37 Drafted - Part 1 (1/2)

Regret.

My mind is filled with regret.

Immense regret for what happened after school yesterday.

That afternoon.

With Jennifer, I…

I…

… Just what on earth was I thinking?

And why did it have to go so far?

I guess making impulsive decisions like those is a part of being young, but…

I still can't believe she was so willing to do it with me. The whole thing just feels like a dream thinking back on it now.

Well, even if it didn't happen, I think I would have most likely vented in some other, more self-destructive way.

As if skipping work afterwards wasn't self-destructive enough…

The more I think about it, the more the situation feels completely hopeless.

I think my only option from here is to transfer out.

If I don't have any friends at this school anymore and everyone's gossiping about me, then perhaps I'm better off just transferring to a nearby school.

… Or maybe not. It's better in the long run if I just ride this one out I think.

It'll just be more of the same if I transfer.

No matter what I do, this is always how it turns out. People always treat me like some kind of outcast when they find out who I really am.

I'll just have to get used to this.

Life really enjoys kicking a guy when he's down, huh?

”Haaa…”

Similar thoughts have been running through my mind ever since I woke up this morning, and they've followed me all the way to school.

I'm currently walking up to the school gate while doing my best to avoid any unsavory gazes.

When it comes down to it, my mind is muddled by my fear of being ridiculed by other students.

I'm way too tense. It's like my body is constantly bracing itself for a punch that's never going to come.

Maybe the one I got from Jack's friend last week gave me some kind of PTSD.

Oh well.

I don't think dwelling on sad things is going to make me feel any better. I've already decided to accept that this is how things are now. It's like Chris said, there's no point in wallowing in self-pity.

So why don't I look at the bright side of everything instead, yeah?

After nodding to myself, I think about what possible good things there are for me today.

Needless to say, I'm coming up short.

Well, it's not raining today at least.

There's no dark clouds covering up the sky, and no rain either. All we have left is the sun, which is obnoxiously hot today.

I guess it'd be wrong to say ”the sun is hot” though. The reality is, the sun is probably the same average temperature as it always is. As much as it is a strange thing to say, I still find myself saying the ”the sun is hot” in situations like these since I think it gets the message across well enough. Similarly, I sometimes find Rachael saying ”the rain is falling” when she could just use the word ”raining” and save herself the extra syllables. Neither sentence is particularly incorrect though, they're just redundant for completely different reasons.

Seriously though, why is it so hot in the middle of September?

Shouldn't this be when it starts getting colder? This isn't Florida you know.

I sigh.

I sure am thinking of some trivial things, huh?

After a losing myself in thought for a few seconds, I finally walk through the entrance of the main school building.

”…”

Well, I can't say I didn't expect this.

The moment I walk through the doors, quite a few eyes quickly focus on me.

Seems I have quite the reputation now, huh? No one here looks one bit happy to see me.

A few of the students are whispering to one another while shooting me quick glances.

Gossip must be so much fun…

Oh well, if I'm going to live as an outcast then I'll just have to get used to this.

But before I could take more than a few steps forward, I am quickly approached by two seniors I've never met before today.

They stop just short of me on my path to my locker.

Ah great, am I gonna get beat up already? That would be a wonderful start to my day.

”Hey, you that Chase kid everyone's talking about?”

”I am.”

”Yeah, well my pal and I are just wondering if, uh…”

Okay, here it comes.

I clench my fists to brace myself.

”You selling any weed, bro?”

Wait, what the hell?

Why they think I… nevermind. I get it.

”No, I don't deal with that stuff, sorry.”

”Shit. See man? I told you he wouldn't do it if we straight up ask.”

”No way. It's 'cuz you pussied out halfway, bitch.”

The two of them casually walk off while swearing at full volume.

Seriously though, even if I were selling weed, why would you ask me in the middle of the hallway? Are you trying to get yourselves caught?

The fact that two seniors think I'm dealing with stuff like that to begin with just goes to show how bad the rumors are getting.

How on earth did they go so far in just one day…?

I scratch my head then continue walking until I finally arrive at my locker.

Sheesh, talk about rough. Why does walking through the halls have to be so stressful all of a sudden?

It's like every little thing I do is…

”…”

She suddenly comes into my vision.

A mere fifteen feet away, I spy none other than a rambunctious red-head that I've gotten to know quite well over the past couple of days.

It's Scarlet.

She's here today too, huh?

Well, she is, but…

Just like yesterday, that other girl, Jennifer Swift, is closely clinging to her side.

Like a mosquito in search of blood.

”…”

If it really is like yesterday, then I'll have no shot at getting Scarlet to talk to me.

And Jennifer being there just makes things worse. Especially after what happened between us back in the SF clubroom.

I grimace.

If that's the case, then there's nothing I can do except hurry up and get out of their way without drawing too much attention.

I open my locker as naturally as I can manage.

Strangely enough, I can feel more than a few onlookers, most of them probably freshmen, staring in my direction.

They must be waiting to see what'll happen between Scarlet and myself.

Wow, I guess I'm kinda popular now.

”…”

Against my better judgement, I take another peek in Scarlet's direction.

She probably noticed me already, because she's trying her best not to look my way.

It doesn't feel like she wants to talk to me after all.

Well, it's no surprise.

There's no way she would after hearing all of those rumors.

In fact, what's weird is that the girl who was next to her moments ago suddenly takes notice of me and begins strutting in my direction.

She gives off so much confidence in such simple actions like these that I can't help but feel intimidated.

But what's more intimidating right now is the fact that she's approaching me at all.

What is she…?

”Omigod Chase!!!”

She calls out to me, and, before I can react to her words, her slender arms wrap themselves around my body.

Once again, I can feel her warmth against my cool body. Of course, that includes her rather large breasts.

”…”

All I can do is look away nervously.

Once her hug is done, she pulls away and smiles with such innocence that I wouldn't be surprised if a camera flash were about to go off behind me.

”Good morning! How're you today?”

”U-um… what are you doing right now, Jennifer?”

”Huuuuh? I thought I told you to call me Jen! Don't tell me you already forgot what happened after school yesterday?”

She pulls herself closer to my ear.

”Did you?”

Oh my god.

”Umm, I'll be leaving ahead of you Jen. I'll see you in class.”

”Okayyy, bye Scar!”

”Ack, dammit! Hey, wait!”

Ugh, she definitely got the wrong idea from that…

I decided not to talk to her, but she must feel even worse to see another one of her friends act so touchy-feely with me after everything that's happened.

But still…

”Jennifer, what the hell is this all about?”

”What do you mean, silly? Aren't we like, totally a thing now?”

”…”

Don't tell me that's the spin she's putting on this?

And dammit, don't say it so loudly! People already think I've been getting it on with both Scarlet and Momo at the same time!

If they think that you and I are a thing too, then…

Wait, don't tell me…

No way.

”Jennifer…”

”…”

No, it's impossible.

Because that would mean…

She pulls herself away from me.

”Oh? What's up, Chasey? You look like you've seen a ghost.”

Her innocent question betrays her true nature.

And for a split second, I saw it.

A sinister smile spreads across her lips for a split second.

So that's…

That's what Momoka was talking about.