T H R E E

[Lance Gabriel Lawson's Point-of-View]

I walked faster. I rolled my eyes heavenward even though I know he can't see it. Go on, Lance. Don't mind him. But we are receiving unwanted attention but nah! I don't care.

"Lance!"

Oh! I guess he couldn't take it anymore. I stopped and shrugged. Why am I like this? It's because I'm mad! I'm mad at Tom! But thinking about it, what's the point right? It's there – I mean, she's already here. Like literally.

"What?" I asked the girl-who-claims-I'm-her-boyfriend.

"Well, hello to you too." She said with a smile.

Then here comes Tom. Well, I should listen to his 'explanation'.

"Lance."

"What?" I turned around and pulled my earphones out.

"Look, I did this for your own good." I heard him say but I shrugged.

If he was truly my friend, he would have asked for my permission. And what did he say? Girlfriend-for- hire? Is there such thing that exists? Isn't that against human rights?

"I'm sorry, alright?" I looked at him and he gave me his well – cute look. The girls around the campus 'awww'ed and what he did and I – well, Ew! I don't do cute-y looks. I'm a type of boy which likes to do the cold and charming ones.

"Fine." I said and he looked up. "I'm forgiving you but I'm not accepting the offer." I said and immediately went to my room leaving them two behind.

*

I went inside our classroom. Nothing changed. Same faces and same 'I don't give a f*ck' expression from me. I'm not really close to my classmates. Why? Come to think of it, do I have to? No way in the world I would.

I know I'm mean but having these kinds of classmates? I would rather be alone than to feel left out. In addition, it's pretty hard to be with a group of people just to feel not alone. Not everybody wants to be friends – some just use you because of 'something' they don't have. One example is money and another is fame.

I just grabbed my sketch pad from my bag and started drawing. This is how I spend my free time in school. And if I'm in a bad mood – one reason is that I left my sketch pad.

There's still five minutes left before class starts. Tch. Who knows how long five minutes can be? I shrugged. As I draw a line – 'almost' a perfect straight line. But unfortunately, someone hit my table making my sketch pad move along. I was about to glare and cuss at the person but when I looked up; I was greeted with an unfamiliar face – a transfer student.

"Is this seat taken?" she asked as she pointed at the seat at my right. Being the cold usual me, "Are you blind? You can actually see that no one is seating, no bag either. Guess?" I shook my head slightly.

"Well I won't ask you if I knew, didn't I?" I stopped drawing because of her remark. "Do I know if you're reserving this seat for someone? This, please?" she said and pointed her finger to the left side of her forehead.

My jaw dropped. Nobody dared to talk back to me. Not even Tom and Andrew can. I watched her take her seat beside me. I wondered. Even though we had such conversation, she still went to take that seat? I looked at her. Well, I can tell she's good looking, but not stunning like the girl I met earlier but still attractive.

She probably noticed I was looking at her. "Well?" I shrugged. "I'm Lance." I introduced. She stared at first, "Amber." We shook hands. Well, it isn't bad to have a friend at least (right?)

*

"I'm home." I went inside the apartment. I saw a girl wearing a black shirt along with black pants and converse sneakers.

"Who are you?" I asked. The girl stood up. "Hello! I'm Nikki, Andrew's girl friend." I shrugged before something sinks in.

"Ah! You must also be from that age-"she nodded before I can even finish my statement. Well, she's probably quick-witted.

"Well, good bye then." I say before going to my room. But before I could step inside my room, I heard Tom's voice.

"Lance! Hold up!"

"What?" I gave a cold answer.

"Let's talk about this." He said with pleading eyes.

"Fine."

-

"Are you crazy? Why would I go out with her? I don't even know her." I say frustrated. "We don't even know – it might be a scam."

"It isn't alright." Tom says and I gave him a cold shoulder. "Still NO."

"Hear me out, Lance." "I'm doing this for you." He said and I boiled in anger. "For me? But I don't need one! You know that –"

"That's exactly why!" I stopped and flinched when I heard Tom's voice. His eyes show hint of devastation and seriousness. "Because of HER, you became arrogant and cold again but far more badly. You may seem okay but I'm your best friend, Lance! I know if you are okay or not. I know if something's bothering you. I know if you're just faking it or not. And definitely, you aren't okay 'because you still love her and still thinking about the pain she caused."

"I hired and paid her to become your rebound. She agreed and their agency told us that it's part of their service." He put a large envelope at the table, giving it to me. "That's the documents; contract including the rules and their information." He stood up and walked past me.

"I'm just worried that you still blame yourself about the pain. Think about it. At least give her a chance – a month at least. If you still don't want to, then I'll take her back." He said before leaving my room.

After Tom left, someone knocked.

"Why are you still here? You're not welcome here." I said, knowing who it is.

Yeah. I can't control my anger. Another 'disorder' of mine.

"Wow. How sweet of my boyfriend." I sighed. Boyfriend?

"How – never mind." I say before waving my hand but not looking at her. "Go home. It's late already." I say. "Plus, I'm not your boyfriend."

"But according to the contract… for the next 3 months, I'll be your girlfriend. Whether you like it or not."

I stood up and pushed her outside of my room. "The heck I care about contracts." And locked the door.