Not the Only Girl — Episode 2

Once college starts, we'll get back together. I refuse to lose to Selena. I stared at the message for a long time, then replied, okay? For the entire summer, I had struggled over whether to tell him about my acceptance to a college abroad. Now I didn't have to.

The room erupted. Marcus and Selena got pushed into the center. The two who fought every day were now flushed bright red. Marcus pulled Selena against his shoulder. Enough. We've only been together for a few minutes.

It's just a contract. Two months and we're done. The cheering only got louder. Wait, what about the Bella? Her heart rate was the highest after you two.

Yeah, she didn't even dare look at you the whole time. Every pair of eyes swung to me, but Marcus only flicked a glance my way, his voice flat. She's just a friend, not my type.

A casual, just a friend, erased over everything we'd ever had, and right on cue, I became the joke again. Hilarious. Childhood friend, so what? Plain face, average grades, why would Marcus ever go for her?

A nobody trying to land our school's golden boy. Know your place. I'd been hearing this for three years. The whole school knew I was in love with Marcus.

I never hid my feelings, but Marcus hid it perfectly. At school, he kept a careful distance between us at all times. When people teased him, he never reacted at all. But the moment we stepped off school, he'd lace his fingers through mine and walk me

pin me against an alley wall to kiss me.