R E J E C T S

CH.1: MR. POPULAR'S SECRET

"What's with the janitor's closet setting?" I mean, why drag me all the way here when he can just whisper it on my ear or something?

"I'm gay." He blurted out.

"..."

"Clearly, the closet type. Hence, the janitor's closet just to symbolize things." He said in a monotone.

"No way. You're bluffing..."

"What? You don't believe me? I trust you but you don't trust me. That's just so unfair."

"Never said I did. Anyway, I need some proof."

"Well, for one thing, we're not making out right now. I mean, if I was straight wouldn't I force a kiss on you or something considering that we're in a cramped space? I should be tempted but I'm not."

"Point taken but I don't see why I have something to do with you being gay. What's the favor? Not that I completely believe that you dig other guys or anything..."

"I need you as a beard. You know, a cover up. Especially someone I could bring home to meet my folks who are homophobic."

"Tough life, huh?"

"Tell me about it."

"And how much would this negotiation be?" I asked.

"500 bucks per week."

"Let me think about it." I said after some deep thought.

"Okay, give it time but don't let me wait for too long. Chow!" And out he went through the door.

Wow, the most popular guy on campus is a homosexual...

Since when did that happen?

Oh right, just now...

That caught me off guard.

******

"Hey you, I have something to tell you." I approached the jock table by lunch period, directly making eye contact with Robbie Wadge.

"What?" He grinned like a model.

"In private..." I lowered my voice just so that the gossipy cheerleaders on the next table wouldn't hear me.

"Oh. Yeah, right." He immediately gets up once he got the message.

As we turned our backs, I heard his jock friends holler at us in a teasing way. So immature.

"I'll do it." I told him outside of the cafeteria where no one was currently around.

"That was fast." He looked pretty amused.

"I'm doing it for the money since I'm nearly broke and all."

"But there should be terms." I quickly added.

"Of course. We'll work on that tonight... if it's alright with you."

"Okay."

"Meet me at the parking lot after the last period. I'm sure that it won't take me long to come up with an excuse to miss practice today."

I just nodded as I gazed into his peculiar gray eyes.

I'm still finding it hard to believe that this model-like jock isn't into women, if you know what I mean.

******

"Is it strange that I want to marry your car?" I told him as he walked towards me in the parking lot after school.

"Nope but me and my Jaguar slash baby are already official so..."

"Right. It's for my eyes only. Got it." Life is so unfair.

Rich people always get what they want while people like me get to work their butts off.

"How do you keep up with your bad reputation?" Robbie asked as we got inside the car.

"I don't. People just... talk."

"Yeah. They do talk about you a lot. It's probably because you're really pretty."

"Or maybe because I get into trouble quite easily. How about you? How do you keep up with your reputation as the most popular good-looking jock on campus?" I got curious.

"Well, the looks help a lot and the jersey but hey, I wouldn't mind if we got a body swap."

"No thanks. I don't want to be a boy..." I chuckled.

"Since when did you know?" I pried more.

"About my sexual orientation? Just recently. I have this secret crush on a fellow jock but there's no way I'm telling you as to who."

"Okay..."

"I guess I kind of freaked out when I knew what I was deep inside. Society can be so cruel you know." He sighed.

"But why didn't you ask any of your friends to 'pretend' for you?" I gazed out the window.

"It's too risky. Believe it or not, you're the first person I ever confided with on this matter."

"Is that right?"

"Maybe because you throw some good punches. I could use a girlfriend slash bodyguard just in case someone finds out and tries to diss me." He joked.

"Hey, you don't seem that much of a bad apple talking to you like this." He glanced my way.

"Tsk. Well, that's because you have so much more to learn about me."

"Enlighten me."

"Sorry but I prefer to be the mysterious chick who has zero friends. A classic reject."

"Then that makes two of us. I mean, not the mysterious chick part. I may be popular on the outside but I'm just a reject too once they find out the real me."

I think this is the first time that I ever had a conversation with someone that I just met with whom I can empathize with.

"Oh goody, we're here!" He parked the car in front of a huge estate which had a 'royal' vibe to it.

"Nice mansion." I complimented.

"Wait till you get inside, hon. C'mon." He got out of the car.

"Mum, I'm home!" He yelled once he got inside the house.

"Oh my God! Is that her?! Let me see! Oh my, she's so pretty!" Before I knew it, his mum was all over me.

"Uh..." I don't really like being stared at.

"It's the first time that Robbie has ever brought home a girl. It just makes me all... teary. What's your name, dear?" She made a big deal out of it.

"Cher."

"It fits you perfectly."

"Okay mum, that's enough. We'll be up in my room to discuss some... stuff."

"Right. Is that what you call it these days?" She asked.

"What?"

"Why intercourse, I mean."

"Um..." I'm uncomfortable with this.