HEART GAMES.

--WRITTEN BY ONYEKE NAOMI.

CHAPTER ONE.

Rose sat at her desk in the empty classroom, staring with a confused expression at the board. Her eyes moved back and forth from her notebook to the unerased board and back, when a whisper grazed her ear.

“What are you doing”

She gasps as she quickly turns around to the sound. She was met with a pretty looking boy, about 6 feet tall in height, his hair was wavy and medium in length, staring down at her with his crystal brown eyes that was as brown as the desert sand. His lips curved up into a pleasant smile as she stared at him.

“Jordan!. You scared me” she referred to the boy standing behind her.

“sorry princess. You just seemed to have fallen in love with the board”. He apologized sarcastically.

“aren’t you supposed to be wiping it rather than checking it out”. He asked now grabbing a seat next to her. She sighs as she opens her notebook.

“I’m just trying to understand this part, i didn’t get the explanation earlier”.

“wow…I’m actually hurt. You have a mathematician for a friend and here you are trying to fry your brain, when you could have asked me to tutor you. Have you forgotten I exist?”. He says as he touches his chest dramatically.

“whatever, at least now you’re here. Are you done with the student council meeting?”.

“well yeah pretty much, so I came to find you. Common let’s go”.

They walk down the hall and then the stairs till they were at the entrance of the school building.

“aiit, see you tomorrow. Oh!, wait, you’re still coming to my place on Saturday, right?”.

“is that even a question?”. She asked. “Good” he replied walking to his own direction.

Rose always followed a daily routine that she hated to comprise. Whenever she did, it felt as if something was wrong. She wakes up by 7am to prepare for school, arrives at school before 8:00, eats lunch during recess at 11:30 am, after school she stays back for about 30 minutes to revise what was taught, and then by 2:30pm she heads straight home. That was the case until she had discovered her self-proclaimed best friend. She was never one to associate with boys or anyone for that matter. She had a total of 3 friends, 2 female friends from her middle school that stuck with her, and Jordan who was recently added to the group. He had made an impression on her when she first started the school. He was brave, bold and pestering, no matter how bad she treated him or how cold she acted towards him, Jordan never gave up and then one day.

Rose couldn’t focus at all at school that day, her mother had just suffered a stroke and was rushed to the hospital immediately. She didn’t know what to do and was scared. She was seated alone at the rooftop when Jordan walked in.

“there you are princess, been looking all over for you”. He said sitting next to her.

“I’m not in the mood for your annoyance today Jordan”. She said coldly.

“you know the funny thing? You always say that, but today it feels different”. He said looking up at the beautiful blue sky. “what’s wrong?” he added

“why the hell can’t you leave me alone. I said I’m not in the mood”. She said calmly, or at least she thought she did. Jordan heard the tremble in her voice and was certain she wasn’t okay in the slightest. Before he could control himself, he’s arms pulled her into a comforting embrace.

“what are you doing? Let go!”. She commanded as she struggled to escape his grip, that was tighter than expected, until she finally gave up. She looked up into his eyes, that was the first time she noticed how beautiful they were. He looked at her with unspoken sympathy for something he didn’t even know. Before she knew it, she rested into his embrace, crying uncontrollably while he did nothing but be patient and quiet. He was the only person that made her break down like that, the only person that made her let go and be vulnerable.

She arrived home.

“hey mum, I’m back” she greeted.

“hey baby girl, how was school?”

“it was normal”

“your sister just got back too. I microwaved your food already just go freshen up and eat”.

“yeah, sure”. She smiled, it still made her emotional when she remembers the state her mother was in 3 years ago. But now she’s all better. Honestly, she wouldn’t have gotten through all that if Jordan wasn’t with her, she often thought.

The next day at school, it was P.E, so everyone changed into their P.E wear and went to their different clubs. The girls played tennis while the guys played basket ball at least some of them did. After the girls were done she went to go freshen up and then headed to the basket ball court. Jordan had begged her to come by and watch him play if the girls finished early. She arrived at the court and sat where the other audience were seated. Her classmates and a few other supporters were cheering, apparently Jordan’s team had just gotten tied with the other team. She heard at her corner some girls gossiped.

“Carson is benched?”. Said the first girl.

