Faking Love

Chapter 3

For once, I'm not asleep in English. That doesn't mean I'm paying attention to the teacher, though. I'm watching Justin and Reagan at the front of the room. Reagan looks more lively than ever, and Justin seems happy enough...I wonder what they are talking about. We have a substitute teacher today, so everyone is conversing. I turn around to talk to Malaya.

"Halley, is Justin talking to Reagan?" she questions. "I've never actually seen him pay any attention to her before."

"Yeah, kinda surprising," I comment. "But she's really nice. I've been friends with her forever."

"That's so weird, though."

"Why?" I ask her.

"I don't really know." Malaya looks confused. "It just doesn't seem normal."

"Malaya, they are just talking!" I laugh.

My thoughts are interrupted when I see Avalon strutting over to Justin's desk. She's wearing a crop top and short shorts. Typical Avalon. Carefully and slowly, she brushes Justin's papers off his desk. She makes sure that everyone is watching, especially Reagan. She swings her perfect legs over the desk and sits facing Justin.

Reagan looks both hurt and offended at the same time. Justin looks at Reagan helplessly, then at me, then back at her. Finally, his eyes travel to Avalon. He looks horrified.

The entire class goes silent as Avalon begins to talk. "Hey sweetie." Her voice sounds fake, as if she doesn't mean what she says.

Justin looks at her, appalled. "What?" he asks.

Avalon ignores this question. "Are you ready for our date tonight?" Avalon glances at Reagan, who looks devastated.

Justin looks completely confused. "Avalon, what are you-"

Avalon interrupts Justin by placing a finger to his lips. "Justin, you don't have to say anything. I can't wait for tonight!" Avalon takes Justin's head gently in her hands and places her lips against his. She pulls away slowly and strides back to her desk, glaring at Reagan, then me.

On her way back, Avalon turns back to Reagan with a murderous look. "Don't steal my boyfriend. You will regret it."

The room is still dead silent. Justin looks mortified.  But there was something else beneath that look...awe, surprise, and enjoyment.

Suddenly, Reagan stands up and looks at Justin with a hurt expression. "Justin," she began. "If you are dating Avalon, why would you lead me on?" She strides over to my desk, obviously agonized.

Reagan glances back at Justin, but keeps walking towards me. Nearly in tears, she sits down next to me and puts her head in her hands. The bell rings and everyone runs out of the classroom. Reagan and I stay in the back of the classroom. Justin doesn't even look at Reagan as he is dragged out of the room by Avalon.

I look at Reagan in tears and feel horrible for her. "Reagan."

"What?" Reagan sniffles.

"I need to tell you something, but you're going to have to just trust me. It completely explains what happened." I say.

"You can try," Reagan says, "But I don't know if I will believe you."

"Okay," I begin. "But I'm gonna give you the truth. So your trust will be greatly appreciated. If you choose not to believe me, you will just miss out."

"Tell the story already," Reagan groans.

"Fine." I sigh. "Justin doesn't like Avalon. She was just being a total jerk to make you mad and keep you away from him. Avalon likes Justin, but the only reason she did what she did was to make a scene and imprint in your brain that he is hers. Justin hates Avalon. The whole time, Justin was trying to stop Avalon without looking pathetic. He couldn't. But you have to remember that he's a guy, so he's not going to look stupid in front of his guy friends. But she was being way to forceful. I'm sorry."