How to Be a Bad Girl ✔

Chapter Twenty-Seven - The Real Me

~♡~Sophia's POV~♡~

"So, what's the deal between you and baby-face over there?" I ask, munching my sandwich. My eyes gesture at the baby-faced boy who's now playing chess with one of the elderly.

"What?" Mac shrieks, almost choking on her hot dog. She lets out a few nervous chuckles. "Th-there's nothing between me and Nate. Duh!"

"Yeah, right." Dylan giggles in return.

Hmm? I turn to look at the boy sitting beside me, cocking an eyebrow and narrowing my eyes. Isn't he supposed to be jealous or something?

"What?" He raises his shoulder and holds his palms up. "What are you looking at me like that for?"

"N-nothing." I quickly shake the thought off my head and shift my gaze back to Mac. "Seriously though, Mac, why don't you just admit it? You have the hots for him! I mean, you're practically giggling like a five-year-old getting a lollipop when you're talking to him!"

"N-no, I don't!" she insists, even though her face is now as red as a beet. "And besides, I-I happen to be seeing someone else right now."

"Oh?" Dylan and I look at each other, our mouths forming a huge, surprised 'O' before we lean forward on the table. "Spill it."

"W-well..." She blinks rapidly. "We're not exclusive or anything yet, I mean, it's just a single date. But... we're going to have another date this weekend."

"Who is it?" I ask eagerly.

"It-it's... Mark."

I give a loud, exaggerated gasp, putting my hand on my chest. "Oh my God, Mac! I thought you're done with the whole bad girl thing?"

"I am! He..." She smiles shyly as she brings her mouth to her straw, sucking her orange juice through it. "He said he wants to get to know the real me. The good part of me."

I fold my arm in front of my chest and lean back on my chair. "Well, well, well. I never thought you have the balls to be a two-timer but..." I shrug, an amused smirk plastered on my lips. "I guess I was wrong."

"I'm not two-timing anyone!"

I roll my eyes. "That guy"—I point at the brown-haired boy across the room—"and now Mark?" I give a short, dramatic pause. "Oh, you're two-timing, alright!"

Dylan bursts into laughter while Mac closes her eyes and throws her head back out of frustration. With a growl, she continues, "I told you, there's nothing between me and Nate! We're just friends! And besides, Mark and I go on a date." She holds up a finger. "One!"

Seeing her embarrassment, I giggle. "Whatever you say!"

"Ugh! Whatever!" She grabs her tray and stands up, quickly leaving the dining room while her face is still flushed red.

Hearing Dylan's chuckles, I can't help but turn to look at him. "And you?"

"What?"

"You're okay with her dating Mark?"

"Well... I hate to say it but you're right. It's time for me to let go of the past and move on," he replies.

A strange feeling starts to seep into my brain; a little bit of pride, maybe—knowing that he actually listens to my advice—but more importantly, I feel a tiny bit of... relief.

"I talked to him the other day at the gym and he was quite surprised when I told him about the beating or the underground betting. He even said he was sorry for what his friend did. He didn't seem like he was lying, so... yeah, I guess I'm alright." He shoves the twirled Spaghetti on his fork into his mouth. "Not with the two-timing thing though. But, I trust she'll come around soon."