Chapter 8- Relationship Status: It's Complicated

"What do you think, too much green?" Olivia asks looking down at the banner we had been working on for the past two hours.

"No, it's just right." Grace replied.

I nodded my head. "Yeah I agree."

I sat there on the floor and continuing my work on the football I made but not really happy with it. Of course it could be because I didn't really feel like painting right now and my mind was elsewhere. We had to get this finished today so it could be used for the game tomorrow night but my head was just not in it. My thoughts kept drifting back to yesterday in the janitor's closet with Blake. I still can't believe he tricked me into that. What was he going to do? I shudder at the thought and not in the good way.

Never did I think Blake would go to such lengths to get me alone with him. I thought he would have at least asked me first before getting other people involved. Brody and I must really be getting to him.

"You ok?" Grace asks pulling me from my thoughts.

"Yeah, why?"

"Because you've painted that same spot three times." She giggled.

I blush embarrassed and lay the brush down. I guess it's fairly obvious I'm distracted.

"You can go if you want to. We can finish this up." Olivia said giving me a concerned look.

Oh no. A concerned Olivia is a questioning Olivia.

"No that's ok. I'll stay. I've just got a lot on my mind." I gave a weak smile.

"Ok." 

I looked at the banner and was overall pleased with it. Who knew three girls could make such an awesome piece of work. I'm sure most of it was due to Olivia being in charge of the whole thing and we were just following her orders. She had a gift for art so placing her in charge was definitely the right call.

"So...." Olivia smiled watching me from the corner of her eye.

"What?"

"How are things with the bad boy?" 

"Different." I stated.

"Well I think Blake deserves everything you're doing to him." Grace said in all seriousness.

Wait. How does she know what I'm doing? I didn't tell her.

"I told her." Olivia says answering my unspoken question. "She won't tell anyone."

Grace nodded agreeing with Olivia. "I won't."

"A little bird told me you and Brody went for a ride on his bike." Olivia smiled.

I tried to hide my laugh. I think I knew who the little bird was. Possibly a certain star struck neighbor of mine. Poor Mia. 

"You rode on a bike! That's so cool." Grace gasped.

I shook my head at the girls. I swear it's like my life is a soap opera and they are the viewers who are screaming stuff at the tv. Let's see, Crazy Ex, check. The hot trouble maker, check. The traitor best friend and oh lets not forget the kidnapping form a supply closet. I think that's got it all. Yep, one big soap opera.

"That boy is trouble." She adds. "Don't let him taint you."

I can't help but roll my eyes at her. "No one is tainting anyone."

"I still can't believe what Megan did to you did to you."

"I know and I'm just as pissed off as you but we can't let on we know anything or my whole plan is ruined. Just act like nothing has changed."

Grace sighs. "I think you should just tell them already. Who cares if they know that you found out."

"I do." I answer. "I want him to think I've moved on from him just because I can, not because of his actions. He'll think I'm doing all of this because I care about revenge and I don't want him to know he's gotten to me."

"So you're getting revenge without him knowing it's revenge?" She questions.

"That about sums it up."

"Wow that's pretty genius." She smiles. "Who came up with that?"

"Brody." I shrug.

Grace, Olivia and I share a look and all bust out in laughter.

"I hope you give him hell." Grace says trying to sober up.

"Oh I will." I say surely.

Three hours later I'm home sitting on my bed stalking Blake's Facebook page. I know it's crazy but I can't help but wonder what he's doing now and more importantly are him and Megan together? I know it's not any of my business what he does but it still hurts knowing he was with her. That's not something I can just get over in a day no matter how bad I want to.

Out of curiosity I clicked Blake's pictures to see if he had deleted all the ones of us but my question was answered when the one of us at the dance showed up. It was the one Olivia had taken last month of me in my silver dress. Next to it were the ones of us at the lake with our families and one he took with his phone of me and him lying on his bed with our heads resting on each other. At one time that used to be my favorite picture of us now I wish it were destroyed.

