Hearts ✓

Two 💕

Haters gonna hate, and players gonna play

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The bell had rung signaling the end of our last period. Slowly, the students shuffled out of the classroom as if they were forming a frantic queue. Sometimes, you shoved people, other times you were the one shoved. It was like the entire world's traffic was congested between the walls of Narven High.

Ms. Garcia, our Spanish teacher, subtly rolls her eyes at the immaturity of her high school students, then continues tapping away at her laptop while marking some students' paper.

The endless swarm of students seems to disperse by the entrance of the school, except they seem to reform as the students try to find their friends within the crowds.

"Callie!" I whip my head.

Low and behold, it was none other than my two best friends Ally and Elliot. "Hey, guys." I smile.

Ally and I had been best friends alongside Lauren since we were in pre-school. At one point, we were actually inseparable, but last summer, it all changed, torn apart from each other split us apart.

Lauren was forced to attend camp, unwillingly, she met a group of girls who she soon befriended because they were seemingly more accepting to her and offered her a shoulder to lean on once she had broken her friendship with us because Ally and I had warned her to stay away from Will.

This year, Ally and I had no classes together, absolutely none. Enraging, but that was how life went. We had grown accustomed to only being able to see one another during break times, before, and after school.

Elliot, being new to town last month, I, the responsible student was asked to show her around, and eventually, she took part in our thrilling escapades and joined our duo. Since I was the one who had met her first, she initially was only comfortable talking with me, but eventually, she and Ally hit off. 

Ally twisted a strand of dirty blonde hair between her fingers. She had always been beautiful. Her hair was naturally straight, it's length just about three inches below her shoulder, she had the perfect figure and complexion too. If I hadn't known her since birth, I would have definitely have mistaken her for a model.

Elliot was pretty too, but she chose to hide it. She always kept her dark brown hair in a ponytail or in a braid, and she hid her face behind a pair of thick-rimmed glasses, which she honestly didn't need.

"Hey, guys." I laugh. "It's been too long. I haven't seen you guys in, what, 24 hours."

"You're too hilarious." Ally rolls her eyes.

"Gotta go." Elliot's last period was with Ally, however, she had to run to catch the bus. "You sure?" I called out to her. "I could always drive you."

That was right. After turning sixteen and rightfully earning my license, my parents had given me their old car to drive around. Although It might sound like a car that might break down any minute, the car was in perfect condition, and polished.

"No, it's okay." She shouts back.

"Alright, bye!"

Ally cheerfully hops into my car claiming that she, and I quote Sheldon Cooper, has forever dibs on the seat. I momentarily roll my eyes before firing up the engine to life. I usually take Ally home since we live next door to each other, because her parents won't get her a car. The short ride home is elongated because of Ally's horrible humming skills. Music has never been her thing, only to find the short walk to my front door also elongated. 

A boy with jet black hair is sitting on my porch, blocking my path in. He's candidly staring to his left, not noticing my presence, however, I catch a glimpse of his chiseled jaw and semi-muscular frame. I recognize him as one of the boys sat next to Darren during one of my previous classes with Mr. Harold.

There was only one reason to why he would coincidentally end up on my porch. It takes me a moment, a long one, might a say, but I soon realize the reason:

I am the newest victim of the dare. 

While mentally groaning, I approach the boy. Every step I take brings me closer to a harsh reality, I don't want to happen. I think silently, If I stay quiet, will he leave on his own? no, so I suck it up. It's now or never, Callie, "Excuse you, get off my porch."

He snaps his head in my direction before grinning enthusiastically, "Gotta love the feisty ones." He extends his hand in my direction. "I'm Jake."

I stare at the hand he holds out to me, and ignore it. Facing him once more, I try again.

"And I don't care, so move."

He stands up and brushes the dust off his jeans. When he looks back up at me, I notice that his eyes are deep blue. The kind of blue you see everywhere but can't replicate no matter how much you try to mix and match. The color of the ocean when the sun shines bright and when the saturation is just right, not too high yet not too low. It's certainly vibrant but resembles more like an artists palette rather than a cartoon.

He flashes me a crooked smile, it doesn't work though, instead of butterflies filling my stomach, I end up frowning at him. "So friend, want to come over to the football game."

"No thanks, friend." I grimace, tying my blonde hair into a ponytail.

He laughs. "Why not, don't friends support each other."

"Is that so, well let me consider it then." I pause, pretending to think, "Still no."

"Oh come on, friend." He taunts. "Please?"

That's when reality hit me. If I wanted to win the dare, I would need to pretend to be wrapped around his finger and go along with his playing, so in a months time, when he comes to break my heart, I can outright reject him with no regrets.

I would make history

I smiled tickled at my lips, It was then that I had decided: I was going to play the player. "Okay."