"You crying?"

He asked staring at me and I quickly looked away. I didn't even notice my eyes becoming teary so I quickly blinked the tears away.

"No."

I replied.

"Ahhmmm, are you still mad?"

He asked awkwardly looking anywhere but at me.

"Do I have a reason to be?"

I asked a bit harshly. I'm pissed, beyond pissed and he asks me if I'm still mad?

"Can we talk?"

He asks sitting beside me.

"We're already talking."

"Can you just quit the attitude. I'm trying to talk to you something."

"Do I look like I even want to hear what you've got to say?"

I answer him.

"It doesn't matter. You have to hear me out."

He says and I choose not to reply him.

"I'm sorry for the way i treated you back at my house. It was foolish- no childish of me- no, I mean it was..."

He fumbles with words and I'm tempted to laugh at him but I decide against it. He sure isn't used to giving apologies.

"Ali, I'm really sorry okay? I shouldn't have said all those dump things to you in the first place so please forgive me?"

He said scratching the back of his neck. Was Austin really anxious right now? Who would've ever thought. It came out more like a request than a statement.

I then recalled Ashley and Tiffany's convo. Does he really expect me to just forgive him like that. Ashley told him I had intentions of hurting his little sister and he believed her. What does he take me for?

"Aren't you scared I'll hurt your sister?"

I asked not looking at him.

"I know I threw some awful questions at you but the one about hurting my sister surely wasn't one of them. How did you know?"

He asked sort of confused.

"Does it even matter? All I know is that someone told you I had intentions of hurting your sister whom I never even met and you surely believed them without a doubt. It even sounds pathetic, I just don't get how anyone with sense would buy that. Ouh, I almost forgot you've got no sense."

I replied surely frustrated.

"If I believed them, I wouldn't have asked you all that. I asked you to confirm if it was true or not."

He said and I leaned my head on the bench and just stared at the flowers in front of me.

"I must really look like a thug since you thought I had bad intentions with your sister."

I said.

"And whoever told you that must have been some innocent sweet girl since you believed her in an instant."

I added sarcastically.

"You wouldn't say that if you knew who she was."

Ouh I know who she is just fine. I thought to myself.

"I realised it was all bullshit from the way you responded to my outburst so once again I'm truly sorry Ali."

He said genuinely. I kept my eyes on the flowers.

"C'mon Ali. Here I am, apologising to you and you're still giving me an attitude. It's already hard for me -being the bad boy that I am- to apologise to anyone and now that I'm finally apologising to someone, they are giving me a hard time."

He said running his hands through his already messy hair. Thinking about it, I might just be the first person Austin has ever apologised to. Except his family of course. Okay, lemme not flatter myself here, I'm sure I'm not the first person he's apologising to but I might just be one of the few he said sorry to.

"Gosh I must feel special."

I chuckled and he gave me a questioning look.

"Why must you feel special?"

He asked and I slapped myself mentally. So much for thinking out loud.

"I may just be one of the few people you apologised to."

"Or maybe even the first."

He added looking away from me and I widened my eyes at him. He can't be serious.

"Except my family ofcourse."

He said and I couldn't help the smile that was threatening to emerge.

"I should feel extra special then."

I smiled.

"Am I forgiven then?"

He asked looking back at me.

"I think so."

"Good then. Since I'm forgiven, I think I should ask you something."

He said.

"A thank you will do Austin."

I said to him.

"Just don't go trying to change me into a good boy Ali. I already said sorry, I'm not saying thank you again. It's a question of my reputation."

He smiled and I chuckled.

"So what is it that you want to ask me?"

"Well after my mom talked to me yesterday when you left, I was thinking that-"

"Austin!"

And that was Ashley standing in front of us. Glaring at me and smiling at Austin.

"Yeah."

He replied as if annoyed and I wanted to laugh at that.

"We need to talk. Let's go."

She said staring at Austin and I couldn't help but roll my eyes.

"Well I-"

"Don't tie yourself up Austin. She probably needs a quickie in the closet and so do you. So go."

I said looking at him as he stood up.

"I'll be waiting for you Austin. You know where to find me."

She said in a tone that was probably supposed to be seductive but it just came out pathetic as she licked her lips and left. I snorted in disgust. She has no shame I swear. Austin stared at me in amusement.

"Go now. You don't want to keep her waiting."

"Unless you want to join us for a threesome."

He smirked at me and I was just annoyed.

"No thank you."

I said dismissively.

"C'mon. I know you want to baby doll."

He said and my mood suddenly changed to angry.

"Do not call me that."

I said angrily.

"Hey chill a little will you. I'm just messing with you."

He said laughing as he followed his bitch to the closet I'm sure.

                                   ***

At least things are cool between my best friends and I. I talked to them before I left school and they said they'd only be cool with me if I decide not to do what my mom asks me to. 'To refuse following her stupid demands'. Those were Gail's exact words and I said I'll try my best not to give into her demands.

My phone started ringing and I got up from the bed to retrieve it. I checked the screen just to find 'arrogant bad-ass' calling. I got his number during the tutoring lessons and that was the first thought that came to mind as I saved his number. Serves him well.

"Yeah."

I said as soon as I answered the call.

"How are you?"

He said on the other line.

"Really now?"

"What? I just asked how you are."

He said and I laid back on the bed facing the white silver ceilings of my room.

"Just get to the point already. We both know you didn't call to see how I am."

I said and I heard him chuckle on the other line.

"Right I didn't but it wouldn't hurt to know how you're doing right."

"Well I'm doing just fine."

"Good. Can I ask you something?"

"You are already asking."

I replied. Plus he already asked me earlier and I said he could. That's when Ashley interrupted ofcourse.

"As I was telling you earlier, my mom talked to me yesterday after you left-"

"What about?"

"Will you just let me finish?"

He said and I knew he was getting annoyed.

"She told me how good you are and she insisted I apologised to you for what ever I did to you. She told me about how different you are from all the girls that come over. That she'd want you to come over and that she'd be more than happy if I settled down with you."

Austin told me non-stop and I was pretty confused as to why he told me all that. I chose to ignore the last part of his little speech.

"What does that have to do with the question you're going to ask me?"

I asked him.

"It's more of a favour than a question."

He said and I wondered what favour he'd ask me that involved his mom.

"I'm listening."

I responded and I swear he remained quiet for a good thirty seconds. What's so difficult about just saying what-

"Would you please agree to be my fake girlfriend? Like for my mom's sake? Please?"

And there he went. This is way far from anything I thought he'd ask of me.

(Please don't forget to hit the vote button and your comments will highly be appreciated. Also please do share my story. Much lurve💜)