“I know right?, that’s so unfair if he was in this match, they would have won a long time ago”. Agreed the second girl.

“he’s so hot, even while sitting down. Oh well….at least we still get to watch Jordan in action”. Said another girl.

She looked over at the bench curiously but couldn’t really see who they were talking about. She never really listened to school gossips, stuff about “school queen”, “school king”, “heart throbs” never really concerned her. She did at least know that Jordan was somewhat popular with some girls, but that was about it. The cheers increased as Jordan scored in the last minute. “he looked kinda cool” she thought as she walked down benches.

“princess!”. He called out to her while running towards her. “you actually came” he said after he had come to a halt in front of her.

“well I had nothing better to do”. She replied.

“liar. What did you think, of the game I mean”.

“you looked….”she paused to think of what to say. “ weird, all sweaty and stuff” she added while making a dramatic disgusted sound.

“idiot”. He said gripping her by her shoulder and ruffling her hair playfully.

After school Jordan and rose walking towards the school gate. When she remembered she forgot something and went back to her class to get it. Her eyes widened at what she saw. There stood a gorgeously good looking guy with short hair. His skin was dark but shone like gold under the rays of sunlight that sneaked in from the window. He had the rearest shade of grey eyes that sometimes confused a person to think it was green. His eyebrows were bushy but arranged perfectly above his almond shaped eyes. His hands travelled along the waist of a girl standing mere-inches away from him, he pulled her closer, his other hand holding the back of her neck as he kissed her passionately, pressing his body against hers. Then it clicked, wait…what was going on?, did she just walk into a make-out session?. The boy calmly pulled away from the girl he was with and his eyes turned to meet rose.

“do you need something?”.

HEART GAMES.

--WRITTEN BY ONYEKE NAOMI.

Rose ignored his question and walked over to her desk where her notebook was laid on. She immediately turned away to leave.

“you’re rose right?”. He asked

“yes”. She replied her back still faced to him.

“oh I see”. He said letting go of the girl he was devouring. He walked over to her front and bent down to meet her gaze. “you’re Jordan’s little princess, aren’t you?. He calls you that so much I started to think you’re an actual princess”. He added still looking at her.

“please excuse me”. She said politely but there was a little edge in her voice that he spotted. He stepped aside so she could pass noticing that she doesn’t want anything to do with him. “thanks”. She said walking out of the class.

The next day. Rose told Jordan about the annoying encounter yesterday. He laughed as she narrated what happened.

“It’s not funny, Jordan. That was freaking awkward.” She said.

“I’m sorry, it’s just so hilarious. Like you actually saw that for the first time?. It’s a normal occurrence at the school. Who exactly was the guy?”. Asked Jordan.

“He’s tall, around 6’2 I’d say, his hair is short, dark in complexion and has gray eyes. That’s all I can say, I don’t really know him, but he seems to know you and I”. She replied.

“Oh that’s Carson, he’s probably the only guy that meets that description in this school. He’s pretty popular though almost everyone knows him, both guys and girls.”

“oh so that’s the infamous Carson all the girls were talking about?”. She said rolling her eyes to the thought of it. “he sure does enjoy the attention doesn’t he”.

Jordan chuckled and patted her head. “That’s why I like you rose. You’re not moved by other peoples’ opinion”.

****

Jordan and rose had business in the next building where the student council office was situated. The school was very populated, so there were division of classes like class 1-A, class 1-B, class 1-C and class 2A-C and class 3A-C. The first building was made up of class 1A-C and class2A-C.while the second building was class 3A-C and then some club rooms. Then there was a separate building for games and sports. While they were walking down the hall there was cluster of girls around the corner, they looked to see Carson towered over most of them.

“here we go again”. Said Jordan amusingly.

“Huh?”. Asked rose confused.

“every recess, the dude has a hoard of girls from different classes come ‘visit’ him in his class. They all low-key wish they could be the next Victim”.

“victim?. What the heck?” asked rose.

“remember what you witnessed yesterday?. Bruh actually takes advantage of what he gets. Although the girls are the ones that come unto him, he just gives them what they want. Not saying that it’s right though.”

“Such a creep” she insulted with a disgusted expression.

“rose!”

