I was just a normal girl really. Woke up, went to school, came home. Nothing out of the ordinary ever happened. Not to me anyway. Until one day my oh-so exciting bestfriend came running through my front door, to the table where I was sitting.
"Well hello to you too, Ashley," my mom said with a sarcastic tone.
"Tara, you have to read this!" By the look in Ashley's eyes I could tell there was no way of me getting out of this. I grabbed her phone and unlocked it. There was a text from some girl at our school, telling Ashley that the most irresistible guy at school is crushing on...
"Me?!"
Ashley started jumping screaming "can you believe it?!" I felt like I was going to be sick. I put my hand on my stomach and ran up the cold hardwood stairs. I slid under my covers, knowing I wouldn't physically get sick. I closed my eyes and wondered how such a rumor could get around about a nobody like me. I can hear all the roaring laughter in my ears already. Ashley barged into my room.
She looked at me with a frown, "why aren't you happy, T?"
I looked at her with sympathy, knowing she always believes everything she wants the be true. "That's just a reminder of how gullible people can be. And how fast rumors can spread. It's also just a reminder that I'll never have a chance with Luke."
"Oh Tara," she looked me in my hazel eyes. "Don't be so sure of yourself. C'mon, let's just go to school"
I followed her out and got in the car. This is going to be the worst day ever.
We walked into school without getting many weird looks, but some of the popular girls looked at me and snarled in disgust. I suddenly felt sick again. The bell rang when I walked through the door of my homeroom. I didn't look up to see if anyone was staring, I just went to the back of the class and sat down.
"Her? Why her?"
I felt everyone get quiet as my face turned into a cherry. "M-may I be excused?" I ran out of class not making eye contact with anything but the door before the teacher even approved my dismissal. I ran down the cold hallway and everything was spinning, I dropped my books, leaned on a locker and slowly slid down. I crossed my arms and rested them on my shaky knees. I soon heard foot steps, becoming louder... slower...
"Can I sit?" I felt the voice ring into my ears as I shivered. I knew exactly who it was.
"I didn't start the rumor, Luke." I felt like I could puke at any moment.
"Why should I believe you?"
"I guess you don't have to, I was just letting you know.."
Luke laughed while sliding down the lockers and plopping down to sit with me. He then put his hand on my thigh.
"Guess what" he leaned closer to my ear and whispered huskily, "it's not a rumor."
I looked up at him confused as he put his face closer to mine.
"Nervous?"
My insides were screaming yes and throwing up at the same time, but the way he looked at me made me feel secure.
"Never"
I looked at him straight in the eyes as he stared at me, trying to figure me out.
I shut my eyes when we heard a loud door slam open.
"So it's true! How could this happen, Luke?!" It was Lilly, one of the 'popular' girls. After her accusation, she started crying and ran in the other direction.
Next came her friend Kayla, the rude one. "You're such an asshole, Luke. And you're a stupid skank for letting him fool you." Her words burned into my soul.
She ran towards Lilly in her over-dressy stilettos.
Luke scratched his head awkwardly. I looked over the same time as he looked at me, both our gazes falling onto my shoulder. He slowly reached his hand to move my bra strap that had fallen, but I nervously fixed it before he could manage.
Luke then stood up and held out his hand to help me up. I shook my head and told him I could get up by myself. He put his hands back as if saying "okay, won't happen again."
The bell rang as the hallways flooded with students and Luke disappeared into the sea of people.
"I only have 3 more classes until lunch when I can tell Ashley everything," I told myself.
_
The lunch bell rang as students stumbled out of class. I stayed back to avoid the rush.
When I was about to step out of the classroom, Ms. R, my favorite teacher of all, told me "don't be stupid, trust yourself and your own decisions. Have a nice day Miss Lieberman." I smiled and waved goodbye as I hurried to lunch. I found Ashley at the soda machine and tapped her shoulder.
She was startled but soon changed moods, "I heard you made the witches of the west cry during homeroom!"
I looked down and shook my head, "is nothing kept low at this school?"
She giggled and grabbed my shoulder as we walked to a curb where we sat everyday. She usually babbled on about stuff as I drew in my sketch pad. Instead of me talking so much, she usually knew what I was thinking about by what I was drawing. Today I drew a question mark filled with hearts.
"So... Do you think it's true?" Ashley questioned, snapping me out of my gaze.
"Do I think what's true?" I played dumb.
"Don't act like that, tell me what you think!" She screeched.
"I think he should start playing video games instead of playing with girls hearts." I admitted.
"Ooh. So you do believe it?" She said with a smirk on her face as she bit into her apple and put her finger over her mouth.
