"You're smoking again aren't you?"

I asked after quietly entering the room and closing the door. He was facing the window, perhaps looking at the view outside so he had his back on me but the smoke surrounding him told me he was definitely smoking.

"So?"

He asked as if smoking was just something normal. Maybe it was for him but definitely not for me. After my mom started drinking I started hating anything related to alcoholic substances, cigarettes included.

"It's not exactly good for your health you know." I say making him snort.

"I don't know how that concerns you."

He says and I agree silently with him. Ofcourse it doesn't concern me. It's his life, it's what he does when he's pissed and I can't just change that now can I?

"It sure doesn't concern me but think about the people you care about. Does your mother even know you smoke? I don't think so and if she were to walk in here and find you doing just that I'm not so sure she'll be happy about it. And if you decided to put your bad boy vibes on hold by fake dating me to make her happy, it shouldn't be so hard for you to stop smoking where she's concerned.

And not to talk about little Soni. What a good example you'll be setting for her if she walks in on you smoking, right? So sure thing Austin, you can go ahead and smoke all you want."

I add the last part sarcastically. I mean it's pretty obvious sometimes he only thinks about himself- which is most of the times, and he needs a reminder there are people looking up to him to do the right things.

I was so lost in scolding him that I didn't realise he'd thrown the cigarette on the ground and stepped on it. But he didn't even turn to look at me. Atleast my lecture worked.

"I'm an asshole. I'm a jerk. I'm so indulged in keeping my bad boy image I don't care who I hurt. You said it yourself, I don't deserve to have such a mother and sister because I can never make them happy-"

"I didn't say that."

I cut him off.

"But you certainly implied it." He retorts.

"Why are you so pissed Austin? The fact that you got involved in a fight for me just got me all the more confused. And don't you dare tell me you did that because we're fake dating, I'm not buying that shit today. I don't know if it's just me but you act like you truly care about me so please explain it to me."

I say finally happy to be saying exactly what's on my mind. I want answers and if I don't get them, I swear I'll end this fake dating crap right now and go back to my old life where I'll have no interactions with Austin. I ignored the little pang in my chest at the thought of not having Austin in my life anymore.

"It's just you."

He says and I sigh in frustration. So much for thinking he'd stop trying to hurt me or so. Just when I think this is my cue to leave, he asks me something.

"Why are you still sticking around Ali? I've been a complete asshole to you most of the time. Not always but you get me. I'm a jerk. All I'm good at is fucking every pretty girl that comes my way. I know I confuse you at times, one day I'm acting as if we're friends or so and the next I'm saying it didn't mean anything. And then I tell you my mom asked for you and you don't even object. You followed me here with not so much as a query. Why are you still helping me? Why Ali?"

He said catching me off guard. Never in a million years did I ever imagine him asking me something like that. I thought he didn't even care that I was here. I thought he only cared that his mom was happy and everything else was just dirt to him. But here he was, sounding desperate to know just why I'm still sticking around despite everything he's said to me. I've moved to stand next to him so I could see the desperation written all over his face.

"I don't know Austin." I tell him honestly.

"I tell myself it's because I want to help your mom be happy but then again, why would I want to help your mom be happy? I don't think I would have agreed to fake date anyone else for their mothers' sake. So I don't know why I'm still here Austin."

I substantiated wondering if I was even making sense.

"You're so different you know." He said and I didn't even have to look at him to know he was smiling.

"How different?"

"I don't really know how to say it. You're the first and only girl to reject me since I started my player ways. That counts for something trust me. The only girl who showed affection to my family. The only one who can lecture me all day and not even feel guilty about it. You sure know how to put me in my place."

He says making me laugh.

"And Sonia."

"Right." He chuckles.

"And what I like most about you is how you handle your issues. Despite all the things you encountered all this years at home, you never showed a sad face whatsoever. You still managed to pull a straight face. I admire that."

He added making me smile all the more. He had asked me how my mom turned into an alcoholic Saturday and I ended up telling him everything. He even asked what happened between Gail, Carol and I. Gosh, is there anything he doesn't know about me?

"I'm glad I'm so unique."

I replied with a grin.

"Hey, I'm being serious."

"Well what can I say? Am I supposed to be sad all the time just because things aren't going well at home? I'd rather not think about my mom unless she's around ofcourse."

Two months ago I couldn't even stand this guy and now here I am expressing myself to him. It's weird how things change. I couldn't help but smile when he placed his arm around my shoulders. And without giving it a second thought, I leaned into him. The things this guy makes me do. I just can't explain.

"Two months ago I couldn't even stand next to a girl without getting her naked and now here I am. Expressing myself to you. The things you make me do Ali. I just can't explain."

He said as if reading my thoughts. It's always as if he knows what I'm thinking. For some unknown reason I didn't want this moment to end. But I had to ask, even if it could ruin this once in a lifetime moment. I needed to know.

