Dirty Little Secret

"Belle, wake up love." My mother cooed from the side of my bed. Her normal morning routine coming back to haunt me now that the summer was over. No more sleeping in until noon. Can't stay up and watch makeup tutorials till the crack of dawn. Back to the grind. I swatted her hand away with a moan and buried my head into the pillow. "Just five more minutes, mom."

I could hear her feet walking to the other side of the room. She opened the blinds, not a ray of sun shinning through. That's right. It's 6 o'clock in the morning. If the sun isn't going to be bright and happy, then neither am I.

"Belle Andrews, it's senior year and you have to start it off right; by being on time. It's six o'clock now. Are you driving today?" She asked. I gave her another moan as my answer, still not ready to wake up. I could mentally see the eye roll she gave me. "If you're not up by the time I get back in this room, you'll be grounded. You probably don't want that on the first day."

My mom threatened as she walked out of my room. I know she won't actually ground me but there's no point in getting her upset. You would think that a mature, senior like myself would wake up when my mother told me to. But nah, I waited a few minutes before pulling my sluggish body out of the warmth of my bed. I rubbed my eyes, looking down at the clock to see it was now 6:09. The wood was cold against the bottom of my feet, sending chills up my spine.

'Only one more year' I said to myself. When I had finally mustered up enough motivation to get to the closet, I pulled my outfit for the day. Next to your senior portrait, the outfit that you wore on the first day of school would most be the most important event in your life. It was the chance to show off all your new clothes as well as the killer tan that you had from that vacation over the summer. Seniors went above and beyond to make the best first impression because that was the bases for your homecoming crown. It sounds very conceded and maybe just a little wild but when you go to such a prestigious school.

When I went down stairs, Mom had a bagel sitting on the counter with my name written on a paper bag sitting next to it. I loved how my mom still made me lunch, it made me feel like a little kid again. Ironic that it's going to be my last year as a "kid".

"Troy!?" I called up the stairs. Shortly after he came rushing down while he slid his backpack on, seeing as it was now 7:30.

My little brother, Troy, is a junior at the same school I go to. He's just a shy over a year older than I and he's considered one of the popular kids of the junior class. The past two years he has won homecoming court and it's looking like a promising year for him. He played football and across for the school, but this year he's interested in the hockey team and has been practicing hard over the summer with the local farm team. For being such a jock, he was really kind and was friends with just about everyone at the school.

"Nice shirt." Troy complimented me as he opened the fridge to grab orange juice.

"Thanks. I got it with Kelsie about a week ago. On sale, too." I said with a smile. Troy nodded before chugging the cup back. He licked his lips and placed the cup in the sink then looked at me.

"Are you driving us to school?" I dusted my hands off and placed my plate in the sink.

"Yes. I'm ready to go now if you are, say goodbye to mom before you leave though. She might cry, just to warn you." Troy yelled out a goodbye to my mom but she quickly ran around the corner from her office with her phone in hand.

"Wait you two! I want to take a picture of you two! Grandmama would love to see her little babies!" I smirked over at Troy who just rolled his eyes and slipped his backpack on. I placed my arm over his shoulder and smiled for my mom. The smile on her face only made me happier as she snapped the photos. Her face started to scrunch up which meant she was going to cry. I knew it, Troy knew it, and when we shared the same look we walked up and gave her a tight hug.

"My little babies, please stop growing up!" "Okay mom." I said with a chuckle. She gave us one last squeeze before letting us go on our ways. She walked us to the door and waved goodbye as we walked down the front path to my Subaru. Until we were down the street, mom waved us on our way with a tear sliding down her blushed cheek. **

"Belle!" Cece cried from down the hall. Cece has been my best friend since day 1 at this school. We had a majority of our classes together and her personality fit perfectly with mine. We were on the same soccer team for little league and our mothers were on the PTA during middle school. She's a short and skinny Italian girl from a small neighborhood in the Bronx. Her first day here was easy because of me (she said that herself). Through thick and thin, tests, breakups, and even deciding what to wear in the morning, Cece has always - and will always -been there for me.

I smiled and ran into her open arms, engulfing her into a big bear hug. "It feels like I haven't seen you in ages!" I gushed to her. It was a lie though, we saw each other just last week. Hugging and acting like we had lived in separate countries is just a thing all girls do.

