My Fake Boyfriend

The Favour

It was almost time. A minute left on the clock until it struck 3 - the end of school. Gathering all my papers, I stuffed them carelessly into my binder. It was a Friday, and honestly, there was not a more joyous occasion. 

The bell rang and I remained seated, hoping to wait out the crowd of 'kids' stampeding their way to the door. When all was clear, I stood up, waved tiredly to the teacher, and trudged into the bleak hallways. 

School was a horror-ridden nightmare, especially when spent alone.

I opened my locker, turning to glance at myself in the small mirror attached to the door, studying my reflection. My brown hair was up in a ponytail, giving a perfect view of my face. Two brown doe eyes stared back at me, and I sighed heavily at the blatant lack of effort I had given to my appearance this morning. 

"You can keep staring, but it won't change what you look like," a voice sneered teasingly from behind me. 

I whirled around to come face to face with Brielle Sanders, the girl who had bullied me as soon as she could form a full sentence. Her blonde hair cascaded smoothly down her back, outlining her slim jawline. Today, she wore a sheer blouse and dark blue jeans, showing off her curvaceous legs. She looked like a Mediterranean goddess.

"What are you staring at?" she snapped, chuckling slightly to herself. "You really are like a mouse." 

I hated her, but I couldn't deny that I also envied her. I knew she liked the fact that I would do anything to look like her. It encouraged her to make me feel inferior every single day.

Tears threatened to sting my eyes as I looked away. Students stood and watched as the scene played out, ignoring my plight. None of them stood up for me; this always happened. 

I’d never had the privilege of someone defending me, but I wouldn't cry. No, I would never satisfy anyone by letting them see me weak or vulnerable.

Brielle scowled at me. I flinched as she edged forward, hitting the remaining books out of my hand. I only looked down numbly as she smiled, satisfied to have left her mark, and walked away, her shoes making a tottering sound as she left.

Everyone turned away from me. The entertainment had left. Picking up my books, I looked to see where everyone's attention had fallen now and immediately rolled my eyes.

There, waltzing down the hallway as if the entire school belonged to him, with his two best friends in tow, was the school’s golden boy. 

Aaron Walker.

There was a strange allure to him, it seemed, that I could not put my finger on. All the guys wanted to befriend him, and every girl wanted to date him. 

He strode confidently, making small talk with students. A group of girls smiled in his direction, no doubt competing for his attention.

His black hair was tousled, falling into his eyes messily. His blue eyes shone with mischief as he shoved his friend as they walked, and I watched the small play of ‘testosterone’ with them like I was watching some cult following show on National Geographic.

I knew he was good looking; it’d be a lie to say otherwise. But from what I had gathered, he was a total ass who loved only himself. He always had a girl by his side. One on Monday, then a different one the next week, as if they were totally disposable. We never spoke in our shared classes, and he would not even help the slightest when it came to the work. 

I tore my sight away from the ridiculous movie scene in front of me and focused on taking some books out of my locker. The only thing I did out of school hours was study and.... I shook my head to clear my mind, the thoughts too dark to even bear.