Not My Girlfriend
884 Words
“Mr. De Luca.”
The professor adjusted his glasses.
“Since you seem more interested in passing notes than listening to my lecture…”
He smiled.
“Why don’t you read it aloud for the class?”
The room erupted into quiet laughter.
Alexander glanced at the folded note in his hand.
Then at Isabella.
She looked horrified.
“If you don’t mind, Professor,” Alexander said calmly, “I’d rather not.”
“Oh?”
The professor crossed his arms.
“And why is that?”
Alexander held up the note.
“Because it wasn’t written for the whole class.”
A few students whistled.
Emma buried her face in her hands.
“Oh, this is getting good.”
The professor chuckled.
“Fair enough.”
He returned to the lecture.
The class slowly settled down.
Isabella let out the breath she’d been holding.
“Thanks,” she whispered.
Alexander leaned closer.
“So…”
“So what?”
“What girlfriend?”
She looked straight ahead.
“You know exactly what I mean.”
“I don’t.”
She turned to him.
“The girl outside.”
“Victoria?”
“Yes.”
“What about her?”
Isabella blinked.
“You really want me to explain it?”
“I do.”
She lowered her voice.
“She called you ‘darling.’”
“Mmm.”
“She wanted you to kiss her.”
“She did.”
“And she held your arm.”
“She did that too.”
Isabella folded her arms.
“So…”
Alexander couldn’t help smiling.
“You think she’s my girlfriend.”
“Isn’t she?”
Instead of answering…
He looked toward the professor to make sure he wasn’t watching.
Then he leaned in just enough for only Isabella to hear.
“I’ll answer that.”
His voice was barely above a whisper.
“But not here.”
Before Isabella could ask what he meant, he sat back in his chair.
The rest of the lecture felt endless.
When class finally ended, students poured into the hallway.
Emma grabbed Isabella’s arm.
“I’ll meet you at the café.”
“What?”
Emma winked.
“I think someone wants to talk to you.”
She hurried away before Isabella could stop her.
Isabella turned around.
Alexander was waiting outside the classroom.
Hands in his pockets.
As if he had nowhere else to be.
“You planned that, didn’t you?” she asked.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”
“You told Emma.”
“I didn’t.”
“So why did she leave?”
He shrugged.
“Maybe she’s smarter than we thought.”
She rolled her eyes.
“You’re impossible.”
“So I’ve been told.”
They walked down the hallway together.
Students stared openly.
Some whispered.
Others pulled out their phones.
Alexander didn’t seem to notice.
“So…” Isabella said.
“You promised to answer me.”
“I did.”
He stopped walking.
“So ask.”
She took a deep breath.
“Is Victoria your girlfriend?”
For a second…
Alexander simply stared at her.
Then…
He laughed.
Not loudly.
Just enough to make Isabella frown.
“What’s funny?”
“The fact that everyone thinks that.”
“So…?”
“No.”
He answered without hesitation.
“Victoria isn’t my girlfriend.”
Isabella searched his face.
“Really?”
“I’ve never dated her.”
“But she—”
“I know.”
He sighed.
“Victoria likes pretending.”
“Pretending?”
“Our families have known each other forever.”
“She acts like we’re already a couple.”
“And you let her?”
“I’ve told her to stop.”
“Does she?”
He gave her a look.
“What do you think?”
She couldn’t help smiling.
“So…”
“You’re single?”
Alexander smiled back.
“Very.”
Something fluttered inside Isabella’s chest.
Before she could say anything else…
A sharp voice interrupted them.
“Alexander.”
They turned.
Victoria stood at the end of the hallway.
Her smile was gone.
She had seen everything.
The laughter.
The smiles.
The way they stood so close together.
She walked toward them slowly.
When she reached Isabella, she smiled sweetly.
“I was looking for you.”
Alexander frowned.
“What is it?”
Victoria ignored him.
Instead, she looked directly at Isabella.
“Would you excuse us for a minute?”
Isabella hesitated.
“I…”
“It’s about Alexander.”
Alexander immediately spoke.
“Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of Isabella.”
Victoria’s eyes flashed with irritation.
Then she smiled again.
“Of course.”
She reached into her handbag.
Pulled out a small velvet box.
And placed it in Alexander’s hand.
“I think you should give this back to me.”
Alexander looked down at the box.
His expression changed.
“Victoria…”
“Go on,” she said softly.
“Open it.”
Confused, he lifted the lid.
Inside…
Was a diamond engagement ring.
Victoria turned to Isabella and smiled.
Then, loud enough for everyone in the hallway to hear, she said—
“Tell her why you’ve been carrying my engagement ring.”
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