I wake up this morning and roll out of bed. Ethan and I got half of the project done yesterday,so we have to get the other half done today. I really don't want to see,look,or talk to him,but Mr.Fletcher just had to pair me up with him.
I pick out my outfit for the day,and head to the bathroom.
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I do the rest of my morning routine and head downstairs,to see Payton hasn't left yet. She has two suitcases with her. She must be leaving for her trip.
"Hey,Payton." I say.
"Good Morning." She says.
"You going on your trip today?"
"Yeah. I was actually headed out the door." She says.
She grabs the handles to her suitcases and rolls them out of the door.
"Bye Payton!" I yell.
I hear the door close and lock.
It was now 7:55,so I had to text Joyce to tell her about riding to school with me.
Z: you want a ride to school?
J: in who's car?
Z: mine😏
J: you don't have one,Z
Z:Payton gave me the keys yesterday
J: well yeah
Z: meet me outside
J: alright
I grab my book bag and my keys. I lock the door and walk to the car. I open the door and wait for Joyce. I wait for like five minutes and then I see her walking up the street to my house. She gets in the car with a look of amazement on her face.
"Well,well,well. Look who finally got a car." She says.
"Haha,very funny. Meanwhile you still don't." I say.
"I'm workin' on it." She says.
I start the car and pull out of the cul de sac. Joyce plugs her phone into the aux cord and Melanie Martinez starts to play.
"You know she's releasing a new song today." Joyce says.
"Really. What's it called?" I say with my eyes still on the road.
"I don't know. She hasn't dropped the name yet."
We pull up at school and get out of the car.
"What's up with you and Ethan?" She says.
"Nothing. He's just a jerk. He pretended to be nice to me only because he's trying to throw me off my game." I say.
We walk into our school building and open our lockers.
"Maybe it's not like that." Joyce says.
"I heard him say it." I say.
"When?"
"He came over my house yesterday after school ." I say.
"What? Why didn't you tell me?"
"I thought you knew." I say.
"Well does Zethan live on?" She says.
"Don't get your hope up."
I close my locker and so does Joyce. Ethan walks up and rest his arm above my head. I look at Joyce who has the biggest smile on her face.
"Hey,Zarah." He says.
"Bye, Ethan." I say.
I start to walk away. If he wanted to still pretend like he actually wants to be friends,he can do it without me.
"Wait." He runs after me.
I stop in my tracks and turn around to face him.
"What?" I ask annoyed.
"What's your problem? Did I do something wrong yesterday?"
"No." I lied.
"Good."
"Are we finished here,because I have a class to get to." I say
"Yeah about that..." He trails off.
"Yes?"
"Can I,if you'd like,maybe perhaps walk you to class?" He says.
"I walk myself. Thanks for the offer though."
I start to walk away, but I hear the voice that I dreaded the second most.
"Zarah, hey baby." Nate says.
"Leave me alone." I say.
"Where's that little boyfriend of yours?" He wraps his arm around me.
"Why do you care.My relationship has nothing to do with you." I say.
I remove his arm from my shoulder and continue walking. Ethan sees me and so does Nate, again. They both rush to my side. Ethan is on my left and Nate is on my right,and I'm stuck in the middle.
"Zarah can I ask you something?" Ethan says.
"No. Don't talk to my girl." Nate practically yells.
"I'm not your girl. I'm with Ethan now." I struggled to say the last part.
"Oh yeah? I call your bluff." Nate says.
"What do you mean?" I say.
"I think you two are faking it." He says.
Ethan and I both look at each other,then back at Nate.
"No,we're not. We're really a couple." I lie again.
"Prove it." He says.
"What?" We both say in unison.
"If you two lovebirds are really together,prove it and I'll leave you alone." He says.
"We don't have to prove anything to you." Ethan says.
"No! If he wants us to prove it,then let's prove it." I say.
I grab Ethan's face and stand on my tiptoes. I kiss him on the lips and it lasts for about 15 seconds. Nate scoffs and walks away.
I pull away from Ethan and see him with a shocked look on his face. I tilt my head and wonder why he so surprised,then I realize.
"Ethan. Can I ask you a question."
"Go for it." He says
"Was that your first kiss?"
"What? No! It wasn't." He sounds super defensive.
"Stop lying. It's okay. It's actually kind of cute " I say.
"Oh,well, yes it was my first kiss. Don't tell Grayson,because he will personally torment me at home." He says.
"I make no promises." I say walking away.
My plan is working perfectly. He's off just a little,but it won't take long for him to get back on. I have to get his attention and keep it.
