rumour has it | ✓ [ old version ]

「 two 」

CHAPTER TWO

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My eyes watch as the hands on the clock slowly move, torturing me by the second. I know I said that my favourite classes are on Fridays, but I still have the ones I dislike and science is one of those classes. How can someone sit through a lesson about the human body or watch a scientific documentary about rocks? The only thing interesting about science is getting to play with all chemicals and seeing how they react.

"And that is how our bodies produce o-." Mr Johnston is interrupted by the bell ringing which causes a bunch of people around me to let out a breath of relief; I guess I'm not the only one who dislikes science "don't forget that your project is due next week!." He exclaims as we all begin to pack up and leave. I exit the classroom with a smile on my face since that boring lesson is now over and that it's lunchtime. My stomach grumbles at the thought of food.

I begin to walk the opposite way of the people walking toward the cafeteria. Even though this school is private, some still prefer bringing their own lunch to school and I happen to be one of them. Luke and I have a secret spot where we go to eat lunch, no one else knows about it and it's pretty hidden, so not many go there or walk by. I exit through one of the glass doors that lead to the back of the school.

"How does it feel knowing your whole life is a lie?." A familiar voice asks causing me to stop where I am. Just when I thought I was going to have a decent day today, he has to come in and ruin it like he always does. But his words, they got to me. My mind begins going into overdrive wondering what he means; there's no way he knows, I'm just overthinking.

I turn around and there he is, Mitchell Preston leaning against the brick wall with his arms folded against his chest "I don't know what you're talking about." I tell him, keeping a straight face. Throughout our school years, he's never gotten to me and he won't begin to. But I didn't like that smirk on his face, it's bigger than the ones he usually wears.

"Oh, you know what I'm talking about princess." He teases me "it makes sense, you know? since you look nothing like your dad." He finishes off and a gasp unintentionally leaves my mouth. He knows. he, one hundred percent knows and now, he can use it against me all he likes and he will, he's that cruel.

"How did you find out?." I ask.

"Screaming at the top of your lungs outside your house isn't exactly how to keep a secret." He replies and I grimace as I remember that night. Luke had come over the minute I called him and we sat outside, talking about it and I got mad and frustrated, so I screamed the news out loud. I didn't think Mitchell would hear.

"So what now? You tell everyone and ruin my life?." I snap. He can't tell anyone, people will look at me differently and I don't want that, I haven't even wrapped my head around it yet. The only person who knows is Luke because he's my best friend. Everyone will look at me with pity and treat me as if I'm a glass cup that could break at any moment.

"I won't tell anyone." He says.

I raise an eyebrow "really?." I ask, surprise coursing through my veins.

"But only one condition." He tells me and there it is. I know Mitchell couldn't be a decent human being for once in his pathetic life. The possibilities of what he's going to ask of me are endless, but he knows I'll go to the ends of the earth and back just to keep my secret a secret which is why he's blackmailing. I'm honestly not surprised he's blackmailing me right now, it sounds like something he'd do.

"What?." I groan, annoyed.

"My grandma is coming to visit for a month-." He begins.

My eyebrows narrow "what's that got do to with anything?."

"Let me finish." He orders and I stand there silently, waiting for him to speak again "she's coming to visit for a month and she's always wanted me to get a girlfriend-." Oh, please don't let this be what I think this is going to be "so I need you to be my fake-girlfriend until she leaves." He finishes and there it is.

Even though I kind of expected this, it's still shocking to hear those words coming out of Mitchell's mouth. My eyes go wide and my mouth drops to the floor; the guy I've hated for years has blackmailed me into being his fake girlfriend. Why? What? Why me? There are so many questions, but I can't seem to ask any of them.

I'm just in shock.