I woke up the next morning wondering what I would say to my friends about KiJung asking me to hang out with him.

“Hey guys, I’m just gonna go and hang with that guy that you all hate, is that okay with you?” Yeah…you know, for some reason I didn’t think that question would go down well. At all. So instead I decided to go with my second option of lying to them. Yes I know, I told my inner conscience, lying gets people nowhere and yes I have only known them now for two days and I am already blowing them off, but it’s merely a social experiment, and I will go back to them in a few days.

I’d barely made it a block away from where I was staying when a car pulled up beside where I was walking on the footpath and didn’t even notice it at first as I had my earphones blaring and was too busy thinking of what lie to tell my newfound friends. I continued on my path, singing a few words every now and then before thinking once more, when someone leapt at me and wrapped their arms around me. I shouted in surprise and alarm before hearing a familiar voice chuckle behind me.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, never listen to your music while you are walking. Because a cute and hyperactive predator – like myself – can quite easily come up and bear hug attack you. Understood?” Ryeowook asked leaning his chin into my shoulder. I laughed out loud at his explanation.

“Understood sir!” I attempted to give a mock salute which failed miserably considering Ryeowook had wrapped himself around my elbows and therefore cut off half my movement. With many more fake protests I allowed him to drag me to the car where I found Kari sitting in the middle back seat with Leeteuk next to her on the right. Ryeowook shoved me into the back on the left while he himself jumped in the front passenger seat and told Sola to ‘floor it’ which for some reason sent her and Kari into fits of laughter once more.

“So, any plans for lunch ladies?” Leeteuk asked casually. A sound of annoyance came from the front seat. “And gentleman. I mean, you have to find something to do to keep yourselves from being bored at school. Ahh, high school, I remember that place.” He said with a mock grin. “Best six years of my life.”

“Yah, no sarcasm from you mister.” Kari poked Leeteuk in the stomach. She then suddenly turned to me, her layers flying round her like a mane. “I was actually thinking, considering we bombarded you with questions yesterday, it’s your turn to ask anything you feel like. There’s a lot we can fill you in on.”

It was now or never.

“Gee, I don’t know.” I shrugged, surprised at how simply a lie came to my lips. “I don’t think I will be able to hang with you guys today.”

“How come? You’re in trouble already?”

“No,” I laughed. “The math’s monster just wants to keep me in and explain the course to me.”

“Really?” Sola asked from the front as we pulled through the school’s gates. “I mean we could just explain it to you.”

“Well, he asked to see me personally.”

“Oooh, the teacher likes you.” Leeteuk chuckled. Kari just looked at him.

“Ewwwwwww, get out.” She shoved him playfully against the door. Leeteuk raised his hands in apology before getting out and holding the door open for me and Kari.

“Well, we can come too can’t we?” Ryeowook asked.

“I dunno, it’s ok, I might be out in time to catch up with you guys and if not then I’ll see you in the next class.” I said casually.

“If you do happen to get out early, which class room are you at? I’ll meet you there.” Ryeowook smiled at me. I returned the gesture before noticing KiJung walking by with his friends. He noticed me and winked, so I raised my voice slightly so he could hear what I said next.

“Meet me out the front of Room 7B, I mean I’d go out the back but no-one ever goes out the back do they?” I glanced at KiJung who shook his head smiling and gave me a backward salute.

Honestly that guy was a walking God, the way his hair just looked effortlessly gorgeous, how his outfit just made him look stunning…come on, back to the present Ella!

“Nahh, it makes a good place to sneak away from teachers though.” Leeteuk shoved his hands into his shorts pockets. “Just like in Year 8 when –” He broke off at that point before shaking his head. “Well, I’m off to uni.” He leaned over to give Kari a quick kiss on the cheek before heading out the gates again.

“Where’s his uni?” I asked confusedly. Kari pointed down the road.

“Three blocks and to the left, he’s usually in the third building but he likes the library as well.”

“Hmm,” Sola nodded. “Cos’ you never ditched school to follow him there did you?”

“Yah that only happened twice.”

I laughed along with them all as we slowly made our way to our first class but I couldn’t help but feel slightly guilty about what I was going to do in roughly four hours.

______

“You want me to go with you to the teacher?” Ryeowook asked as we put our books in our locker at lunch. “Perhaps I can use my charm to talk him out of keeping you in.”

“It’s okay.” I giggled. “I’ll try and be out early.”

“Alright then, we’ll meet you where we were yesterday.” Sola waved as they all walked away. I waved before taking a deep breath and heading back to Room 7B. Casting a somewhat nervous glance around to make sure none of my friends were following me I quickly made my way round to the back where I almost ran into KiJung who was leaning casually against the building.

“I didn’t think anyone went out the back?” He smirked. I attempted a small smile but it failed. KiJung noticed however and flashed me a to-die-for smile of his own.

“You nervous newbie?” KiJung asked before looking round me. “Pretty sure that none of your friends would think about comin’ back here. But nevertheless.” He swung his arm round me and scooted me further to the back of the building where I saw his two friends lounging on the stairs.

