Rumor Has It (Rumor Has It #1)(4)

Ethan's a nice guy, and we're friendly, but I wouldn't go as far as to call him my friend. It's not like we hang out or anything. Maybe classmate is a better way of describing him, and most of the other seniors in my class. Jen's my best friend, but other than that, I think I can count on one hand the number of people I'm close with in school. Jen's the extrovert of our duo, and I'm the introvert. She always teases me about it, calling me the ‘cliché artsy girl' who keeps to herself. Which, I guess is true. But it's not because I'm shy. There are just lots of fake people.

Jocks pretending to be super cool, half of them already the popular kids, acting like big shots. But I’ve seen what happens to those popular kids at school. The prom kings and queens. My mom was prom queen. Then, one year after high school, she marries my dad, has a baby, and she’s been a housewife ever since. Wow, that sounds like I’m trashing my mom, and I don’t mean to. I love her. But she’s the one who’s ingrained it in me ever since I started high school.

“Esmeralda,” she said, giving me a serious look as she pulled into the parking lot, my freshman year. “High school can be fun, but don’t let what happens here, change who you are. Kids will be kids. Some of them cruel, some stuck up, and some jerks. But high school is only four years. And when it’s over, then you find out who you are.”

I didn’t even try to understand it at the time. I kept nervously looking over my shoulder as Jen waited for me to get out of the car. But over my high school career, that morning has always stuck with me. And I’ve done what I want to do. I take art classes. I volunteer. I do things that I want to do, even if other people think it’s stupid or lame, because like she said, high school is only four years. When it ends, that’s when life really begins. It’s another reason I’ve never bothered trying to date anyone at school either. Not that I have a whole line of guys waiting to ask me out.

Which is another thing that Jen and I are opposites on. She loves boys. Okay, I love boys too, but she really loves them and has no problem calling herself a flirt. And she tries to get me to go on double dates with her all the time. I tried it a couple of times, but it was obvious the guys were there to try and make a move.

“If you’d just put something normal on,” Jen said one time, which led to the biggest fight we’ve ever had.

She’d convinced me to go out with her and a guy she was dating last year. When she came and picked me up, I was dressed how I always dress; however I want to. I decided to go with some skinny jeans, a crop top, and my Chucks. Hey, I said they’re comfy. I guess that would’ve been normal enough, but I topped it off with my Hufflepuff necktie, loosely wrapped around my neck and wore a thick pair of glasses. I usually wear my contacts, but I wanted the nerdy glasses look, which I've always kind of liked.

As the night progressed, my date kept commenting on my tie, asking me to take it off. He kept saying it looked dorky, especially since I ‘had to’ wear my glasses that night. I ignored him for the rest of the night and by the time we got home–which was earlier than Jen wanted because my date was ‘over the night’–she yelled at me.

“What does it matter what I’m wearing? It’s just a tie!” I’d yelled back at her.

“And your glasses?”

“Jen, you know I wear glasses.”

"Ha!" She exaggerated the sound. "You always wear contacts. Why put on your glasses tonight? And even then, I know I've seen other glasses you have. Why'd you have to wear those? Chad was totally put off."

“I don’t care!” I yelled back. “If he gets turned off because I’m wearing glasses, then he’s shallower than I thought.”

“Shallow?” Jen looked at me like I had slapped her. “Well, I think that too. Does that mean I’m shallow?”

“Jen, you know that’s not what I meant.”

“Maybe it is! God, Emma! Why do always have to be so … different!”

She stormed out of my room, and we didn't talk for two weeks. She finally came over one night, and we settled everything. She apologized for getting upset, and I apologized for how I'd acted. Because, in reality, I did do it on purpose. I could've worn something normal, but I wore my tie and glasses because I didn't want to have to tell that guy no and be looked at as lame. I didn't like him, and since he was a popular guy, I'm sure not many girls had told him no. But I figured he didn't want to be seen kissing some ‘nerd' with a Harry Potter tie and huge glasses. I was right.

After scanning the room one more time, it looks like everyone's turning in their assignment. No tired looks on faces, at least no more than usual. Facing forward, I reach down to my feet. It's been less than an hour, and I already feel my stupid boots hurting.

By the time lunch rolls around, I could feel a blister starting to form under my right big toe. Plopping down next to Jen, I pull out my sandwich and take a bite, while scrolling through my phone.

“So, did you?”

“Did I what?” I answer without looking at her.

“Text them.”

“Oh my God, you’re still going on about that?”

“Well, did you see anyone who looked like a zombie in first period?” I shake my head, taking a drink of water. “So then text them.”

“What for?”