GATEWAY

[ thank you noctuaries for the beautiful cover, this chapter is dedicated to you ]

Winter's P.O.V

I walk towards my locker and immediately frown when I see the one and only Gemma Hill standing against it, smirking at me like I am a pathetic excuse of a girl.

I ignore her and start to fiddle with my locker, opening it and starting to take my books out for my first class. I close my locker and as I turn around, I notice that Gemma has disappeared. I furrow my eyebrows in confusion but inside my head, I am fist bumping the air.

Is this the day Gemma Hill is done with the dare? Is she finally out of my life? I smile and spin around to walk to my first class but stop in my tracks when I see Gemma's group of friends standing behind the captain of the cheerleading squad, aka, Gemma.

"What do you want, Gemma?" I ask her, my smile gone now. She flicks her blonde hair over her shoulder and hands me an envelope.

"It's Monday remember?" Gemma smiles at me and I sigh, knowing that my daily routine is ruined, just like every other Monday.

I nod and she pats my head how a person pats their dog's head when it obeys it's owner... and that's what I am.

I am Gemma Hill's little servant. The girl who hands out little love notes to the nerdy Josh Collins. Every Monday I get given a new envelope that has Gemma's perfect handwriting on the front reading Josh.

I guess your wondering why I am going this? Well, to sum it up, I was dared to do anything Gemma wanted for how long she wanted me to do it for and the first thing she said to me was, "I want you to give Josh this. Every Monday, there will be a new one and you will do the same thing every Monday till I finally get with him. Got it?"

I have to do it and now here I am. Handing out love notes like a messenger person. I might as well be a freaking mail man!

Gemma walks away with her friends behind her giggling like this is funny to them. I let out a short sigh and stick the envelope in my text book. The bell rings through the halls and I find myself sighing again.

Time to do this.

I start to walk towards the stairs. Once I reach the first step, I suddenly remember that I am wearing a skirt so I hold onto the bottom so no one can see my pink, love hearted underwear.

Yes, I'm still a kid! Don't judge!

I finally finish my walk up the stairs and I enter the classroom. I notice Josh sitting in the front of the classroom, starting to write the notes that the teacher is writing on the board. I begin to walk over to him and I take the paper out of my book and drop it on his desk.

He looks up at me with the same frown he always wears when he sees me with an envelope. I shrug and start to walk to the back on the classroom.

I sit at the table at the back, next to the window and plug in my earphones, pulling my hoodie over my head as I block out the sounds of everyone who starts to walk into the classroom.

●●●

I grab my tray and start to walk towards the line that is forming pretty quickly. Wow, these people are hungry. I look at the selections today and roll my eyes.

Meatloaf.

I quietly groan and start to look around the cafeteria to see if I can sit with anyone today but as usual, no one would want me to sit at their table because I am lame. I am not as popular and special like everyone else.

The lady looks up at me and I gently smile at her. She knew I didn't like the meatloaf so she just nods and hands me a ham and cheese sandwich from the fridge and a soda. I thank her and begin to walk away from the line.

I slowly walk around the cafeteria and sigh when I see that I am again alone today, just like every other day.

I leave the cafeteria and start to make my way to the field where it is silent and peaceful. That is my usual place to eat my lunch but I like it because I never got annoyed or bothered by anyone, not even Gemma.

I sit on the bleachers and start to eat my lunch, ignoring the clenching feeling in my stomach as I think about my life.

●●●

The time passes by, quickly like always. I am now grabbing my books out of my locker and stuffing them in my bag. Once I am finished, I slam the locker shut and walk out of the school doors.

Everyone is leaving, talking, sitting on the roofs of their cars and doing what they do everyday. I turn my gaze to the parking lot and notice my mom's black SUV. I start to walk towards it and when I reach the vehicle, I get in.

"Hey baby, how was you day." My mom asks with a smile and I just nod as I adjust my seatbelt.

"Fine." I reply and my mom nods as she starts to drive out of the parking lot.

"You look stressed, honey. Are you alright?" My mom asks and I flash her a reassuring smile.

"Mom, I'm okay." I say and she smiles sweetly at me before turning the radio on.