It’s a deal

Jake eagerly pulled me towards the school soccer field, where curious students peered from the windows of nearby buildings.

Coming to a halt, he turned to face me, and it was then I realized he was still holding my hand. I swiftly yanked it free, feeling a mix of confusion and unease.

"What's with all these rumors going around?" I yelled, crossing my arms tightly against my chest.

He smirked, seemingly unfazed by my question.

"What? You think this is funny?" I asked, my fists clenching in frustration.

"I want to make a deal with you," he declared, placing his hands on his hips. Taking a step forward, he closed the distance between us, causing some nearby students to gasp. Sensing their prying eyes, I instinctively stepped back, not out of fear but rather a desire to avoid getting entangled with someone like him.

"I want you to be my girlfriend," he blurted out with unwavering confidence, his face devoid of any amusement. I couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Are you crazy?" I scoffed. "Why would I ever want to date you?"

His raised eyebrow and taken aback expression revealed his surprise.

He smirked once again, asserting, "I could get any girl I want."

Shaking my head, I grabbed his collar and pulled him closer, causing his brow to furrow in confusion.

"Look at me," I spoke firmly, locking my gaze with his inquisitive brown eyes. "Do I look like I give a damn?" I whispered, pushing him back.

As I turned to leave, I noticed two girls standing not far away, whispering intently to each other.

"They literally just kissed. She has no shame," one of them remarked, loud enough for me to hear.

I scoffed in annoyance. "We are not dating, okay!" I yelled in frustration, making my way back to my already-started class.

All eyes were on me as I walked to my seat, and I wished I could simply vanish. It would've been so much easier.

Matilda signaled if I was alright, and I forced a smile in response, giving her a nod.

The bell finally rang, signaling the break period.

I expected to be attacked and surrounded by students, but to my great surprise, no one uttered a word. They continued to whisper and stare as I walked down the hallway, but they kept their distance.

"So, you're saying you aren't dating him?" Matilda asked, joining me at our usual lunch table.

"No, it was just a big misunderstanding. I don't even know why I'm in this mess. You, of all people, know how much I dislike Jake," I complained.

"Speak of the devil," Matilda whispered, tilting her head to the side. I followed her gaze to find Jake sitting with Owen and Ethan. They were engrossed in conversation, occasionally stealing glances at me.

Though I couldn't make out their words, it was evident they were discussing me.

Days turned into weeks, yet nothing changed. I continued to be stared at, and whispers followed me wherever I went. Girls were clearly angered by the situation, but surprisingly, they refrained from taking any action.

It was strange.

Having spent enough time in this school, I knew how obsessed those girls could get when it came to the Alpha Boys. I recalled the incident when Owen partnered with Emily, a quiet girl, for a school project. She became the target of relentless bullying. And when their project won first place, Owen congratulated her late and gave her a small pat on the head.

That small act of kindness triggered the girls' fury. Emily was subjected to such severe bullying that she had to switch schools. What infuriated me more was Owen's lack of intervention, despite knowing he was the cause. It was incidents like these that fueled my disdain for them, making my own situation all the more perplexing.

My case was far worse than what happened to Emily, yet no one uttered a word to me.

"Hey," Matilda said, jolting me from my thoughts as we sat in the school gym during PE class. We took a brief break on the bleachers, watching the boys play basketball.

"Are you still thinking about what happened?" Matilda inquired, taking a sip from her water bottle.

"No," I lied. "I'm worried about what's not happening."

Confused, Matilda asked, "What do you mean?"

"Don't you see it?" I turned towards her, frustration evident in my voice. "They aren't doing anything—no yelling, no curses, nothing at all," I spat.

"I suppose they're just following his orders," Matilda replied, her response only adding to my confusion.

"What orders?" I questioned, puzzled.

She turned to face me, tilting her head slightly. "You don't know?" she asked, her tone filled with surprise.

"What am I missing?" I asked, my curiosity piqued as she handed me my phone.

"He told everyone to stay away from you, or else face consequences. I guess that's why the girls are keeping their distance," she explained, shrugging her shoulders.

"Why would he do that?" I pondered aloud. Suddenly, his earlier question resurfaced in my mind. Was that why he had asked me to be his girlfriend?

"Piper, I thought you were aware of it. That's why I didn't bring it up earlier," Matilda admitted.

Shaking my head, I sighed. "No, I had no idea," I confessed, feeling a mix of surprise and apprehension.

