"Brook, I was wondering if you would come and sit at our table for the rest of lunch." Devon Platinum asks courteously.
"I'm sorry guys, I can no longer participate in Strawberry Waffles. I accept your kind request and only request assistance on how to get there." I speak in my most respectful and queenly voice. My greatest friends knew that this was also one of my most toxic voices. This voice had lured in many people into the heinous trap of believing I was a naive, helpless ditz who would do whatever they asked of me, and let happen whatever happened to me. Really, this voice meant I was at attention, and I would be fully aware of my surroundings for the time being. I scoot by Malorie and follow Devon back to his table. A table I had been at only minutes ago, the table at which I kicked Paris off his chair, and his high horse. I keep the same flat mouth the entire time I walk over there. Showing no sign of emotion as I sit down in the chair Paris's ex-girlfriend had sat at only a few minutes ago. The seat right next to him. I feel his eyes on me like daggers, twisting their sharp points into my skin.
"Why did you ask of my attendance for the duration of this lunch period?" I inquire politely.
"Oh you know good and well why," Paris exclaims exasperatedly.
"I have no idea about what you're talking about. All I know is that I served justice where justice was due, also, in some places that might be considered self-defense." I answer calmly. I was not going to let these imbeciles get the better of me... Much less Paris Isaacs and his gang of perverts and parsnips.
"Oh come on baby, did you really have to kick the chair out from under me?" He asks in a seductive voice... A voice that I was immune to. He inches closer to me and puts a hand on my shoulder. I flinch but remained calm and at ease.
"I don't care for your games Paris, now why did you really call me here?" I demand.
"Look, I figured that since you ran my girlfriend off, that should kind of mean that you're morally obligated to be my girlfriend." Paris schmoozes. I feel my anger boil up inside me. Who the heck does this guy think he is? "Look, I realize that you're a strong-minded girl, but you caused this, so why not just give it a try?" I pause for only a moment before responding,
"You're a moron, no." I stand up to leave but he grabs my waist and pulls me back down.
"Hey, hey, hey, not so fast. Nobody says no to me... and now that you're what some might call 'popular', I only want to date the hottest girl in school. And you seem to have all the... attributes to be her. So now what do you say?"
"I still think you're an imbecile, and I must still impolitely decline." I retort fiercely. Once again I stood up to leave but this time he grabs my shoulder and holds me down.
"If you don't I'll show this to the whole school."
"Show what?" I ask getting worried. Suddenly I feel someone pull my arms behind my back and restrain me from moving. I also see Paris take out his phone and reach a hand out under my shirt and pull outward, revealing my... (You know what I mean).
"I'm gonna enjoy this." He starts pulling up the camera app on his phone. "Any last words as a single lady for the next 4 years?" Paris adds slyly.
"Yeah... Cornered animals are always the deadliest." I lift my feet and kick Paris in the face and stomach, then use his chair to push back and headbutt my captor in the chin. He let go and I bolt, not to my table. But to a room, any room that was far away and dark enough to hide out in for the next, I glanced at my phone, 20 minutes. I hear voices behind me so I pick up the pace. I turn the corner and run into a room that had the lights off. I turn on my phone flashlight and see a couple of boxes in the back of the room I could hide behind. I slip behind about 5 boxes, adjusting a few to make a sort of box-fort. I stay quiet and contemplate calling my mom, but A., she's probably on a flight, B., I don't want to worry her with something I could probably handle... probably. I play games on my phone with the volume on silent for almost 5 minutes before I hear the door open and the lights flicker on. I turn my phone off and stayed perfectly still. I was about to text Madeline when something peculiar happened. Music started to play, wait, I know that song, I Can't Help Falling In Love With You, Elvis Presley. I hear a voice start to sing, but it wasn't a girl, it was a guy. Usually, people sing love songs with such fake emotion, no real context, but this was different. This was heartfelt and sincere, I could almost hear the emotion, the longing. Apparently, I lost focus and fell back, knocking over my mini-fort and revealing me to whoever was after me. I stand up and recoil, expecting Paris or one of his goons sent to lure me out. But it was Reagan, he's just as startled as I am and quickly pauses the music.
"Please don't take a boob pic and just let me go. I won't tell anyone you can sing that well, please just let me go!" I beg, back against the wall.
"Woah, woah, woah, who said anything about a boob pic? Are you running from someone?" Reagan asks, now worried for me.
"So you're not with Paris and his friends?"
"No, and why is he trying to take a picture of... yeah?" Reagan asks as politely as possible.
"He grabbed my butt while his girlfriend wasn't watching and my friend slapped him, then he did it again and I kicked his chair out from under him... then his girlfriend broke up with him. So now I'm supposedly morally obligated to be his new girlfriend, and he's probably not going to stop until he gets what he wants, and I don't want to worry anyone about this because I don't want to make it a whole thing." I confess, collapsing against the wall.
"I have a solution, but you may not agree to it."
"I'll hear anything out at this point." I sigh.
"Well, he may not pursue you if you if you already have a boyfriend," Reagan hints at something I can't quite grasp.
"But where am I going to find one at such short notice? It's not like I have guys lining up at my door." I say, once again sighing.
"I-I could be your boyfriend. For pretend of course!" He adds quickly.
"Would you do that for me?" I question hopefully.
"Yeah, I mean you're a good person, and I'd hate to see good people get hurt." Reagan smiles and looks at me. I stand up off the wall and walk over to him, and I hug him... Mentally dying in the inside, why is this so perfect?
"Oh crap, how are we gonna make Paris believe we're dating?" I pull back, now worried.
"Uh... My sister makes me watch Chick-flicks with her so uh... take my hoodie, and I'll just walk in with my arm around you. And tomorrow come and sit with me at lunch." Reagan instructs, pulling off his hoodie and handing it to me. I look at it for a moment before putting it on. It smells like freshly-cut football field grass with a hint of cologne, but it was warm and made me feel safe. We have about 12 minutes left of lunch, just enough time to get there and let everyone take in the fact that Regan and I were now a 'thing', but only we knew the truth, that it was just a sham and one that would hopefully work. Together we strut out of the extra room and down the empty hallways. Once we're only a few feet away from the cafeteria entrance, he pulls me close and wraps a hand around my waist. Everyone turns to look at us with shocked expressions on their faces. I look over at Paris and he too had an expression, but not one of surprise, but one of defeat. As I walk by I lift my chin and smile, then turn back to face my friends, who were all giving me thumbs-up like the amazing weirdos they are.