You must be joking!

Kehlani

Every stick of fries I ate only made my stomach cry out restlessly. My eyes are scanning for Trevor in the cafeteria and I can't find him. Olive is busy helping me eat my lunch. I'm so agitated in knowing about Trevor. How he relates with people in school and all that. I need to find out the root cause of what he'll want from a nerd like me. 

“Hey, Olive. What do you know about Trevor?” I patronized, My hands crept together in my laps. 

Her eyes bulged out before she almost choked on her juice. “You mean, The hockey handsome bully scary guy.”

I laughed. “What's with the bully?”

She shrugged. “Don't you notice how he plays on ice. He's rough. He's cool, he gets what he wants. He's all that but I don't like him.” Her eyes rolled disapprovingly. 

“Why?” I leaned in close.

“He's got this scary personality. You know about his criminal record, right, and all manner of things he does ....” 

Something caught my attention. The way Trevor walked in with some squad of cool guys. It seemed he stepped out of a commercial for a sexy guy. Some nerd guys scurried away from their table to acknowledge his crew and I couldn't help but feel baffled. 

“Can't you see what he just did.” Olive whispered as her eyes pointed towards his direction. “They're all big bullies. Evil.”

I shift my eyes to his table and surprisingly, he's staring back at me. I shivered, and pretended to sort my meal. 

“See, he's even looking at us. Who knows what he's planning to do. I've heard rumours about him. He tracks girls who stare at him without permission….” She stopped, catching her breath. He's a bully. Guys like him are players. He could be worse than Elliot.” 

Since I've been in this school, I've heard a lot of crappy rumours about Trevor. He's capable of getting what he wants. Dated a lot of girls. Maddie, in sophomore year. He even takes guy's girlfriends from them.

People say it. He's a beast. Player on ice and on girls. I don't associate with guys like him so what could he possibly want from me. 

But Olive didn't know we'd seen each other and I don't want to tell her yet.

I knew Trevor was looking at me. I could feel his gaze. When I reciprocated, he smirked and I frowned. Suddenly, a nerd guy with glasses is standing close to our table. 

“Someone said I should give you this.” He dropped a folded paper. 

“Who?”

He opened his mouth to talk but ran away. I opened the paper. 

Meet me at the relaxation spot under the oak tree –Trev. 

“What's that? I wanna see.” Olive inquires, leaning forward but I fold the paper. 

“It's nothing. Really.”

When I looked back to his table, it was empty. 

An hour later, I'm having a free period while Olive went to geography class. My document is in my hands and I went to the spot under the oak tree. He wasn't there yet. 

I sat down, thinking of what he wanted to offer me. At the same time, Olive’s instructions to stay away from him lingered. 

“You're early.”

His voice made me turn and I watched him take a seat opposite, hanging both arms on the chair. The scent of his cologne had a spell on me. His hair fell to his eyes like Leonardo DiCaprio and he raked them backwards. I hated how I admired him. 

I cleared my throat, feisty. “You're late.”

He glanced at his watch. “Oh. Sorry.”

“So, I'm pretty sure this is the reason you want to see me.” I dropped the document on the table and pushed it to his front. “No games, Trevor. Let's just say you don't want people to see us talking then you thought of this.”

“I decided to see you. I never asked for this.” He shifts the document back. This is my rule. Let's abide by it.”

“Okay. Trevor. What's so important you want to see me for? What is it that you couldn't tell me yesterday?”

“Alright. Let's get into it.”

“You mentioned you won't help me out until you get something from me…” my voice is tremulous. 

“Yes. Think about this as a win-win. Kehlani. Whatever I want. Both of us benefit.”

I breathe shakily, and my legs are vibrating as a result of curiosity. “Just fucking say it already.” 

He leaned closely. “I want you to be my fake girlfriend and in return, I won't just help you submit your document, I'll help you win the scholarship.”

Suddenly, my ears are ringing. His face became crooked as a result of blurry vision and confusion. I had to process his statement. He appears to be indifferent, shoulders lowered and loose. My lips parted and I laughed. “Oh….great heavens….” 

My upturned face transited to a shocked, unbelievable one when I saw he wasn't smiling. That look of seriousness made me confused.

“You want me to date you?!” 

“Yes. And stop screaming.”

“I…I don't understand. Who do you think you are anyway? You still have the audacity to say this after your father gave orders.” 

“I am Trevor. And yes, I have the audacity.” He raised his chin. 

“Elaborate. I'm confused.”

“I want us to date. Kehlani. Fake-date.” He highlights. 

“Why?”

“If you accept my proposal, trust me when I say that you'll be the one bagging the scholarship award.”

“And what makes you think I can't win on my own.”

He laughs. “I know all the competitors. Your talent is a waste compared to theirs. I know how this shit works. The real process on how to win. I could help you.”

I start to think about it. That $6,000 cash prize, featuring art galleries and magazines. 

“Okay. But why me? Why would I want to date someone like me? You know how different we are. You're that guy and I'm some girl.”

“Exactly. Some intelligent, smart one. Exactly what I need for a redemption arc. I want my criminal record cleared out. If we're seen together, everyone would look at me differently, you're just the perfect one.”

“Are you sure about this?”

He rolled his eyes. “Teachers like you. You're not popular for inappropriate things. I know our junior year book was organized by you and some others from the photography club. You're productive.”

I brushed my hair backward, still surprised. 

“You really want me to be your girlfriend?”

“Uh-huh.”

“And you'll be my boyfriend.”

“Uh-huh.”

“So, they think you've changed and turned into this good guy because of my influence.”

“Uh-huh.”

“And in exchange, you'll help me win this scholarship.”

“Aha.”

“How do I know you're not lying."

“I wouldn't beg a girl to date me.” He scoffs. “Like I said, win-win. Oh, and….aside from that…” he raised his fingers, grinning. “Let's make your bastard boyfriend jealous.”

“E-elliot?” 

“I saw what he did to you. The entire school did.”

“Don't talk about it.” I covered my ears. 

“I know, I know. Heartbreak and all. Healing shit. But, you know he's my rival. Hockey aside, we've been enemies. This could be your opportunity to make him jealous.”

“Jealous? Speaking of jealousy, he's dating Maddie.”

“Doesn't mean he loves her. Listen, We act like a couple in school. You have to watch and cheer on the rink. You have to take pictures. I want comparison between me and that asshole!”

“I can't. I promised I'd never return to the rink.”

“Take it back. Are you in? I have somewhere to go.”

He thinks he's all that. I stare at him with keen interest and suspicion. Who really does he think he is to say this. I'm not that desperate to just say yes. He wanted a fake relationship, then I might fall in love and at the end of the day, he'll break me. 

I start to remember Olive's words. 

He's a bully.

Guys like him are players.

He could be worse than Elliot.

My brain sparks. Nope, never. I'm not ready for part 2 of the heartbreak session. Elliot broke my heart, Trevor could help me by putting it in pieces.

Outraged, I furrowed my brows.

“No.”