"Ali."

I turn around to find Austin walking towards me. I must've been really lost in my thoughts not to have heard him open that door. Or more like lost in my own frustration.

"You need something Austin?"

I ask pretending to have my focus on the novel in front of me so I don't get to face him.

"No hey no hi? I didn't even see you yesterday and you don't even care to give me a hug? Or what, you didn't miss me?"

He didn't even sound serious in the slightest bit. And of course I didn't see him yesterday. I've spend the whole day in my hotel room checking my phone for any of his texts. And he didn't even send a single hi. And then I was somewhat eager to see him today just to find out he wasn't interested in seeing me even a tiny bit. I should've known then-

"Overthinking again are we?"

He interrupts my thoughts and I turn to look at him.

"I'm busy and guessing by your messed up hair and the makeup smudge on your cheeks, you were busy too. So if you'd please leave me alone, I need to finish my book before the bell rings."

I exclaim totally pissed for I don't know what reason.

"Ouh, I thought I cleaned this up."

He said without a care in the world as he sat besides me.

"So I got a little bored and you can't deny that Ashley looked slightly sexier today with less make up and all so when I saw her, I couldn't help myself."

He said with a shrug and I gulped in shock. He's joking right? He can't be talking casually about this after what happened Friday night. Atleast what I thought had happened. Did he feel that heat and electricity with Ashley too? With every girl he sleeps with? Did what happened between us really mean nothing to him?

"Are you serious?"

I managed to ask.

"Of course. And you're probably angry but-"

"Why would I be angry?"

I asked cutting him off. So he does know I'm mad. So maybe an apology will follow.

"Yah you have every right to be. I mean after I reprimanded you the other day for not keeping your relationships a secret considering we're fake dating and here I was putting my make out sessions on display. But I'll try to be more discreet next time. You must understand though Ali, a guy's gotta do what a guy's gotta do."

He replied casually. So much thinking he'd say something nicer. I hate him. I hate him so much for getting under my skin. I hate myself even more for thinking that he'd be a little less hurtful with his words.

"You came all the way here just to tell me that?"

"Of course not baby doll. You brought it up and I just elaborated. I just thought we could continue where we left off Friday night."

He said moving his chair closer to me so we're only a few inches apart. He's back to calling me those awful nicknames again? What is going on with him? One step forward and then two step forward in this whole fake relationship of ours? He's never acted so mean with me before, why this sudden urge to try and humiliate me and my feelings. I thought we were atleast becoming friends. But of course friends don't kiss.

"You're mistaken if you're think I'm going to let you treat me like one of your flings Austin. Really mistaken."

I say pushing him away and standing up so I keep a good amount of distance between us.

"I didn't see you complaining last time."

He says catching me off guard again.

"Because I thought-"

"Thought what Ali? That we could be together? That we were actually becoming something more than just a petty fling?"

I felt this little stinging pain in my chest. It's tiny but I could feel it. Damn you Ali for always getting this things wrong.

"C'mon Ali, I thought you were better than this. You are the one who keeps preaching to me about how I don't take girls serious and that I only have flings. You should've known that I can't offer anything more than that."

He said his voice filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place my thoughts on.

"What are you talking about? Who said I expected anything more from you? In fact I don't even care what you do. All my questions were based on nothing personal believe me. Because I happen to know just how much of a heartless jock you are when it comes to girls. But who am I to tell you that anyways?"

I picked up my bag, slammed it on my shoulder after placing the novel inside it and looked at him one last time.

"Excuse me, I've got better things to do right now."

And with that I left. I'm never thinking about that jock again and that's that.

                                     °°°

"I never thought people could change."

Mensia said earning herself a sceptical look from me.

"Well some."

I took a bite from my steak before looking back at her.

"What are you talking about?"

"Austin."

She said making me look over to the table where he was sitting with Eric and Brandon. I had tried so hard not to think about my encounter with him through out my lessons and I succeeded just to have Mensia bring him up again. Not like she knows how much I hate him right now. Why do I even hate him? After all he wasn't lying when he said what ever it is he told me. I knew very well that he couldn't offer anything else apart from flings and kisses.

And it's not like I want anything from him either. Not a relationship or a fling. So I'll just stick to the fact that we're fake dating. In fact I should ask him how much longer we have to pretend with this whole charade because I'm fed up of it. I don't want any tiny detail about my life to be based on lies anymore.

"He changed?"

I asked.

"Not exactly. And it's more like you're changing him."

I couldn't help rolling my eyes.

"White lie. People like him never change. He'll always be the jackass he's always been."

"Ouh come on, I swear he's changing. I don't see him playing around with girls anymore. For real."

She said seriously.

"Just because you don't see him with girls doesn't mean he's not screwing them Mensia."

"Says the girlfriend."

She said with a playful smile.

"I still can't believe you're dating him."

She added as I watched Austin and his friends walking snappily out of the cafeteria. They are definitely up to something.

" I think I'm being unfair to you. You've never left my side since we became friends so I feel bad for lying to you too."

"What do you mean?"

"Austin and I are not really dating. He asked me to be his fake girlfriend to make his mom happy since she always wanted to see him settle down with someone and his mom happend to like me so... I was the best choice.."

All though I'm sure there's some missing puzzle to that. The way he was so desperate to fake date me means there's another reason why he asked me. I just can't guess what.

"You're being serious?"

She said staring at me.

"Yes. But please don't tell anyone. If anyone finds out, the information might get to Ashley who will obviously go tell Austin's mom and everything will turn out bad."

I requested and she nodded.

"You must really like him if you accepted to do this for his mom."

"You wouldn't say that if you knew why I accepted to do this."

I said thinking back to the day when I accepted his request. Dylan was pestering me and I had thought that if I kissed Austin he'd stay away from me. And since I couldn't tell Austin exactly why I kissed him, I ended up telling him it's because we're meant to be fake dating. Which was a ridiculous thing to do because Dylan still keeps bothering me.

Mensia raised her brows at me and I just shrugged.

"I'm glad you told me Alice. I'm really glad."

She said with a genuine smile which I returned.

"I know."

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I was doubting this chapter that's why I took so long to update. I'm still not sure about how I wrote the first scenario of this chapter so please tell me what you think. I'd highly appreciate it. And smash that vote button.