Chapter 11: Reputation

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Chapter 11: Reputation

Finn's POV

I was on a bench outside the school library, alone, reading a book. The sunlight shining through the leaves of the trees above me hitting my book in random spots, it made it seem like I was in a painting. It was a beautiful day. I had completely forgotten about Friday and frankly, every day that occurred last week. 

No one tried to attack me the whole day I was on school, but it still gave me anxieties. Looking back my shoulder everywhere I go, making sure there were enough people in the bathroom so Chad couldn't beat me up again. 

I jumped when someone sat down beside me, I looked urgently but only to see Heather there, a bright smile on her face.

"I've been looking for you, Finn."

"Oh, well, uh, I wanted to finish the novel I left a couple weeks ago, and the smell of school just annoys me so I just read outside. What are you doing this late here anyway? Where's your aunt?" I asked her to which her face fell a little.

"Well, she said she was gonna be late, I've been waiting for fifteen minutes."

I nodded and I was about to continue on my book when I heard my name being called. I looked up to see a group of cheerleaders walking across the quad, and they were waving at me. 

My brows furrowed but nonetheless, I still waved back to them. After they were gone, I looked at Heather just to see that she had the same reaction as me. 

"What was that?" I said with an awkward laugh. 

"Hey, are you Finn Vasco?" I looked at the source of the voice and saw another cheerleader who I recognize as one of the popular, pick-me girls. Once she saw my face, she gasped, slapped a hand over her mouth before squealing away like a little girl.

"Who the hell are you-?" I whispered under my breath.

"Oh my God, I think you're famous, Finn." Heather said out of the blue in excitement.

I snickered. "That's ridiculous-"

"Guys, look, it's that Finn guy!" I heard just as I was speaking, and I looked to see a group of people holding books, they looked away instantly as soon as they noticed me looking at them.

"What the hell is happening?" I asked to no one.

Heather burst out laughing. "Oh my God, Finn. I actually think you're famous."

I chuckled, the weird situation already forgotten. As our laughs die down, Heather replaced the silence with a sigh. 

"By the way, Finn, I kind of wanna invite you on a shopping trip with me this Thursday since... ya know." 

I then remembered that Oliver and Heather were going on a date this Friday, and I promised to help Heather with preparing for it. 

"Oh right, yeah, totally." I said as I avoided eye contact.

Based on the silence that replaced after I spoke, I knew Heather had started to suspect that something was wrong but to my relief, she decided to let it go.

"Oh, my aunt's here, I'll see you tomorrow, Finn." She bid goodbye with a simple wave to which I returned.

I sighed, going back to reading my book but I guess, I should've known better than to think that I can ever have a peaceful moment for a second.

The book was violently ripped from my hold, I looked up to see a brunette girl holding my book and beside her was the one and only, Queen B, Bella Lee-Evans.

I rolled my eyes and waited for the two to speak.

"So, I've been hearing from the streets, little Finn here's rising on the rep leaderboard?" The brunette said.

"Huh? What are you talking about?" I asked dryly, my eyes on the book dangling carelessly as the girl held it by the corners.

Bella shoved her phone towards my face and I was met with a long list ending at 100. At #1, sitting prettily was Bella, and at #2 was Oliver. The list went on until I saw my name... at the 25th spot.

"Have you been living under a rock? This is a list based on the reputation of every single Lancaster High student and it is updated every second." Bella explained... very aggressively.

I made a face. "You guys actually pay attention to that whole popularity bull crap? What are you? A child-? Actually, you don't need to answer that." I ranted in disbelief.

"Yeah? And what about it? You probably do too, for your name to even get as close as to entering the Top 25." The brunette vulture said.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. "Oh my God, I literally couldn't care less for that stupid leaderboard. What's that gonna do anyway? Help me improve my life? Give me my soulmate? Give me mental stability?"

"No, dumbass. Once you enter the top six until the end of the year, then you are invited to the Annual Lancaster Gala. And the three highest male and females in position will be automatically nominated for Prom King and Queen."

