The Ruse

GETTING ACQUAINTED

I saw Reneé by the bleachers waiting for me, so I immediately ran towards her. "Reneé". I shouted as I got closer to her. "Reneé, thank God you texted me. I'm so cooked. Luke told me to leave his house and I don't have anywhere to go, so I was hoping I could stay in your house, just for the time being." "Um, Rose, you can't stay in my house." She said with a straight face. "Look, Reneé, I won't stay long. I just don't have anywhere. I promise I won't do anything with any of your five broth-" "Ew,ew,ew, Rose no. Look, I don't know how to put this. After that happened in the hallway,  you're like the laughing stock of this school and I can't be seen anywhere near you. That's why I told you to come under the bleachers. I really do feel bad for you but..." "I'll make you look like the friend of the lose who cheated on Luke. I get it." "Thanks for understanding. No hard feelings. Now I have to go to the cafeteria for lunch, so...bye." She said and left. "Wow. That just happened. What am I going to do now? Oh God, mum I'm begging you to pick up your call." I said to myself. What was so annoying was when the call went through, she declined it. I called her again but then she blocked me.
I went to the cafeteria, but then everyone stared at me as I walked in. I kept my head low so that my eyes won't lock with anyone. Obviously, I was probably not allowed to sit with Luke, Reneé and the others, so I walked past their table. I saw Mori with some people I think l are his friends. I think he has friends. "Guys, there's a hot chick coming straight to our table." One of his friends said. "Hey Mori,  can I sit here." I said, wondering if I'd be rejected by the rejects. I did not want to think that I'd be an outcast. "Sure", Mori said. It made me brighten up a bit. I felt really awkward because there was a huge silence. I brought out my air pods because I felt so uncomfortable and started watching Kaiju no 8. (Anime).
     "Wait, you watch anime?" Mori asked. I could sense that things were about to get lively and it did. "Yeah, I'm huge anime geek." I said. "No way", Mori's friend, Mateo said. "What's your favorite?" His other friend, Jacob asked. "Honestly, it's between Demon slayer and Bongou stray do-" I was interrupted by Mori's loud sigh. "What? Did I say anything wrong?" "Nope" Mateo said. "Just that Mori thinks that Demon Slayer is overrated." Jacob said. "What?" I said. "It's just predictable. The MC's family dies, revenge, blah blah blah." Mori said. "Okay, you don't have the right to say anything when you're still in season 1." Matthew said. I found this while conversation very amusing. Soon enough, lunch was over and I had to go back to my new found routine of trying to lay low, which was difficult.
Fortunately, classes had gone by quickly and the last bell was rung. I had to go really early to Luke's house to get my things to avoid seeing him. As I was going, someone called me and I stopped. It was Mori. I really didn't have time for him, but I didn't know why I actually stopped. "Rosaline, I don't mean to disturb you, but I was wondering if-i -if you." He said. I went closer to him and looked at him. "Mori, what do you need?" I said. "Um, I-I would like to get your contact information. You don't have to give me if you don't w-" "Just call it my number like a normal person." I said jokingly, completely forgetting I had somewhere to be. I gave him my phone to put his number and her did the same.

"Mori, thanks for talking to me despite me being an outcast. "I said. "Hey, we're all outcasts on our own strange way." He said and I chuckled. "Rosaline, I wanted to know if you could go out with me to-" Oh no, I totally forgot about my things. "Um, Mori I can't go out with you. Maybe some other time. I really have somewhere to go." I said and ran away, leaving him standing there.

NARRATOR'S POV

    "I knew it, she'd say no. I knew I shouldn't have asked now things are going to be so awkward between us. Maybe I should text her." Mori said walking, back home slowly. Rosaline was able to get to Luke's house before he did, though Luke wanted to delay a bit for the same reason as Rosaline. "Rose, can you help me set up for lunch?" Charlene said. "Um, I" Before Rose could say anything, Chanelle came and said, "Rosaline will not be able to help set up due to the fact that she'll be leaving, isn't that right?" For the first time ever, Miles Roland dropped his newspaper to understand what was going on. Normally, Chanelle came back home with Luke, but she came he earlier for the purpose of annoying Rosaline. "Lucas dumped her because she cheated on him with my ex boyfriend, Cole. You know, I knew he had an affair with someone, just didn't know it was the bastard who lives in my house. " "Chanelle!!!" Charlene scolded. "I didn't know Cole was your boyfriend." Rosaline said. "That's the thing with whores, they don't give a shit about who they're slutting around with. All they care about who their next prey would be. "Finally, something more interesting than the newspaper" Miles said. For him, this was one juicy once in a lifetime drama that he'd been waiting to see. "You know what, call me a slut, whore or harlot like you always do. All I know is that I did nothing with your ex boyfriend. Y'all haven't even asked Cole what happened, not like he'd say he truth though." Rosaline said and left to get her things. As she was packing, Charlene came in. "Oh, char-, Mrs. Roland thank you for you and your children's hospitality. I really did overstay my welcome. I should be leaving now." "Rose, do you have anywhere to go." She said genuinely. Before she could say anything, Chanelle called her mom. Rosaline took her bags and was leaving while texting her mum. As she was leaving, she bumped into Lucas. *I'm sure y'all expected that* "I'll be going out of your life now." Rosaline said, hoping he'd say something, but he just walked past her. "Goodbye to you too" she said to herself and left. "Shit, I should have said something. The fuck is wrong with me, I shouldn't care about someone that couldn't give a shit about me." Lucas said and sat one his bed. "I really need to forget about her." He said.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★
Rosaline was sitting on the stairs of her porch. She had just finished trying to pick the lock, but it didn't work. All the windows were closed so she had no choice but to sit down and cry. Then all of a sudden, her face brightened up when she got a call from Mori.

Mori's POV

I have to do it. I'll just say that I didn't mean it and maybe she'll understand. I hesitated to call her but I eventually did. "What if she doesn't answer, ughhh, this is a pain." I ended the call and started a group call with Matthew and Jacob and I explained what happened. "Oh no bro, she said maybe another time, that's a no." Jacob said. "should I call her?" I asked. "well, I don't think that's a great idea, i mean she could just ignore you. Mori, you messed up. Matthew said. "For real dude, she literally just got broken up with that same day. You got her number, that alone was enough, you just had to risk it."Jacob said. "I get it, I'm an idiot, but it doesn't mean I can't apologize." I said, hanging up the phone. "I called her number again and she answered. "Um, Rosaline, I just-just wanted to apologize for earlier and I didn't mean wha-" I said not realizing i hadn't said this out loud and Rosaline on the other line had been calling my name. Wait, was I stammering while talking to myself, I'm so cooked. "Mori, thank God you called me, look, I may be asking for too much, but I wanted to know if I could stay in your house for the mean time, please Mori, please. She said. I don't know why my brain hadn't been thinking at all immediately I heard her voice. "Sure, why not, I'll send you the address." What did I just say? Am I actually dreaming?

AUTHOR'S NOTE
Oof, that was exhausting to write... So gentle readers, what do you think of this chapter. Who do you think is the actual filthy monkey that sent the video, okay, I've used that word a lot today, thank you Suguru for my new word today. Any hoo, I may not post frequently cuz of dumb school. Also, I genuinely love Demon slayer, IDK what gave you the idea that I didn't like it. *Sighs* Time to lecture some filthy monkeys in my DM of the purpose of anime and why they should never fall in love with Dazai, cuz he's mine. QUESTION FOR THE WEEK: WHO'S YOUR FAVORITE CHARACTER... OMG, I blab too much.
               Yours truly,
              this insane author,Esta