“Newbie, this is HeoJin,” KiJung gestured to a guy with red brown hair with slightly chubby cheeks who gave me a casual wave in return. “And this is JoHyung.” The other guy with almost black hair paused to lift his drink up in a gesture of welcome. I gave them a casual wave back.

“Hey, pass us some of that.” KiJung snapped his fingers at JoHyung who tossed his drink bottle over. After taking a drink, KiJung held it out to me. “Thirsty?”

“Yeah actually. Thanks.” I went to take a drink out of it but quickly spat it out, much to the amusement of the other three. “What is that?”

“Vodka. Clearly you don’t drink much.” KiJung laughed as he took the drink back.

“I have, but I wasn’t expecting that.” I laughed feebly.

“So, what have the others been telling you about me newbie?” KiJung shoved HeoJin out of the way and sat on the steps, pulling me onto his lap as he did.

“Uhh nothing much.” I shrugged. I wasn’t one to dibber-dob.

“Ohh tsk tsk.” KiJung wrapped his arms round my waist and leaned his chin into my shoulder. I secretly took the chance to breathe in the cologne he was wearing. It was good, but I wasn’t about to say that out loud. “I’m sure that can’t be the truth now, I’m usually the centre of attention.”

“For all the wrong reasons.” HeoJin piped up.

“I can’t be an angel all the time can I?” KiJung grinned.

“You kidding, you’re the devil’s love child.” JoHyung laughed.

“Not in the presence of the lady.” KiJung pointed to me. “Continue newbie, what have they said? You can tell me the truth though, it’s not like a give a crap what they think.” After a moment of further hesitation I haltingly told him what I’d been told yesterday, while editing out a few details.

“Well,” KiJung laughed once I’d finished. “I’m not gonna sit here and say that none of it ever happened because parts of it did. But you are going to take everything that they said for granted when you didn’t even hear it from the source itself?”

“Well, I’m not taking it for granted but it’s not like I’ve heard the other side of the story.”

“Do you want to hear my side?” I nodded and he cleared his throat dramatically.

“Like I said, I am not about to deny that those things happened, but perhaps not to that extent. I did go off the rails I admit it but Leeteuk wasn’t helping the situation as he so believed he was. He was actually doing the opposite, butting into my life when all I wanted was peace and quiet to deal with my problems. If anything, him trying to put me back on track threw me further away from it. Do you get what I’m saying? I mean, we all have those days right?”

“Amen.” JoHyung commented quietly, lifting the vodka bottle as he did.

“As for the issue with his girlfriend, she came onto me. Then again who wouldn’t?” He flashed me another smile and I was so sure I blushed. “Just kidding. I’m not that full of myself.”

“So, it wasn’t all entirely your fault?”

“Not entirely.”

“Hmm.” I sat there thinking over that for a moment. His story sounded genuine, but, taking one of my favourite quotes from Pirates of the Caribbean, it’s always the honest ones you should look out for. A frown crossed my face and I didn’t notice that KiJung spotted it.

“Neeewwwwwwbieeeee.” KiJung poked my cheek in an effort to get my attention. “You don’t believe me do you?”

“It’s not that I don’t believe you, I’m just thinking.”

“Well,” He craned his head around to see me properly. “Because I am a nice guy, I’ll make a deal with you. You can have the night to think over whether I am the right one in the situation, and if you think I’m a decent guy, then I’ll be here at lunch tomorrow waiting for you. If you don’t come then I’ll understand. Fair enough?”

I bit the inside of my cheek before coming to a quick decision. “Okay, I’ll think over it.”

“Awesome.” KiJung flashed me one of his smiles before gently nudging me off his knee and standing up with me. “But you should probably run along to your friends now before they get too suspicious.” He leant down and kissed me on the lips, an action that momentarily shocked me. “See you tomorrow.”

I gave him an absent-minded wave and walked slowly around the side of the building, my lips tingling from where he had touched them. Then suddenly for no reason at all, a giddy smile broke out on my face and let out a small squeak of happiness. I tried to disguise the bounce in my step as I reached my friend’s table.

“Wow that was actually quick.” Sola lifted her head up from where she was resting on the table. “If only the lessons were that simple.”

“So what did he have to say?” Ryeowook asked curiously. I wasn’t actually paying attention at all, I’d glanced behind me to see KiJung and his friends slinking casually through the grounds when JungGi went storming up to them, clearly arguing with KiJung.

“Oh, Ella?” Kari snapped her fingers in front of my face. “What are you ogling at?”

“Nothing, nothing at all. What were you saying?” I attempted to focus on what they were all saying.

Needless to say I was very distracted for the rest of the day.

 

______

My homework situation was left to suffer when I got home as KiJung’s words stuck in my mind during the night. I wasn’t too sure of what to believe, I hadn’t known either party for that long and they were both just as innocent as one another in my mind. I let out a yell of confusion with my head buried in a pillow before turning to look at my stuffed cat.

“Tell me your life is nowhere near as confusing as mine.” I mumbled.

The cat merely stared at me.

