When Trudy Green received a call from Zarek Black in the middle of the night, she knew something was up. It didn't take a genius to know that anything that was labelled with Zarek's name was poisoned, toxic, and deadly; just like the cigarettes that never left his lips.

Trudy was at Evangeline's house. The two girls were seated on Evangeline's extremely cheap bed. Trudy was gossiping about the latest rumors while Evangeline was fiddling with the ends of her red hair, not the least bit interested in the scandals people were talking about. When Zarek's name came up on Trudy's customized gold iPhone, Evangeline's soft hazel eyes widened as she subconsciously directed her body towards Trudy. Trudy's psychological classes, that she took during the summer, told her that, at that moment, Evangeline gave her undivided attention.

Trudy was hurt. Her friend couldn't care less about her rambles, but when Zarek Black merely called, she was willing to invest her time on him. Even though Evangeline was nice and caring, she had the attention span of a two year old, or was Trudy just that boring?

That idea terrified Trudy.

Before Trudy could dwell on it more, she took a deep breath and answered the call. Trudy heard the wind, along with the sound of footsteps and traffic. Her guess was that Zarek was walking outside. "Hi," Trudy mustered up her melted confidence and compressed it all in one word.

Zarek's dominant voice flew out of the luxurious phone. "I need a favor." Not only did Zarek call for his interest, he also didn't greet her back too. Wow, okay.

In all sincerity, the only reason keeping her from hanging up was her curiosity. Trudy was so nosey that she would take being humiliated, nut not for long. As soon as she got a hold of what Zarek needed, Trudy would humiliate him twice as much. Simultaneously, Evangeline's auburn eyebrows were frowned as she tapped Trudy's knee, too eager to know what Zarek wanted. Trudy slapped her friend's hand away because she nagged her, and maybe for slight revenge.

Trudy didn't waste any time, she knew Zarek Black and how straightforward - and rude - he was. She cleared her throat to sound professional. "What do you want?" She had no idea why she was putting a calm façade in front of Zarek, maybe it had something to do with her obsession with keeping a collected image, and not because he did not associate himself with desperate sluts.

"I want you to ask Eva to the Spring Ball for me," Zarek said, his voice smooth yet demanding. It made everyone in hearing range oblige to his desires.

At the request, Trudy smirked. She knew Zarek needed her. She was so ready to take the upper hand. "Well, if that's not something a coward would do." Trudy pushed away Evangeline, who was trying to eavesdrop, and stood up from the small bed altogether. Trudy stood by the window, pointing a warning finger at her best friend to keep her in place. "Why don't you ask her yourself? As far as I know, you're smooth with the ladies."

Zarek, on the other end of the phone, mumbled a few thing that Trudy couldn't make but just knew they were profanities aimed at her. He sighed, containing his short temper. "She hates me, Trudy."

We can both agree on that. Evangeline could not but hate the guy. Zarek gave her every reason to be on her black list, and that was saying something, considering Evangeline's sickeningly sweet and loving heart. "Wow, you sound desperate." Trudy pushed his buttons further. She eyed Evangeline, who was seated on the bed, and gave a pleased nod. It felt good to be in control. "So, if I agree to help you, why should Eva accept?"

At the mention of her name, Evangeline's freckled face snapped up, her eyelids expanded as well as her delicate, pink lips. She attempted to stand up from the bed and listen to the phone again, but one harsh glare from Trudy's snaky, brown eyes made Eva fall back on the bed with a scowl. Trudy smirked in satisfaction.

"Stop acting like a bad bitch when in reality you're just a wannabe." Trudy's smug face fell at Zarek's hurtful words. "And she will accept because I'm the one asking."

Trudy sucked in her cheeks, leveling her voice. She held her chin high, which was stupid since Zarek couldn't see it. "Then prove it."

As if Zarek didn't humiliate Trudy enough, he hang up on her. She felt the familiar ache in her heart. Her dreamy, brown eyes were glossy and ready to produce salty water, but when she glanced at Eva, who was on the brim of eating her nails from anxiety, Trudy reminded herself that she was not alone.

Besides, Zarek was so unworthy of her bodily fluids.

"So?" Evangeline persisted, twirling a strand of red hair around her middle finger, "What did he want?"

Trudy blinked her glossy brown eyes, returning to reality. She joined her friend on the small bed, acting as if her heart wasn't about to split in half - and ignoring the fact that Eva's single bed should be replaced for a king one ASAP. "He called-..." Trudy's voice came out shaky, she cleared her throat. "He called becaaause he wants you to be his Spring Ball's date!"

Trudy forced her voice to turn playful and her eyes to regain their snakiness, just as she bund her body to loosen up. Trudy was so used to blend her act into her reality that, sometimes, she believed her own lies. Showing weakness wouldn't help, and neither would expressing her honest opinion about Eva's financial crisis. Not to mention the fact that Trudy complied to Zarek's demand only because she knew it would benefit her.

Evangeline's soft, hazel eyes widened, her mouth gaping for a second. She quickly regained her composure, straightening her spine. "It's a prank on me," she mumbled, which Trudy thought was lack of self confidence and pathetic.

