Chapter Three
I’d successfully survived my first three classes at Silver Creek High School, home of the Fighting Timberwolves. I had yet to see anything too impressive, despite how much my mom raved about this place.
I walked into my fourth hour history class and saw Brett Dodson, who I’d met in my first hour, along with his super cute twin sister, Brittney. They were both really friendly, but Brittney’s boyfriend, Matt, didn’t seem to care for me much. Of course, that may have been due to the fact I kept checking his girl out during class. I didn’t plan on hitting on her since she was taken, but I thoroughly enjoyed watching him squirm when she would flash shy smiles back at me. It was funny.
Brett, on the other hand, seemed as if he’d decided to take me under his wing. He’d pretty much filled me in on the football team and what he felt their chances were to take state next year—who was hot, and who was not—along with the best places to eat lunch. He waved me over to sit by him.
“Hey dude,” I said, scooting into the available desk.
“Welcome to one of the most boring classes on the planet,” Brett said.
“Great.”
“Yeah, this hour is perfect for a pre-lunch nap. Of course, you might get an eraser thrown at you if you do. Mr. Ralston doesn’t take too kindly to that.”
I stopped paying attention to him when a gorgeous, perky brunette entered the room. She was laughing about something with her friend, flashing a beautiful smile of straight teeth and plump lips.
Suddenly the day was looking up.
“Who’s that?” I asked with a nod toward the door, and it was almost like she heard, turning to stare straight at me with her big brown eyes.
I knew it was rude, but I couldn’t look away. My glance traveled from her face, to her loosely crimped, shoulder length hair, down over the tight, black shirt and blue jeans that showed off all her curves. This chick was smokin’ hot!
“Don’t waste your time, man,” Brett said, as the girl turned away and headed to a desk at the front of the room. “She won’t give you the time of day.”
“Why not?” I asked, still staring.
“Her name is Nikki Wagner, and she’s sworn off any guy who plays football, even though she’s a cheerleader.”
I gave him a puzzled look. “What does football have to do with anything?”
“She used to go out with Jeremy Winters. He’s a senior, and the varsity quarterback. I guess he decided their relationship was ready to go to the next level, but she didn’t. She caught him in his car with another girl. When she found out the guys on the team knew he was seeing the other chick behind her back, she branded us all losers.”
I leaned into my seat and crossed my legs in front of me as I stared at her again. “So you’re saying she’s a good girl, then?”
“Yep.”
“Just as well. She probably wouldn’t like me at all.” I made up my mind to forget about her.
The teacher entered the classroom as the bell sounded and headed to the front. “We have a new student. Mr. Walker, can you please come up here?”
I couldn’t help the soft groan and eye roll that sent Brett into a chuckle. I got up and went, wondering why every teacher today had seen the need to introduce me in front of the entire class.
“Everyone, this is Chase Walker. He’s new here, and you should all make him feel welcome.”
I was starting to wonder if they made the teachers rehearse this speech as part of their job training.
“Chase, why don’t you tell us something interesting about yourself?”
Nikki was staring at me intently, and all of my attention zeroed in on her. I didn’t register the question until I heard Mr. Ralston call my name again.
“Chase?”
There were snickers throughout the room, and I looked around. “Something interesting? Well, let’s see. I was arrested for underage drinking. My mom decided some good ole fashioned country living might be exactly what I needed, so she forced me to move here.”
“Uh, okay,” Mr. Ralston stuttered, caught off guard by my reply. “That wasn’t exactly what I meant. I was thinking more along the lines of things you like to do, or activities you’re interested in.”
I turned, looked straight at Nikki and smiled. “I like to do girls, and I’m interested in football.” I could hear the gasps of shock and laughter as I walked back to my seat, leaving the teacher gaping where he stood.
“Dude, you rock!” Brett said when I slid into my desk.
“He asked.” I shrugged. “I was just being honest.”
“Mr. Walker, please see me after class,” Mr. Ralston spoke up with a disapproving look on his face.
“Yes, sir,” I said seriously, with all the politeness in the world.
When class was over I saw Nikki stand up. I waited until she was about to pass my desk and stood, blocking her path.
“You’re a punk,” she said, and I noted that I liked the sound of her voice.
“And you’re a quick learner,” I replied, winking as I cast my gaze down her form once again.
She tried to push past, but I grabbed her arm, pulling her against me. “Tell me you like punks,” I whispered into her ear.
