Paramount school is one of the top schools in our city. That's because we have only a few schools here. It's a great place, though. I have talented friends, and the best part is that they are the popular ones in my school. How did I get to be with them? Well, thanks to my handsome hunk boyfriend, Jack. We have been dating for a year. It was the usual meet at a café. He was alone, and I approached him. We spoke for a while and I realized, because I was the one who asked him out, he was a great guy. From what I heard about 'boyfriends', and my previous experiences with boys, he doesn't seem to come under that category.

A feeling of the familiar fresh air blew on my face as I walked into the campus after the winter break. Boys and girls were hugging and sounded so pumped to see one another after a long time, even though most of them might have spent their holidays together. Smiling widely, I strolled in the corridor, passing by my locker. I didn't have to search for my friends. I knew where they were; in their usual favorite spot- the cafeteria.

"Hey," I called out, standing at the entrance. My voice must have been audible enough, but it got only the attention of my boyfriend, who waved his hand. Immediately, I jogged towards him and we hugged, not letting go of each other. I couldn't enjoy his body warmth since I definitely heard someone clearing their throat. I crawled away from Jack, not before brushing my lips against his ever so slightly.

"If you missed him, you could have joined us on the trip," Samuel scoffed while his eyes were on the phone.

The thing is, even though I am friends with them, they were never happy about Jack and me being together. They thought I was too outdated; my ideology or thoughts didn't match with them, and I have even heard kids telling me they were just too cool for me. I wasn't supposed to be a friend of the 'popular gang'. This mind-set is so messed up that I never understood who should be friends with them. I wasn't a nerd who was always disowned by the popular ones. In fact, I wasn't a nerd! Mary, another popular girl in my gang, was a nerd!

They think I won't be able to get along with them because my opinion or beliefs were never in their favor. I don't even know what that means. They just talk to me because I am Jack's girlfriend.

"Um..." I paused, glancing at the curious eyes of Jack and not so interested eyes of his friends. We were five of us; each of them busy in their world, hardly paying attention to anyone.

I laughed slightly, placing my black leather bag on the table. "You know why I couldn't come."

"Right! Your book." snorted Kaira, Samuel's girlfriend.

Mary, who was scribbling her homework, halted and passed me her bag of peanuts, "Don't mind, but you already got rejected by a publishing agent. Maybe you should just..."

I smiled even though I felt the prick of a thorn when she let the words hang in there because I know - the truth is always bitter. But we are talking about creating stories, and not everyone is going to enjoy what everyone likes. I know it's baseless to even speak with them when I know they will never agree.

I shook my head at the peanuts which Mary had offered and replied, "That's not how it works. They said my book lacked passion. Being a romance genre, it has to be more vivid with spark and all you know. I am still working on that."

Kaira snickered but said nothing when she received a death stare from Jack. Samuel noticed that, and he rolled his eyes, throwing his hands up in the air as if his favorite football team has just lost one silly goal.

"Come on, let's go to class," Jack announced, letting the tense wall around us to break.

Jack: my savior, my dream boyfriend, and my tremendous supporter. What more do I need?