"Did you really not feel anything when you kissed me Friday night?"

I managed to ask still leaning into  his warm embrace. I braced myself for when he'll snap and push me away. Telling me it was obvious and all. But that never came. Instead he remained silent making me feel anxious about what he'll say. After what felt like an eternity, he decided to say something.

"Did that kiss feel one sided?"

He asked making me look at him and he was already staring at me. His eyes were full of emotions I couldn't put names to. I think back to that kiss. It was so intense and full of emotions. The electricity that transpired between us was too immense to be one sided.

"No it didn't."

I say and he smiles turning to face me fully.

"Well I guess that gives you the answer Ali. Or should we do this again to see if I will feel anything or not?"

He adds with a smirk moving his lips close to mine so I could feel his breath on them and I couldn't help the blush that crowded my cheeks.

"No we shouldn't do this again, until ofcourse you give me an honest explanation as to why you acted so damn bitchy earlier in the library."

I say pushing him so there was a decent amount of distance between us.

"I wasn't acting bitchy." He snorts.

"Ouh you were acting bitchy alright. So explain."

I ask and I cringed inwardly realising that I was acting the way a typical pissed off girlfriend would. But either ways I need to know why he acted like I was just one of the many girls he hooks up with.

"There's no explanation Ali. Well maybe I went a little over board with my acting but-"

"Wait...You were acting?"

I ask and he scratches the back of his neck showing just how nervous and uncomfortable he looked before nodding.

"I don't get it."

I state simply.

"C'mon did you really think I meant anything I said in there?"

He asks and I keep staring at him in silence. Ofcourse I did. He notices my silence and I'm sure it's written all over my face that I very well believed everything he said which makes him groan.

"Look when you stayed the night in my room Friday night, I realised I cared for you much more than I'd like to believe. And that scared me so much because I don't remember caring for anyone else other than my mother, Sonia, Brandon and Eric. I realised that can't be good for me because I'm not looking for a relationship whatsoever. So I knew better than to lead you on.

So I decided to make out with Ashley and let you know about it. I was even glad you saw me with her so it was easy to act bitchy with you like you put it. I just had to tell you about how hot she looked which was a lie by the way, her face always looks worse than a drawing board. And I was even more pissed off because my kiss with you was nothing compared to the one I shared with her. That was a mere exchange of saliva between her and I whereas yours and mine was extraordinary. So now you know why I had to act bitchy. To convince you and myself- mostly myself, that you were just one of many girls."

He throws his hands in the air to conclude his speech and I'm at a loss pf words. I sure did not expect him to say all the things he just did right now.

"I think that's the most I've ever heard you talk."

I say and he shakes his head as if I were crazy.

"From everything I said that's all you can say?"

"Yes because you've just managed to confuse me further. And are you sure I was meant to hear everything you just told me?"

"Not everything. The kiss part was just a slip of the tongue."

He says walking to sit on the bed.

"I thought so."

I say slightly amused at the fact that he thinks our kiss was extraordinary.

"At least you agree that Ashley's face looks like a drawing board."

I manage to laugh and he joins me pulling me over his lap and I decide to let it slide. He kisses me softly and I couldn't help but kiss him back. Memories of our previous kiss flood back into my mind and I feel my body react to his touch instantly. I manage to pull away before it gets too heated.

"I'm glad I'm the first girl you started to care about. And I'm even more glad I'm the first girl you got involved in a fight for."

I tell him hooking my arms behind his neck and settling myself on his lap.

"So am I." He says moving his lips to my neck and leaving small kisses making it almost impossible for me to think.

"But you do know that this can't go beyond caring for each other right? That after we are done fake dating which I don't know for how long we'll have to get back to how we used to be right?"

I hear him ask as he sucks on my neck and I nod without fully comprehending what he had said. I moved my hands through his hair admiring its soft texture. His lips were making it impossible for me to concentrate and I couldn't help the pleasure that came with how he kept sucking on my neck. I'm sure there'll be a hickey there after our little session is over.

I let out a low moan involuntarily just as someone clears their throat making me jump from Austin's lap. Grace was standing at the door staring between Austin and I. I couldn't help the heat that crowded my cheeks as she stood there watching us.

I've never been so embarrassed like this. I'm sure my face looked flustered beyond repair. But Austin seemed to be enjoying my embarrassed situation since he had this sexy smirk plastered on his face while Grace looked amused herself. Leave it to the Robsons to find humour in one's displeasure.

"Sonia has a fever and she's been asking for you Alice. So if you're not too busy..."

She lets her words trail on purpose looking as if she could burst out laughing any moment now.

"I'll go." I said quickly walking out of the room. Why am I so embarrassed? Did Grace really have to walk in that exact moment when I... moaned? I groan covering my face with my hands. This is definitely embarrassing. But I'll live won't I?

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