Chapter One

RHONDA

It wasn't everyday I wake up cringing in bed at the things I have to face when I get to school, to be more specific, Curly.

I lied. I do wake up cringing every day but today the cringing took on a whole new level.

I turned to see the blinking green lights of my alarm clock. It's already 5:30 am.

I gritted my teeth, slamming my hand on the alarm clock. I know you're probably wondering what induced the super cringe but as we all know, you just take a look at the crazed eyes of that guy, his homicidal maniac smile, and you're not left with just a shiver down your back but also a sudden urgency to run as fast as your feet can take you to the nearest police station. And that's only when he's looking at you, he hasn't even done anything yet.

As I was saying, why did I wake up today with a sense of foreboding, heightened annoyance and an impulse to scream at the unfairness of everything? It's because, yesterday, Curly had crossed the line.

That's right. After all the crap that he has done throughout the years to make my life miserable, Curly, or should I say Thaddeus Gammelthorpe, has crossed the imaginary line.

Stare at me the whole day? Fine! Steal articles of my clothing? Great! Introduce me to everyone as his girlfriend? That I can deal with, I've been going through the same shit for 12 years. But interrupting my date with the hottest boy in school and the one that I have had a crush on for two years ever since I started high school? Not. Cool.

I shut my eyes to prevent the tears from falling. I'm not going to cry because stupid Curly, the freak, ruined my only chance with Francis Mitchell. He doesn't have the right to make me feel that way.

Dinner with Francis was great. He took me to this gorgeous restaurant where he reserved a table for us. It was located outside so we can have the view of the city, the restaurant sat atop a hill. It was breathtaking. The lights, the music, the atmosphere, everything. We flirted casually, I tried to bat my lashes and charm him with my smile. Then, disaster struck in the form of Curly.

I could still see it.

Curly, emerging from the bushes half-naked then suddenly talking about how he was going to defend my honour while he pointed a frigging plastic sword at my date. Me, with my eyes widening and my throat trying to force a scream out when Curly dived on my date.

Francis, with a fearful expression appearing on his beautiful features, tried to jump out of the way the moment he saw Curly coming for him.

That fear turned to disgust after I pulled Curly off him and explained who the lanky, half-naked guy was and what he was to me. Then he stormed off without saying goodbye, leaving me with Curly and a mess to deal with. We didn't even get to finish the Fettuccine Alfredo that we ordered. Not only that, I had to pay for everything, apologize to everyone at the restaurant because I most definitely disturbed their dinner, and drag Curly out of there so we did not have to deal with the shocked, outraged and pitiful looks that people sent our way.

When the restaurant was out of sight, I let go of Curly's hand. On instinct, I wiped it against my red Valentino summer dress that I had so excitedly picked out of my huge closet a few moments before. By now the excitement was gone. I turned to face him. There was a combination of sadness and regret in those black eyes, at least from what I can see through those hideously thick glasses of his. His left hand still clutched the plastic sword.

I felt sorry for him but then I remembered what happened and how he destroyed my one chance with Francis, the one guy whom I actually felt something for. When Francis passed me in the halls or when I see him in the court while we have cheerleading practice, my heart skips a beat. Now, I know that when I look at him, I'll only see what could have been, might have been, should have been. And it's all thanks to the psycho stalker in front of me that has been torturing me since I joined the education system. Life really is unfair.

His head was down and his shoulders drooped. He seemed really fixated on the ground. My eyes scanned the boy who have been the bane of my existence for the last twelve years, from his thick, black hair to his guilty face to his pale chest and scrawny arms then his thin, seemingly never ending legs covered in loose denim and finally down to his red Converse sneakers. I sighed. How can someone who looks so normal be so sick and twisted on the inside?

"Look up," I hissed.

He looked up and for a second when our eyes met, I felt choked up, couldn't think of anything. I cleared my throat.

"Do I even have to ask what the hell was that, Curly? My first date with the guy I really, really like and you can't even control yourself…" I couldn't say the rest, my chest rose and fall and I glared at Curly with the tears threatening to fall from my eyes.

There it was again, the look of hurt and anguish on his face, as if he had a right to actually feel that way. I wanted to feel sorry for him again but I wasn't finish with my piece.

"You really are a freak, you know that? You need help. No normal person will burst through the bushes not wearing a shirt in the middle of a high class restaurant or insist on liking a girl that doesn't want anything to do with him."

