Virtual Ink October//November 2013 | Page 8

ble, but everyone can’t take their eyes off you. You may think that they think of you as a rich brat, but they just don’t want to offend you or your family. Maybe no one gave you a second look, but maybe they were trying not to stare. And I would sit here the rest of my life, if that is how long it would take you to feel better. But I do hope that it doesn’t take that long, because I still have a lot of things that I would like to do with you.” I smile at that last part. “So are you going to tell me what is bothering you, or will I have to sit here for another week to find out?” he asks, looking concerned. “It’s my mom,” I start. “She is inviting some rich kid and his family over to our house this weekend, and apparently he is supposed to be my boyfriend for some publicity or something, and I don’t even know who he is. My mom won’t ever tell me who these people are, and she springs them onto me all the time. One minute she is having a ball for me with hundreds of boys who she wants me to get to know, and the next she has basically hired a boyfriend for me, and the next she is setting me up with another boy just so she can get publicity for a new product. And I don’t like any of these boys. They are all snotty and puffed up, and treat me like trash. They expect me to swoon all over them like the rest of the girls, but I am not anything like all those other girls. And I just don’t know what to do,” I finish, letting out a sigh. “Well, for one, your mother has no right to do that to you. Second, none of those boys should treat you like that. And third, maybe this next guy won’t be so bad. I mean, it’s not like he could be any worse than the rest of them, right? And maybe he really might be better than them. And if not, we can hang out after class next Monday, and we can figure out a way to make your mother stop doing this.” “You’d do that for me?” I ask, feeling much better after finally telling someone about all this, and hearing that he actually cares. “Yes, I would. But I have a feeling that this next guy won’t be so bad. Although I hope that he’s not too great, ‘cause then I might loose you,” he adds, smiling down at me. I laugh at that last part. “I hope you’re right. But don’t worry, no one could ever replace you,” I finish, smile back up at him. We sit there for a minute, staring into each other’s eyes, and then he leans in and kisses me on my forehead. “I sure hope not.” He then stands up and offers me his hand. I )?????????????$??????????$??????????????)?????????????????????????q]?????????)?????$????e????????????????????????????t??????????$???????????????????????)???????$????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????)=?????????????????????????]?????$)?????????????????????????????????????)????????????$??????????=????????????????)????????????????????)1?????e????????????)$?????????????????????????????????)?????$?????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????????)????????????????????????????????????)???????????????)???????????????????????????????????????$?????????????????????????)??????????$??????????????????????????)????????$??????e??????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????)?????????????????????????????????????)?????????????$????????????$?????e???????)??????????$???????????????????????????)$??????????????????????????)?????????????$?????e???????????$????((?((