The Girlfriend: Fake It Till You Make It

Chapter 20 Overcoming Obstacles

Emily felt like the walls of the school were closing in on her, the whispers and judgmental stares weighing heavier than ever. Since the dance, she and Jordan had made it official, but instead of things settling down, the drama around them had only escalated. The glares from some of their classmates followed her down the hallway, while others barely masked their curiosity.

Next to her, Jordan walked with ease, as if none of the attention phased her. Emily admired how Jordan didn't seem to care what anyone thought. It wasn't just confidence—Jordan knew who she was, and that made all the difference. Emily, on the other hand, was still adjusting, still figuring it all out. The fear of being judged or ridiculed clung to her, no matter how much she tried to shake it off.

Jordan gave her a sidelong glance, her usual smirk softening into a look of concern. "You okay?"

"Yeah," Emily answered, though her voice didn't quite match the sentiment. She didn't want to admit that she was struggling more than she let on. "I just didn't expect it to be like this."

"Like what?" Jordan asked, stopping in her tracks to give Emily her full attention. She slipped her hand into Emily's, pulling her closer. "You mean people being jerks?"

Emily nodded, casting a glance at the groups of students who were still watching them from a distance. "I guess I thought after everything, people would get used to it. I don't know why it feels like it's getting worse."

Jordan squeezed her hand gently. "People love drama. But it'll blow over. Trust me."

Emily wasn't as certain. There were still so many things left unresolved, especially with Brittany. Since the night of the dance, Brittany had mostly kept her distance, but Emily could feel the tension lingering just beneath the surface. There were moments when Brittany's stare would linger on her just a bit too long, or when she'd catch Brittany glancing at Jordan with something darker in her eyes. It unsettled her, though she couldn't quite explain why.

"Hey, don't worry about it," Jordan said, her voice pulling Emily from her thoughts. "We've got each other. That's what matters."

Emily smiled, grateful for Jordan's reassurance. Jordan was her anchor through all of this, even when everything else felt overwhelming. As they walked together toward Jordan's locker, the rest of the world seemed to fade into the background, just for a moment.

But the bubble of calm didn't last. As they turned the corner, Sarah appeared, her face lined with tension. She quickly glanced around, as if checking for prying eyes before hurrying over to them.

"Hey," Sarah greeted them, her voice low. "You guys might want to avoid the cafeteria today."

Jordan raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

Sarah glanced over her shoulder before leaning in. "Brittany's in there. And she's... not exactly in a great mood."

Emily's heart sank. Ever since the dance, she had been dreading another confrontation with Brittany. The girl had kept her distance for the most part, but Emily knew that it was only a matter of time before something happened. And by the sound of it, today might be the day.

"What's going on with her?" Emily asked, a nervous edge creeping into her voice.

Sarah sighed. "I don't know exactly. But it seems like seeing you two together is really getting to her. She's been acting weird all week, like she's holding something in."

Emily bit her lip, exchanging a glance with Jordan. Though Brittany had largely kept to herself, Emily knew that the tension between them hadn't disappeared. If anything, it had grown stronger since they had gone public with their relationship. Brittany had never been one to back down from a fight, and Emily feared that she was on the verge of doing something rash.

"We can't avoid her forever," Jordan said firmly. "If she wants to talk, let her. We'll handle it."

Emily wasn't sure she shared Jordan's confidence. Part of her wanted to steer clear of Brittany at all costs, but she knew Jordan was right. They couldn't keep dodging the issue forever. Whatever was brewing between them and Brittany, it needed to come to a head sooner or later.

Reluctantly, they headed toward the cafeteria, their footsteps echoing louder in Emily's ears with each passing second. Her stomach churned as they neared the doors, the knot of anxiety tightening. She hadn't spoken to Brittany directly since the dance, but she could feel the girl's presence like a shadow that followed her everywhere.

As they stepped into the bustling cafeteria, the air felt charged with something unspoken. The usual hum of conversations dimmed slightly as eyes turned in their direction, watching and waiting for something to unfold. Emily's gaze swept across the room until she found Brittany sitting at a table in the corner, her expression unreadable. Ryan sat next to her, talking animatedly about something, but Brittany wasn't paying attention. Her eyes were locked on Emily and Jordan.

"Let's just sit down and eat," Jordan said, her voice low but firm.

Emily nodded, though her hands trembled slightly as they found a table on the opposite side of the room. She couldn't shake the feeling that Brittany was watching her every move. And though Brittany hadn't made any direct comments or caused a scene, Emily could sense that something was building—something that could explode at any moment.

Lunch dragged on, every bite tasting like sawdust as Emily's nerves kept her on edge. Brittany's eyes never left them, and Emily was too aware of the tension radiating from her. It was like sitting on a live wire, waiting for the inevitable spark that would set everything off.

But the spark never came. When lunch finally ended, Emily let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding. They had made it through without any confrontations, but she knew it wasn't over. Brittany's cold gaze lingered as they left the cafeteria, a silent promise that whatever was going on beneath the surface hadn't been resolved.

As they walked down the hallway, Emily slipped her hand into Jordan's, finding comfort in the familiar warmth. "Do you think Brittany's going to do something?"

Jordan's jaw tightened slightly. "I don't know. But if she does, we'll deal with it. Together."

Emily nodded, though a flicker of doubt still gnawed at her. She wanted to believe that they could handle whatever came their way, but something about Brittany's silent anger unnerved her. She didn't know when the storm would hit, but she could feel it looming.

For now, though, she had Jordan by her side. And that was enough to keep her steady, at least for the moment. But in the back of her mind, the unresolved tension with Brittany continued to fester, waiting for its moment to break free.