The Art of Pretending

Chapter Nine

Blair POV.
•••

My alarm goes off for school. Fuck me. I decided that I am officially over trying to make my life exciting. I get up and start to get ready. I put on makeup and style my experience uniform nicely. Just because Ive given up the making my life exciting thing, doesn't mean I can't live my boring life while looking good.

My heart drops when I heart my dad approaching my room. I stay still and hold my breath. I hear shuffling and hear him drop something on the ground, before walking away. I then hear him go downstairs and walk out the door. I wait and look out my window until I see his car pull out of the driveway.

When the coast is clear I slowly open my door. I look down to see a small gift bag, I grab it and take it into my room. In the bag, I pull out an expensive gorgeous jacket. His girlfriend or secretary definitely had to picked it out. I smile until I look down at my bruised arm. A perfect jacket for a perfect cover up for my bruise.

   I send my dad a quick thank you text. I slip the jacket on and admire it in the mirror. I stare at the girl in the reflection. Young, pretty, broken. I let a few tears down before I wipe them away and stop crying. One thing I'm good at is going numb, or at least acting like everything is fine.

   I sigh, grab my backpack, and send Natalie a text saying I'm on my way. We have officially stopped talking to Kate. But since Kate used to be Natalie's ride to school, I'm now in charge of taking her. Luckily her birthday is in two months, so I won't have to pick her up for very long. I would have no problem with it if she didn't live so far away, but I do love riding with her.

   Natalie walks up to my car and I plaster a fake smile. "Hello Gorgeous" I greet.

   "Mi amor" she greets back and I roll me eyes. "Guess who tried texting me this morning?"

   "Who?" I asked.

   "Kate" she makes a fake gagging voice. "She texted me saying she was on her way to get me! Like what the fuck dude, did she really think I would still hangout with her after what she did to you?"

   "What a wack job. I don't even know what I did to her in the first place."

   "She's just jealous of you."

   "What's there to be jealous about?"

   "You being gorgeous and every man wanting you." I rolled my eyes at her reply and scoffed. I look away from the road and at Natalie's face. I was shocked to see a guilty look on her face.

   "What?" I asked looking back at the road

   "What do you mean what?" She looks out the window.

   "I know when you're guilty about something, you practically wear your heart on your sleeve."

   "I am guilty." She sighed and puts her head back. "Kate is jealous of your and Grayson's relationship because she likes him." She mumbles.

   "What?" I shout slightly swerving in shock. "Since when?"

   "Since sophomore year" she mumbled. "She's been sleeping with him since then."

"What?" I yell again. "You're kidding me. Why didn't you tell me?"

"She made me swear not to tell you, I only know because I saw them last year at a party."

"Oh my god, has Grayson been cheating on Ashlyn?" I ask.

"No, Kate said they only have sex whenever Grayson and Ashlyn break up. She tried to sleep with him one time when they were dating but he refused."

"Oh my god." A wave of guilt built up. "Oh my god." I said again. Kate heard me talking about me wanting to hookup with him. Kate also has seen his friends make jokes about us. And oh my god, Kate saw us walk upstairs together. "Oh my god."

"Oh my god can you please stop saying that and say something else. Please don't be mad at me." Natalie begged. I was at a loss of words. I just slowly nodded, letting everything sink in.

I am a terrible person. How did I not see that Kate liked him? And I just rubbed it in. I also feel a pang of hurt that Natalie didn't tell me. I thought we were always super close and told each other everything.

We get to school and exit the car. "Blair?" Natalie cautions.

"I just, need a minute." I say walking away. I don't know why I feel so betrayed, if I asked her to keep a secret for me I would want her to. I cross my arms, hugging my body and walking to my locker. I open my locker and start to grab my books for my first class.

Suddenly, everything holts when I look at the sleeve of my jacket. The one my dad gave me because he hurt me. Suddenly all his words start showing up in my head. My breathing and heartbeat start to quicken. "What a freak, she's been just staring into her locker for the past five minutes." I quickly wipe any emotion off my face and look at the owner of the voice.

"Ashlyn" I say in a bored tone. Kate and Becca are standing at each side of her giving me the same dirty look.

"Sleep with any more girl's boyfriends?"

"Don't have the time" I simply reply.

"God you're so gross and ugly" joined in Becca.

"Yea, what even birthed you?" Laughed Ashlyn.

"A dead whore of a mother, like mother like daughter right? Both whores." Laughed Kate.

My emotionless mask cracks. Even Ashlyn's eyes widen at what Kate said. My breathing starts to quicken and I don't know how long I can hold back the tears. Ashlyn looks at me and then at Kate speechless.

"Let's go" Ashlyn says and walks away. Becca and Kate follow her without a thought. I look around to see people whispering to each other and looking at me.

The bell thankfully rings and people head to their classes. I stay rooted in place. Realizing my mask is about to crack I rush to the bathroom. Not paying attention I run into a strong chest.

"Woah" laughs Grayson. He grabs the side of my arms and wince in pain. He accidentally grabbed my bruise. He jumps back in response, letting go of me. "What's wrong?" He asks worried.

"Nothing, you just stepped on my toe" I mumble looking down. I go to move but he grabs my wrist. I look up and see Noah and Zack behind him with worried expressions. I quickly put on a fake smile and any trace of worry leaves their face.

"Let me go" I try getting my wrist free from his grasp. I just have to hold it in for only a couple of more seconds. A couple of more seconds and I'm safe in the bathroom. Then I'll be able to let the tears out.

"No."

   "Ever think maybe someone doesn't want you touching them?" I give him a sweet smile.

   "You didn't respond to my text." My smile almost wavers. Key word... almost. I don't know how much longer I can hold back the tears and keep a smile on my face. All I know is that I need to go, right now.

   "Didn't want to talk to you."

   "Why?"

   "We aren't friends" I tug my wrist again.

   "What's wrong?"

   "Nothing" I roll my eyes and smirk. "Maybe I just don't want waist my time, on an asshole who doesn't know how to take a fucking hint. So what we kissed, if you really think that meant anything you're a bigger idiot than I thought" It was harsh, I know. But I needed to leave now and I needed him to leave me alone.

   "Fine, be the bitch everyone thinks you are" He let go of my wrist, but leaned into my ear. "Just so you know, I know a fake smile when I see one." He whispers so only I could hear, "I wear them all too well."

   I move aside, and he walks away. Noah and Zack looking at me with wide eyes and then follow. I quickly barge into the girls bathroom. After looking to make sure I'm alone, I lock the door.

•••