He smirked. "Go back to your seat, Vivian. Don't distract me so I can focus."
"Hmm…" I paused. "Is my beauty that distracting, Blake?"
He gave me a puzzled look, as if he had heard something in a language he didn't understand.
"Whatever, just let me copy later," I said quickly before he could throw a jab. I stood up and left the room because I knew if I stayed, I wouldn't be able to stop myself from watching him.
"Buy me a cheesecake!" I heard him shout after me.
I peeked back into the room and saw him looking at me from the doorway.
"I don't have money!"
He smirked. "I'll cover your fare later."
I rolled my eyes at him and headed to the cafeteria. We had a two-hour break, so we had plenty of time to relax. We didn't have many assignments yet, as classes had just begun.
There were only a few people in the cafeteria when I arrived. I was about to get in line when I spotted Roswell and Odette, two people from my department who had a big grudge against me.
I rolled my eyes and ignored them. I bought a cheesecake for Blake and a burger for myself. I also grabbed a bottle of water, knowing he'd probably complain if I didn't.
"Vivian!"
I closed my eyes in annoyance as I heard Roswell's irritating voice. I turned to see him smiling as if he didn't owe me big time.
"For Blake?" he asked, noticing the cheesecake I was holding. They all knew about Blake's obsession with cheesecake.
I rolled my eyes before answering. "Why do you care?"
"Looking very much like a girlfriend, huh?" he said with a laugh, glancing at Odette, who also chuckled.
"Oh, why? Are you jealous? Not getting any attention?" I replied.
She grinned. "Still the arrogant Vivian. Not even rich."
"But pretty," I said proudly. It was true! I wasn't rich, but I was pretty!
"Says who? Your laundry-woman mom?"
His words made me clench my fists, but I wouldn't let him see he got to me.
"Nope, Blake said it."
Sorry, Blake. I knew you didn't think I was beautiful, but just go along with it; I just wanted to annoy his admirer.
I walked past Roswell and Odette, especially when I heard Roswell's irritated voice. He couldn't hurt me because even if both of them came at me, I wouldn't back down. My laundry-woman mom taught me never to let anyone push me around!
I had a bad reputation on campus, and I knew it. I'd been in more than one fight, mostly because of Blake. He didn't know about it; he thought it was just girl fights. He even scolded me sometimes, like I was his little sister.
I didn't understand why those girls attacked me. Blake and I weren't even dating, although I'd secretly wished we were a few times. We were just friends, and our closeness intimidated them.
"Vivian, you really catch the eye!" I heard a shout from a senior in the Business department.
I closed my eyes in annoyance as more teasing voices joined in.
I kept walking, not planning to engage with them.
"Give us a taste, baby!" shouted another. "Go on, rap for us!"
"Maybe Blake can't let you go because you're so good!" someone else shouted.
I stopped and looked at the last person who spoke.
Since I won Ms. Engineering last year, Roswell spread rumors about "nude" photos of me. He shared them and claimed they were me, even though I had no idea who was in those pictures.
Of course, a lot of idiots believed it. At first, I brushed it off because I knew it wasn't me, but every day I was harassed by my classmates.
"What did you say?" I asked, walking up to the guy. I didn't know him, but he wasn't intimidating at all.
I heard cheers around us, and several of them were staring at me in a way that made my skin crawl.
The guy smirked. "I said maybe Blake can't let you go because you're so good," he repeated slowly, licking his bottom lip.
I smiled and walked closer to him. The cheers grew louder, probably because they also had a break.
I grabbed his shoulder, and he gave me a lustful look.
I grinned, and before he could say another word, I kneed him hard between his legs. He doubled over in pain.
"F*** you, Vivian!" he shouted angrily. The cheers turned to shocked gasps.
"F*** you too, shorty!"
I left them, especially when I heard laughter in the background. This is why I hate walking alone; too many things happen!
I frowned as I placed Blake's cheesecake on his desk. He was still working, so I just went back to my seat.
I ate my burger and felt at ease. At least I was calm now. When those photos came out, Blake never once asked if that girl was me. He didn't ask, and whenever we were together and he heard anyone harassing me, he'd end up in a fight himself.
I didn't have any girl friends at school. I didn't know why, but even before those photos, many people were already afraid of me. Plus, a lot of girls liked Blake and got mad at me because they thought we were dating.
"Oh, there you go, I wrote you in."