Just then, the gym door burst open, and jake walked in. He scanned the gym with his piercing eyes, as if searching for someone. It didn't take long for me to put the pieces together. He was probably looking for me, and the thought made me uneasy.

Feeling the weight of his gaze, I quickly averted my eyes, attempting to hide with my hair over my face. But fate had other plans for me. "Piper," his voice called out, breaking through the murmurs of the gym. sigh, I slowly looked up, only to find him standing before me.

"I need to talk to you outside," he said, his tone commanding. My heart raced, and I hesitated for a moment, then mustered my courage. "No," I spoke firmly, causing him to stop in his tracks. The murmuring in the gym increased as curious students eagerly watched. "If you have something to say, say it here," I declared, my confidence growing. The whispers grew louder.

He took a step back, his gaze fixed on me. "Do you really want me to do that?" he asked, a hint of intrigue in his voice. I stood my ground, unwavering. "Yes, tell me whatever you want right here." The gym fell into silence.

In a blink, his hand wrapped around my waist, catching me off guard. A gasp escaped my lips, and so did the students. He pulled me closer, his other hand holding my chin, our faces mere inches apart. My heart pounded in my chest, my breath caught in my throat. "Do you want to stay here and find out what I do next?" His eyes darted to my lips. "Or shall we take this outside?" he said, releasing his hold and making his way towards the exit.

As I turned to see the frozen Matilda and the silent crowd, I knew I had no choice but to follow him. Once we were finally alone, my frustration erupted. "What did you do that for?" I protested, my voice filled with annoyance.

"Do what? Don't tell me you didn't wish I kissed you," he boasted, a smug expression playing on his face.

I rolled my eyes, trying to mask my growing curiosity. "What do you want this time?"

"You know what I want," he replied confidently, his eyes never leaving mine.

I sighed. "And I already told you, I'm not interested."

He leaned in, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "You like Blackpink, don't you?" he remarked, catching me off guard.

"Have you been stalking me?" I exclaimed.

He smirked, enjoying the effect his words had on me. "And why would I do that... I paid someone to do it for me."

Annoyance crept into my voice as I questioned his motives. "You really think you're better than everyone, don't you?"

His brow furrowed, meditating my words. "Am I not?" he said with confidence wavering for a moment.

I scoffed in frustration. "At this point, I've had enough of you."

"Isn't their concert in a few weeks?" he suddenly asked, diverting the conversation. "I will pay for two tickets and a free first-class plane ride. For you and... what's your friend's name again? Oh, Matilda."

Disbelief washed over me as I stared at him, questioning his motives. How long had he been monitoring me, and why did he want me to date him so desperately?

"Thank you for your offer, but I'm still not interested," I announced, ready to turn away.

He leaned closer, a sly grin spreading across his face. "How about a backstage pass to meet your idols?" My eyes widened, my heart skipping a beat. Slowly, I turned to face him. "I can arrange that," he continued, his smirk growing wider. "All you have to do is pretend to be my girlfriend for two months, just to make Samantha jealous. And it's done."

So that was the true purpose behind his actions. Making a girl jealous, and he was willing to pay a that price for. I would never understand how rich people think.

"Why are you so obsessed with someone like Samantha? She clearly dumped your sorry ass in the worst way possible," I retorted, unable to contain my frustration.

A glimmer of amusement danced in his eyes. "Why do I sense a hint of jealousy?" he taunted, his words striking a nerve.

"Oh, please," I rolled my eyes, trying to maintain my composure. "Last time I checked, you could easily get other girls who would willingly do it for free. So why waste your time on me?" I asked, genuine curiosity in my voice.

He leaned back. "That's exactly why I didn't choose them. I need someone who wouldn't develop any feelings for me, and you are the only one I know," he admitted.

His words struck a chord within me, a least he finally acknowledged me. "And how sure are you that you won't fall for me?" I challenged, a mischievous smile tugging at my lips.

"Because you are nothing close to my type," he stated matter-of-factly. My smile vanished, replaced by annoyance. He always managed to get under my skin.

"So, is that a deal?" he asked, waiting for my response.

I stared at him for a few minutes, contemplating the consequences of my decision. Meeting Blackpink was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and a few months of despair might just be worth it. I finally replied, "Deal." If I was going to be his girlfriend, I was going to be the one who drove him nuts.