She pulled back and observed my outfit. "You look just adorable, Belle. I wish I was you." I just rolled my eyes at her remark. She's one of the prettiest girls at this school and she knows it. Cece was elected homecoming Queen our sophomore year and then Prom Queen at the junior/senior prom. In middle school, she was captain of the cheer team but left it because she didn't think it was fun anymore. She likes the attention but doesn't let it affect her personality which is something I value very much in her.

"Have you seen Logan yet? She told me she was here already." I asked as I looked around the commons. It feels like every body in the world was standing here.

"She's probably lighting up in the bathroom. You know if she's still with that one guy or not?" Cece asked, looking down at her phone. I just shrugged my shoulders. The locker crashed slightly as I leave up against it with my backpack.

There was almost a refreshing feeling to see the halls filled with my classmates. The familiar buzz of everyone talking before the late bell rang almost puts you at ease because school was finally in session, and even better because I was just one day closer to graduating.

Cece sighed and pushed her glasses back up onto the bridge of her nose and adjusted the straps of her heavy backpack on her shoulders. All throughout high school her backpack was filled with textbooks and study guides. Through her busy social life she still managed to obtain a 4.0 GPA and is now up for class Valedictorian but the competition around is tough. Cece is the president of three different clubs at school and works as an athletic trainer for the woman's soccer team at school. She's a jack of all trades. Smart, pretty, and athletic. Something that every girl wishes they could be and yet I still don't know how i'm lucky enough to be her friend.

Logan, however, was the total opposite of Cece. Her style is more grungy, that you could tell. I always envied her style, but I would never be able to pull it off. Black combat boots, band tees, and skinny jeans is normally what she would wear; throw in a plaid skirt or a hoodie here and there. Logan's room was covered in band posters and ticket stubs from the various concerts she's been to. She had a box of old records she would play while attempting to do her homework. She bought a guitar our freshman year of high school and learned how to play. Sometimes she likes to play out in the park and collect tips but only does that when there is literally nothing left to do. Logan puts up a tough front be she isn't afraid to reach inside and grab that girl girl side of her. She loves to do makeovers and spends hours in makeup stores or watching beauty guides.

Cece and I walked through the ocean of high schoolers to her locker which was already covered in club and athletic posters. Her portrait from the football team displayed her beautiful brown hair and the smile that I envied.

Today was just a syllabus day school wide. The only department that would actually teach something would be the math department. The teachers would go over the syllabus and seating arrangements would start to develop, lunch tables would be claimed and pods in the commons would mark their territory. It was anything but an exciting day.

I leaned against the locker next to hers and observed her schedule, seeing that Cece and I only had one class and a lunch together. I pouted and looked at her. "This is going to be such a boring semester, Cece! I have one class with you, it's not enough!" I complained. She laughed and shut the locker door, throwing her backpack onto her shoulders and turning to me.

"We'll survive somehow." She said while we walked down the main hallway.

Halfway down, we ran into Logan who looked happy to see us. She reached her arms out and grabbed us into a big hug. "I missed you guys!

We smiled and rubbed her back. "We missed you too, Logeybear!" I giggled. Logan squinted her eyes at me, only causing us all to giggle. She hated when I called her that.

Logan grabbed my schedule and joined Cece and I as we walked down the halll "Sweet, we've got French together and, it looks like, lunch!" Logan squealed. I pumped my fist in the air and laughed. That means in atleast two classes i'll be spared the awkward encounter of trying to meet someone new

"What are you guys doing after school? Do you want to come over and swim?" I asked my two best friends.

"Sure!" They said in unison.
"Alright, cool. This is my homeroom, i'll see you guys later. Text me at lunch, Cece, and i'll meet you!" I shouted as they walked down the hall. They gave me a thumbs up and went into their own homerooms.

-

Pre-Calc, Government, and Physics went by slower than ever. I didn't know anyone in those classes and tried to make friends with some people, but not everyone was open to my friendship. I sat in the middle where I think is the best place to sit. There were people all around me and it was in great view of the board and the teacher. Not to mention, I was able to hide my phone better when there was someone in front of me. The rest of the year, my Purple days were going to be boring.I was quick to meet Logan outside her classroom after Physics, we were going to French next. This was a my favorite class and hopefully what I would be going to school for next year.

Logan looked dead when she walked out of the room and when I asked what was wrong she groaned and handed me the syllabus of her paper. She had at least 7 tests that made up for more than 75% of her grade. Logan isn't that great of a student.

"Damn, sorry babe. Looks like you'll need a tutor. I can try and help but Cece is more of the english person here. I could proof read, that's about it." I said when I handed her back the paper.

