Reputation Is Everything (On Hold)

Chapter 8

Okay, before I say anything else, I would like to dedicate this to Angela Florez for making me stop being so lazy, and getting me to finish this chapter. I would also like to thank her for supporting this story since the very beginning. Love you Angela! <3 Now on with the story!

Idiot, idiot, idiot! That’s what I am, an IDIOT! How could I do that? Don’t I have ANY dignity!? Apparently not, or I wouldn’t have done something that stupid!

Saying that Willow was drowning herself in misery was an understatement. She could barely eat and sleep, and every time the memory of her kissing Finn flashed in her mind, her face would turn scarlet. She’d even begged her dad to let her skip school the next day. And after a while, he’d finally agreed.

So there she was, sitting on the couch in her pajamas eating Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream, while watching a Korean Drama. Her father had gone out job searching to help with the debts, and even though she knew that she should be looking for a second job with him, she just couldn’t. She felt like everyone knew of what she had done, and if she walked out of the house, then everyone would point and laugh. She was ashamed.

“No, you idiot! Why did you kiss him!? He thinks you’re a guy for crying out loud! Stupid!” She screamed at the TV, as Go Eun Chan kissed Choi Han Kyul. Willow shook her head before scooping up a big spoon of ice cream, and shoving it in her mouth. And that’s when the phone rang. Pausing the TV and jumping up from the couch, Willow grabbed the phone and answered it.

“Helwo?” She mumbled, mouth still full of ice cream.

“Hey. May I speak to Willow please?” The voice said.

“Yes, this is she.” She replied, swallowing down the cold dairy product.

“Hey, this is Finn.” The second she heard his name, she froze. She could hear the murmur of his voice, but she couldn’t make out what he was saying. And without a second thought, she hung up, disconnecting the phone. She didn’t want to hear what he had to say. She didn’t want to listen to his rejection of her. And before she could change her mind, she sat back down, and pressed the play button.

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The next day, no matter how much Willow begged her dad, he refused to let her stay home again. She was back to her usual nerdy self, glasses and all. She knew Sarah would be mad at her, but she didn’t care. Their plan had obviously not worked. Finn still only had friendship in mind, and Willow was beginning to worry that that was all he would ever feel for her. How long would it be before some beautiful girl came and swept him away?

She rode the bus, to tired to walk the fifteen minute time distance between her house and school. No one talked to her, and she didn’t talk to anyone either.

Gosh, snap yourself out of it! I’ve never been this way, why is it all of a sudden that I’m some depressed teenage girl that has nothing better to do than mope around all day? Aren’t I better than that?

And she knew the answer.

Yes. I am better than that. I have feelings like everyone else. Who cares if he doesn’t except me? Who cares what others say? Its not like this is the first time that they made fun of me.

But even when she said all these things to herself, as the bus pulled into the school parking lot, her heartbeat became faster and she could feel the heat rise to her cheeks.

Don’t worry, Willow. You’ll do fine. Just avoid him. Maybe he didn’t even tell anyone.

And she hoped that was true.