“You wanna trade spots?”

It continued to stare.

“I just realized I’m talking to a stuffed cat.”

…It just stared.

“You can’t hear me can you?”

Staring.

“I’ve officially lost the plot.”

Rolling over with another yell, I decided to take a risk and talk to KiJung again. I didn’t know which lie I would tell this time, so perhaps sneaking away would be the best option. Or maybe it was my only option. One of the two. With a brain fried from thinking about life’s problems, I went resolutely to bed with both a sense of excitement and guilt warring in my heart.

 

_______

I couldn’t stand seeing Ryeowook’s disappointed face if I were to tell him that I couldn’t hang out with them again, but I also felt guilty as I dawdled after fourth period in order to sneak away. Nevertheless, I’d made up my mind and headed off to Room 7B to tell KiJung that I believed his side of the story. It had taken me a while to mull it over, but I felt that he deserved a chance. I couldn’t base my judgments off what other people had told me. I took a deep breath to calm my nerves as I reached the corner of Room 7B but as I stepped into the shade, I couldn’t see anyone. Frowning in confusion, I stepped further to the back of the building going right into the corner that joined with a perimeter fence. Thinking that KiJung had lived up to his arrogant popular status I turned round to head back to where my friends would be sitting…and came face to face with KiJung, successfully scaring the crap out of myself.

“Don’t do that.” I laughed attempting to slow my heart down. Between being scared and seeing KiJung, I was worried that it might work too hard and combust.

“Do what?”

“You just scared me half to death.” I said still laughing; I had an odd habit of laughing and smiling even when I was scared. KiJung pulled a face and leant casually on the fence.

“Well, I apologize for that. So, I’m guessing you came to a decision then?” His eyes possessed a somewhat expectant and eager light, one that stirred up the butterflies once more.

“Yes…” I looked down at my nails as I rested one of my feet against the wall.

“And that answer was?” He shoved himself away from the fence and stood in front of where I stood in the corner with my back against the wall.

“I’m not going to trust you completely, but I figure I can’t ignore you because you don’t seem to be a bad guy. You would just have to earn my trust.” I glanced up to see him standing much closer than I had thought. It was almost like one of those cliché movie moments. Despite us being in the quietest and shaded corner of the school, there was still a slight breeze that was ruffling his hair even more and causing his shirt to flap against his body.

“I see.” He said simply with a smile. “Well, I will just have to earn your trust then won’t I?”

I was about to open my mouth and reply to him when he kissed me like he had the previous day. Now I’m far from being cheap, but when there is a good looking guy kissing you, you kind of have to respond to it, don’t you agree? Linking my hands around his neck, I kissed him back as he gently pushed me against the building. I realized where I was however and quickly broke off the kiss, to KiJung’s annoyance but he simply chuckled at it.

“As much as I just liked that – and I’m going to be honest and say I really did like it – that is not the way to earn my trust.” I smiled up at him. “Understood?”

“Understood ma’am.” With a sweeping gesture he offered his arm to me. “How about a respectable lunch then?”

His cheesiness made me giggle shyly. “Of course.”

We made our way away from the building toward the cafeteria and I couldn’t help but feel slightly nervous and embarrassed at the amount of people looking at me and KiJung, I was sure that to my dismay, this would spread like wild fire. I couldn’t help but giggle again as KiJung made an exaggerated show of opening the cafeteria door for me. I couldn’t see him as the terrible person that Kari, Ryeowook and the others had described him as, he seemed like a perfectly decent person to me.

“Would it be going too far if I offered to pay for your lunch as well? Or is that just demonstrating my niceness factor?” KiJung asked flipping his wallet back and forth as we made our way to the long line of students waiting for their turn.

I shrugged in response. “I don’t really mind, but I can pay for my own lunch I guess.”

“My shout it is.” He flashed me a triumphant grin and pulled me into a one armed hug. I stood there quite peacefully like that for a few seconds before I felt something hit KiJung’s back and drop to the floor.

KiJung turned to see a very angry JungGi standing some way behind us, her eyeliner in ruins as it streaked down her face. It turned out she’d thrown a plastic knife at KiJung’s back, I don’t think she was quite over the break-up. KiJung just laughed as he picked the knife up off the floor and casually tossed it into a bin.

“Learn the difference between plastic and metal, stupid.” He slung his arm back round my shoulders and I gave JungGi a final sarcastic wave as she stamped her foot angrily on the ground.

“She’s never going to give up on you.” I murmured.

“Well, I am unforgettable, but I’ve got something better to occupy myself.” He smiled down at me and leaned down to give me a kiss. A small voice however interrupted.

“Ella?”

I turned to see Ryeowook standing there with Kari and Sungmin, a disappointed look on his face.

 

-

 

Dun dun dunnnnnnnnnnnnnn~ Over to the dark side already and it's only been three chapters. Whatever shall happen from here >.<

Welcome to any new readers, I don't always appreciate silent readers but I konw you're all hiding out there.

But, hope you guys all enjoyed this update, I'll be back soon with another one <3