It Comes In Three's

Chapter 8

Charlotte’s POV

“I could cry with how good you look! That hot pink shirt is totally your colour! Your hair with the blonde added too… amazing!” Anna claps excitedly after curling my hair and applying a light touch of makeup to my face.

I glanced at myself in her full length gold mirror, staring at the stranger in the reflection looking back at me.

This was a whole new girl… a fresh faced and well put together girl… the person I always longed to be on the inside for years!

I was thankful for the jeans I had picked out, hiding the still very prominent slashes left on my legs from Tommy, Jason and Holden.

With this new look I could fool anyone into thinking that Im just a normal girl!

“Jace is picking us up in five.” Anna states checking her watch, as I snap out of my thoughts seeing her hand me my new backpack.

“I don’t think I’m ready…” I find myself saying, as we head downstairs together.

“I think this will be good for you… it’s proof that you can make a fresh start out of a bad situation.” Anna turns to me and grabs my hands.

“Trust me and let me help!” She nods, meaning her words as I inhale a shaky breath of air.

This was for sure a completely different start to the school year compared to my original first day back on Monday…

I flinch slightly at the car horn sounding from outside, as Anna smiles brightly back at me.

“Ready to go?” She asks excitedly, as I find myself nodding without thought – allowing for her to drag me out of the house.

I stand in her porch as she locks the door, taking my time to gawk at the sleek black sports car parked on the side of the road – unable to see inside at the driver who I knew to be Anna’s cousin – Jace. Text property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Please don’t hate me… please don’t hate me…

“Let’s go!” Anna chirps, as I force a smile and follow her towards the can slowly.

She opens the back door for me before stepping aside to open the passenger door for herself as I take a moment to climb in.

“Jace this is Lottie! The friend I was telling you I had met at cheer camp!” I internally thank her for the smooth lie, as I glance up to meet Jace for the first time.

He shifts in his seat, glancing at me over his shoulder – showcasing his stern features as I gulp.

He looked massive compared to the boys at my other school… a real man… as his blonde hair sat messily across his forehead and he looked unbothered by my presence.

“Hi…” He offers me briefly with a nod, as I feel my hands shake slightly on my lap.

H–Hi…” I force myself to say back, as he diverts his eyes to the road and starts the car.

I remain silent for the journey, listening to Anna‘ complain to us both about a girl named Brianna who was now head of the cheer team claiming that because she was captain this year, she would never let her join the team.

I found out that try outs where on Friday, and it was currently Wednesday, giving her two more days to prepare despite knowing she probably wasn’t going to get in.

Jace remained mostly silent and seemed bored of his cousins rant, before we eventually approached the overly large school building – seeming much brighter and cleaner compared to my school back home.

“I’m going to sign you up too!” Anna turns back and suddenly states, as my mouth drops open in horror.

“N–No… not me… I’m not good!” I defend, as I see Jace glance back at me oddly in his mirror.

It was then that I realised Anna had lied to say that she met me at cheer camp… shit!

I always enjoyed dance during physical ed when I was younger, but fell away from it quickly due to the three boys bullying me about it throughout school.

“Nonsense you’re just being humble!” Anna grins, as I glare at her slightly knowing I had to agree.

“Y–Yeah maybe I will try out.” I nod, as she squeals and claps her hands excitedly.

I turn my attention to the window to look outside as Jace parks up the car beside another two dark vehicles.

One was a large blacked out G wagon and the other was a black tesla.

They must like dark cars around here…

“Let’s go are you ready?” Anna questions, as Jace wastes no time on climbing out of the car standing at around 6ft – seeming to earn many stares by the females nearby as he does so.

“I guess…” I shrug, as she nods at me reassuringly before climbing out as I follow her lead.

I squint at the bright sun, taking in my surroundings as a few people stare at me – recognising me as the new kid almost instantly.

“We have the same timetables… I made sure!” Anna whispers over to me, before hooking our arms together to walk towards the building.

Jace lazily walks ahead, seeming bored already of being here, as I take in his fresh grey cargo bottoms and expensive looking white sneakers.

If it weren’t for Anna forcing me to buy new things with her card at the mall, I would have looked like a complete fool at this school…

“You’ll do fine don’t worry!” Anna encourages again, as we enter the building to see students lining the halls at their lockers.

“The bell rings in two and we have languages first!” Anna complains, as Jace stops at his locker and fumbles with the numbers briefly before opening it to grab a gym bag.

“Jace here just spends his time working out or playing football… around his other illegal businesses that is…” Anna laughs, as I eye him warily.

What does that mean? I definitely couldn’t trust him… he could be just like them for all I know….especially if he’s into doing illegal

stuff…

Would you shut up?! Stop telling people random shit!” He grits back at her, glancing at me briefly, before slamming his locker shut.

“I’ll see you both at break.” He states, before wasting no time on walking off.

“Well what do you think of him so far? My asshole of a cousin? Don’t take it personally, he’s always in a pissy mood!” Anna rolls her eyes,

as she leads us down the hallway.

“He seems fine. I comment, as she laughs.

You stutter around him… I noticed…” She tells me quietly, as my cheeks redden in embarrassment.

“I don’t mean to… it’s just…” attempt to find the words, not knowing how to explain my reasoning.

“I get it! Just remember I’m here when you want to talk… I can help you! She smiles gently, before stopping in–front of a huge notice board.

She picks up the pen hanging beneath the cheer audition sheet before she adds my name as ‘Lottie Sanchez causing me to laugh slightly.

“Sanchez?” I question, cocking my head to the side.

“Yeah it’s cool! I thought you’d like a cool name to match your new look!” She giggles, as I shake my head.

The bell suddenly rings out throughout the hallways, as we both take off in the direction of – what I’m assuming is – our languages class.

So far I’m ok…

But I speak too soon…