to Ella for that matter.

"Are you sure? I'm offering you a seat at the 'it' table."

He moves away from her, getting closer to me in the process. "I'm sure. Now leave." He informs her bluntly before turning his attention back to us.

Her face turns red in fury as she turned to glare daggers at me. I don't understand what I did wrong. It's not like I chained him to the chair. I watched as she walked away with a huff under her breath.

"Well, that was interesting," Aiden said. We all looked at him like he had suddenly grown two heads. "What?"

"Dude, Is it that you don't like ladies, or you are simply out of your damn mind? Why would you reject her?" Trust Ash to keep his mouth shut.

"Nah, we've had ouf fun together and I honestly am tired of her. She thinks she owns me because we fucked a couple of times. I mean, she's not even my type." I winced slightly at his choice of words.

"Yeah, well, I feel you, bro. Jennifer Aniston is not my type, but I would totally do her."

"My God, Ash!" Ari exclaimed, putting her head in her hands. It's official. I have the craziest set of friends.

"What? It's the truth." Ash shrugged.

Aiden's phone beeped, and he got up after looking at it. His hand reached out to ruffle my hair. "See you later, Hazel."

After he left the busy cafeteria, Ash said. "Aiden's interesting."

"And he seems to like talking to you," Ari commented, reminding me of the stunt she pulled in class this morning.

"He doesn't like talking to me. He's a player. He only sat here cause he knew it would annoy me." I said.

"Yeah! Whatever you say, Hazel." I glared at Ari, whose face was blotchy red from laughing, and slapped her shoulder.

"It's not funny."

"Well, at least she's more comfortable with him." Ash winked.

"You guys are getting the wrong Idea here. We ain't friends."

"Mm-mmm, yeah." Ash nodded for the second time. "You're only acquaintances."

"Dammit, stop."

"Hon, I've read enough novels and watched enough rom-coms to know he has a thing for you," Ari said.

"He doesn't have any thing for me. He only loves to rile me up."

Now that she said it, I couldn't help but think that she's right, even though I am not comfortable with her theory. But Aiden's sudden interest in me is disturbing. Well, I guess there's only one way to find out.

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