Business or Pleasure

Chapter Three: Rumors

The news of our engagement festered within our school like an epidemic. By the time we arrived, it was already the passing period.  I had missed my entire first class, but I wasn't worried about that. I was more worried about the raging looks being flung my way, all of which came from girls.

Noticing the rising heat circulating around me, Jake gave an awkward chuckle and placed his hand on the small of my back, "Sorry Sophia, I think a few girls are a little upset over our engagement." That was an understatement.

He quietly walked me to class as I tried my best to ignore every single burning look. I wanted to pause everything and tell everyone none of this was my idea. I almost wanted to call our little plan off, but I knew I had to stop being afraid. I had to stop being afraid of my situation and just embrace it. I just wanted to be free.

"Can you cover for me tonight?" I asked before he left me.

"Sure, I'll meet you at front after school."

Suddenly my worries melted into excitement. I could finally do something without my parents watching my every move. I could finally go out without a bodyguard or an impossible curfew. As long as my parents thought I was with Jake and the deal was safe, I could finally have the same freedom as my sister. I spent the rest of the day daydreaming of all the possibilities. I thought about being able to go to a party and get drunk, but decided against it. Not my kind of thing, but at least if I wanted to I could. I could watch a movie by myself, but that seemed too lonely. But, again, at least if I wanted to I could. Heck, I could've just stayed up in my room and pretended to be out with Jake, but the point was my parents would have no clue.

During lunch, I did my usual routine and went to the library to read. Instead of focusing on my book, images of sensational and parent-free events wandered in the insides of my brain—events that could possibly happen to me. I was stricken with joy. 

Throughout the day, hushes of speculation floated all over my school.

"Are they really engaged?"

"Where's the ring?"

"Maybe she's pregnant?"

"There's no way Rapunzel is marrying Jake Walden!"

Rapunzel was my nickname for school. She was girl stuck in the tower, while I was the girl stuck in my own home. I just wanted to get out and live my life. By the time I was in my last class, I realized I had absolutely nothing to do that night.

I tried talking to my lab partner with hopes of making plans for the night, but my social skills were not working in my favor. I was awkward when it came to making plans or trying to initiate them, I just didn't know how.

"So, Parker what are you doing tonight?" I asked my lab partner. Parker Morris had been my lab partner since the first day of senior year. He was a cute guy, nice and always had the right answers. He seemed harmless, so I thought it was worth a shot. I didn't want to date the guy; I didn't like him in that way. I just needed plans for the night.

"Uh, homework?" He replied as if he was asking a question. He didn't even look up at me.

A gave a dramatic sigh and held my head up with the palm of my hands, "I really wish I had something to do tonight."

He gave me a weird look then went back to his work.

Yup, no social skills. My parents had wrapped me so far into their world, that even with my newfound freedom, I was still the girl no one bothered to talk to because my parents were too strict. No one wanted to hang out with me since every time I tried to leave the house, I was always chaperoned. My joy was very short lived. I wanted to wear a huge sign around my neck, announcing my liberation, but that would've been ridiculous.