R E J E C T S

CH.13: JOB OFFER

"I know." I chatted with Rob first thing in the morning on the phone.

"Who are you talking to?" Luke mumbled, half asleep.

"Who else?" I retorted back to him.

"Oh right, you're 'pretend' boyfriend." He got out of bed.

"You're always around the guy at school and if not, you're always on the phone with him even on the weekends. Don't you have a day off or something? Come to think of it, I never asked you why you're pretending to be his girlfriend..." Then he gulps down his bottle of milk like a big baby.

"Hold on a sec. someone's being annoying here." I told Rob.

"I think it's time for you to go... for real."

"Why?"

"Because you're too tall and you're taking up too much space on my bed." I said seriously.

"Fine. I won't ask any more questions." He raised his hands up in defense.

"Okay, where were we?" I asked Rob on the other end.

"You should totally come over right now. I could do your nails for you!" Rob said excitedly.

"I'm in. Be right there. Bye." I hanged up first.

"You're leaving again?" Luke asked the obvious.

"Don't you have any other friends to hang out with?" I questioned him.

"No."

"Then goodbye." I headed for the door.

*LUKE'S POV*

Something's 'fishy' about they're fake relationship... I can smell it.

I mean how come I never get to see them make out somewhere in the corner at school?

But then again, they probably have a 'no kissing' policy which I'm really grateful for by the way.

Okay, from now on, I've decided to play it 'cool'.

No one likes a needy guy.

My bandmate, Michael says that chicks go crazy for guys who don't really care... whatever that means.

******

"Luke is such a kid!" I exclaimed.

"What did he do now?" Rob rolls his eyes as he brushed my nails clean before putting some black nail polish on.

"Nothing really. He just wouldn't shut up about us spending 'too much' time together."

"So he's jealous..."

"He's childish that way." I concluded.

"Well, do you like him?" He gave me a scrutinizing look.

"Uh, no. He's more like a kid brother..."

"Right." His tone saying that he doesn't buy what I just said.

"He's too needy anyway."

"Yikes. You better be careful then. The needy ones tend to 'attach' themselves to you before you even know it." He shakes his head.

"Don't worry, I've dumped a lot of guys like him already except we're not really dating so I don't see the point of worrying in the first place."

"What in the world are you two doing?!" Rob's mom gasped as she busted the door open.

Getting a pedicure, duh.

"Mother, it's not what you think!" Rob panicked.

"Let me explain this one, babe." Since he is such a terrible liar and all.

"I forced him into doing it." I exhaled loudly.

"You did?"

"Yes, Mrs. Wadge and I am terribly ashamed of myself for this. He didn't want to do it but I insisted. I even told him that if he doesn't do it then I'd leave him for good... and that's how I tested your son's great love and loyalty for me."

"We are still talking about the pedicure, are we?" Rob looked lost.

"Yes honey, we are." What else would we be talking about--- oh, now I see the double meaning about our reference to 'IT'.

"You're testing him by asking him to get your nails done?" She asked.

"Yes, and only a real man would agree to do such a thing for he doesn't care what other people would think as long as he makes me happy. You should be proud of him, he'd make a GREAT husband." I concluded my speech.

"Oh, I am. So, when's the wedding date?" She exclaimed ever so happily.

"Uh, we haven't really got to that part yet so... how about you bake us some of your delicious cookies, Mrs. Wadge?" I immediately changed the subject.

"Oh call me Martha, will you? We're practically family! And yes, I will bake you some cookies, sweetie as long as you two stay strong as a couple!" She sobbed before heading out of the door.

"That was... BRILLIANT! You have got to teach me how to lie without stuttering or blinking too much!" Rob praised.

"Sure, hold on a second, there's someone who's trying to call me." I excused myself.

"Hello?"

"Is this Cher?" An unfamiliar woman's voice asked.

"Yeah, who's this?"

"Mrs. Payne. You left your number for me to call you whenever, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I did. What's up Mrs. P?"

"Can you come over right now? I have some business proposal that I'd like to discuss with you. It'll be only for a minute." She's a business woman.

"Okay." Then I hang up.

Moms sure do love me...

"Hey, Rob, I'll be out for a minute, okay?" I hollered outside his bathroom.

Not sure if he heard me but... oh well. Business comes first.

******

"Can you babysit my son again tomorrow?" Mrs. Payne asked.

"Okay. I'm usually free on Sundays so yeah." I agreed right away.

"Well, can you babysit him every Sundays from now on? My husband and I are at our busiest during the weekends and we do attend A LOT of business trips so yeah. What do you say?" She offered.

"It's fine by me but have you talked to your son about it? I'm not sure he approves this babysitting him thing."

"Oh, who cares about what he thinks? I'm his mother and I get to make the decisions."

"Uh-huh." I smiled a forced one.

'What was I thinking, everyone sees it, it's not a secret that I'm just a reject---' My ringtone rang.

"Cool ringtone." Mrs. Payne complimented.

"Um, Thanks? Excuse me, I need to take this."

"Where are you? You left while I was taking a dump..." Rob said when I answered his call.

"I know." Which is why I didn't mind his 'own' business.

"Listen, I got called off to work, want to tag along?" He offered.

I do love to watch models without their shirts on...

"Okay."

"Great, I'll pick you up at wherever you are right now."

"I'm at Liam's house..."

"What? Why?"

"Homework." I did promise the guy that I wouldn't tell anyone about the babysitting thing.