strangers to lovers

CHAPTER-SEVENTEEN:

I couldn't believe it when the contract snapped as it did. I could not let it go, even if it was my fault. I blinked rapidly, trying to comprehend what was happening. The woman popped her head out of the dressing room door with a slight grin as she said, "I'm fine, Donna." "You're just stupid." "I'm not

worthless either." She responded firmly. "I'm just an idiot." I apologize for listening in, but please do not think that way. My guess is that Bennett feels the same way." "Maybe this is a good thing." "Maybe it hurts to hear you say that." "Maybe it's a good thing." "Maybe it's a good thing," I replied. It's okay to be a little immature at times, Ella," she replied. "Especially when it comes to our feelings." She snapped back, "I cannot handle being told I'm not good enough." A little more harshly than she should have whispered, "But, Ella." "Ella, what's wrong with you?" She leaned over and whispered in her voice. She didn't like she could tell me what the problem was. You're not good enough for Ella?" In response to the question, "Who decides that?" I replied, "His mother-" "She does not know you." It's time to prove to her that you're good enough for Luke. Even if it is just a fake relationship, I think you are too good for him, even if it is a fake relationship. Where is your feisty spirit? Her stare into mine challenged me to reply, "I know you're right." It was Luke who I was most concerned about. I was determined not to let this contract end. I hurried out of the waiting room, dressed only in my socks and the dress I tried on. "You must go speak to him now." I nodded. "Where is Luke?" I asked. "He just left," he replied, frowning slightly. "Has something happened?" I was left standing in the waiting room. After scanning the room, I couldn't find him. Luke was chatting with the young man at the register. I asked. "Did something go wrong?" I asked. "What happened?". The salesman yelled at me, "Excuse me!" after I left the store. I turned my back on him, ignored him, and then looked for the door. He shouted at me, "Excuse me!" I exited the store. Only the fluorescent streetlights and the little bit of light coming out of the store lit up the

sidewalks after the sun set. While I hopped around on the cold pavement looking for Luke, I bounced a little on my balls of my feet as I scanned the area in search of him. When I couldn't find anyone, I drove back to the car parking lot. He wouldn't leave, would he? As soon as I started walking, a loud voice sounded from somewhere around me. I ran after it. At first, I thought he was clueless, but I realized he was smart enough not to do that.Upon turning a corner, I was surprised to see Luke standing in the small hiding space between two buildings. As soon as I heard his voice, I knew I could not hunt him down because he was partially hidden by the shadows. I was relieved to know that I wouldn't have to search for him. He was talking on his cell phone. "Give her that phone right now." His mother? "Luke!" I called, closing the distance. "Wait just a moment." He glanced at me, tight in his eyes, and I found himself annoyed by his tone despite this. During the telephone call, he told the person receiving it, "Channing, I will fire you if you do not put her on." I could not tolerate him at all. I did not want him to start a battle with his mother over me. It was pointless. I grabbed the phone from him and hit the end button a few times. "What do you do?" I demanded. As I moved the phone behind my back, I asked, "Give me the phone." "Don't call your mother to ask for help." "You should want me to do that." "I overreacted earlier." My eyes lowered as I apologized as I lowered them, my eyes closed. "You should have

understood I didn't mean it." I told him. "You shouldn't be the one apologizing here." I pursed my lips and looked back at him. "I shouldn't have taken it out on you." "Please forgive me." He let out a frustrated sound. "You shouldn't be the one to apologize here." Likewise, it hurts to hear that you think I am not good enough for you just as much. Your mom surprised me, but I shouldn't have allowed her to get to me so easily. I don't want you to feel that way, Luke." "It's not my fault," "Not at all." "It's not my fault." "It's not my fault at all." Sure, she surprised me, but I shouldn't have allowed her to get to me so easily. I have no idea why she got to me so easily. I don't even know why she got to me so easily. Please don't cause any trouble about me." "So she said that?" he replied, ignoring my attempt at making lighthearted. Gritting my teeth, I wondered if he just heard what he had been waiting for? "Let's just get this over with, Luke. I didn't come outside to argue with you." "I don't intend to leave this alone." I cut him off firmly. I stood up a little straighter and handed him the phone. "This is not something you should discuss with your family." Despite the fact that you're barely dressed, I don't think my mother ought to be

