DRAMA, JEALOUSY, LOVE, 2nd book of The Survival Games Series

Romana

''So, you hate her too?'' Romana asked me. She was no longer crying. I was relieved and happy.

''Yeah, I just can't stand her.'' I said truthfully.

''Then why do you hang out with her and talk to her?'' She asked. 'Good question. Why am I even talking to her and hanging out with her if I can't stand her?' But I perfectly knew why.

''Well, because she's my best friend's girlfriend and I have to pretend I like her.'' I said. I felt really good telling her all that.

''Oh, you know what I think.'' She started. I looked at her, interested in what she thought.

''What?'' I asked with interest.

''I think you are in love.'' She said. I was taken aback for one moment and then laughed.

''Me. In love. Well, as you can see, I had a boyfriend and he be__'' I stopped myself, I almost told her my dangerous secret.

''Oh, come on.'' She said like she could not believe me. We were outside the bathroom, walking back to class. ''You are in love with him and you know it.''

''No, trust me, I'm not.''I said. We saw Josh half carrying Erika to the nurse office. 'Seriously, she didn't hurt her legs or anything for him to carry her.' I thought. He glanced up at me and gave me a half smile, I did not smile back, I just walked past him like he was invisible.

When we walked into the classroom, some kids gave Romana dark glares, others were happy to see her like they were ready to hug her, some of them hated Erika, but for others, it was like she was a puppy, and they were her tail that was destined to her.

Romana and I sat together, we were not doing anything in the class.

''So, who did you sign up for?'' Romana asked me. I looked at her.

''Juliet.'' I said. ''What about you?''

''Me too.'' She said. ''But, I think she'll win." I knew she meant Erika.

''Um, I don't think so.'' I said. ''I do think Mrs. Jensen is looking for the acting skills, not the face, besides she's not even that pretty.''

''Yeah, but she said she was the best at acting in this class.'' Romana said. I thought about it for a moment.

''I don't know, we'll just see.'' I said thoughtfully.

''You know, I don't want her to win, I want you to win.'' She said.

''Oh come on, you know I won't win.'' I said, but I was pleased.

''Oh, come on.'' She said smiling. ''You are one of the best actresses in this class.''

''Thanks, but now I want you to win, just to show her that she doesn't get to win at everything.'' I said, smiling.

''Or you.'' Romana said. ''Ooh, I wonder how she would act if you won and then she could not act bad 'cause you know...and then she would have hope that she would be the understudy and it'll be a miracle if I'm the understudy, don't you think?''

''Oh yeah, that would seriously piss her off, she would probably cry like a baby." I said, half-laughing.

The door opened and Josh came in, he moved across in a way, some girls giggled as he passed, when he turned to look at them, they blushed, and started murmuring that he had just looked at them. He moved and sat beside me.

''She's okay.'' He said, even though I hadn't asked him anything yet. I pretended I didn't hear him. ''Okay, so what's up?'' He asked. Still, I did not respond and pretended I could not hear him. ''Okay, so are you just avoiding me?'' He asked. I did nothing in reaction, he was getting a little bit frustrated with himself, and I was just enjoying it. I looked over at Romana and she was trying so hard not to show that she was smiling.