79. Now a couple

Mia.

As I walked into the classroom on Monday morning, my heart was pounding in my chest. I knew that Andrew was going to sit next to me, and even though we had been dating for a few weeks now, I still couldn't believe that he actually liked me. I had never had a boyfriend before, and the idea of being part of a couple was both thrilling and terrifying. Mia's heart races as Andrew makes his way towards her, leaving his own seat to sit beside her.

I felt my cheeks heat up as Andrew walked towards me, his backpack slung over one shoulder. It was Monday, and I was still adjusting to the reality that Andrew and I were now a couple. As he approached me, I could feel my heart pounding in my chest. When he reached my desk, he smiled and slid into the seat next to me. I felt y cheeks turn bright red as he leaned in to kiss me on the cheek. I knew that everyone in the room was watching us, and I couldn't help feeling self-conscious. I wasn't used to being the center of attention, and the fact that Andrew was so popular only made it worse.

The class erupted in a chorus of oohs and aahs because of the peck, and I felt the weight of jealous glares from girls who had long coveted Andrew's attention. My cheeks heat up for the umpteenth time that morning, and I lowered my gaze to my desk, feeling self-conscious and exposed. I had always been a private person, and this sudden shift in my social status was highly overwhelming.

I tried to act casual, but my hands were shaking as I adjusted my books and papers on the desk. It was a simple gesture, but it felt like a huge milestone for us. For so long, I had watched Andrew from afar, never daring to hope that he might notice me. But now, we were together, and I could hardly believe it.

I tried to force another smile in response to his attention on me, but I could not shake off the feeling that this was just all too good to be true. I could not help but wonder if this was just a passing fad or if Andrew truly cared for me. Doubts swirled in my mind and I worried that I may not be up to his level.

Despite my nerves, though, I couldn't help feeling happy. I liked Andrew so much, and it felt amazing to be able to sit next to him and hold his hand. I felt like I was on top of the world, like nothing could bring me down. As the class went on, I kept stealing glances at Andrew. He was so handsome, with his dark hair and sparkling blue eyes, and I couldn't believe that he was mine. Every time he looked back at me, I felt a surge of happiness and a little bit of anxiety too. What if I messed this up? What if I wasn't good enough for him?

Despite my nervousness, I tried to focus on the present moment, savoring the warmth of Andrew's body beside mine and the feel of his lips on my cheek. I took a deep breath and looked up, meeting his gaze. He looked at me with such affection and admiration, and for a moment, I felt like I was on top of the world. But then the reality of the situation hit me and I remembered the bullying and the gossip that I was sure to face. I wondered if I was ready for this kind of attention, if I was strong enough to weather the storm that is sure to come. I took another deep breath and told myself to be brave.

I was determined to enjoy every moment of being Andrew's girlfriend. I felt like I was part of something special, like we had a connection that nobody else could understand. Even though I was nervous about what other people might think, I knew that being with Andrew was worth it, and I would do whatever it takes to make this work for us no matter how young we might both be.

As soon as the lessons began, I noticed a piercing glare coming from one of the students. It took me a moment to recognize the girl as the twin who borrowed my sweater last week.

Laura.

My heart sank as I realized that the girl must be upset about something as usual. As the lessons went on, the glare persisted, and I found it so hard and increasingly difficult to focus on anything else. I could literally feel the intensity of Laura’s stare, and it was making me feel uncomfortable and on edge.

I tried however to push the negative thoughts out of my mind, but I could not help but worry that I might be in for a rough day. Andrew, sitting next to me, tried to get my attention several times, calling my name and making small talk, but I was unable to respond. My mind was too preoccupied with the glare of Laura and the fear of being bullied, which would mean going back to square one for me.

Despite my efforts to remain calm, my anxiety only seemed to escalate. I felt like I was walking on eggshells, waiting for the other shoe to drop. I was afraid that the girl will confront me in front of the whole class or even worse, that the other bullies will take this as an opportunity to torment me even more,even though I have been free from them for the past weeks, I still could not erase the fact that they might have somethings up their sleeves. Things that I would not even see coming at all.

I wished that I could just disappear or blend in with the walls, anything to avoid drawing attention to myself. I was overwhelmed by the sudden shift in my social status and the added pressure of having a boyfriend. I wondered if I was really up to Andrew's level and if l would be able to handle the constant scrutiny and jealousy from other girls.

As Andrew pecked me on the cheek again and gave me yet another wide grin, I had to plaster another smile, even though I was feeling anything but happy. I knew that Andrew meant well, but I could not help but feel like I was caught in a trap, unable to escape the attention and expectations that came with being in a relationship with the popular boy in school.

During lunch, I nervously fiddled with my food, glancing around the cafeteria every few seconds. I could feel the eyes of the other girls on me, their jealousy and resentment practically radiating off of them. I was also a little intimidated as I now sat in the middle of the cool kids, but I was at least relieved that Andrew was sitting beside me, along with his group of friends, but I could not help but feel like an outsider. Mia is a little intimidated by the group of cool kids, but Andrew's presence beside her gives her a sense of comfort.

