I walked into school with my phone in hand. It was still pretty early so only a few learners were around. For the first time I'm coming to school this early. I just couldn't sleep honestly. I kept tossing and turning so I just decided to get up instead.

I walked to my locker and to my surprise, I found Austin leaning on it.

"Woah, what you doing here?"

I asked.

"Good morning to you too girlfriend."

He said and I rolled my eyes.

"At least you're here. I thought I'd have to wait two more hours until you arrived."

He said moving away from my locker. I entered my pin and opened it.

"So what brings you here?"

"I came to school duh. Why else would I be here?"

"I mean why were you waiting for me?"

I asked turning to stare at him.

"I was?"

"You know what, just forget it."

I said suddenly annoyed.

"Huh. You won't push the issue until I tell you?"

He asked staring at me sceptically. I decided to just ignore him and make my way to class.

"I just came to remind you that we're dating."

He said catching up with my strides.

"Fake dating."

I emphasized.

"People don't have to know it's fake."

He said and I couldn't agree with him more.

"You do know that accepting to do this favour for me means people will hate you right?"

"Yes I do because they are all crazy about you and they'll think I snatched their Greek god whatsoever."

I said stopping to look at him.

"Atleast you're admitting that I'm good looking."

"I didn't say that."

"Yes you did."

"No I didn't say you're good looking."

"But you called me a Greek god."

"Because that's what everybody thinks you are, not what I think you are."

I answered in all seriousness. He seemed to have noticed my bad mood and chose to drop the whole thing.

"Anyways, you don't mind that people will hate you."

He asked getting serious.

"No Austin. I have too much on my plate right now to put my attention on some loosers who have nothing better to do than hate me."

I answered him.

"Okay, you're honestly in a bad mood. What got your knickers in a twist?"

He asked staring at me as he  crossed his arms on his chest.

Friends. Freaking best friends.

"None of your business."

I said instead.

"See you around then Ali."

And then he turned to leave, clearly annoyed by my responses. Why am I being such an ass to him? He genuinely asked me what's wrong and I flipped him off. Then again why would he care if something was wrong?

"Austin wait!"

I called out to him and he stopped slowly waiting for me to catch up with him.

I kept staring at him not knowing what to say.

"Mhmhm, what is it?"

He asked raising his brows at me.

"I'm sorry okay. There are so many things tugging at my mind right now and- I just don't know why I'm being such an ass to you. Sorry."

I said and he didn't reply for a while.

"It's okay. I understand."

Wow. Just like that. He understands. Good.

"Good. Thanks."

"Don't mention it girlfriend. I know you love this too much to let it go."

He said gesturing to his body.

"You do know you're not as good looking as you think you are right?"

I asked him with a small smile.

"You wound me girlfriend."

He said putting his hand on his chest to feign heart ache as I shook my head slightly.

"You're impossible Austin."

"I know you love me."

He smirked at me.

If I'm to be honest, I'm really starting to warm up to this guy. I don't know, he just has a way of making me smile all the time.

"And stop fantasizing about me."

He added making me look at him with a soft smile. You see what I mean.

"You ready to present your poem? If you even have one that is."

I asked.

"How do you expect me to have one when you stopped tutoring me before I started with one?"

"You're blaming me?"

I asked him and he just shrugged.

"I'll probably just dodge or something. See you around girlfriend."

He said before leaving. I'm so not surprised. I'm sure he'll just dodge or even get some girl to write him one.

                                       °°°

The only available seat is next to Ashley. It always happens in my Maths class. I decided to just take my seat without muttering so much as a word to her.

"You've messed with the wrong girl you know."

She said her eyes fixed on Mr Shane so she'll seem like she was concentrating.

"You think?"

I responded staring straight ahead.

"I know. And you're gonna pay for it. Remember I'm keeping record of all the things you do and say to me and one day, I'll make you regret  saying and doing any of them to me."

"Ooh I'm so scared."

I said sarcastically and I cast a glance at her just to find her fuming.

"What do you have against me Ashley? Honestly now, why do you hate me so much?"

I asked her quite curious myself. I must've done something big to this girl if she insists on bringing me trouble.

"You have the audacity to ask? You know why I hate you."

She said and I remained quiet.

"You betrayed me the first month you came here, remember? You were lucky enough that I walked up to you and asked you to be my friend you know. But you were just some ungrateful bitch who decided to sleep with my boyfriend. How can I not hate you?"