I tapped my finger on my chin. If he still has our picture then he probably didn't change his relationship status either. I clicked his about me and I was right. It still said 'in a relationship with Farrah Bryant.' I knew it!

Wait, I didn't change mine yet either. Crap how could I forget that? Going back to my settings I quickly changed it to single. There that ought to clear things up for him. Maybe he'll leave me alone now.

'Yes Farrah because changing your Facebook status fixes everything.'

I sigh out of frustration. At least it's a start.

My phone rings startling me in return causing me to knock me phone off into the floor. Great. Teenage dream by Katy Perry blares through my room as I lean off the side of the bed feeling for the phone. Once my fingers come in contact with it I pick it up to see that it's Brody calling.

I answer the call but before I can even say anything Brody speaks up.

"Single? I thought we covered this?" He says.

Uh oh I didn't think about that when I changed the status.

"Hello to you to." I reply avoiding the question.

"Farrah?" He warned and I don't know why but I enjoy the sound of my name coming from him. It sent the good kind of shivers through me.

"Well I was just making a point to Blake." I defended.

"Good are you done?" He asks sarcastically.

"Quite, I'll change it now." I say making him feel better.

It's just a relationship status I don't know what the big deal is. Jeez he freaks out over nothing. I wonder what he would have done if I put it's complicated. Wait, that's good. I smirked at that. Hmm...how about this Brody? I couldn't keep the smile off my face as I changed it.

"It's complicated?" He says rather loudly through the phone and I can't help but laugh now.

"Are you amused he asks?"

"Very much." I smile. "Why does it bother you so much?"

"Because everyone should know you're my girlfriend so there isn't any confusion." He states.

Wow he really is taking this seriously. I'm his girlfriend and he wants everyone to know it. I can't help but feel a little proud of that. I'm the bad boy's girlfriend. I goofy smile appears on my face while thinking that.

'Ok, Farrah your liking this just a little too much. Get a hold of yourself. You're becoming just like all those other girls he got bored with and tossed aside. You need to remain a challenge for him.'

Ugh I hate when my subconscious is right.

"Alright I'll change it if it means that much to you." I say going back to the computer. "There it's done."

"See that wasn't so hard was it?" He says. I could practically see him smirking through the phone. Then like it never happened he changes the subject. "You're coming to the game tomorrow right?"

"That's the plan." I reply while shutting down my laptop and sitting it aside.

"Good I'll pick you up at six."

"But the game doesn't start till seven." I state.

"Yes but we need to get there in plenty enough time to give good ol' Blake another show."

"Fine I'll be ready." I yawn. "Now I'll see you tomorrow. Some people need beauty sleep."

"Dream of me." He says and I can practically hear him smirking over the phone..

"Only in my nightmares." I tease before hanging up.

Just then a message comes through.

Brody- I'll take what I can get

Suddenly I catch myself smiling down at my phone like an idiot and sober up quickly. Ok I am liking this way too much. This was not part of the plan. I'm going to have to think of ways to keep from feeling this way about him. It's just not healthy. He's Brody Bauer and I'm Farrah Bryant people like us just don't turn out well.

Pushing those thoughts from my mind I get up to put away my laptop then take a quick shower before getting into bed. I pull the loose covers up over my shoulders and let my eyes rest while thinking over everything that's change in the last week. I went from being the girlfriend of The Quarterback of the football team to dating the bad boy. Talk about doing a one eighty. What surprises me most though is that bad boys aren't my type yet I find myself starting to like Brody more and more. I wonder if this is really a good idea to be his girlfriend. We're so different and one of us will only to end up getting hurt.

Then again what are people always saying? Opposites attract?

I yawn once again. This is a thought for another day. Perhaps when I'm more rested. Right now I just need to focus on tomorrow's math test and then we'll go from there.

Morning comes and I'm already feeling a little better about this day. I finally feel like I can move past the whole Blake closet thing and not be so worried about anymore. He hasn't made an effort to contact me in anyway so I think I'm in the clear. Maybe this means he'll leave me alone now.