As we all sat down at the cafeteria table, Lisa, the bubbly blonde in the group, turned to me with a curious expression. As Lisa bombarded me with questions, I tried to stay calm and answer as honestly as I could. The girl seemed fascinated by my answers, almost like she was trying to understand a different species.

"So, have you started experimenting with makeup yet, Mia?" she asked again, practically bouncing in her seat. "I mean, you're dating Andrew now, you have to start looking the part, right?" She added while twirling a strand of her perfectly coiffed hair around her finger.

My cheeks flushed with embarrassment. I had never been into makeup and I never really cared about my appearance all that much. "I don't really like makeup," I mumbled, feeling like I somehow let Lisa down.

Lisa's green eyes widened as her perfectly manicured hands shot up in surprise,. "Really? You don't like makeup? What do you mean you're not into makeup? Every girl loves makeup! You should try it sometime."

I shrugged, feeling out of place. “It's just not really my thing.” I then suddenly remembered the time I stole Elena’s red lipstick and tried it on, just for fun. "Well, I did try on my nanny's red lipstick once," I admitted with a small smile.

Lisa gasped in excitement. "Oh my gosh, Mia! That's so cool! You can go even deeper and try on foundation, mascara and the likes, I will be so glad to show you the way!" I could not help but chuckle at Lisa's enthusiasm. I was glad that I had managed to impress her in some small way.

Meanwhile, Jamie, the star of the football team, was sitting at the other end of the table, surrounded by girls who were practically hanging off of him. "So, Andrew," he drawled in a lazy tone. "I heard you stood up to your mom the other day. That takes some serious guts."

Andrew grinned, looking pleased with himself. "Yeah, well, she was being totally unreasonable," he replied.

Damien, the quiet and brooding one at the table, nods in agreement. "I respect that," he says, his deep voice rumbling through the air. "It takes a lot of courage to stand up to authority like that."

I watched the guys talking, feeling like an outsider once again. I could not really relate to their conversation and I felt like I was intruding on their space but then Jamie’s attention soon turned to me, "So, Mia, what do you think of our little group?"

I looked around at the group of popular kids, trying not to feel too out of place. "Um, you guys seem pretty cool, I guess."

Jamie grinned, "That's because we are cool. And now that Andrew's back with us, we're even cooler."

Damien, also spoke, "Andrew's a good guy. He's always been there for us. I'm glad he's back with the group."

Andrew nodded in agreement, "Thanks, guys. It feels good to be back."

I looked at Andrew, feeling a sense of pride that he was accepted back into his friend group. "I'm glad you guys are all friends again. I was feeling guilty about it, to be honest."

Lisa looked at me curiously, "Why were you feeling guilty?"

I hesitated for a moment before speaking, "Well, I kind of feel like it was my fault that Andrew got dumped from the group in the first place. I don't know if I'm explaining it right, but I just feel like if I hadn't come into the picture, things would have been different."

Andrew put his arm around me instantly, "Hey, don't think like that. It's not your fault. It has nothing to do with you at all, I'm just glad to have you in my life now. These lots can just be crazy and stupid sometimes, do not take the credit for their foolishness." he joked and they laughed while I smiled at him, feeling grateful for his support. I was starting to feel like maybe I could fit in with this group after all. Having friends could not be that hard, right?

I took a deep breath as I head to the female locker room for PE. I could feel my heart racing as I knew that this was the perfect opportunity for the girls to attack me. As I entered the locker room, I began to change and tried to do so as quickly as possible, hoping to avoid any confrontation.

But just as I was putting on my gym shoes, I heard a commotion outside the locker room.

Suddenly, I found myself surrounded by the twins and some of the other girls who had been bullying me before. "Hey, look who it is," Laura, one of the twins said, smirking.

I braced myself for a fight, clenching my fists and preparing to defend myself but then laura laughed and handed me back the sweater I had borrowed her.

"Thanks for letting me borrow this last week. I really appreciate it," she said.

I was taken aback by the unexpected cordiality. I wasn't sure what to make of it. The girls were still not friends, but at least they weren't trying to punch her in the face every second.

"You're welcome," I said, trying to sound nonchalant. I felt a sense of relief wash over me, but also confusion.

The twins and their group of friends then walked away, leaving me to finish changing in peace. As I put on my gym clothes, I couldn't help but wonder what the encounter meant. Were the girls trying to make amends? Or was this just a temporary truce?

I wondered if this is just a ploy to lure me into a false sense of security, or if the girls were genuinely trying to make amends. Either way, I knew that I could not let my my guard down just yet. As I finished hanging and head out to join the rest of the class for PE, I could not help but feel grateful for the brief respite from the constant bullying.

Was this what being popular meant?