She answered flooding memories into my head.

"Both you and I know that isn't true. First of all, those pictures were photo shopped, nothing happened between him and I. You saw the footage yourself. And second, that guy was not even your boyfriend."

"You're a bitch and I'm going to make sure everyone knows that."

She said and I looked at her face which was filled with utmost hatred.

"Well keep in mind that it takes a bitch to know a bitch Ashley. If you know what I mean."

I must've said that a bit louder than I intended because I had gasps from people around us who even turned to look at us which caught Mr Ian's attention.

"Silence!"

Ashley gave me one last glare which I shrugged off with a smile.

                                        °°°

"I can't believe I have to sit here with you."

I said sitting down with Austin on my left and Brandon on my right. Eric being opposite my seat. Last time I checked Brandon didn't even like me. It's lunch time and Austin insisted I eat with them so people believe we're truly going out.

"Get used to it baby doll. I'm still failing to see why you're going out with him. Trust me, being Austin's girlfriend is not as good as you think it is."

Eric said which means Austin didn't tell them we're just faking the whole dating thing.

"You don't want to pick a fight with me right now Eric."

Austin replied.

"Whatever."

Eric shrugged him off turning his attention to me.

"How on earth did Carol let you sit on our table if she doesn't like sitting here herself?"

"Ahhmm... We're not really in good terms right now so she doesn't even know that I'm going out with Austin."

I chose to say. I glanced at Austin who was watching me intensely and then took a glance at Brandon who ate his fries quietly without paying any attention to me. What does he have against me?

"What's this bitch doing here?"

A high pitched voice which was surely Ashley's shouted from behind us directing everyone's attention on our table. Just what I needed.

"Can someone just answer me? Austin, Brandon, why is she sitting here?"

She asked again furiously.

"Ask her."

Eric said making her fume.

"I didn't ask you Eric."

She said and Eric didn't even seem fazed by her tone.

"What's wrong captain? The news hasn't gotten to you yet?"

I asked standing up and staring right at her face. She's the captain of the cheerleading team so why not taunt her with her title right? I swear the girl applies too much make up for my liking. Like what is she? A drawing chart?

"What news?"

"She's Austin's freaking girlfriend."

He shouted gaining whispers and gasps from the whole cafeteria.

"What news?"

She asked again ignoring Eric's words.

"Just watch you heard captain. Your Austin and I are dating. Scratch that- he's clearly not yours anymore. He probably got bored of seeing the same bitchy fake face with excess make up. Or what?"

I replied taking a glance at Austin who seemed pretty amused by our whole exchange and I swear I saw that Brandon guy chuckled at my words. Ashley was fuming making her make up the more ugly.

"Keep dreaming Alice. Austin can never date someone as ugly as you."

"Watch him."

I said with emphasis before sitting back down.

"Austin, we need to talk."

She directed her attention at Austin who just stared at her as if she was crazy.

"Let's go."

She said beyond angry now and Austin stood up. Ofcourse he'll go. He can't even put his raging sexual hormones on hold so its more convenient that we're a couple. Wasn't he the one who wanted this fake relationship to be a success? Typical him.

"See Alice. He's coming with me because he's mine. Get that?"

He totally is. I agreed inwardly.

"Actually, I stood up to inform you sweetly that I can't talk to you right now because I'm having lunch with my girlfriend."

Austin said catching me offguard. I turned to look at him as he sat back down putting his arm around my chair. He didn't just say that? I mean I know he did but... Wow just wow. Ashley kicked a table which fell to the ground making a horrible sound before she stormed out of the cafeteria. Man, the girl is angry. And I don't blame her. I would be too. But she deserves it.

"I love you so much right now."

I said finally letting myself laugh at what just happened.

"You love me every time Ali."

He said kissing me softly on the lips. He pulled back before I even had the chance to comprehend what just happened. I smiled at him although my insides were churning uncontrollably. I don't know why his kiss surprised me so much when I was even the one who kissed him first the other day.

"And I'm finally warming up to you. You're not so bad after all."

Brandon brought me out of my voice making me grin at him.

"And here I thought I'd have to do something big to get you to like me. If I knew this was how you'll warm up to me then I would have done it a lot sooner."

I said making the three of them laugh. And here I thought sitting here would rather be uncomfortable and boring. But man, I'm enjoying this. And I'm not so sure it's healthy for me.

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