Pretending To Be Mine
1079 Words
CARTER
Hailey Walker has always had a way of getting under my skin. I don't even know when it started, but maybe it has always been there.
I've known her long enough to know that she shrinks when pushed into the spotlight, avoids eye contact when she's nervous, and runs her hand over whatever she's wearing when she's tense about something. She even has a strange way of looking at people-especially me.
Like she notices things she shouldn't.
Like she sees through the things I don't let other people see.
And God knows I hate that. I figured if Hailey Walker hated me, she'd keep her distance. And if she kept her distance, maybe she wouldn't look at me like that again. Maybe I wouldn't notice her the way I did that night-standing in the rain while jumping like nothing else existed.
But even with the way she looks at me like I'm the last person she wants near her, I still notice her.
And that's the problem.
Because Hailey Walker is not my type. She's not even close. I've always gone for girls who look nothing like her- skinny, long legs, girls who aren't tied to their glasses like it's their lifeline.
Never someone like her.
And yet my attention keeps circling back like it's stuck on a loop.
I notice the way she keeps running her hands over her jeans as a faint flush creeps up her cheeks. I just announced to the whole team-and my ex girlfriend-about our 'fake' relationship. Of course she's going to be nervous. Madison, on the other hand, looks like her new collection of bags is on fire. "What ?! Haybale ... is .. your girlfriend?"
I lift a brow. "And what made you think you have the right to call her that?"
Madison looks flustered. "But .. but .. Carter."
"Apologize to her."
Her eyes widen. "What ?! "
I never asked my teammates or anyone else to call Hailey Haybale. Only I did. As much as I bullied her, the thought of anyone else doing it to her is upsetting.
Hailey tugs at the hem of my jersey. "You don't have to go this far," she whispers for only me to hear. "I'm sure they all get it now." I ignore her. She doesn't know Madison is a smart, cunning and calculating b***h. She'll notice that my relationship with Hailey isn't real if I don't make the show perfect.
"You heard me, Madison. Apologize," I repeat, voice dropping lower. "We both know I don't toy with people I care about."
Her voice cracks. "So you're going to humiliate me because of her? You're choosing her over me?"
"I don't think I remember who you are." I circle my fingers around Hailey's waist and she sucks in a breath. "Madison? Martha? What's your name again?”
Madison's lips tremble. "Carter ... "
"Stay away from my girlfriend." I state carefully. "And I mean it."
Without uttering a single word, she storms onto the bus. Hailey instantly relaxes as relief flickers across her face. Her eyes flicker to my hand at her waist, and I clear my throat. "My teammates are looking." She nods slowly.
"Get into the bus, I'll join you soon."
She nods again before turning toward the bus.
Dragging a hand through my hair, I exhale. Pretending to be in love with someone I've spent years pushing away is definitely going to be exhausting. ------
Rather than sitting next to Hailey on the bus, I sit with my teammates like nothing has changed. Kaden buries his face into Kimberly's neck and groans. "You smell so good, sweetheart. Your scent drives me to the edge. Always."
Someone tosses a bag of chips at them. "Get a room, you two!"
"Hell no," Kaden laughs into her neck as she squirms in his grasp. "I promised my relationship would make you jealous, and it seems like it worked. Carter couldn't handle it anymore, that's why he decided to start dating again." I shoot a glare at him. "Not funny."
"Of course it is," he smirks. "Who would have thought you'd settle with a girl you've been bullying since high school."
I never thought I'd settle with Hailey too.
It never crossed my mind. Not even for a second.
He pulls away from Kimberly. "You've said some crazy s**t about her, dude. You sure you didn't do this because of the trending video? I mean, you can tell us the truth. I know how much you hate her."
Hate? I don't hate Hailey Walker. The words are on the tip of my tongue, but I can't f*****g say it. I glance up at her. Her forehead is pressed against the window, eyes following the drifting snowflakes as a smile curves her lips.
It catches me off guard.
"Dude." Harisson's voice knocks me out of it. He has a deep frown on his face, brown eyes filled with that look that tells me he knows I'm hiding something. "You didn't answer Kaden's question." Kaden, Harisson and I have known each other since we were ten. We met on a football field and became friends since then. I don't hide things from them, but this fake dating thing with Hailey? It can't get out to the public.
I feign a pained look. "Ouch, you guys really think the public can influence my decision to date someone?"
Kaden shrugs. "It's different when it can tarnish your reputation."
"And ruin your career." Harisson adds.
"I'm not dating Hailey because of the trending video."
"You're dating her because you love her, then?" Kimberly asks, large blue eyes sparkling with curiosity. I've never liked this girl since Kaden introduced her to me. She's exactly like Madison-an angel on the outside, a b***h on the inside-but Kaden can't see that.
He's head over heels in love with her. I glance at Hailey. Again. She's tracing the snow on the window as a small smile tugs at her lips.
My chest tightens.
"Carter doesn't just date people he loves," Harisson says with a grin, snapping me out of it. "Sometimes he just wants to f**k them." He wriggles his brows at me. "Right, Carter?"
I'll let them assume whatever they want.
It's better than admitting the fact that Hailey Walker occupies my thoughts far more than she should, and no matter how hard I try, I can't stop it.
This long month of our fake relationship is going to kill me.
- Writer
