Chapter 6- The burdens of being popular

"Oh, look. Hottie Collin at 10 o'clock." Grace informed the whole table, motioning her head towards the direction she just told us, which made everyone turn their heads and look that way at the same time.

"Guys, don't make it so obvious that you're staring at him." I said, rolling my eyes at their indiscretion.

"Oh, please, he must be used to it already, anyways." Darcy told me, waving a hand. "And what? You don't want us looking at your bae?" She added lingering on the word and tilting her head to the side slightly, then snickered at me.

"For God's sake, woman. I told you he's not my bae!" I exclaimed, slapping the table. "And that's a really stupid nickname, by the way."

"Mhmm, sure..." Darcy proceeded on teasing me "I saw the two of you whispering to each other on calculus yesterday, hun. And you even started to exchange notes! You never do that with any of us," she motioned to the girls and the one boy sitting with us "because you're always scared of being caught by the teacher." She finished exasperatedly, or so I thought, because she then added

"So, what's your excuse, huh?"

"Are you finished?" I asked her, trying to stay calm, but it was kind of hard, considering she just got everyone to look at me waiting for an answer to such a stupid argument as this. I mean, yes, of course, you got me. I was totally flirting with none other than the most handsome boy in the whole school, who happens to have all of the single girls stuck to him like glue. Oh wait, the compromised girls too. Yeah, he was that captivating. And that's just because I don't like using the term 'hot' to describe people. -Well, unless they have a fever.- And yes, he was totally flirting back. Oh, please.

"Okay, so first," I continued, hoping she would get what I had told her a bazillion times already "He was the one who started with the whispering and the notes, alright? What was I supposed to do? Not reply to a person I don't know and have no intimacy with? That would be really rude. He doesn't know me, doesn't know that I'm one of the only students here that's got some sense and doesn't want to get in trouble just for stupid notes." I took in a deep breath before continuing with my explanation rant, "Second, I even told him to stop sending me those!" I exclaimed in exasperation, my eyes even widening in the process. I make a lot of faces whenever I try to prove my point on something. "What do you want from me now? It wasn't my fault." I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest and waiting for what stupidity she would throw at me next.

"Okay, we know that you would never start a conversation with him." Kathy said, getting in the conversation. "But the thing is, why did he start a conversation with you, hm?" She asked, emphasizing on the he, and even wiggled her eyebrows after she said it.

"Okay. Friend advice, don't make that face. It's really creepy." I told her, pretending not to get the fact that she just implied that Collin Benson might have tried to flirt with me. Of course that wasn't the case.

She rolled her eyes at me.

"Oh, come on, Donny." She pushed. "Can't you at least admit that he might have shown some interest in you?" She asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"No, I cannot." I replied relentlessly. "Just because he started a conversation with me, doesn't mean he is interested." I finished, putting air quotes on the last word, to show my point on how this whole conversation was pointless. Collin does not like me, period.

"But he doesn't talk to girls. Wait, scratch that", Awesome, now Grace stepped in the conversation as well. Send help, I'm being surrounded by the enemies. "He doesn't start a conversation with a girl, like ever. They are the ones who are always chasing after him." She finished with a hint of superiority in her voice, as if she just pointed out something absolutely brilliant.

"Okay, and?" Of course I knew what they were going to say. That if he started a conversation with me, when he never does it with any other girl, then it means that he is crushing on me. Yes, and then we'll get married, adopt three kids, get a dog and live happily ever after.

The thing is, though, that they always say this about any guy who happens to even look in my direction for more than two seconds. That includes the pizza guy, the waiter, any cashier who's not too old to be considered a pedophile... To put it more simply, they're crazy.

"What do you mean, 'and'?" Darcy asked me, her voice rising, "Dude likes you, duh!"

I sighed. "Have you even looked at him? He's gorgeous. Why would he be interested in me, when all of the other girls are swooning for him? And before you say anything else," I quickly add, stopping her from saying something, "All of you should get this fact already: just because he or any other person from the opposite sex has spoken to me, it does not mean he likes me."

Ha, let's see if you have something better than that.

"Honey, you should go see an ophthalmologist like, ASAP." Darcy told me, while dipping a slice of pickle from her burger on the little blob of mayonnaise on her plate. Gross. "For starters, he is hot, but not like 'oh my gosh it's Collin, I think I'm gonna pass out'," I rolled my eyes laughing at that, because that's exactly what girls usually say whenever he passes by.

"Yeah," Kathy chimed in, "And you're really hot too, so it's the same level of hotness we're talking about here." That made me laugh too. This is so stupid. "Oh, and I have to say I disagree, Darcy. I do feel like passing out whenever I see him." She added and let out a sigh, stealing a glance at Collin, who was now sitting at a table trying to enjoy his lunch. Must be hard with so many people passing by and greeting him.

Oh my, the burdens of being popular. I thought and held back an eye roll.

"Thanks, but I'm realistic." I finally reply to them, "I know we're not on the 'same level', and honestly I'm fine with that. I'll just wait for my prince charming- whoever he might be- to come, even if he isn't such an eye candy. As long as his heart is beautiful, it's all good." I finish my discourse holding in my laughter, because, well, that really was cliche and not entirely true. See, it's not like I need my potencial soulmate or whatever you want to call it to be outrageously handsome, but I do need to feel a minimum of attraction towards him, yes. Someone taller than 6'0 feet wouldn't hurt either.

Grace laughed at my speech, "Oh, I didn't know you were such a selfless and detached person." She stated, the sarcasm dripping from her voice.

"I think the word you're looking for is abnegated." I retort, being quite sarcastic myself. "I mean, who needs those superficial stuff anyways? What, he doesn't have teeth? Pfft, that's fine. Who needs those anyway? People these days are so demanding." I huffed, now making a joke of the matter and being way too sarcastic.

All of them laughed at my remark.

"Yeah, whatever. But this time we mean it, Donny. I think he really might have a tiny crush on you." She said, before taking a sip of her sparkling water, being followed by several 'mhms' and 'yups' from the other girls.

At that time I wondered if all the female kind was that annoying or if it was a special trait my friends presented at times. For the sake of the rest of humankind, I hoped for the former.