3 Chapter 2: A Lie with Huge Consequences

After the 4th period, it was time for lunch. Both brothers took out their lunches and headed to their usual spot they sat at. Quickly, five other boys gathered around Trevor like moths to a flame.

They nodded respectfully to Conner, but did not say anything out of nervousness and fear. The boys all respected Conner and thought he was cool, but they believed he preferred the lone wolf life since he never bothered to talk much with them. These boys did not know that he wanted to have a conversation with them, too, but felt awkward to initiate, so he stayed silent.

The only person sitting relatively close was plain looking guy with thick glasses and short brown hair parted to the side. He was slumped over a textbook, writing things in his notebook from time to time. He looked like the definition picture of studious nerd.

Nobody knew why this boy always stuck to Conner's side though. Appearance wise, these did not seem to match each other. Many people believed the kid was Conner's errand boy who was being bullied to do his bidding. Some even thought Conner's good grades were because of the glasses boy. However contrary to their assumptions, these two were actually childhood, best friends.

"Brian, you know you're gonna have scoliosis at this rate if you keep reading with a hunched back like that", Conner pointed out to his friend's posture. Brian only scowled.

" Shut up. I heard there's a pop quiz next period, don't distract me. If you're gonna bother me at least feed me. I'll worry about my back when I become Quasimodo!" Brian impatiently said with his eyes glued to his book. Conner sighed and opening Brian's chips for him. He passed a handful of chips to Brian who hastily stuffed them in his mouth never taking his eyes off his book.

"This wouldn't happen if you studying properly the first time instead of playing your new stupid video game," Conner said rolling his eyes.

"Not everyone is as diligent as you! I'm fine with cramming. Besides, I was playing the new Kingdom Hearts! That game was a master piece! I don't regret a single second of playing it! You just don't appreciate true art!" Brian snorted, pushing his glasses up, arrogantly like an anime character.

Conner, inwardly cringed and chose not to say anything more. He just silently continued put pieces of food in Brian's hand and eating his own lunch.

When he was done eating, he decided to listen to the conversation his brother and his friends were having. He was aware eavesdropping wasn't a good habit. but with Brian occupied, he was bored.

"Hey you ever heard of Estelle?" a tan skinned kid asked.

"What's that? Perfume?" the pudgy boy asked.

"You uncultured pig. Estelle is a person! A beautiful one at that!" the tanned kid snorted.

"Oh you mean that new singer who's been pretty popular recently on the radio? I love her! I've been listening to her new song on repeat!" the freckled, ginger boy said.

"Bro, you still listen to radio? And for your information she's been singing for over a year now. Don't say you love her if you only know about her newest song, you uncultured swine!" the tanned boy said with a scowl.

"Shut up! Not everyone's a groupie like you. And stuff calling everyone an uncultured swine! It's unoriginal!" the freckled kid retorted, while punched the tanned kid's arm.

" Hmm, isn't Estelle the one who played in that new movie where a group of people lose their memories and play a death game to get their memories back?I haven't watched it yet. How'd she do?" the African-American kid asked.

"She did!" the freckled kid said in excitement, "since she's originally a singer and only had a small role in the movie, I wasn't confident in her acting skills, but she was amazing! i almost cried when her character died!"

" Exactly, she's a girl of many skills," the tanned kid said with gleaming eyes like that of a proud father.

"I don't know much about Estelle, but I heard she's real, damn cute," the blond boy says, stroking his chin. He shifts his attention to Trevor who hadn't spoken the whole time.

"Speaking of cute girls. Hey Trevor. I heard some news about you!" a blonde boy said with a smirk. Trevor shrugged and turned his head casually to the boy.

"Hm. what?" he replied sipping on a juice pouch.

"I heard around that a super cute girl from another school asked you out last week. I heard her name was Jenny Pine. I went to middle school with her. Dude, she's super hot. Are you dating her?" the blonde boy asked, eagerly.

"For now", Trevor replied with a dull smile, "She is really hot, but I hardly know her, so we're taking things as they come."

Conner grimaced. Turns out his brother was dating someone again. Trevor switched girlfriends often and all of them were always gorgeous. Trevor never had to ask the girls out first either. They always came to him. Conner cried inwardly with envy.

" I wish girls liked me as much, too," he thought, once again completely unaware of the secret admiration directed at him. Conner had a group of admirers that rivalled his brother's, but the poor girls despite their affection were intimidated by him. He would probably have no problem getting a girlfriend if he directly asked a girl. However, as the awkward person he is, asking a girl out was impossible for him.

"Damn you! I had a crush on her in the 8th grade! Man you always get all the hot ladies. They don't even bother to turn our way when you're around. Leave some for me, bro," the freckled kid said pretending to cry.

"Us, too," the others bickered.

"Not my problem", Trevor, lightly joked. The boys started cursing at him for being cold.

"Oh what about your bro? He's dating someone? He's gotta be, right? I bet he dates older, sexy ladies! Right?" the guys asked, not realizing Conner was listening in their conversation. He froze at their comment.

Trevor frowned in slight discomfort. He never liked others assuming things about him or his family, especially his twin who already had negative false rumors about him.

"That's your own weird preference. My brother actually prefers the fluffy, cute kind of girls," Trevor corrected. He turned his head to Conner, meeting his eyes before Conner could avert them. Trevor already figured Conner was listening to their conversation.

"Besides why are you asking me when the man's right here," Trevor said, redirecting everyone's attention to Conner. That was when they noticed Conner was looking at them and they panicked.

"Did he hear us?" they thought, "Crap, now that I think of it talking about someone when they're right there is pretty rude!"

"O-our bad, that was rude of us to ask about your business," the boys apologized, in unison, " We were just curious about whether you had a girlfriend. Do you have one?"

Conner gazed at them silently. His silent gaze intimidated them, they thought they had gotten on his nerves. But in reality, Conner was just happy other boys aside from Brian were talking to him and he forgot to speak. The boys continued grow uncomfortable under the pressure of his eyes.

"It's fine, if-if you don't want to talk about it. You probably think that it's stupid. we won't bother you," the tanned boy said, politely, wanting to end the uncomfortable stare-down. The boys started to turn around again and change the topic but Conner panicked and interrupted.

"I have one."

Everyone turned back to Conner. "What?!"

"I have a girlfriend," Conner repeated. He cursed himself, inwardly for telling a lie. But he was so desperate to join the conversation with them and didn't want them to be disappointed. It'd be shameful to tell them he had actually never been in a relationship his whole 16 years of life while his brother had a two digit dating history.

However, he didn't realize this lie would have such huge consequences.