She looked proud when she finished talking, a thin smile on her face as her eyes continued to look down at me patronizingly.

"And I should care, because...?" 

"You're hopeless. It doesn't matter, you'll never get in my level and you'll never enter the Top 15. Toodle-oo, darling."

And just when I thought they were finally done with their desire to spread abomination, the brunette threw my book into a puddle of water. I frowned but I didn't move an inch to at least save my book. The two disappeared around the corner in evil laughter as parting gifts after that nauseating interaction.

Once they were gone. Oliver's sweet face replaced their demonic ones as he turned the corner. His hair was damp from probably taking a shower.

"Hey." I greeted briefly before my eyes shot to the ground.

"What's with the long face, you okay?" He asked as he plopped down on the seat beside me.

I gave him a reassuring smile. "Nothing serious. Just some annoying people bothering me, as usual." 

He nodded and just as I thought he was satisfied, his eyes fell on the puddle in front of us. 

He pointed at it. "Is that yours?" He said as he picked it up carefully.

"Yep." I said dryly.

He scanned the front of the book curiously before his eyes widened in familiarity. "You know, I have the same book I carry around so I can read when I'm bored." 

"Really?" 

He rummaged through his backpack and showed the same book to me. My eyes widened at the sight for some odd reason. 

"Wow, what a coincidence."

Oliver looked at me expectantly before her rolled his eyes playfully. "I'm giving it to you, dummy." He said as his signature smile made its way onto his lips.

My face felt all hot all of a sudden, from his attractive smirk to his gesture, I didn't know what this guy was doing to me.

"Are you sure? You said you love this."   

"Yeah, and that's why I have another copy at home. Just take this. Sorry for all the folds and scratches, I've had it since last year." He apologized sheepishly.

"Thanks..." I responded, a small smile playing on my lips to which I desperately hid as I tucked Oliver's book into my back.

I was about to say more when a voice called out to Oliver. I looked to see Jason approaching. I tensed when I noticed that he had Chad beside him, I unconsciously gripped Oliver's arm.

Chad noticed me and his face twisted into a scowl. "You. What the hell are you doing here-"

"Chad, can you shut up for at least two seconds?" Oliver stood up, shielding Chad from me.

"You're talking his side? He's a nothing but a fa-"

"I'm not letting you call him that." Oliver responded, his voice going deeper than I expected.

Chad squinted his eyes. "Why not? Huh? Is it because you like him? You have a crush on that?" He pointed at me as his face soured, like I was some disgusting thing.

"What? What are you-"

"Chad! Please, just leave us alone." Jason responded. He stood beside me, an arm wrapped around my shoulder like some sort of protection from the seething demon in front of us.

"I can't believe you two. Okay fine!" He huffed, shooting me a glare. "You're dead." He threatened before stomping away like a petulant child.

"Sounds like someone needs a snickers." I joked. 

. . .

Thursday arrived faster than I had thought. 

Heather and I were walking through the mall, the smell of new clothes, air conditioning and the sweet smell of food bringing back a lot of memories of going to the mall when I was little and now I'm here, going without my parents.

"What are you gonna buy anyway?" I asked Heather.

"I actually need help with that. Should I go with a dress or just a normal outfit or what?"

"I don't know, whatever you're comfortable in." 

She led me to a branded store, formal dresses displayed in the front of the shop. As we were looking through the racks, I heard Heather muttering to herself.

"Oh my God. Why am I so nervous?" She whispered.

"You doing okay there?"

She jumped a little, her head whipping towards me. "Oh, y-yeah! Just a little nervous." She gave me a small smile which she seemed to be an expert at faking.

I debated on giving her advice. Because as selfish as it sounds, a tiny part of me wanted their date to be a complete flop but despite that, I still let the most part of me which wanted the best for them to take over my actions. 

"Hey Heather, let's sit down for a moment." I led her to one of the benches inside the store. 

"What is it?"

