A Cupid's Guide To Fake Dating

Chapter 2

THE FIRST PERIOD of the first day of my junior year kicked off with an academic class that I'd dreaded since my days in school. Chemistry.

‘Elena!’ I turned around to see Maria Esmeralda, the only person I had as a friend in school. Maria was a beautiful, dark skinned girl with full dark hair and beautiful blue eyes. She was the kind of friend who was more academically and more motivated than I was, more than I could admit. 

‘Hey you,’ I greeted her, taking my note out of my locker. ‘Did you get my text?’

Just then something vibrated from her bag and she dug her hands in to bring out her phone. She glanced at it and a tiny smile appeared on her lips. ‘I’ve seen it now.’ 

I closed my locker with an exasperated sigh. ‘Guess I’ll be having chemistry then.’

Her face turned sour as she opened her own locker and brought out her glasses case. ‘Why did you want me to fill in for you?’

‘Because I hate chemistry, that’s why.’ I purposely counted my steps, walking as slowly as I could, so I would miss the class. 

‘Too bad, you're going to have this class.’

Hearing a crash, we turned our heads and found a group of boys walking into the school's hallway. One of them was on a skateboard racing ahead and forcing people out of the way. Echoes of yells and cheering filled the hallway as students laughed at the teachers who ran to catch the felon who just happened to be Ethan Rodriguez.

Ethan Rodriguez was another one of Austin's friends. All of them happened to be skaters too which made them even more admired by the whole school, except for the teachers. They were always hanging out together. Then there was Martin's Grey who I heard brought a dog to school at times, although no one had ever seen it or dared to ask him about it. Andre Wills was more of the silent type who came from a wealthy family which made me wonder why he hung out with the likes of them. And then, we had my brother. Lay was the lazy bum in their group. He had average grades and mostly slept through classes. Plus his sarcasm matched that of Raymond it almost scared Mum and I.

‘Stop right there, Rodriguez!’ One of the teachers yelled. I watched as the other guys strolled in like they owned the hallway, my gaze stopping at Austin. Ugh, God, I hated him. He always moved around like he owned the school and with his girlfriend, Kana Donovan who was, excuse my words, the school's b***h. I wasn't one to cuss, but she fit that description perfectly. She always wore skirts that were too short, carried hair too long and her makeup too much. I mean, Maria used makeup at times but she never looked like a clown in it. I had no idea what Austin saw in her. He had really bad taste.

This was the second time our eyes were meeting today and I didn’t like it. With a glare my way, he and his henchmen walked past us and I stomped off to chemistry class, Maria following behind.

***

My phone dinged after chemistry class and I opened it to log onto my website. It was a message from my blog..

Dear cupid! It worked! The advice you gave me worked. James asked me out on a date and we even had our first kiss and now we are dating. I’m so happy! Thank you so much Cupid!

I smiled in satisfaction before logging off. I brought out my journal from my bag and after scribbling a few words down, I stored it back where I always kept it; a small compartment in my bag.

Funny as it was for someone like me, the girls in my school always looked up to me for love advice. Anonymously, I had created a website called Cupid's lair. There I gave advice to anyone who needed it. The school called me Cupid but they had no idea Elena Pierce was Cupid and I planned to keep it that way. Plus, my job was pretty simple. I just helped do what the fat chubby baby with diapers and a love arrow did; target, aim and shoot.

And that was the secret I had as a normal girl just living a normal life.

***

AUSTIN GARCIA'S POV

‘WE ARE DONE!’ Kana yelled, her face all puffy and her eyes red. I knew she was expecting me to say something. Most probably drag her back and pull her close in my arms while muttering the words, ‘No baby, don’t go. I can’t live without you.’

I almost scoffed. As if.

‘Okay,’ I deadpanned and the look of horror on her face was more satisfying than the chocolate cookies I loved so much.

‘You heartless bastard.’ And with that said she turned around and walked away. It took me five minutes to realise my mistake. I had just broken up with Kana. Clearly this situation bothered me way more than going cashless. You see I had a reputation in school. Kana was the school’s cheerleader and I was the school’s badass (not meaning to brag or anything). People thought we made the perfect intimidating couple, but in all honesty, the only reason I dated Kana was because having a reputation as one of the most attractive guys who couldn’t go a day without a girl was one of the coolest things to me. Kana and I dated for a year and a half and now she was gone.

