In The Spotlight

Bubble- 8th Grade English Class

I'm not the type to lie and stay secretive. Yet that's about all I've been doing since I got here. But I made a decision today, that I would reinvent myself. From today forward, in the public eye, I would be sweet and innocent Bubble.

A few people knowing that isn't the case is none of my concern.

I put on my best smile and awaited my question. I listened to Fries blab about playing sports, Lollipop talked about being a woman in power, and Gelatin about being gay. Every single question was 100% predictable. I prepared my answer.

"Bubble, this one's for you! What's it like to be the youngest person on the show? I was wondering this too." Yep, Woody's question was exactly what I guessed it would be.

I pretended to think on it for a moment, even cocking my head to the side for dramatic effect. "Well, I think it means you have to be careful who you align yourself with because you can get taken advantage of pretty easily. I mean, the people I've been around have been great, but I'm just being cautious." Woody and Blocky nodded a stupid amount. No one ever nods that much.

Tennis Ball, standing behind me whispers, "Good answer." I knew it was. They'd never suspect a thing.

I went over in my head who knew what. Leafy knew Golf Ball and Tennis Ball were together, and she even knew as of this morning that they were fiancees. Tennis Ball knew that I knew and that Leafy did. Which means so does GB. My head started to spin.

"Leafy?" She was sitting on her bed, gazing out of the window. She looked pretty like that. The rising sun created a sort of golden halo around her.

"Yeah, Bubs?"

"I'm really glad you're smart."

She turned around, facing me now, coffee in hand. There was a sweet, lopsided smile painted across her face. "What does that mean?"

"Well, you'll stay in the game for a long time. I'm just happy that you'll be here. I don't have too many friends. Not here, I mean." I scratched my neck. What an embarrassing thing to say.

She didn't find it pathetic, because she threw her arms around me in a hug so tight I could feel my blood getting cut off. "Oh, Bubs! That's so nice of you!"

"Really?" I choked out through strained breaths. Her grip loosened.

"Yes." Her smile dropped into a look of concern and she chewed her lip. "That's why I have to tell you something."

"Anything!"

"I told someone." I stared at her in total disbelief. "Last night. I told someone."

"Who?" I shook my head. "No. First, what, exactly?"

Her face contorted the way mine did when I was little and touched a fresh sunburn. "About you. I told them you cheated to get here. I was crying and he kept asking what was wrong and I caved. I'm a terrible friend." The heavenly glow that had surrounded her was gone now, as the sun was brought to its rightful position in the sky. It brought even more attention to the fact that she was just a human being. Her glassy eyes and shaky breathing were too much.

I remembered at that moment that I'm supposed to be mad at her. I should be seething with anger. I trusted her with my secret and she told someone. But I wasn't, not by a long shot. I was mad, but not at Leafy.

"I'm so mad at me." I looked up at her, trying to stop the tears.

"What? What did you do?" She wasn't as sad as she was confused looking now.

I sighed. "It was nobody's fault that you saw someone text me about cheating. You weren't snooping, and I wasn't laying it out for you." She nodded, sucking her lips in. "But it was my fault for wrapping you up in everything after that. I shouldn't have involved you in all this. I'm sorry, Leafy."