'Oh. My. God' Isabella whispers to Ava and I during Spanish. 'You'll never guess what's going on'.

'What now?' Ava asks, sounding bored. 'Is this actual gossip, or the shitty kind, like the rumour that went round about Maisy Jenkins getting caught masturbating with a test tube in Chemistry?'

Isabella ignores Ava and turns to me. 'There's a rumour going round that that loser, what's his name, Dan something, kissed you last night'.

Shit.

'Is it true?' Isabella misinterprets my silence.

'What do you think?' I shake my hair over my shoulder. 'Do you honestly think I would kiss him? He's a nobody' my voice drips with distaste.

'Just as well, you could catch rabies' Ava chimes in.

Isabella's satisfied with my answer. 'Good, didn't think so. You could do so much better'.

Ava looks at me in confusion. 'I thought you went out on a date with him?'

'Keep it down!' I order Isabella. 'And yes, I did. But Ava was the one who told me to' I say defensively.

'Oh yeah, I did, didn't I? Was it fun?'

'It was ok' I said nonchalantly.

'Gonna see him again?' Ava asked. 'Plus, Dan's social status is going up already. He's already been asked a few times about your date. The rugby players are interested in him; he looks like he's got the physique to play. Once he trains and bulks up'.

'Yeah…' I agreed, somewhat half-heartedly.

The rest of Spanish goes quickly and I gather my things up. I want to find Dan to ask why he told everyone about the date he practically forced me into.

'I'll see you later, I've got detention' I lie as I wave goodbye to Ava and Isabella. I see Dan's brown hair in the distance and I rush to catch up.

'Dan' I say, tapping him on the shoulder. He ignores me. 'Dan!' I said louder. 'Fucking hell, DAN!' he turns around. 'Can I talk to you?'

'Oh so you want to talk to me now, do you? You want be seen talking to a nobody?'

Oh tits. I had forgotten that Dan was in my Spanish class. He had heard every bitchy and cruel remark I had said about him.

'Oh my god, Dan. I'm so sorry' I say. 'I'm really, really, sorry'.

'No you're not Sophia' Dan's voice is cold and flat.

'No, I am. I seriously am. I was way out of line. I forgave you when you called me a "straight up bitch" remember?'

'Yes I remember. Look at you, Sophia. You're covered head to toe in Prada, Gucci, whatever the fuck you wear, in the middle of the quad talking to a nobody? Look Sophia, people are staring at you. Think of all the rumours that are going to be going round later. A popular talking to a nobody. Aren't you afraid of what they will say?'

'No' I say.

'You know what, Sophia? I was trying to figure you out, wondering why you act like you're so much better than the rest of us. But there's no reason, you're just a stuck up, vain, pretentious bitch who's obsessed with herself'.

'Oh, so you're a saint? Give me a break Dan! Sure, I might be a snob but you detest anyone with money just because you don't have it!'

'Money doesn't make you happy, Sophia' Dan replies coolly. 'You're a prime example of that'.

'And you think you know me? Dan, you've only known me for two days and you think you're some kind of mental health doctor who knows everything about me?'

'I know you well enough to know that you're not happy'.

'I know you well enough to know that you're a pompous, arrogant arsehole'.

Dan steps forward until we're nearly touching.

'Did something happen to you when you were younger?' His hand reaches forward to touch me but I step back. 'Were you raped?'

'No. I wasn't raped' I answer. 'I just don't want some self-obsessed arsehole touching me'.

'Takes one to know' Dan replies sarcastically, pushing his fringe off his forehead.

'You're not funny' I snap.

'Neither are you'.

'Oh my god, if you don't shut the hell up, I'm going to strangle you'.

'We have a love-hate relationship, Sophia. Haven't you realised?'

'No, Howell. We have a hate-hate relationship'.

'Same thing'.

'No it's not!' I say, exasperated.

'In case you're unaware, if you carry on with your current attitude, you won't have any friends'.

'Then I guess I'll be joining the ranks of the losers, with you as its leader' I retort. 'If no one liked me, then who come I'm so popular?'

'You're not exactly the sharpest sheep in the barn, are you?'

'That's not even the right metaphor' I snap. 'It's the sharpest pencil in the box'.

'Right' Dan nods. 'Except you are a sheep. I'm not stupid. I just adjusted the metaphor to fit your persona'.

'Oh shut the fuck up'. Dan shakes his head.

'Hey, do you know where the finance office is?' Dan changed the subject abruptly.

'You've been here for how long?'

'Not as long as you' he reminds me.

'I'll be late for class'.

'That'll make two of us'.

'Oh come on, Sophia. You must have time'.

'No, I have no time'.

Pause. We stare at each other for a good minute. 'You're just standing there' Dan splutters. 'How can you have time for that but not enough time to tell me how to get to the finance office?'

I give him my most winning smile and walk away to my next lesson, Art. 'Not everyone will help you out in life' I call out. 'Sometimes, you gotta think for yourself'.

'Jesus Christ' I hear him mutter. I bet he's shaking his head.

I've still got it.