Given The Same Reputation (Labels)

Chapter 10 - Faye Lenards

"So, how many times have you cut class?" I asked him.

We sat on the grass, in front of the school, under a big shady tree, like we had done before. We were just hanging out, letting time pass.

"What? I have never," he gasped

I just stared at him because we both knew better.

"Paxton," I urged him.

"Alright, fine. I, actually, don't know. Too many times to count. How many times have you cut class?" he referred the question to me.

"None," I answered him honestly.

"Come on, Faye, how many?" he asked, not believing me.

"None. I'm serious," I told him.

"I mean you're..." he didn't finish his sentence.

"What? The bad girl of the school?" I questioned. "Those are just stupid labels. Look at you, you're the bad boy of the school, but yet you're not an asshole," I clarified. "Labels are just that labels, and I'm not one of them. They don't define us. There's always way more to people than just the surface."

"Makes sense," he added. "So, what are some things you've never done?"

"I haven't done many things," I replied.

"Like what?" he asked.

"Well, I've never been to a high school party before, never been to a slumber party, never done drugs, never gone on a date or had a boyfriend, never had my heart broken or fallen in love, never failed a class, never snuck out, never had cheesecake, and I don't know what else." I just looked at him, waiting for everything to sink in. "I know I'm pretty lame." I looked at the grass in front of me.

"It's not lame."

I looked up to meet his green eyes.

"That just means you haven't tried those things yet," he explained. "And really, you've never tried cheesecake?"

"Nope," I answered.

"We'll change that," he replied and just stared at me for a little. "You know, you're not at all what I expected," he admitted.

"What were you expecting?" I asked curiously.

"I don't know, I guess I was expecting you to be more of the bad girl everyone talks about," he finally answered.

"I told you, labels are labels," I reminded him again.

"I'm glad you don't live up to those labels," he confessed.

I smiled. "Thanks. Same here."

"So you've never dated before?" he asked.

"Nope. What about you? What are some things you've never done?" I tried switching the conversation over to him.

"Well." He rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "I've done a lot of things, but let me think." He stopped. "I've never failed a class, just like you, never cheated on anyone, never fell in love, never had a relationship longer than six months, never done drugs, never... I don't what else."

"Interesting," I responded.

"Yeah."

"You know, you really aren't what I expected. I had heard before that you would always cheat on girls and that's why you really didn't date people. I've heard things like that. Rumors are rumors, so I never paid much attention to those type of things," I explained.

"Like you said, 'labels are labels.' I may be known as the schools 'bad boy' but I know how to treat girls right. I would never cheat on anyone," he justified himself. "And the reason I didn't really date was because no one caught my attention. I wasn't interested in anyone. Besides, I think if you're in a relationship, you should stay committed so I don't know why those cheating rumors got started."