Page 15 of The Pucking Kiss

I rubbed my chin with my hands. “Well, let it rip. What is it in for you?”

“I need you to be my boyfriend. Well, not my actual boyfriend, but a pretend one.”

I laughed so hard that probably even the principal could hear it all the way in this office.

“No chance. What gave you that crazy idea?”

“It doesn’t matter where I get that idea from, but just look at what’s in it for you. You’ll just have to pretend to be my boyfriend for a few weeks, and I benefit from the popularity of being seen with you.”

I scoffed loudly. “You’re kidding, right? Only in your wildest dreams.”

“Come on,” she stressed, not wanting to let go of the topic. “I know that we will both benefit from this mutually.”

“You’re talking nonsense,” I told her. “And I don’t have time for it.”

With that, I was called into the principal's office and left the conversation midway.

Romai had lost her mind.

As I walked into the principal’s office, I saw the disappointed gaze of Mr. Gellar follow me in.

“Take a seat,” he said to me, his voice unusually calm.

I gulped loudly, knowing that I had landed myself in trouble.

“Your teachers have been giving me some very concerning reports regarding your behavior,” he started, folding his arms in front of him. “I hope that you know that these behaviors have consequences.”

“I’ve just been focusing on my sports,” I explained. “You already know how seriously I take my captainship. Do you know we have the highest-scoring team in the school district currently?”

I had hoped to distract him with my sports accomplishments so that he would go easy on me. This was a strategy I had known to work well previously.

But Mr. Geller was not going to relent. He pursed his lips, the disappointed expression on his face never once wavering.

“You are putting your sports career in jeopardy, I am afraid.”

“What are you talking about?” I laughed nervously, beginning to feel the anxiety rise up in my veins for the first time since I entered his office.

“I am afraid that if your behavior keeps up, we will have no choice but to remove you as Captain,” his words had an air of finality.

“You cannot be serious,” I protested instantly. “I’m the best player this school has seen in decades. You would not dismiss me over my grades.”

“Unfortunately for you, you are a student first and an athlete second. If you continue to show low performance, we will have to have you step down as captain. Furthermore, you run the risk of being expelled for bad conduct. Consider this your final warning.”

Blood gushed to my cheeks, and my breath began to quicken. “You’re not serious.”

“Bryan, haven’t you been listening at all? It is time that you finally understand that school is something you need to take seriously.”

“If I’m expelled,” I said, feeling helpless suddenly, “I will not get to go to college on the sports scholarship.”

“Precisely,” Mr. Geller said pointedly, “I hope you now understand the gravity of your actions. Either get your grades up or say goodbye to your dreams. You may leave now.”

As I left the principal’s office, I felt like I was in a daze. This felt like a horrible nightmare that I had just woken up. I was always used to things going my way. Never had I experienced a roadblock like this.

I was lost in my thoughts as I walked down the now-empty hallways of the school. An uneasy feeling tugged at my chest, making me realize that I had landed myself into more trouble than I had ever imagined.

“Still think you don’t need my help?”

I looked to find Romai standing in front of me.

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