chapter 6

“Aria, get me a glass of water”. I rolled my eyes deciding to walk out on her when her next words made me stop.

“Please…” the word sounded so foreign on her tongue that it was almost ironic. She dropped you off at school the entire week.

Rolling my eyes, I wondered why my conscience decided to gilt trip me and headed for the kitchen to find my mom.

“I wonder why she always has severe cramps”, she complained. I ignored her and picked up a glass.

“I mean, look at us …we get cramps but we’re better off than her”, she continued as I filled the glass with water

“I’m really worried that it might be something else”

Serves her right, she can’t have it all! I walked out and handed the glass to her. She smiled and I froze. I didn’t know whether it was the fact that she had genuinely smiled at me or the fact that she was actually showing appreciation for such a small deed. Both of which she never does. I nodded briefly and headed upstairs to our room before I made it any more awkward. Morning came faster than I expected. I woke up find Ariana sound asleep. As usual, I ignored her and freshened up. I pulled on one of my hideous outfits and headed out. Mom stopped me halfway down the stairs. She smiled sweetly at me but I could see the mischievous glint in her eyes. I froze on the stairs.

“Go ahead mom…I’m listening”

“Oh baby, mommy needs a really big favor”

So I was apparently her baby now. I rolled my eyes at her internally. I knew she’d do anything for Ana, she was her favorite anyway.

“Actually…Ariana can’t go to school today…and she has an examination this morning so I was wondering if you could write her morning paper for her?”

Was she actually asking me to pretend to be Ariana? My jaw dropped and I froze again.

I found myself upstairs again and putting on a different outfit. It was one of Ariana's and I felt so uncomfortable.

Mom smiled proudly at me...as if I wasn't actually trying to impersonate my own sister.

"you look pretty honey"

I found myself in school. I didn't have exam till 2 so I only need to pretend to be Ariana for a few hours. Easy right?. I quickly grabbed her biology book from her locker and swiftly began to revise. The best she could hope to get would be a D but I still had to try anyways.

There wasn't much time left but I read as much as I could. I felt a breath behind me.

" you look hot today... "

I turned to see Jeong Gyu standing right behind me. He was smirking again. His eyes roamed my body leisurely and I suddenly felt self conscious.

" Jeong Gyu I need to learn".

The next thing I knew he had grabbed my neck. I turned to look at him.

"what? ", I asked.

"you called me by my name... I don't know why but I like the sound of my name on your lips"

He licked his lips and stared down at my lips. His eyes darkened and he quickly let my neck go.

I averted my gaze and quickly picked my book.

"meet me in the music room after your paper", he whispered before he left.

I succeeded in writing her paper without arousing suspicions.

However when we were exiting, a few of her friends walked up to me.

"Ariana, you look great.... As... U. S. U. A. L... "

I smiled at her because frankly I didn't know her name and I didn't know how Ariana would respond to that.

"how about we grab something from the cafeteria?"

"sure.. ", I whispered.

We sat on "their" usual seat and the blonde one decided to get "our usual".

I waited patiently. I was wrong. Ariana likes vanilla milkshake, I like hot chocolate. I smiled painfully and accepted it anyway. I couldn't give anything away. I sipped the milkshake with a pained expression.

"you okay Ana? "

"y-yeah... I'm fine... I just taught I'd try something new today... "

They both exchanged a look and I quickly took back what I'd just said.

"but it's OK though... My favourite is my favourite"

I don't even know how that made sense but I guess it did.

"hey you haven't forgotten about the party this weekend right? "

"of course, I wouldn't! ", I replied in an offended tone.

They both smiled at me and I awkwardly smiled back.

" guys... I... I will have to leave earlier, I'm going shopping with my mom"

"new outfit for an occasion? "

"not really... Just a change of wardrobe", I squeaked as best as I could.

They all squeaked as well and I mentally slapped myself. These girls were seriously just pawns in the game of popularity.

"gotta go girls... See you later", I said as I grinned at them.

I excused myself and quickly slipped into the washroom. I changed back into my orange jeans and white T-shirt.

I slipped out and headed for my locker. I still had my exam to finish, assuming my slow brain could handle all this stress. I picked out my books and decided to revise a little . From the corner of my eye, I could see Eon Jin glaring at me. I ignored her and continued to study.

The bell soon rang and we headed inside. By the time the bell rang for the end of the exam... I was positive I would be cracking a C at least, afterall I spent most of the weekend studying.

I slipped out and was intending on escaping Jeong Gyu. Somehow I failed.

He was standing right outside the door... I rolled my eyes and ignored him.

"you were not trying to run were you? "

"not rea...l...ly? ", I pouted.

He took me to the music room. After a moment of silence, he licked his lips. By now I know it's his signature reaction before he actually attempts to kiss me.

But surprisingly he didn't make any attempt to. And I was actually glad for his restraint.

His hand grabbed a fistful of my hair and he sniffed. He actually sniffed!.

What was up with this new strange behavior?, I wondered.

"I actually like the smell of your hair", he whispered and then he kissed my temple.

He let it go and held my hand instead. He placed a gentle kiss on it.

He was being too sweet, I wondered what would happen next.

"I want you to go on a date with me on Saturday..."

I gulped and stared into his eyes. Was this some kind of a new trick?

"I'm not really asking... Go on a date with me"

Yeah so much about him being sweet...

I nodded slightly and he smiled. We exited the room to find Eon Jin by the door. She grabbed Jeong Gyu's arm and glared at me....again.

I went straight to bed when I arrived home. I ignored my mom's curious eyes and took a quick shower.

As I stepped out, I found Ariana busy on the phone. I wouldn't be surprised if it was one of her "popular" friends.

I was gonna roll my eyes but something caught my attention. She'd had her nails freshly manicured. So she couldn't go to school to write her exam but she could definitely go for a manicure!