Kehlani.

“Wow, you look so different today.” Mom kept on beaming, surprised I changed my normal way of dressing.

“Yeah, I just decided to have a change of closet.”

“Where did you get the money to buy that?”

My new boyfriend, Trevor, bought them for me.

“Huh?” I start to stutter. “My savings. I need to go to school before I'm late.”

I walked past her and heading downstairs, a car was honking and came out to see a sleek black car.

The door swung open and Trevor came out, pulled down his sunshade and ran a hand through his messy hair.

Mom's jaw fell. “Is that?”

“What is he doing here? We agreed to meet in school.” I mumbled. He was too charming.

“Why's he so hot?” She whispered and I groaned.

“Mom?!”

Trevor approached with that smirk of his. “Good morning Mrs Cole. Here to pick your daughter, my girlfriend.”

My jaw fell. He really said that! I felt mom's eyes on me but I walked away to the car before she would say anything and we zoomed off to school.

*****************

“You look sexy, I'll admit. Suits you.” Trevor didn't stop complimenting me while he walked through the hallway and I opened my locker.

“Everyone's stopping to stare. I feel anxious.”

“Yeah. They admire the new couple in class.” He smiled.

“They don't know we're dating yet.”

“That's left for them to find out.” He leaned against the locker. “You're coming with me to the rink today.”

“Command or Request?”

“None. I'm just telling my girlfriend she needs to witness how I crush her ex's team today.”

I laughed out loud. “Great.”

“I have Econ. See you later.” He glanced at his watch. Before I could process anything, he cupped my face.

“See you later, babe.” His lips touched mine and my eyes bulged out.

“Bye.” He whispered and smirked, leaving me Gobsmacked in the hallway with people watching or minding their business.

“Girl!”

I turned to see olive sprinting towards me. Smiling with jaws wide open.

“OMG. Did he just kiss you?”

I blushed. “No. I wouldn't consider that as a kiss. Just brushing my lips.” I laughed nervously.

“Let's walk like princesses to class, now that everyone's attention is on us.” Olive threw her hands on my shoulders.

“Yes. We are.”

“Oh my fucking gosh!” Olive stopped and screamed out loud, enough for the hallway to stop at stare.

“Hey, what's your problem?” I frowned.

“What in the holy moly are you wearing? Your hair.” She picked the strands of my current hair in waves and turned me around.

“Yeah. I decided to have a closet change with Trevor's help.” I chuckled.

“Damn. You're like, hot. Those boots ..and crop top with your mini skirt and light make-up? Clock it, girl.” She applauded at me, amazed. “Damn. You're fucking beautiful.”

“Thanks olive.”

We walked-i walked confidently, raising my head up. That's when I spotted Elliot, leaning against the locker with Maddie touching him like she was a parasite. His eyes were on me and he didn't look away. He was staring, so amazed like he lost a game. Maddie said something to him but he didn't even respond.

For once, I felt bold and beautiful. You're gonna regret leaving and hurting me, Elliot. And I won't go back. Never.

“Let's hurry to class already.” Olive said.

“Yeah.” I smiled, satisfied. An hour later, after receiving compliments from some people, Trevor had walked in and Mrs Dawson came in asking for check ins from our project work.

“Alright. Group four. How far y'all gone?”

Oops. That was us. Worst of all, our team leader, Maddie, hasn't made progress. All of us had no compatibility. Maddie stood up and flipped her hair.

“Forgive me Mrs Dawson. We're still working on our task. Actually there are two people making us succumb to backwardness in our group.”

“Oh. Please. You're a liar!” I raised my voice at the top of the class. I didn't even know how I did but it just came out.

“That's enough. By next Monday, I expect the submission already.” Mrs Dawson warned.

“Hmph!” Maddie sat back down and rested her head on Elliot's shoulder. Instead he shoved her head off.

“Wow, that's different. Did you see that?” Olive whispered.

“I did, why's he pushing her away? Wasn't he the one that declared their relationship a month ago?”

“He might be regretting why he left you. Now that you're….hot.” she laughed and I rolled my eyes.

“He shouldn't regret. He left me without remorse.”

I sighed and turned back to see Trevor raising his brows at me and blushed.

***********

The bell was rung and school was finally over. I heard students chanting about Trevor by the hallway. I took my camera from my locker ready to make Trevor the student of the month. After all, I was vice president of my club.

“Hey.”

I turned to see Trevor with a hockey duffle in his hands.

“You ready?”

“Yeah. You? No, that ain't a question.” He pulled me closer and grabbed my waist and u gulped.

“You're coming with me.” He whispers into my ear and I raise a brow.

“Should I ?”

“You're my girlfriend. Fake or real. I want you to cheer me on. I'd like your audience.” He smirked and I laughed.

“Sure, boyfriend.”

“You should have seen the way Elliot was staring at you hungrily.” He clenched his jaw.

“Oh. Wow. That's…. strange.”

“I don't want him staring. I might be getting jealous.” He smiled.

“Come on, you can't possibly get jealous of a fake relationship.”

“Oh can't I?” He released my hands, walking back. “See you around, girlfriend. Be there with your camera and your club.”

“Yes, on it!”

I smiled, watching him disappear. Olive came to meet me immediately after he left.

“We have a very brief meeting at our club right now before we get to watch the game.”

She dragged me along and we all gathered round an empty class talking about updates and headlines before finally moving to the indoor rink. The stands were packed, students waving banners. Olive and I sat together with our team and I'd start to snap pictures.

Trevor was the spotlight on ice, reading the puck before it even moved. Across the rink, Elliot appeared, helmet under his arm, jaw tight. This wasn't just a scrimmage.

It was a war.