She heard someone call out her name and turned to look. Finding carson walking majestically towards her.

“Are you busy?” he asked ignoring Jordan’s presence.

“Yes can I help you?”. She tried to sound as normal as she could, but there was still that edge in her tone.

“Well…” started Carson bending down to her level. She wasn’t short but compared to his huge presence she looked small.

“I want to talk to you later, after school”. He continued.

“I’m sorry, but I have other plans.” She said looking away from his gaze. For some reason this guy made her skin crawl.

“Princess, I’ll see you at the council room”. Jordan said patting her hair playfully. A smirk curved up on his face as he walked off.

“See, he got it handled”. Carson said reaching out to grab her hand, but she subtly moved it away.

“You seem occupied”. She said as she glanced over at the girls behind him which were now glaring at her.

“I won’t want to interrupt”. She added as she turned from him and walked off.

****

After school, Rose told Jordan to go before her since he had something's to handle, and she was on cleaning duty again. When she arrived at her class, she was surprised to see, seated on a desk in her class was Carson.

“what are you doing here?”. She asked, her tone carried an edge of annoyance.

“Chill, I’m not here to have another make out session, trust me”. He replied smiling with amusement.

“I really don’t care if you do. Just don’t do it when it’s my turn to arrange the chairs”. She said arranging the chairs.

“you’re the only person cleaning?”. He asked curiously as he slowly walked towards her, who was trying not to look at him.

“They’ve done their part”. She replied still arranging the chairs. “Huh.” He was now right behind her bending over her shoulders.

“look if this is about the other day__”. She turned to fast and was now face to face, mere inches away from him. She didn’t realize how close he was.

“Hmm?, what about it?” he asked placing his hands on both side of the desk behind her. Trapping her between him and the desk.

“Step back” she commanded now glaring at him.

“Look, or rather listen. About the other day, you acted a bit cold towards me. Did I do something to offend you?”.

“Not really”. She replied as she pushed him back slowly with both her hands. “I’m in the middle of something, so please leave me alone.” She added.

“Do you hate me?”

“I don’t hate people”.

“Kind of seems like you do. Whenever you see me, you have this…expression”.

Rose sighs and ignores him.

“what do you hate about me?”.

“does it hurt your ego to see that not all girls are dying for you?”. Carson smiled at her sass and couldn’t help but admire her. “Not ‘dying’, just ‘appreciating’”.

He said as he studied her. She had brown short hair that she packed into a low bun. She wore stylish glasses, no one would realize they were medicated. With an oval face, brown eyes and full heart shaped lips, her skin was light and shiny. Likewise, she wasn’t too slender nor big, she was thick from her lower body, with well-rounded hip, but she wasn’t busty. Either way, it was obvious that she was pretty, and only a true man could see it.

“appreciate indeed” he thought as he stared at her.

Carson followed her after she was done till they reached the school gate.

“Are you going to keep following me?, what do you want from me?”. Asked Rose coming to a halt.

“Well, the thought that someone might actually hate me, bugs me. I make it my mission to avoid enemies”. He replied with that mischievous smirk he always has.

“he is so full of himself” rose thought.

“I’m guessing that only applies to girls”. Rose said while tucking back a loose strand of hair back into her bun. looking away from him, avoiding eye contact, as if uninterested in whatever it is he was spewing.

“Man” he thought there was something about the unintentional attitude she gave him that sparked something in him. It was like a challenge was being proposed. Her body language though subtle and unintentional, told him a lot of things he didn’t know it could.

“I’m pretty sure you have a lot of male enemies. You didn’t even know I exist until yesterday”. Rose continued

“Well now I do”.

And he was interested. He wanted to see and know everything about her, both inside and out.

“okay, let’s get this straight”.

“I don’t necessarily hate you. You haven’t done anything to me personally. But I’d rather not be associated with a narcissistic playboy” she continued. “Playboy? Narcissistic?”. He laughed.

“And who exactly have I played?, do you have proof?”. Asked Carson clearly amused by her confession.

“Don’t act like the girls you deceive into giving into you are nothing”.

“Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah”. He said touching his chest dramatically. “Baby girl’. He teased, his voice low and seductive.

