Strings Attached

Chapter Eleven

I frowned. He was planning something, and I did not want to know what it was... Okay, who am I kidding? I was dying to know what it was, but something told me that I would not like it, so I decided to wait until we were out of hearing range to ask him about it.

"Okay." I faked a smile and turned to see Louise, who was staring at us with curiosity.

"So, what do you think about this week's homework? Things are getting complicated pretty quickly, huh?" I said, attempting to change the subject.

Louise's eyes widened. "Totally!"

We talked about school for the rest of lunch, and then we went to our respective classes.

The rest of the school day went by normally, and before I even realized it, Theodore and I were already making our way home. Now was the time to ask him about the nose picker. I needed to know what he said to him.

"So, what did you say to the boy in lunch?" I asked casually.

"Oh, I just told him that a friend of mine is dying to have a date with him." Theodore shrugged. "No biggie."

My eyes widened in shock. "Please tell me that friend is not me!" I exclaimed.

Theodore smiled. "Who else could it be, Christina, dear, but the girl who mercilessly painted my hair pink on Monday?"

I frowned. "I'm not going out with him."

"Too bad. We already made plans. You have to go to the movies with him tomorrow, or you'll break his heart."

"What? But I don't want to date him!" I exclaimed. "I don't want to play with his feelings!"

Theodore smiled. "Don't worry you won't. I'm not the kind of person to play with others' feelings. I know exactly what to do to make you pay and give an interesting date to the guy simultaneously!"

I raised my eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"

"I have a plan," he said. "You won't break his heart, he will have an interesting night, and I will get my so desired revenge."

I frowned. "You are unbelievable!" I exclaimed.

"Do you want to hear my plan or not?" he asked.

I rolled my eyes. "Okay."

Theodore grinned and told me his plan. It was not what I was expecting at all, and I wanted to punch him once he finished.

"You're crazy! I'm not doing that!" I exclaimed.

He shrugged. "Come on, it's not like you have anything better to do tomorrow."

I sighed. "True." Theodore grinned. "I hate you for this."

"I can live with that, Chris," he said.

I frowned and turned to see the window. It would be an interesting Friday night...

***

The next day went by normally, except for the fact that I went to the movies that afternoon and waited for the guy to show up.

I sighed, remembering Theodore's stupid plan. I was about to completely humiliate myself in front of the boy, but Theodore had told me it was a small price to pay, compared to showing up at school with pink hair. His hair was not even pink anymore, but Theodore insisted on taking revenge.

"Hey," a voice said behind me.

I turned around and saw the nose picker. His hair still covered most of his eyes, which made me wonder why he had not bothered combing it. I decided to push the thought away and faked a smile.

"I'm Christina," I said.

"I know. Theodore told me." He smiled. "I'm Travis."

"I know," I said, remembering what Theodore had told me to say. "I know everything about you."

Travis's eyes widened. "W--what?"

I faked a laugh. "Relax, I'm just kidding..." I poked him playfully. "Or not... Anyway! Let's watch a movie!"

He raised his eyebrows. "Okay..."

I smirked. "I want to watch a horror movie! Let's watch a horror movie!"

"Um, okay." He pointed at a movie poster. "How about that one?"

"Ew," I said. "It's a horror movie. I hate horror movies!"

He frowned. "But you just said you want to watch a horror movie..."

I scoffed. "I never said that!" I smiled brightly. "I want popcorn! Buy me some popcorn!"

Travis raised his eyebrows. "Are you okay?"

"What do you mean?" I asked casually. I smiled once more. "Let's watch a comedy! I love comedies!"

"Um... Okay. There's one with Adam Sandler--"

"Ew! I hate Adam Sandler! He only says funny stuff! I hate funny stuff!" I exclaimed, frowning.

Travis shook his head. "Okay, what's going on?"

"What do you mean?" I asked, smiling innocently. "Oh, you know what? I hate movies. Let's go somewhere more fun!"

"Um... Okay. Where do you want to go?" Travis asked.

"To the library!" I exclaimed.

"Oh, so you like to read?" Travis asked, growing interested.

I scoffed. "Of course not, silly! I like to see the books' pictures! They are so cute!"

Travis frowned. "I thought you were different..."

"I am different! I paint my nails one color each! Want to see?" I showed him my colorful nails, which Theodore had told me to paint that morning.

Travis's frown deepened. "Theodore said you were pretty smart," he said.

"Oh, I am!" I exclaimed. "I can count from one to ten! One... Two... Three..."

"Okay, enough!" Travis exclaimed, frowning.

I frowned. "You made me lose count! I'll start all over again! One... Two..."

"Please stop!" he exclaimed, bringing his hands together as though he were going to pray. "Have mercy!"

"What?" I asked, pretending to be confused.

"You... You remind me of that girl! The one in The Suite Life of Zack and Cody! The rich one!" he exclaimed.

"Oh, London Tipton!" I exclaimed. "Yay me!" I said. It was a famous quote by the character, followed by her clapping her hands together and jumping up and down.

I had always hated people who acted that dumb in real life, but Theodore's revenge was to make me act dumb in front of Travis so that he would despise me. It was definitely working, which made me feel terrible. I hated for other people to consider me dumb. I could stand being called ugly and fat, but if one person ever told me I was dumb, I would become angry with myself.

Theodore's revenge was not that bad, but it still made want to counterattack. I knew we would never progress if we kept pranking each other, but I truly wanted to make him pay.

Travis frowned. "Okay. I'm done." He smiled at me and patted me on the back. "You're a nice person, but... I'm not looking for a girlfriend right now."

I smiled. "You want me to be your girlfriend? Sure!"

Travis's eyes widened, and he shook his head brusquely. "That's not what I said!" he exclaimed.

I fake gasped. "You don't want to be my boyfriend? How cruel!"

Travis sighed. "I'll see you at school, Christina."

I frowned. "You are a bad person."

Before I could say anything else, Travis left, making me feel relieved. I had saved myself from a date. Now I could actually go home and watch movies, just like I did every Friday night.