I closed my eyes to stop the tears. I didn't want him to see me cry, I didn't want him to know he had any effect on me whatsoever. But when I opened them again I saw his eyes widening, full of unshed tears as well and his jaw was hanging down as if he couldn't believe what I just said. He blinked. Once. Twice. Then finally the tears fell… I had finally broken Thaddeus' heart again.

This time, because of my anger, I didn't even care how it would be like for him. Screw him, he's never been considerate of my feelings, of how I might react to his bizarre ways of him expressing his "love".

Then, I delivered it. The final blow.

As much as it pained me to crush another's soul, I had to do it. It was the final straw.

"Curly, listen to me very carefully, I do not like you. I have never liked you and you should stop now. You're not winning my heart, you're never winning it because you truly repulse me and all I ever wanted is for you to just leave me the hell alone."

I said all of that as I stared him down. I tried to anyway. I couldn't look at him like that anymore, it's like I could see him dying. He looked incredibly sad that I had to turn away. I didn't say anything elese. I knew that I would regret whatever that would have come out of my mouth. It was probably just going to encourage him to stalk me again.

So I left him there, in a dark corner, with his heart broken and with that homicidal smile and the crazed look in his eyes gone.

I never turned back, I walked and walked and then I ran until I thought my chest would burst. I called Nadine with my cell, she fetched me from the curb I was sitting on down at Lexington Ave. and drove me home. I sat in silence. I didn't want to tell her what happened and the concern in her eyes was just unbearable. When we reached my mansion, I thanked her, told her that I would tell her everything in the morning and just went straight to bed.

And now I'm awake. Staring at the ceiling, feeling guilty for what I did but at the same time relieved that I did that. He had it coming for a long time. He deserved it.

I shook my head. Of course he deserved it, the little freak have been doing the creepiest stuff to me since we were four. I had to end it. But was that the best way? Probably not. However, if there was one thing I was sure of, it was effective.

It reminded me of the time in the fifth grade, or was it fourth? I really don't care either way but a similar thing happened. And something happened that I didn't expect, they all sided with him. The class delinquent, the strange psychopath, the annoying nuisance.

I couldn't believe it then and I still couldn't believe it. I remember that I was fuming. Still the main point is: Is my popularity going to suffer like it did back then? That thought alone stopped me cold. No way will I let Curly ruin what remaining reputation I have built.

I am determined to not let that happen again. Another thought struck as I was brushing my was Rhonda Lloyd is she wasn't popular?

The question lingered when I was picking out what clothes to wear before going down for breakfast. It hit a little too close to home and I bit my lip, trying to ignore all the doubts that were starting to creep in. Fortunately, Daddy went in the dining room to interrupt those unwelcomed thoughts.

I smiled. Mother came in then. She always amazed me. We looked so much alike with our black hair, the same brown eyes and straight nose. Even the similar pouty red lips.

They sat down as the maid brought in breakfast, my stomach rumbled as I realised I haven't eaten anything since the unfinished pasta I had the night before. Damn Curly, for ruining my dinner.

"So, Rhonda dear, what will you be doing today?" my father asked casually as he poured tea.

Usually I'd tell him in detail all the activities I'd be doing throughout the day. Today, I just wasn't in the mood.

"Going to school and then maybe hang out with my friends," I said lamely as I picked through my scrambled egg whites.

My father and mother stared at each other then turned to me, "Is something wrong, honey? You're barely touching breakfast." Their brows were furrowed in concern and I smiled. It's good to have loving parents but sometimes it can get a bit much.

"Nothing's wrong, I just am worried about the Prada bag I ordered, it hasn't been shipped yet," I moaned.

They seemed relieved and accepted my answer. "It really is a bummer," I continued as I finally took a bite of the scrambled eggs.

A beep on my father's watch alerted him. He bid us goodbye and gave my mother and I kiss on the cheek before saying, "I really must dash darlings, see you at dinner!"

He disappeared through the oak doors. The silence in the dining room was awkward, I never really had anything to say to my mother. We weren't really close but she loves me and I love her, to me that was enough. I smiled at her as she stirred her coffee.

I glanced at the wall clock.

"Mom, I have to go or I'll be late for school. Bye," I too gave her a peck on the cheek then went on my way. I went through the door, bid our housekeeper Leonora a goodbye.

My doubts resurfaced when I reached the garage, I needed to get rid of them. Curly was not going to bring me down to Loserville with him. I'm not going to be unpopular. I'm not going to be unpopular. High school is different. Those were my mantras as I slid into my sleek, red sports car and sped out of our garage.

I inhaled and exhaled just like my yoga instructress told me. Today was going to be a new day and not even Thaddeus Gammelthorpe can ruin it.