“Let go.” I did as she asked, but she didn’t move away, instead narrowing her eyes. “Do those lines really work for you, pretty boy?”
“The name is Chase, and you should remember it because I’m coming after you, baby.”
Her face flushed pink, and I knew then I had a true chance. She wasn’t unaffected by me, and I was going to wear her down. She swallowed thickly, staring before letting out a huff and walking away.
I chuckled after her. As of this moment, Operation Chasing Nikki had begun.
The detention on my first day of school pretty much secured my reputation. Most of the student body had pegged me as the coolest guy ever, and the faculty had arrived at the conclusion I was now troublemaker number one to watch out for. It was cool with me. I didn’t mind making the new friends, or being surrounded by all the doe-eyed girls who wanted me to pay attention to them.
All the girls but one—unfortunately for me, she was the one I was determined to have.
I let her stew over my previous comments for a couple days, not paying any attention to her when she walked into class, though I found myself staring at her back a lot during the hour. My personal resolve to forget about her had gone right out the window. Something about her drew me. I thought of her a lot the past few nights while I was tending to the horse stalls for grandpa.
I’d received a stern lecture from him about my comment in class and how important it was to respect women. I let him say his piece, to get it over with. I didn’t disrespect women. I adored them, but I didn’t think he would approve of my adoration either, so I held my tongue.
The bell rang, signaling the release of class, and I watched Nikki hurry from her seat and through the door without looking in my direction. I grabbed my books and hurried after, catching up to her in the hall.
She cast one glance from the corner of her eye at me and started walking faster. “Go away,” she said.
“Go out with me.”
“No.”
“Go out with me. I like you.”
“You don’t even know me.”
“Exactly! That’s why you should go out with me. How am I going to get to know you otherwise?”
“Not going to happen.” She stopped at her locker and began twirling her combination.
“I’ll bring you flowers. What’s your favorite?”
No answer.
“What time should I pick you up? Is seven okay?”
“I’m not going out with you.”
“Why? What’s wrong with me? I brush my teeth, use mouthwash, and I wear oodles of deodorant.” I placed my hand on the locker next to hers and leaned in really close behind her. “My aftershave is really nice too. Can you smell it?”
She paused in the middle of sliding her books onto the shelf and turned to lo
ok at me. “It does smell good, but I’m still not going out with you.”
“Ah ha! A compliment! I knew it was in there somewhere.” I smiled widely. “I guess I’ll cut my losses for today and run with my compliment. But don’t worry, Nikki,” I whispered into her ear. “I’ll ask you again tomorrow.”
She gave an exasperated sigh, and I laughed as I walked away.
“You’re a sucker for punishment, you know that right?” Brett said from where he was standing against the wall watching.
“Are you saying you doubt my skills?” I asked, stopping at my own locker to drop off my books.
“Yes,” he said bluntly.
“Ouch. I’m wounded. Guess I’ll have to prove it to you.”
“Why do you have to get her? Practically every other girl in the school is throwing herself at you, much to the dismay of the rest of us guys, I might add.”
“I don’t want every other girl.” I glanced down the hall catching Nikki staring at me with a perplexed look. “I want that one.” I flashed a wink in her direction and she quickly turned to hurry off with her friend. “You should go for the BFF. We could double date.”
Brett shook his head. “Well, you’re nothing if not persistent.”
“I’m serious. Her friend is cute too. She’ll go out with me easier if you’re dating her best friend.”
“Tana and I are old news, buddy. Sorry. That was over in like sixth grade.”
“Really? How long were you with her?” I asked.
“A while.”
“Was she any good? As a girlfriend, I mean.”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “Yeah, she was the best hand holder in the world.”
I chuckled. “No kissing yet, huh?”
“Nope. I had to save something for seventh grade.” He actually rolled his eyes.
“Why’d you break up?” I asked.
“I don’t know. It was sixth grade.”
“I was worried hanging with you might be hurting my chances with Nikki if her gal pal is mad at you.”
“Thanks for your concern,” he said, dropping his head.
“Kidding, dude. Kidding.” I laughed, punching him in the arm. “Let’s go get some lunch!”
“Sounds good. I told Wes and Chad we’d meet them at Pizza Palace.”
“Okay. Hey, what are you doing tonight? Do you have a date or anything?”
“No. Why?”
“You should come over and play video games or something. It looks like I’m not going to have a date this week either.”
He grinned. “You aren’t ever gonna have a date unless you start barking up a different tree.”
“We’ll see about that,” I replied.