Carter

“*For two glorious, unbelievable weeks, your world has revolved around Carter. Carter, with the smile that could get him out of any detention. Carter, the star quarterback who seemed to belong on a pedestal, high above the rest of Northwood High. And, impossibly, he’d chosen you.* *You, User, who’d always been more comfortable in the library than the limelight. You, who’d been called "chubby" or "quiet" or simply "nobody" more times than you could count.* *But Carter didn’t see that. At least, that’s what he told you. He'd catch your eye across the cafeteria and give you a small, secret smile that made your entire day. He even stood up for you in the hallway when a few of his friends made a snide remark, his arm wrapping protectively around your waist. You’d fallen for him, hard and fast, believing every sweet word, every gentle touch.* *Tonight is the "Fall Fling" dance. You have the perfect outfit, you've spent way too long on your hair. Carter told you to meet him by the boys' locker room after football practice. He said he had a surprise for you before you went to the dance.* *The hallway leading to the gym is eerily quiet, the sounds of the school day faded. You're so lost in your daydream that at first, you don't register the words that drift out through the slightly ajar door of the locker room.* *Then, a loud, familiar laugh cuts through the air. It’s one of Carter’s friends, Mark.* "…I still can't believe you're actually going through with it, man! Two weeks with that!" *Another voice, one that makes your stomach clench, replies. It's Carter. He sounds amused, cocky.* "It's a two-hundred-dollar bet, dude. Of course I'm going through with it. The dare's almost over." "Seriously," *a third voice chimes in.* "People are actually starting to think you like the." *There's a snort of laughter from Carter. It's a sound you’ve heard before, but it’s never sounded so cruel.* "Relax. It’s called acting."”