The Love Illusion

Chapter 2 - Nathaniel Seames

"Today, I want you all to write about something you are passionate about, something that interests you." 
Next came the groans of thirty sixteen year olds as they processed the information given by my english teacher, Mr Smiths.
I glance across at Sadie on the other side of the room and mouth "What are you doing it about?" 
She looks back and shrugs.
Helpful.
Sitting next to me is Mabel - she's pretty popular not so popular that she won't speak to me, but popular enough to sit at the that big table in the dinner hall.
"Hey, what are you writing yours about?" I ask her.
She pauses before answering,
"I'm not really sure but probably about my dog."
I giggle at that.
"What's his name?"
"Bruno." she replies with a smile on her face, imagining him playing around in her head.
Looking up I see Mr Smiths asking Helena what she's going to write about.
"Nathaniel Seames." she says, beaming.
"The pop singer?" he questions.
"Of course, I'm obsessed with him and his music - he's phenomenal!"
"I'm also writing about Nathaniel." says Renée from the back of the room.
"And me." rings another voice.
Mr Smiths stands up at the front.
"Look, ok. Who is isn't doing a piece about Nathaniel?"
I put my hand up along with a couple of the boys and awkwardly look around the classroom. Mabel is keeping her hand down and I can see on her paper 'Bruno' is crossed out and is replaced with Nathaniel Seames.
Looking across the room, I see Sadie with her hand down. She gives me a cheeky smile and I shake my head at her.
"Well I guess that settles it - I have an insane class of kids all obsessed with Nathaniel Seames."
Everyone laughs other than me.
"Why do y'all like him so much, he literally doesn't know any of you exist?" exclaims Mr Smiths in a comedic manor.
"He knows Mollie exists." whispers Sadie.
"What?" says Renée with her exceptionally good ears she got completely remodelled last summer at the plastic surgeon's.  
"She didn't say anything, Renée. Must be your fake ears."
Renée's mouth drops and covers her ears with her hands.
"What did you say, Sade?" asks Helena.
"Sadie," she corrected, "I said 'He knows Mollie exists.'"
"And who is Mollie?" questions Helena. Classic Helena, thinking she's better than EVERYONE else.
Mabel points to me.
I feel everyone's eyes turn towards me.
Blushing, I laugh,
"She's joking."
Mabel raises an eyebrow at me.
"We knew each other when we were younger, it's not a big deal."
There's a silence before the whole class breaks out in shouting and squealing asking me questions like,
"What's he like?"
"Are you still in touch?"
"Do you have his phone number?"
I awkwardly look around,
"I, I..."
"Enough!" yells Mr Smiths.
Everyone goes quiet,
"Look, Mollie does NOT have to answer any questions, all though that is cool. Ok, it's the end of the lesson so pack up."
I put everything I need back in my bag.
I stay quiet, purposely ignoring everyone's questions.
When the bell goes I rush out, pulling Sadie by the arm.
"Ouch." she wails.
"Sadie why did you do that?" I ask.
"I don't know," she says, "Look you're more popular than ever know."
"No, now I'm known as the Nathaniel Seames Girl not Mollie. I'm hid behind his name."