Branara ~ Magnum

Chapter Two - Bell

BRANDON'S POV

I stop running, breathing heavily.

You couldn't have made it more obvious, could you, Brandon?

The thing is, I'm not used to new kids being as attractive as this one.

I meet Jerome in the lunch line.

"Got her?" he asks.

"Right in the stomach," I lie easily, shrugging.

I order my food, then follow Jerome down to the Cool Kid table, as we call it. [Sorry Vikk and Lachlan.]

"So," Jerome says through a mouthful of his hamburger, "Who do you think is the prettiest girl this year?"

Kara. But I have to lie to him."Uh, I dunno."

"Yeah, none of them are really that great this year, are they?" he agrees with my lie.

"Where are Mitch and Mat?" I change the subject.

"Probably beating up some other random kid." He rolls his eyes.

It better not be her. If it's her, then I will kill both of them. Mitch and Mat.

Speaking of the devil, they show up about ten seconds later.

"Hey," Mat gasps breathlessly. "Just...finished...beating up...that kid...what was her name again?"

"I think it was...like...Kara or something? I dunno," Mitch says.

My blood boils.

"Why?" Saying it so calmly is painful..."I already finished beating her up."

As soon as I say it, I know I screwed up.

"Really?" Mitch narrows his eyes suspiciously. "There were no bruises. I even checked her stomach before I beat it up."

I laugh nervously. "You checked her stomach? Pervert."

Now Jerome is suspicious too. "Did you tell me to save you a spot just to get rid of me?"

"Don't go off topic," Mitch hisses. "Why did you lie to Jerome, over beating someone up of all things?"

I look at them innocently. "I didn't!"

"I know you're lying," Jerome snarls. "Again. I thought we were friends."

There is a moment of silence.

"You...you could just tell us...if you like her or something," Mat suggests nervously.

"Like her?" Mitch snorts. "He doesn't like her. He's just lying to us." He glares at me. "On purpose!"

I stay silent.

Mitch goes quiet. "Wait, do you actually?"

The bell rings for sixth period. I get up and walk quickly to my science class.

Whew. Saved by the bell, of all things.