"You've been on a date with Oliver, right? You've spent time with him. You know him. It's totally fine to be nervous, that's normal. But I'm sure Oliver is experiencing the same thing right now. Asking his bros how to court a lady." I said with a reassuring smile.

Heather laughed suddenly. "Asking his 'bros'." She pointed out which made me laugh along with her. 

"I'm trying to be serious!" I said, failing to hide my smile.

"Okay, but Oliver is confident. I know he probably doesn't care right now, I know he's not freaking out." She said, her smile slowly fading away.

I wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "Heather, please shut up."

She let out another laugh. "You're so cute, Finn." She playfully pinched my cheek.

"I'm not." I insisted.

The two of us fell in silence, giving the both of us the time to think but then she suddenly spoke.

"Yeah right, anyway. Enough about me. I wanna know what's up with your life." 

My brows furrowed at her unusual question. "Huh? What about my life?" 

"Your love life to be specific." She smiled mischievously. 

I sighed. I was scared she was gonna bring it up. "Eh, I'm not interested in that."

Lies.

"I'm not crushing on anyone right now."

Lies.

"And probably never."

Lies. Lies. LIES.

Heather raised an eyebrow, her eyes narrowed. "Uhuh." 

"What?"

She raised an eyebrow suggestively. "Are you sure? 'Cause have you seen Jason? He's literally your perfect match. He's nice and cute. But I'm only suggesting though." 

My face scrunched. "I don't know about that, I kinda see Jason as a guy best friend I never had." 

Heather shrugged. "I guess, but that guy is a total catch." She nudged me.

I smiled but it quickly fell as I looked to the side, my thoughts once again racing one another.

. . . 

"What do you think of this?" Heather held up a sparkly dark blue dress.

"Eh, too sparkly."

She looked at the dress again, her brows furrowed. "I thought so too. How about this?" She held up another dress and...

"That's... not a dress, that's a fishing net." 

"What do you mean?"

"You can't even cover your mistakes up with that." 

She sighed defeatedly, plopping down on the chair. "Dang, I'm hopeless." 

I let out a laugh, seating down beside her. "Heather, don't stress about it too much. Just choose whatever you're comfortable." 

"It's not that though. I already found good outfits to wear. It's the actual date I'm nervous about." 

"Haven't you gone to dates before? What's so different about this one?" I asked.

She ran a hand over her face. "Well, besides that it would probably be awkward because of Homecoming, it's just that... I'm getting shyer and more awkward around him now." 

"Why?"

"I-I don't know, I'm liking him more day by day, so that's that. Also, we're going to this really expensive restaurant." She admitted, a grimace forming on her face.

I stopped for a moment, realizing what she just said. 

"I'm liking him more day by day."

I let my hand drop to my lap that was previously rubbing Heather's back, my mood dropping down to a 0.

"You okay, Finn?" 

I gave her a forced smile to reassure her. "I'm fine. It's just... are you sure?"

Now, it was her turn to furrow her brows. "Am I sure... about what?"

"That you... uh, like Oliver?"

"Gosh. I don't even know where to start. Besides his good looks, it's the fact that he actually has an attractive personality, most good looking people are bland but he's different, just everything about him is so unique. And now I'm like a fool, everything he does just makes my chest... feel all warm and I get butterflies in my stomach. You get what I mean?"

Yeah, more than you know.

"Uh, are you sure? Maybe it's the mold on your food making your stomach like that-"

"What are you talking about, Finn?" She said as she gave me a worried look. "Because usually, you're in full support, are you feeling alright?"

I looked away, guilt filling my gut as I realized what I'd been trying to do this whole time. I'd been trying to make Heather feel uncertain for the date, I'm becoming toxic.

"S-Sorry, I was just... worried. Anyway, let's just... let's just handle your date." I said, continuing to avoid eye contact.

She frowned at me before sighing. "Okay..." 

The two of us went silent for a few moments as we thought over a possible solution to the dilemma... Before Heather suggested something that I wish I never agreed to.

"Finn... Can you come with me on the date?"



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