“Don’t go accusing someone without knowing the full story. I don’t ‘deceive’ those girls, they ask for it they give in. If a girl comes to me with an intent to enjoy herself, why won’t I oblige?. I just give them what they so desperately ask for and in return I get to enjoy myself as well. If I didn’t really love any of them I wouldn’t give in you know”. He said as his lips curved up to an annoyingly beautiful smile she’d hate to admit.

He was a walking red flag, anyone could see it. And yet those girls decide to be blind.

“Sexual pleasure isn’t love. Carson". Rose said now looking straight into his eyes with annoyance. That was the first time she said his name and he didn’t know why, but he loved how it sounded on her lips.

“Then what’s love without it?”. He asked no longer smiling.

“I gotta go, find that out yourself”. Turning to leave when he grabbed her hand to stop her.

“Fine Then, since you know so much about love. Teach me what love is, rose”.

HEART GAMES.

--WRITTEN BY ONYEKE NAOMI

Rose stood in front of the mirror. Trying to choose from the knee-length, long sleeve, blue flay dress with ruffles at the top which she was currently wearing at the moment. Or the yellow hoodie and black baggy boyfriend jeans laying on her bed. She wondered if the dress was a bit too much or if the other one was a bit too comfortable. It was finally Saturday and normally every two weeks, she would go over to Jordan's place to study, and if possible play her favorite game 'Mortal combat' on his PS-5. While sometimes it would be the opposite. She decided to go with the hoodie and jeans, since she was too tired to try looking pretty. 'Better comfortable than not' she thought as she packed some books and her phone into her black tote bag, and hung her headphones around her neck, packing her hair into a ponytail before finally leaving.

*****

 There was a knock on Jordan's door, and he immediately rushed to open it.

"Hey". Greeted rose.

"You're early". Said Jordan as he opens the door and gestures for her to come in.

"Yeah no one was at my place, and I was a bit bored, so I decided to just come over. But I'm not 'That early' it's literally 1:45pm".

"That's actually early for YOU, princess. You normally come around 4pm and then stay for just 3 hours then leave. It kind of offends me you know. I finally get to hang out with you, then you give me just 3 hours". He said pouting.

He probably didn't realize it, but she always thought he looked kind of cute whenever he did that.

"Yeah, yeah, at least today I'll stay longer that's all that matters". She replied while walking to the living room. "Your mom?" Rose asked as she sat on the couch.

"Just left a few minutes ago". He replied, sitting at the opposite end of the couch casually. "Said she's spending the night at Dad's". He continued.

Jordan's parents weren't divorced but decided to live separately due to some circumstances. His mum would occasionally go stay with his dad when she's exhausted from 'Mom duties'.

"Anyway it's just us. Let me go get some snacks, you'll eat cookies, right?". He asked walking towards the kitchen.

     "Sure"

They both stayed silent as they swept through textbooks, played with pens, and solved equation. When Jordan noticed she got something wrong.

"No wait, you got that part wrong. The third equation should act as a substitute for X". Corrected Jordan.

"What?, won't it still give the same answer either way?". "Look" he said migrating to her side of the table, as he sat on the floor next to her, his hands rested above the couch cushion behind her, making him rest a bit closer than he thought.

"In equation 3 we found out that X\= 4+2. So now to find Y we have to substitute X as 4+2 in the first or second equation. Do you get it." He explained as he wrote on her notebook.

"Oh!, no wonder I always get the answer wrong". She realized.

"That's why you need to be more observant, princess". He said, his tone a bit low and husky. She turned to face him and then noticed he was actually really close. Jordan's adjusted a little when he noticed it as well.

"Why do you always call me that?" Asked Rose still keeping eye contact. "What? princess?". Jordan chucked.

"At first I called you that just to mess with you. I loved how your expression was whenever I did". He continued, closing his eyes, as if to picture her expression.

"And now?"

"A princess is someone who should be respected, protected and loved. As I got to know you better, I realized you were so strong but could also be so fragile. I respected you and wanted to protect you. Then slowly the name started to have meaning to me. Even till now. So yeah, you're my little princess". Replied Jordan flashing a warm smile. Rose sighed as she looked away. Then there was a knock on the door.

"I'll get it" said Jordan as he walked towards the door.

"Carson?, what are you doing here?".