Trudy faked a gasp, going as far as covering her mouth with her hand and blinking many times in disbelief. "What? No," Trudy exasperated, considering acting as one of her option for a future career, "Can't you see what's happening? Zarek's asking for a second chance."

Evangeline tucked a strand of red hair behind her blushed ears. She looked around her small room, as if that would conceal the heat that covered her face from Trudy. "He's looking for another way to humiliate me."

Trudy agreed. There was no way Zarek could be serious about any girl. It took anyone with a little bit of common sense to know that. Still, Trudy shook her diamond shaped face. "Eva, you're stupid."

"No," Eva said, her gaze meeting Trudy's. For a second, her soft, hazel eyes were so edgy it almost intimidated Trudy. "Can't you see all the things Zarek's doing to get under my skin? He wants to see me vulnerable, and this is his plan."

"Can't you see that this is all meant to be?" Trudy countered, preparing herself to say a load of nonsense, "Last year, Zarek asked you to The Spring Ball, and you two almost confessed to each other. Things didn't work out, and you didn't go together. Now, a year later, he's asking you to the same ball, so what couldn't happen last year will happen now." Trudy's snaky eyes were shining as she talked. "This is Destiny."

Eva scoffed, waving her hand that was never introduced to manicure - a crime against everything that beauty stood for. "This is nonsense."

Despite Trudy sharing Eva's opinion, she still pursed her plump lips and sighed. Trudy's brown eyes roamed around Eva's room. Trudy did her best at keeping her disgusted snickers to herself, her standards didn't tolerate cheap furniture or polyester bed sheets, and definitely not Power Puff. She couldn't understand why Eva still hadn't thrown that pink carpet yet. Such an ugly and a childish thing should be burnt in hell.

Trudy's snaky, brown eyes refocused on Eva. "How many times do I have to tell you that you two are meant to be, Eva?" Trudy said, a bit annoyed, "Why can't your thick skull get that through?"

"Because we're not, Trudy," Eva said louder than Trudy would have liked, "We're complete opposites; we don't work."

"That's why you two are perfect. You complete each other," Trudy's voice did not drop an octave. "I'm not saying you should marry the guy. I'm just asking you to give him a chance."

Eva remained silent for a moment. Trudy could see the gears in Eva's brain turning so fast that fog left her ears from the overdrive. Trudy wandered what kind of crazy thoughts required all that hard concentration.

"I can't," Eva said, "Not after all the things he had done to me. The guy is practically bullying me."

Bullying was a strong word, yet very accurate. Ever since Zarek's electric green eyes caught sight of Evangeline, he had been determined on making her life hell. Trudy couldn't tell if Eva was special to him in a twisted way, or if he was plain sadistic. Either way, Trudy was bored of the dead argument. She needed to wrap things up. She stayed quiet, for dramatic effects, of course. "I told you before, Eva," Trudy reminded, "Zarek's not good with rejection. Maybe that's his way of dealing to how you shut him out last year."

Eva shook her head, her hazel eyes angry and determined. "That doesn't mean he can treat me like that for the past months."

Trudy sighed, Evangeline was arguing way too much than Trudy had anticipated. "Will you consider it? Zarek didn't say he loves you, but I've seen it in his eyes when he looks at you. I've known him for so long I can tell."

Yeah, right, Trudy thought to herself, I don't know his favorite color, but I definitely know lust when I see it.

Trudy was sure; ever since Zarek hit puberty, he had been directed by the erection in his pants. It just happened to be pointing at a redheaded virgin - Evangeline. Well, either that, or there was something very nasty going on, and Trudy could smell its stink.

Eva nodded. Trudy was thankful that Eva didn't protest for once. That was another thing that bugged Trudy about her friend; other than the short attention span, it was over thinking things. Even though, in this case, Eva should be.

Trudy's customized gold iPhone buzzed in her hands. When she saw who the text was from, she almost danced out of happiness. She read it out loud, an eyebrow raised, "I stay up all night, thinking of those crystal blue eyes. I wonder how many battles I have to fight, so I can win her and call her mine."

A poem? That's his proof? Trudy thought it was cheesy and cliché, but knowing sentimental Evangeline and how old-fashioned she was, she would probably fall for it.

However, something didn't make sense. Trudy typed a text back. "Eva's eyes are not blue."

A minute later came his reply. "I know. I was exaggerating."

Trudy could swear she heard Zarek retort that in her head as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Did he really just write a poem for me?" Eva gushed. She couldn't help but get excited over him. Eva was so in love with the guy that, if it wasn't for her common sense and her strict religious background, she would have long ago lost herself for him.

The poem had the desired effect. And to give the devil his due, Trudy had to admit that Zarek played it right.

hello and welcome. this is the second point of view of this book (the first one being Zarek's). and i just have to ask, how do you feel about Trudy? do you feel like she's superficial or that there is more to her underneath?

i don't like putting author notes, because i feel like that'll ruin the atmosphere i've set for the story, but oh well. i promise you i won't be clingy though.

enjoy.

Why do you think Trudy is acting fake with her friend?