The Boyfriend List

Eloise

“Things that I love/find interesting about Chase Tyler: He’s a ENTJ just like me.”

I was walking tall and proud across campus in my power ensemble. Pink was a passionate color that my magazine claimed would bring me good luck this week, and I was here for it! Normally, I’d stick to greens, but I felt since this was my first day in a new place, I could use all the luck I could get.

And lucky I was. I pinched the strap of my dress, admiring the color that I had picked against the shade of my skin. It was literally perfect. Everything today was literally perfect.

Except for stupid old Ravi ignoring me.

But who cared? I was going to be the talk of the town now that everyone knew that I was Chase Tyler’s lab partner. I checked my FaceSpace again, looking as all the comments rolled in. People were gushing, telling me how lucky I was. I had to agree. The only thing I needed now was a picture to prove it. I wasn’t one for lying to the public.

It had occurred to me earlier that maybe this afternoon during my free time that I track down Chase’s exact whereabouts. For as much as I knew about him, there was still recon that I needed to do. He was a celebrity, so I knew that some of my normal go-to’s would not cut it. Pulling out my trusted file-a-dex, I scoped through some of my more successful social manipulations that were used to ploy the opposite s*x.

1. Laugh freely at anything funny to show off my perfect teeth. Smile demurely when spoken to.

2. Have a set of interesting facts available that are pertinent to the conversation that can be naturally worked in. Nothing too stilted. Needs to be referring back to me.

3. Pretend to be helpless until trust is created.

4. Bring baked goods to school in hopes that he will try something you made.

5. Use my melodic singing voice as a Siren to lure him.

6. Impress him with an act of kindness.

7. Write a note complimenting his outfit.

I almost laughed as I ripped the page out of the book. Those gimmicks worked in high school on regular guys, but they wouldn’t get me very far here. Knowing this was going to take some brain power, I headed to my dorm room where I could safely change and slip away off campus. This girl needed some wheat grass and soy.

Pouting into the mirror back in my room, I fingered through all of my clothes. My style was so unique! I was spotted from miles away simply from the class with which I presented myself. Oh, to have a day of normalcy where I didn’t have to be everyone’s friend…

And that’s when the newest, most brilliant, single, elusive, thought provoking idea entered my head: I’d dress as Veridian. Her closet was right there. No one spoke to her in public with her dowdy expressions and love for separation.

It was perfect.

Why had I never thought of it before?

Really, she should be thankful that I had taken this long to try and put her on the map. I had been so waiting to take her style and perfect it, but she was always blabbering to Mom how I was sticking my nose into places that it wasn’t needed…but today, and this opportunity I couldn’t surpass.

I picked through her closet and drawers, layering the perfect combination together. Twisting and turning in the mirror, I could have kissed myself! No one would ever suspect that it was me. I was the completed version of what her style should have been. Oh, the possibilities that she could have if she would just try…

Without another worry, I popped down to the parking lot and scurried away in my car. I was free! At long last, I could breathe without someone noticing me and bugging me.

I wondered if I’d like that.

I didn’t have long to mull it over, because before I knew it, I was pulling up to the local Smoothie Sensations Lab. The sun was high in the sky, and my mood was bright, but as soon as my foot hit the pavement, I donned one of Veridian’s tired expressions.

Pulling open the door, I stood with my hip c****d to the side in line. “How droll,” I made myself think as I pulled my phone from my pocket. What would Veridian be doing now? Huffing?

No.

I studied the menu, already knowing what I was going to order, but took the opportunity to practice my eye roll.

A chair scraped against the floor behind me, and a deep voice called out. “Vera? I-I m-mean, Veridian?” It took a second for me to acknowledge they were talking to me as I slowly turned around.

“Yes?” It was Chase. Freaking. Tyler. Slowly getting up from his chair. “How did you know it was me?” The words were slow coming from my mouth. I felt my mouth turning up into a smile, and quickly had to squash that sensation.

Veridian never smiled.

“What?” He laughed as he came to stand closer. “I didn’t know if there’d be an opportunity to see you again today. I still feel really bad about what happened earlier.”

“Oh, you do?” I was surprised. Surprised that they had met. Surprised that he knew her name. Surprised that he was even deeming her worthy to talk to! “Remind me what happened again?”

“You know… when I bumped you in the library. Geez, must have hit you harder than I thought.” He scratched at the back of his neck, his eyes looking at me sheepishly. “Can I buy your smoothie? It’s the least I can do!” He scrambled forward to stand beside me in line.

Secretly pleased but silently abhorred at the thought of he and Vera speaking, I obliged only for the information that I was seeking. “It’s OK.” I gritted through clamped teeth. Searching my brain for something Vera would say, I quelled the gush that wanted to spring forth. “I honestly probably needed a good smack to the face.”

His shocked body turned to face mine. “Your face?! Oh, gawsh, I’m so sorry. I knew when we were getting up from the floor, I had probably bruised something—” He continued talking, but my brain was too busy overreacting to listen.

He’d been in the floor.

Tangled up with VERA.

I could feel my breaths coming out in short puffs.

How could she possibly ruin something this good for me when she didn’t even know who Chase. Freaking. Tyler was?? The man behind the counter asked what I’d like, and I rattled off my order, too distracted to fully go into detail how important it was that he use almond milk.

“The total is $6.59.” I looked expectantly to Chase who was trying to get his card from his wallet. “Here, my good man.” He chuckled as the acne-d teen accepted his card.

“Uhm, it’s declining it.” He handed the card back, his face beet red as his beady eyes shifted between the two of us.

“That’s embarrassing. Weird.” He took a quick glance in my direction before handing another card over the counter.

“Sorry, this one’s no good.” The boy handed it back over the counter to Chase’s flushed face. In this type of situation, I would normally spring in, chew out the boy behind the counter for appearing to be annoyed or disrespectful, and demand a refund and two free drinks! That’s what one did for their boo!

But that’s not how Veridian would’ve handled this, I was reluctant to admit.

Pulling a card from my own wallet, I simply passed it over the counter. “It’s not a big deal.” I huffed, hoping to seem bothered. “I should’ve gotten it in the first place.”

“It’s just I probably need to call my manager.” He apologized, his hands coming to stuff into his pockets. Why was Veridian bringing this type of reaction out of him?

Probably because it was me playing Veridian, I surmised. He wouldn’t normally be this off-put. It was my charisma that drew him in.

Sifting through my noggin for another Veridian comment, I selected one that was known for zinging its recipient. “Let’s not make that same mistake again.”

Watching him stumble over himself for lack of response, I felt justified in walking out. His few ragged words that trailed after me gave me another scintillating idea…

What if I were to get Chase Tyler to fall in love with me as Veridian?