SHIT!

A nearby crash and yell caught my attention and I turned to see Ethan struggling on his skateboard.

‘I’d like to see you skate before I grow white hairs, Rodriguez!’ Martins shouted as he watched Ethan look down the pipeline he was planning on skating down.

‘Shut your pipe hole! I’m tryna concentrate.’ Ethan said with a glare.

With a sigh, I walked over to where they were. Ethan had good skills as a skater but there were times he could be such a cry baby. He could never bring himself to go down steep edges.

‘This could take a while.’ Lay said. He was leaning against the wall, one foot on his skateboard, the other planted casually against the wall. Then he looked at me with a sly grin. ‘Make him move. I need to get home before seven or my mom’s going to be mad.’

‘Oh, that I got to see.’ Andre said, taking out his camera. ‘I could bribe him with this later on.’

Nodding to my guys, I walked over to Martins and Ethan.

‘Austin, buddy.’ Ethan started shakily when he saw me. His blue eyes widening with fear as though he knew why I was there. ‘Do you think I can sit this one down?’

I made a show about thinking and then answered, 'Nope.’ And then I proceeded with pushing his leg on his skateboard causing him to start down on his own in horrified shrieks. Andre rushed over with his camera in his hand cheering silently alongside Martins. I turned to Lay and he offered a satisfied smile.

‘Austin, I am going to kill you!’ Ethan cried as his ride came to a stop. He looked up at us. ‘How do I get back up?’

‘Figure that out!’ I yelled down at him and walked away. Andre and Martins watched him try to get out before offering to help.

‘Well, that was a nice one.’ Lay commented. ‘I worry Ethan wouldn’t be completely ready though and the competition is two months away.’

‘Which is why we would all be entering.’ I told him.

He stared at me in disbelief. ‘All of us? I thought Martins and Ethan would handle this.’

‘Change of plans. The more of us that enter, the bigger the chances that we will win.’

‘And what if we don’t?’ Doubt tainted his lips.

‘We will.’ I said firmly.

Lay frowned in response. Like any other person entering a competition, they all wanted some price at the end. As for me, I wanted the money involved in this competition. No, I needed it. It was the only way I could make up for what my family had lost. But then I’d be losing another thing if I didn’t act fast and think of someone to replace what I lost.

‘ I broke up with Kana.’ I said suddenly. Lay didn’t look all that surprised. Instead he let out a low laugh.

‘About time,’ said Martins coming from behind us. ‘That girl was beginning to irk the hell out of me.’

I faced him. ‘You said you liked her.’

' I lied.’ He shrugged.

‘Whatever, that doesn’t change the fact that I need a new girlfriend.’ I interjected.

‘That should be easy. A lot of girls fawn over you in school.’ Lay said.

I shook my head. ‘Not just any girl.’ And then tapped it. 'I need someone smart.’

‘Kana was smart.’ Martins joked, earning a laugh from Lay and a glare from me. Then he adjusted himself. ‘Why don’t you just take a break and lay off the dating for a while.’

I noticed Lay stifle another laugh and I rolled my eyes. ‘When have you ever seen me settle from dating? It’s something I enjoy doing. Is that a crime?’

‘It’s a crime if you don’t have real affections towards them. I mean you’ve dated seven girls, Austin and you have never ever truly loved one. I’m beginning to doubt your sexuality.’

I frowned at Martins’ words. It was a rare occasion but there were times Martins spoke like the eldest he was. ‘That’s because I haven’t found the right one yet.’

Martins patted my back. ‘Not to worry, in time she will come flying towards you like a bird in the sky.’

It was at that precise moment we heard another crash and a loud shriek like that of a girl. Although, half of it sounded like Ethan's.

‘What was that?’

The three of us rushed forward to inspect what had happened. We looked down the skate pipe to see Ethan and some girl lying on the floor.

‘Ow,’ the girl moaned as she got up slowly and rubbed her head. It took her some minutes but then her eyes widened in shock when she realised where she was.

I reacted in the same way because I wasn’t expecting her of all people to suddenly appear here. ‘Lay, isn’t that your-?’

‘Elena?’ Lay called and the said girl snapped her head up in more shock and confusion.