"-And then she hands me the test and it's an A." Heather finished as I come into the kitchen.

"I knew you could do it." Dad states taking a bite of his toast.

"Morning Farrah." Mom greets looking up from her coffee cup at me.

"Morning." I say offering a small smile taking a banana from the basket of the table.

"Aren't you going to sit?" She asks motioning to the chair.

And listen to the rest of Heathers achievements? No thank you.

"No I've got to go to the art room this morning and check on our banner we made yesterday. I just have to add some finishing touches." I lie.

"Ok. Well have fun." She doesn't even protest a little. Gee thanks mom.

"Here take this." Dad says standing up to hand me a fifty. "Buy whatever you want for supper tonight. You're mom and I have a dinner engagement. We won't be home until after midnight."

I look at the money and smile. Wow fifty dollars. "Thanks dad."

I reach over and give him a hug which he returns and then sits back down to finish his breakfast.

"Oh dad I decided to enroll in-" Heather pipes back up but I leave the room before I can hear what she says. It's probably about some other class dad took in college that's she's taking to impress him. That's heather for ya.

I smile happily when I realize it's my day to car pool again. I like the days I get to drive. I don't get to spend enough time with my MINI Cooper. She's been there for me since I first got my license. I don't think I could ever part from her.

After stopping at Olivia's and Grace's I made my way to Megan's saving her for last. Less time in spend in the car with her the better. I had to keep reminding myself that I wasn't suppose to know anything to keep from screaming at her and everyday it proved to be just as hard as the day before it.

"Hey." She cheered entering the car. What was she so happy about? This was not Megan's normal demeanor.

"Hey." I smiled back to best I could.

"Are all still going to the game tonight?" She asked.

"We always do." Olivia stated.

"Did." Grace corrected.

"We can still go." I sighed. "Besides Brody is taking me."

"I still can't believe you're dating him." Megan said shaking her head.

And I can't believe you were with my boyfriend behind my back but people can sure as hell surprise you.

"Well I am." 

"I know. You publicly claimed him as yours last night."

Raising an eyebrow to her in confusion she clarified. "We all saw the status."

Last night's events came rushing back in as I remember mine and Brody's conversation. How could have forgotten. I guess most of the school knows now to if they didn't already. I mean we made it pretty obvious before but now it was publicly stated. I don't think anyone will be shocked.

"I just thought it was time to change it." I said watching the road ahead.

Well actually it was Brody the insisted on the change but that's just semantics.

Luckily we got to school with plenty of time due to the lack of traffic out. I guess it helps leaving earlier than normal to buy a little extra time. As usual Megan was the first to exit the car but I'm sure that this time it wasn't to see Blake. I think he made it clear to her before that he no longer had any interest in her but what do I know. Maybe she still has him.

That thought still made me nauseous because that image of her and Blake stayed in my mind the whole time. Sometimes I think it would have been easier to never have known but then I would have been left looking like the fool in the end.

"Wanna go checkout our work?" Olivia asked as we entered the school.

"Sure there's nothing else to do right now." Grace shrugs.

So ten minutes later we're in the empty art room looking at our work with a highly upset Olivia. She did not look pleased. In fact she looked like she was only seconds away from a full blown panic attack.

"Come on it's not that bad." I state trying to make her feel better.

She quickly turns to glare at me before speaking. "Not that bad? Does this look like holly green to you?"

Ok maybe "it's not that bad" were the wrong words to say. That clearly set her off.

"Paint dries a different color sometimes it can't be helped. Besides I doubt anyone will be paying any attention to the banner anyway." Grace interrupts.

"Not paying attention?"

"I think what she means is everyone will be focusing too much on the game to notice." I clarified.

Olivia places both her hands on her face and shakes her head. "They'll never let me be in charge of another banner again."

"We need to get her out of here." Grace says worried for our friend who is just not taking this well.

