the art of faking a smile. (under-construction)

7. A judgmental idiot

CHRIS POV

I don't need a buddy of any sort, so why the hell are they giving me one.

I'm fine by myself and I don't need friends. I'm just here to graduate, get a degree and get away from this shithole of a state as soon as I can.

I look around the classroom and internally cringe in disgust, I may have even grimaced on the outside.

The guys were just straight up loud and annoying. There were those typical jocks thinking they can do whatever the fuck they want, nerds that seemed like smartasses and the neutral ones who simply just look plain and boring.

The girls weren't even better, as a matter of fact, probably worse. These group of girls keep staring at me with this weird look and gossiping with each other. You can clearly see they've done their eyebrows and have mascara on. Girls like those, who continuously flirt with other guys and just search for all the attention honestly disgust me. Slut, I think to myself.

I feel someone watching me and turn to my right to see the person, who is apparently going to be my buddy, looking at me (I honestly forgot her name because I wasn't paying attention to her earlier). She looks away the moment our eyes meet.

She seems to me like those girls who think they're cool but actually make everyone sweat.

She looks a bit fatter than some of the other girls, or maybe it's because she has big bones and muscle, but I'm just going to say she's a bit fat. I'm not able to see her face completely but by the look of it, she probably looks plain and boring like the other neutrals, the other girls probably look prettier than her (even the girl sitting beside her), I bet no one gives a shit about what she says because she's so boring. 

Not that I'm the one to judge.

But I guess since she's my buddy and during break I don't really want any of those other strangers approaching me, I'll instead force myself to sit with her and her friends if she has any.

Soon, Miss. King asks everyone to get out their plays...

I don't have my own copy of the play yet though so what am I supposed to do?

I notice a book being shifted closer to my direction. Unexpectedly, it's the girl (or perhaps I should call my buddy).

"Here, you can share a book with me until you get your own." She tells me. I thought she would be selfish and would leave me hanging without a book, but I guess she is my buddy. I nod and concentrate on the book.

I know you might think I have been an asshole earlier by insulting everyone, but that's just how I am. I know it's a dick move but I can't change myself and I don't think I'll be able to change ever. No matter how great a person can be to the point they could change others, I'll still be me. The judgmental, stone-hearted asshole who doesn't deserve anything but shit.

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The English double period went by quickly and soon came our 15 minute break time. Cassie (yes I did eventually have to ask for my buddy's name) and I decide to use that break time as a quick tour around the school and focus on the classes we'd normally go to. Coincidentally, we have all of our classes together except for our early VCE subjects, I do unit 1/2 math methods whilst she takes unit 1/2 literature. Turns out she's smarter than I thought. During that break time I realise that Cassie is actually decent, she isn't like all those other girls who approach me in such an annoying and obnoxious way. She just acts indifferent towards me (not that I know whether it's fake or not).

We have PE next period so we split paths to the change rooms and after changing I'm met by a few guys in our class.

"Hey! You're the new boy!" One guy says with a smile. Him and the rest of his group approach me.

I really don't want to talk to them but out of courtesy I do, reluctantly.

"Yeah" I mumble, nodding whilst looking around the gym.

"Not the talkative type huh?"

I don't know whether he is saying it with good or bad intentions so I just nod in agreement and put up a smile that doesn't even reach my eyes.

"Hey, no need to be shy, let's be friends! You can sit with us during lunch, I'm Vincent by the way. I think we'll get along quite well, you seem quite athletic." Vincent says. 

I hate guys like him, so pushy and drawing to conclusions that we'll get along and that I'm 'athletic'. I am, I do judo outside of school, but I still don't really like jocks like him.

"Oh, sorry! But he'll be sitting with my group at lunch!" Cassie exclaims with a very fake smile. I didn't know she was there but I was glad she butted into the conversation.

"Oh that loner group? The one with that nerdy ass fag?" Vincent replies before turning and nudging me.

"You shouldn't hang out with her group or her, I feel so sorry for you that she's your buddy. They're total losers, and advice from me, don't go close to this fag with big glasses, you're gonna turn into a fag yourself." He laughs.

"Just like you? I mean who was the one who looked at that fag so lustfully and eyed him wherever he went, calling him cute?" Cassie says mockingly. Vincent's friends snicker in the background as Vincent himself remains speechless, anger burning up in his eyes.

"At least I'm not a retard like you who can't even get a boyfriend. No one gives a shit about you, I doubt that goth girl Hannah even gives a shit about you either." Vincent narrows his eyes at Cassie before turning to his friends and smacking them on the head because of snickering.

"I don't have a boyfriend because I don't want one and I already know people don't give a shit about me anyway." Cassie scoffs whilst rolling her eyes. I could see a tinge of hurt and anger on her face, that's understandable though, everyone would feel a little upset at those words. What's funny is that something inside me wants to cheer her up and I don't know why.

"You're pretty good at comebacks you know."

"Oh my, the fact that the first words I hear from you are a compliment, how flattering." Cassie places a hand on her chest with a pseudo-surprised face. I take back what I said, this girl is a cocky piece of shit.

And that's final.

I glare at her and Cassie chuckles in reply, thanking me soon after. After that, things become awkward yet again before Cassie goes off to talk to Hannah and another guy beside her, perhaps Hannah's boyfriend. Now here I am, standing around and looking at people talking and waiting for our PE teacher to come.

I guess having a buddy is not as bad as I thought. Well I guess it's just because of the type of buddy I got, who is kinda chill and blunt. I realise that maybe it might not be that bad to get along with her, we'll just see what happens in the long run.

What's next is her friends, I wonder if they're like her. Are they total douches or easy-going hipsters?

I never really wanted friends because they're too much of a hassle and get in your way. Yet now I'm thinking that maybe it's not so bad to have a few. I don't know why I'm thinking like this and I'm so fucking confused.

**********

Lmao I hope this asshole learns a lesson from Cassie

UPDATE: for those of you who don't know, VCE is a special thing that seniors do in Australia (specifically Victoria) and the students choose 5-7 VCE subjects to study throughout Year 11-12 however they are able to do an early VCE subject in Year 11. The students then do an exam for all the subjects they chose to study at the end of yr 12 and get this thing called and ATAR (which is kinda the equivalent of SAT in america lol)