At the grad party

At the grad party someone suggested playing the heart rate challenge. The rule was simple. If a guy and a girl both hit 150 bpm during eye contact, they had to become a contract couple for two months. The first pair drawn was me and Marcus Reed, my secret boyfriend of 3 years. My heart rate jumped straight to 160. Marcus's heart rate stayed at 80, eyes calm like he was looking at a stranger. Childhood friends for over a decade and Marcus feels nothing for you? Girl throwing yourself at him like that is just sad. None of them knew Marcus and I had been together for three years. I'd planned to use this moment to go public. But he was determined to draw a line between us. The second round Marcus got paired with Selena Miller, his archenemy. Everyone knew they argued every time they saw each other. The whole room was waiting for a train wreck. The second their eyes locked, Selena's heart rate hit 180. Marcus's hit 182. The room exploded. Both of them immediately demanded retesting. But the others were cheering so loudly. They reluctantly accepted the two-month contract. My phone buzzed. A message from Marcus. Baby, let's break up for now. Just two months. Once college starts, we'll get back together. I refuse to lose to Selena. Okay. For the entire summer I had struggled over whether to tell him about my acceptance to a college abroad. Now I didn't have to. The room erupted. Marcus and Selena got pushed into the center. The two who fought every day were now flushed bright red. Marcus pulled Selena against his shoulder. Enough. We've only been together for a few minutes. It's just a contract. Two months and we're done. The cheering only got louder. Wait, what about Bella? Her heart rate was the highest after you two. Yeah, she didn't dare look at you the whole time. Every pair of eyes swung to me. But Marcus only flicked a glance my way, his voice flat. She's just a friend. Not my type. A casual just a friend erased over everything we'd ever had. And right on cue, I became the joke again. Hilarious. Childhood friend, so what? Plain face, average grades. Why would Marcus ever go for her? A nobody trying to land our school's golden boy. I'd been hearing this for three years. The whole school knew I was in love with Marcus. I never hid my feelings. But Marcus hid it perfectly. At school he kept a careful distance between us at all times. When people teased him he never reacted at all. But the moment we stepped off school he'd lace his fingers through mine and walk me home, pin me against an alley wall to kiss me. Whenever I was upset he'd pull me into his arms to comfort me. "Bella Taylor likes Marcus Reed" was a joke to everyone. "Marcus Reed is Bella Taylor's boyfriend" was a secret only I knew. The party ended at midnight. It had started raining outside. In front of everyone Marcus offered to walk Selena home. The second I opened my umbrella he grabbed it out of my hand. Selena and I didn't bring one. We're taking yours. Ask someone else to take you back. Thanks, Bella. We'll return it tomorrow. Before I could say something Marcus had pulled her away. Selena, don't get cocky. It's just a contract. The day it ends, we end. Find by me, I don't even like you! They disappeared into the rain bickering. Only I noticed Marcus was tilting the umbrella almost entirely over Selena. His own shoulder was already soaked through. The others trickled out one by one. Not one of them asked how I was getting home. I stood there alone, my tears mixing with the rain. Marcus knew I wasn't close with anyone in class. He knew no one would walk me home. Yet he still took my umbrella and left me there alone. He had promised to make it official after graduation. Instead I got a breakup and watched him walk off with someone else. My phone suddenly rang. It was Mom, calling from overseas. You can stay here for college if you want. We trust Marcus. If you're with him, your father and I won't object. I closed my eyes. The rain hit my face, ice cold. Mom, I've made up my mind. I want to study abroad. Please help me sort out the paperwork.