"It's alright. I just hope my mom doesn't put so much pressure on me this year." She said while stuffing the paper into her folder and back into her backpack.

"Oh, hey, I meant to ask you but are you still with that guy that you told Cece and I about? Scott or Craig or Jove or something?" I asked.

Logan goffed and looked at me. "Jove? Really?"
I shrugged and laughed too. "I can't remember what his name is!"

I saw the blush creep up in her cheeks as she looked at the ground. "Well his name is Garrison and him and I are talking."

I gasped, my mouth making an 'o'. "And you didn't tell me!?" I said, mocking offense. She just laughed and pushed my arm.

"Details!?" I asked. She shrugged again, smiling to herself. "He's got piercings and tattoos and loves listening to all of the music I like." I smiled at how blushed she was getting. This is a rare side to see of Logan. Usually she was really private and didn't take much interest in boys, but he must have been special.

Just as she had finished telling me about him, we turned into the French room, seeing that there was no teacher yet. Just students huddled in small groups. Logan and I picked our seats in the back of the room, both content with where they were. I pulled out my agenda and wrote a quick note dow from the board. "So how did you meet this guy?" I asked.

She swiped on her phone before flipping it around and showing me a picture of a pretty attractive man. "At one of the bars near the university. I got in with my fake."

"Does he know?" I asked, studying the picture a little bit. Tattoos, piercings, dark clothing; everything that was for Logan.

"Hell no. But he will eventually. He's only twenty two, so it's okay." Logan giggled and took her phone back. She was always the more adventurous one in our trisquad. I was always a cautious child. I never really did anything risky in fear that I would either get hurt or in trouble. Jail time doesn't look good on a permanent record.

The late bell rang and our teacher still hadn't came in. We all looked around at each other puzzled because we all knew that Mrs. Caste was the school's only french teacher. She was punctual and very strict but a teacher you were comfortable around. I tapped on the shoulder of the guy in front of me and asked, "Is she going to come in today?"

He turned and said, "I heard we had a new teacher this year. Something about Caste having a breakdown or something." The girl next to him stopped what she was doing and looked at him with her eyes furrowed. "I heard she was pregnant. She definitely didn't have a breakdown, you're ridiculous."

"No, I heard that she had a breakdown because her husband was sent to jail." He seethed back at her.

"I feel like if he was arrested, it would have been all over the newspapers and news channels in the state. I don't think that's the story." Logan said, not fooled in the slightest by his fibbing. He just shrugged his shoulders and swiveled back in his seat.

Just then, our principle walked in with a guy in tow who looked to be about our age. The only difference was that he was dressed up, tie and all, and had a stack of papers cradled in his arms. His hair defied gravity as it stood in it's quaffed position. His jaw was sharp, sharp enough to cut through frozen butter, and eyes that I could drown in. He was a perfect specimen for a man and that's really saying something coming from me. The girls in the room lost their shit, gasping at the cute guy standing next to our middle aged principle. I looked over to see Logan completely gobsmacked by the man and that's very hard to do.

"Students, unfortunately Mrs. Caste will not be returning this year. So, we have hired Mr. Styles as your temporary sub," He paused as the class began to chat quietly then began once it was quiet, "I expect you to show nothing but respect to your new teacher. He was grateful enough to join us on a moments notice." The Principle turned to the new man and gave him a smile and a handshake. "You shouldn't have any problem here. These kids are bright and well behaved."

"Thank you, sir." He said lowly with a thick accent apparent in his voice. I gripped the side of my desk silently and watched as Mr. Styles eyes followed the principle out the door till it was shut.

He turned back to us with a blinding smile and placed the stack of papers on his neat and new desk. "Good morning." Was all that he said. His voice was low and husky, and he talked with a drawl. The accent was more noticeable and it sounded European. The class mumbled back a good morning while Mr. Styles turned to the white board. He picked up one of the black markers and began writing. I watched as his back muscles flexed with every stroke of the marker. I was completely mesmerized by it, wanting to never take my eyes off him.

Logan picked up on this and gave my arms smack. I mouthed 'ow' to her and held my arm. He face was red from holding back her cackle, but i just ignored her and went back to my notebook.
"Alright, well you all know my name now, and I would really like to start learing all of your's right away. So let's go around the room saying our names and what year we are. Sound good?"

Honestly, everything sounded good when it came from him. I put together his accent, it was British. I had a British sub as my French teacher.

Notes

- 01/05/2018 -

I'm back! I've been working on this story for a while now, and it's been three years since the original post, so here as an edited and tuned version of the story :)