"Look I'll add more color to it and try making it darker. Just leave it up to me." I offered.

"Yeah, ok." She nods going back to her normal color.

"Just leave me to it." I say. "Now get out of here. You'll make me nervous."

She pays me one last glace before leaving the room with Grace and I let out a long breath. Ok I have to get this fixed or Olivia is sure to have a meltdown before the day even begins. First things first though I need to get out of first period. We're still reading on Jane Eyre and I've read the whole book three times so I know I won't miss anything plus Mrs. White likes me so I don't think it will be a problem.

I walk to her class and find Mrs. White setting at her desk typing away on the computer at her desk. "I always love an early student." She smiles at me entering the room.

"I was actually coming to see if I would miss anything by not being in class today." I say guiltily.

"Oh." She says. "Actually we're still reading on Jane Eyre but I don't think you'll miss anything important."

"I've read the whole book anyway." I admit proudly. There's no shame in being a book worm.

"Always the overachiever." She smiles. "Just like your sister."

I suppress a groan at her remark and plaster a big fake smile on my face to please her. I don't even want to go there right now. The whole following in my sister footsteps in not something I care to go over at the moment.

"So I can go?" I ask hopeful.

"Of course you can."

"Thanks." I Say relieved. "The football banner is in need on my help."

"Good luck I'm sure it will look wonderful." She replies before going back to her work.

That was easier than I thought it would be. I thought for sure she would have questioned me a little more on the matter.

I make my way back to the art department and enter the supply room where Mrs. Edwards keeps all the materials for class. I take a few different shades of paint from the shelf making sure they are usable and then grab some brushes. Once I have all the material needed I leave the room and close the door behind me.

"Need some help?" Brody asks almost scaring me to death as I re-enter the art room. One of the cans of paint slips from my grasp and just about splatters on the floor before he catches it with such grace even I gape. That was hot.

"What are you doing here?" I ask sitting the things down on the table.

"I thought you might want some help."

"Help?"

"I saw your friends and they explained what happened when I asked about you." He explained.

"Do you paint?" I ask.

He laughs and shakes his head. "No but it can't be that hard. It's all about staying in the lines right?"

"Something like that." I smile.

I pull off the tops of the cans and place them in front of us and grab a plate on one of the table before mixing together the colors. Who knew how many variations of green there were in the world. One of these has to be close to our school color right?

Out of the corner of my eye I notice Brody watching me and I immediately become self conscious.

"What?" I mumble.

"You know if you mix in some white with that it will make it lighter."

"I thought you didn't know anything about paint?" I smile.

"I know the basics." He replied.

He leaves the room only long enough to get the paint and then he's back again. He opens the top of the can and stands behind me, my back almost touching his chest. I can feel the heat coming off his body and it sends chills all through me. The kind I like.

His arm reaches around me as he pours out the paint. He takes my hand still holding the brush and mixes the colors together. I stand frozen afraid to move or he might stop. His hot breath on my neck makes concentrating in anything else impossible.

"See." He says softly in my ear.

I just want to melt in his arms but I have to control myself. I can't let him know how much he's affecting me.

I swallow nervously when he lets go of my hand but doesn't move. "Y-ya. It...uh...it looks good."

God Farrah, could you be any more obvious?

I lean over the table to the other side conscious of him being behind me still but I try not to think about it too much or else I'll be even more nervous than I already am. I grab the extra brush between my fingers and slowly turn to hand it to him.

"What's wrong? Do I make you nervous?" He smirks and moves around to the other side of the table.

And just like that the moments over and he's back to being the same old smirking Brody again. I let out the breath I didn't know I was holding. I have to say I prefer this one more. This other Brody scares me. He makes me feel things that I shouldn't and it messes with my head. Right now is not the time for me to get distracted, especially when I'm still dealing with Blake right now. I need to keep my mind in the game and push aside theses feeling that I have. For now anyway.

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 Like I always say-

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