The idiocy of perfection

Chapter Thirteen: Ring or Tissues

Me and James talked over the weekend but didn't go anywhere. I mean, I went to his and vice versa but nothing more.

In fact Monday was most eventful. After school I was at my locker just packing up when Mike, a tall blonde guy, came over.

"Hey Taylor." he smirks, he's pretty much a burn out, I don't have any idea why he's talking to me.

"Hey." I say, speeding up my process a bit.

"Wanna go out on Friday?" he says confidently, like it's more a statement then a question. I shiver inwardly, for the record even if it weren't for James I never would've said yes.

"Uh, no, sorry." I answer biting my lip and closing the locker door.

He doesn't blush but I can tell he's embarrassed, also angry. "Really, cause I think you might wanna rethink that." he says, a little bit threateningly.

We've drawn a crowd by now, "I'm seeing someone." I answer calmly, me and James kinda kept our date a secret. We weren't actively lying or something, we just didn't run around telling people. Of course some choice friends knew.

"I don't believe you." Mike replies, taking a step towards me, "Why are you lying?" I can tell he doesn't actually like me this much. He's just embarrassed, so it doesn't even occur to me to be scared until I answer.

"Sorry Mike, I'm dating someone. See you later." I say walking away. I hear a girl whisper I'm either insane or really brave, I also notice he's walking after me.

The crowd shifts over to observe, by now I'm just irritated.

"Dude, get over it. You're rejected, you're embarrassing yourself, just leave." I say, puffing out a breath.

I think he might've replied if James hadn't appeared behind me.

"This kid giving you trouble Dear?" he asks, resting his hands on my shoulders. There's a collective gasp from the crowd, which tripled in size the moment James arrived.

"Nah, he's just stupid." I turn to face James, "Thinks I'm lying bout us." I add.

James smirks a bit, looking at Mike. The kid is frozen in place, "Dude, dude, really I had no idea I just, really dude, I didn't-" he stammers.

"You're an idiot." James interrupts rolling his eyes. Mike must see this as some sort of release because he turns and runs out the door. I chuckle a bit.

"So I guess it's not a secret anymore." I say to James.

He smiles, brushing hair out of my face, "Yeah, the thing is I don't really care." he answers, pulling me to him and kissing me as the crowd gasps again.

We pull away laughing, "Yeah me neither." I answer, both of his hands are in mine and I sway on the balls of my feet a bit before letting go of one.

He laughs and looks to the crowd, raising an eyebrow. And then we walk out.

And I knew I'd never hear the end of that.

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The next morning when I got on the bus it went dead silent. I sighed inwardly, maybe I kinda cared that other people knew now.

One kid besides me turned to his friend, "Really? She's dating James?"

I rolled my eyes and looked up from my book, the kid looked like a deer in headlights. I wondered briefly if they thought they were like watching me through glass, like I couldn't notice them.