Being His Fake Girlfriend

“Watch it mute girl”, someone pushed me and I fell on the floor, my books falling out of my hands. “She’s so pathetic, she doesn’t even defend herself”, Kayla the cheerleader laughed along with her friends as I started to pick up my books. “Brit, are you okay?” My friend Jenelle ran to my aid before I can stop her. “Oh look, the mute girl has Miss Wannabe as her sidekick”, Kayla said, “Hey here’s free lunch”, she threw someone’s tomato paste on Jenelle’s new shirt.  She gasped, “this was a new shirt.” “And I put it out of its misery, just because you change your wardrobe and fix your hair doesn’t mean you will ever be part of this school”, Kayla snapped, “you will always be considered a scholar kid from the poorest part of the city.” Jenelle's eyes filled with tears and she ran off, leaving me as I stood up. “So pathetic, she can’t even handle a few mean words. How does she even expect to fit in?” I ignored everyone and go to my locker before the next period. My name is Brittany Rogers, I live in New York and attend a very prestigious private school. I am sort of the quietest girl at school with black hair and green eyes. I am in the second month of my junior year and it isn’t going as planned at all. I entered AP chemistry just before the bell rang. “Since you all are settled down for this semester, it’s time to get chemistry partners you will be with till the end of the school year”, our chemistry teacher Mrs. Duncan said also Jen’s aunt. Most people groaned. “I’ll be pick partners for everyone, don’t want to repeat what happened last year”, she stated, “when I call your names go sit with your partner.” “Nick and Angeline.” “Andy and Brittany.” Say what? Andy Alexander was part of the popular crew and friends with the richest guy on campus, Zachary Grant. “Hey partner”, Andy greeted me as he sat down on the seat next to me. Andy had light brown hair which was styled and brown eyes. “Hey”, I mutter. “So the mute girl talks”, he teased and I focused on the book in front of me, “I’m sorry if I was rude, it’s not often I am partnered with a hot, shy girl.” Was he sure he was talking to me or that girl sitting behind me? “Sorry again”, he laughed, “and you heard right, I do think you’re hot”, he admitted. I blushed and stayed quiet. “Good now that everyone has got a partner, I’ll write down the topics for the project which is due before final exams”, Mrs. Duncan stated. Andy raised his hand, “will each of us be doing the same topic?” “No, that’s why I am writing it on paper and each group will take one from the bag”, she answered. I took out a paper from the bag and unfolded it. “Thermometer?” I frowned. “Yes, you have to invent the thermometer. Not the ones which exist now the manual or automatic”, she explained. “Looks like we got our work cut out for us”, Andy said. “Yes and you got a month and two to three weeks to complete it”, Mrs. Duncan added. “No stress at all”, I mutter sarcastically. “She talks again”, Andy grins. I rolled my eyes. *** “Thanks for ditching me earlier”, I said to Jenelle with a glare. “I’m sorry, I couldn’t keep the tears from coming or the humiliation which I felt”, she apologized. “Whatever”, I turned away from her and walk in the direction where to the library. “I’m sorry Brit, please don’t give me the silent treatment”, she pleaded. I continued to ignore and pushed open the library door then entered. “I’ll make it up to you, I swear”, she continued. I put my bag on a table and went to a shelf to look for a book. “You should read To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before and compare it to the movie”, Jenelle suggested. I’ve read that book three times already over the summer last year, the movie was okay. “No, you should get this book called After. There’s even a movie for it already.” I took out two books from the shelf, one dealing with chemistry and the other one for me to read tonight. I sat down at the table and took out my lunch my stepmom packed for me this morning. “Chemistry?” Jenelle groaned when she saw the textbook, “my parents were consistently trying for me to get into that class, but I had not. I can’t stand my aunt sometimes and if I attend her class I know I’ll easily pass it with the extra lessons I’ll be getting at home when she comes over for dinner every Saturday.” I ate my turkey sandwich and sip from my bottle water as I opened the textbook. “I heard rumors earlier that Kayla and Zack are no longer together, well they weren’t since school opened but Zack publicly confirmed it this morning in the parking lot”, she added, “it took him long enough though, Kayla was going on and on how she and Zack were still totally together.” One more thing, Andy was Jenelle’s ex-boyfriend. They dated in their last year of middle school and throughout freshmen year until Kayla made a rumor of how Andy cheated on Jenelle at some party. She broke it off right away and Andy didn’t even get to explain anything, now he is a player. “Hey partner, I knew I would of find you here”, Andy said when he spotted me. “Partner?” Jenelle frowned. “Hey Jen”, he said not looking at her while she glared at him, “yes mute girl and I here are partners for our chemistry class”, he explained. “Oh, well enjoy your free period then. I got some stuff to work out”, she left quickly. Andy sighed, “she’s avoiding me like a plague”, he sat down next to me, “what are you doing partner?” I showed him the textbook, “wow, you’re starting your research already? Twenty four hours haven’t even passed yet”, he chuckled. “Well I like to get things done early”, I replied. “Yes, you’re finally talking, since you and Jen are friends maybe you can talk to her about giving me a chance to explain things.” “Fat chance, you’re a player”, I snorted. “That’s what people painted me as, but I truly am not. After Jen I only hooked up with one girl, the others were just for show I haven’t even got to second base with them”, he explained. “Give her some time, before this semester is over I’ll talk to her”, I said. “Thanks, you know you’re cool. I thought you truly were mute then I would have to use sign language to communicate with you”, he admitted. “You would have done it?” “Yes, I want to get to know you better and we can be friends”, he nodded. “Why are you here anyway?” “Well I didn’t see you at the cafeteria earlier so I came here looking for you.” “Why?” “So we can hang out”, he shrugged. “Why would you want to hang out with a nobody like me?” I frowned. “Enough with the questions, I think you are cool from my perspective and I want to make a new friend this school year”, he answered. “There are other people who will be thrilled to be friends with you or anyone from the popular crew for that matter.” “They will only be friends with me to be part of the crew or get close to one of the girls or guys. You’re different mute girl and different is what I want this year, tired of the same thing”, he explained. “Thanks.” “No problem, now”, he took the book from me, “you can continue your research tomorrow, we are going for a walk right now”, he stood up. “Where?” “Ever been to the school’s indoor pool or greenhouse?” “There’s a green garden?” “I’m surprised you don’t know about it, I thought you would have been part of the club.” “I don’t socialize much”, I shrugged. “The people in the club don’t either, you could have still joined”, he stated. “I think I’ll stay here and start to read this book”,  I picked open the other book. “Oh no you don’t”, Andy grabbed it from me. “Hey I was going to read that”, I glared at him. “Not anymore, if you come with me then I’ll give you back your book”, he promised. “Five minutes by the pool, because we got ten minutes before the last period starts”, I watched the clock. “Deal”, he grinned. _______ Check out my new book, The Billionaire's Ex Girlfriend