Bad Girl In Disguise (SAMPLE) I ✔

R U M O U R S

We arrived at school together, my hand in his and a smile on my lips. For once, I'm not hiding.

I wear a navy blue shirt and my black leather jacket. A black beanie covering the top of my head. My usual black ripped jeans that I only wear at night is seeing daylight for the first time. And to top it all of, my signature combat boots.

For once, I feel like myself.

I still ride with Lucas on his bike, because if whispers of me having a bike reach my mom, I might as well buy a coffin for myself.

We walk in the hallways confidently. Guys and girls alike all stare at me, whispering furiously.

Some even shoot me glares, although I have no idea why I warrant such nasty looks. My mind flits towards the look Claire gave me last time we met.

Claire isn't your typical air-head cheerleader, and I've said it before. She is cunning as hell. She looks dumb because she wants to look dumb. But combine that type of intelligence with the power she has as Queen B and you get a ruthless psyco.

She can do anything and get away with it. Teachers see her as as some type of angel. And her grades are never a problem, somehow.

Pissing her off is my first terrible mistake. Underestimating her is my second.

When people pointed and glared at me, Lucas wrapped his arm around my waist and pulled me closer to him. I snuggled closer to him, but still sent a cold look to anyone that dares glare anyway.

But that wasn't too necessary. Just Lucas's presence is enough to silence people, at least to my face. The way Lucas walks and stares is enough to say that you don't want to piss him off.

Lucas makes me feel safe.

But I left him to his first class and tried to seek out Arc and break to him some bad news.

I found him loitering in the hallways with his buddies, leaning against his locker. His jock friends are laughing around, but Arc seems dark. He looks dangerous and I'm about to poke the beast.

"Arc," I called out. I shove my hands in my pocket so that he won't notice them getting sweaty or starting to shake. He turns to me, his eyes cold and hard. They soften for just a moment before his mask is up again.

His friends stop laughing and turn to look at me, looks of disgust on their faces. I stare at them, confused.

"Jessica," Arc greets. He waves his arm dismissively and his friends walk away, leaving us both alone.

The bell rings, but we both ignore it. Oh well, looks like I'm skipping class. Again.

"Why were you with Lucas this morning?" Arc asks. His tone is even, but judging from his eyes, a storm is raging inside of him, held back with reins made of expert self-control.

"He always takes me to school," I say, my tone just as even. I put my mask on, the blank expression that hides everything.

My mind replays our first date. Our perfect first date. Guilt flashes inside me for a second, but then my mind replays Lucas's words afterward.

Isn't Arc the player?

"Are we even still together, Jesse? Or did I mess up terribly during our first date?" he asked, his voice softer now. He looks so sincere. So vulnerable. His mask is down and I'm seeing his true self now.

"No, Arc. It wasn't you, I swear. I just-" I struggled to find the right words. "I just don't feel anything. I don't think anything is going to last long between us."