Chapter 2 The Plan

• Willow POV
• I don’t know how long I stand there. It could be seconds. It could be hours. But when I finally move, my legs feel weak, and my eyes sting.
• I rush to the nearest bathroom, shoving the door open and leaning over the sink. I squeeze my eyes shut, willing the tears to stop, but they fall anyway.
• I turn on the tap, splashing cold water on my face, trying to wash away the humiliation
• Get it together, Willow.
• By the time I step into class, my face is dry, but my insides still feel hollow. I barely make it through the door when the teacher’s sharp voice stops me from taking another step.
• “You’re late.”
• I swallow, lowering my head.
• The teacher scoffs. “On the first day, no less. Since you’re already slacking off, go to the field and pick up the trash. Maybe that’ll teach you some responsibility.”
• I don’t even argue.
• I want to leave. Sitting in class right now, pretending like I can concentrate, sounds like a nightmare.
• I turn around and walk right back out.
• By the time I get to the field, most of the students are in their classes, leaving the vast open space eerily quiet. I grab a trash bag and start picking up scattered paper and empty bottles, keeping my head down.
• I don’t want to think. I don’t want to feel.
• But then—
• A low chuckle echoes behind me.
• I freeze.
• Slowly, I turn around.
• Jack Carter leans against a tree, arms crossed over his chest, amusement flickering in his dark eyes. He looks like he’s been watching me for a while.
• “Damn,” he drawls, shaking his head with a smirk. “That was brutal.”
• “What?” I snap, my voice sharper than I intended.
• Jack raises an eyebrow. “Your little confession earlier.” His smirk widens. “I mean, ouch.” He presses a hand to his chest mockingly. “That ‘I’ve never seen you as a woman’ line? Cold.”
• He heard.
• He freaking heard everything.
• I feel my face heat up all over again, but this time, it’s not from nerves. It’s from pure mortification.
• I clench my fists. “Mind your own damn business."
• Jack lets out a low chuckle, shaking his head. “Relax, Blondie. I’m just impressed.”
• I blink. “Impressed?”
• He tilts his head, studying me. “That you actually had the guts to confess. Most girls wouldn’t have the balls after watching that train wreck earlier.”
• I know exactly what he’s referring to—Jessica’s rejection, the one I didn’t want to watch because it gave me a bad feeling.
• And look at me now.
• I was just another girl, humiliated in front of everyone.
• Jack steps closer, his smirk never fading. “So? How does it feel?”
• I glare at him. “How does what feel?”
• His eyes glint with something unreadable. “Getting rejected.”
• I don’t know what possesses me, but before I can stop myself, I grab an empty water bottle off the ground and throw it at him.
• Jack dodges effortlessly, his laughter ringing out across the field. “Oh, Blondie. This is going to be fun.”
• I scowl, gripping the trash bag tighter.
• I don’t know what he means.
• But something tells me this won’t be the last time Jack Carter crosses my path.
• The rest of the day goes by painfully slowly until it's lunchtime. I dreaded going to the cafeteria because then Ava would bombard me with tonnes of questions, wanting to know how it all went.
• As everyone files out of the classroom in the direction of the cafeteria, I take the opposite direction, opting to hide in the bathroom just until lunch passes.
• It's all my fault; I was stupid to think I wouldn't meet the same fate as Jessica did, because let's be real, she is way better than I am.
• How I could I have thought for one second that Chase could have feelings for someone like me; I should have seen it coming, but I was too blind.
• I've been seated inside one of the stalls for a few minutes when I hear the bathroom door being pushed open. I perk up at the sound of footsteps, then followed by the sound of each stall door being pushed open until the person's feet stop in front of the stall I'm occupying.
• “Willow, I know you're in there,” came Ava's voice, and I sigh, running my fingers through my hair in exasperation.
• I reach for the door's latch, unlocking it and pushing it open with a small frown marring my features. “How did you find me?” I ask with a sigh, and she leans against the sink with a small smirk.
• “You're my best friend, Willow; is that even a question?” she scoffs, almost offended by my question, and I wave it off, clutching my backpack to my front as I fidget on my feet.
• “Did something happen? Is that why you were trying to avoid me?” she asks, her voice an octave lower than it was a second ago, and I sigh, my eyes staying glued to the white tile of the bathroom floor, unable to meet her probing gaze.
• How can I tell her I was humiliated and rejected by the person I thought had feelings for me like I did for him?
• “Chase rejected me,” I murmured, and she gasps in shock, her feet quickly shuffling over to me.
• “I—I don't understand. How could he? He clearly likes you, so why would he do that?” she sputters while I shrug in response, having zero energy to offer a different reaction.
• “You were wrong, Ava; I like him, but he doesn't like me.” She shakes her head vehemently at my words as though it is too hard a concept for her to understand.
• “No, there must be a reason why he would reject you, Willow. I promise I'm never wrong with these sorts of things,” she explains with furrowed brows, but my frown only deepens.
• It is embarrassing enough that after confessing to Chase, he had rejected me, but telling her the real reason why he rejected me in the first place would be mortifying.
• “I've got a plan, but first we're going to have lunch,” she says, linking our arms together as she begins pulling me towards the exit.
• “Chase is going to be there; I don't think I could face him,” I mumble hesitantly, and she rolls her eyes, sighing deeply.
• “Then we ignore him until we can come up with a better plan to get him to confess to you how he actually feels,” she states, her dark eyes narrowing in determination.
• “It's Chase's birthday tomorrow, and before you object, we're definitely going to his party,” she enunciates, pulling me along the almost empty hallway in the direction of the cafeteria, and I groan.
• “I have nothing to wear, Ava,” I whine and she stops short, turning to me with wide eyes that soon turns into a brilliant smile.
• “I heard it's a costume party, and I have just the perfect costume for you to try on,” she grins, bouncing on her tippy toes in excitement.
• She pauses in the middle of her excitement, clasping her hands in front of her as she avoids eye contact. I know that look.
• “Spit it out, Ava, what is it?” I ask, a small smile on my lips.
• “There's this pretty dress I found in your closet that I really like…,” she trails off, glancing up at me from the corner of her eyes.
• “You can have it, Ava; what's mine is yours, remember?” I giggle, linking my arms with her as she squeals in excitement while I roll my eyes playfully at her antics.
• My smile drops at the realisation that I would have to face Chase again at his party tonight. What would I say to him? I have no idea, but I would figure it out somehow; I couldn't give up just yet.
• I shakily exhale; my resolve solidifies that I wasn't going to give up that easily; I would fight for what I want, and that is Chase.