allowed to do anything she wishes with my relationships. And she should know it," he said, exasperated. In my opinion, I do not feel good about this situation. "I will fix it." "Alright, that's all I needed to hear." "I don't believe we're dating." "The matter will not matter in six months." My mother knows

about me now, and I think she doesn't really like me at all, is she right? After six months, he remained silent, his fists clenched. I guess she knows about me now, and I'm sure she doesn't really like me, is she? "I hope she'll be happy that we broke up after this whole thing is over and done with, because that will give you all the time you need to find someone you truly care about," I tried to keep a cheery tone as I spoke to her. "It works out perfectly, isn't it?"As I watched him, his expression did not change. "I said I'd cancel the contract." My heart hurt. My mother does not want this, so I do not want to cancel the contract." "You do not want us to cancel the contract?" I shook my head in disbelief. I would never let that happen again. I was just frustrated." "I am going to make sure your mother has nothing to complain about the next time she sees me." Upon hearing that, he sighed. "It's part of our contract." "I do not want you to feel like you have to pretend anymore." "You wrote it yourself." "And I knew exactly what I was getting into when I said I would do this." "I did not." He replied, "That is why you think I make you feel worthless," he added. As I snapped at him, I yelled out, "You don't have to make this such a big deal out of nothing. Your mother is not important to me, so don't do that." He narrowed his gaze at her. I'm really annoyed with you." As I closed my mouth, realizing I was getting rather worked up, I began to hear the words, "It is your anger at the wrong thing that is causing you to end this contract. I have the problem here. I do not want you to convince me to end this contract!". My voice resonated through the alleyway as I realized I was getting a bit worked up. While I fidgeted, my eyes wandered somewhere else other than Luke's face, and I realized this wasn't what I wanted. I wondered why I could possibly be so immature if I fought him like that. "Why don't you want to cancel it?" I heard him say, his black eyed stare smoldering into mine. I began to stutter, but then focused on him. "Because... because..." Having seen his dark eyes, I had no idea what to say. "The money?" "No," I replied instantly. I didn't want Luke to think I only cared about him. "Then why? " he asked. What could I tell him? What was the reason I wanted to continue it so badly? Did I just get too stubborn to get his mother off me? Maybe it's best we let them go both, since he annoyed me so much that sometimes it was hard to keep up with him. But I didn't want that to end. I wasn't ready to let him go. I couldn't count how many people I cared about in this whole world and Luke was one of them. My mouth went dry as I started to say, "I..." You were so against helping me before, Ella. Tell me why! " We're really close, aren't we? I told you I'd help you, so

I would go back to how we used to be, and I did. You can tell how close we are, aren't we? I slapped my hand over my mouth when he didn't even move his lips and made him stop speaking. I kinda wish I could make fun of your mom about our relationship. My question was, what in the world was I thinking? What in the hell was I thinking? You're a psycho, I said. What in the hell did I think? I didn't want Luke to go? How could I tell him that? As I stood there beside us, I felt the urge to slam my cheeks against the brick wall next to us. He said he was incapable of getting along with someone like me, so he'd probably run thirty miles away from me. At the beginning, the guy said it was clear that we couldn't feel for each other. His name was Luke. He stood there with his lips pressed together, eyes focusing directly on me. Would he really refuse to budge? I might have to get more dirty. I As he relaxed, he

said, "Also... I would not have a place to live." When he regained his composure, he breathed deeply and said, "So you're not going to cancel the contract?" He said, "So I guess you're not going to cancel it." Getting over it was a good feeling. The way he put it made me cringe. "I didn't know?" He flushed. "You just wanted a compliment?" Apparently I'm embarrassed when I hear that. My normal way of getting compliments is not fishing for them, so I was mortified by it. "Also, I am going to include a condition to the contract." "What?" "No interaction with my mother from now on." I shrugged. I didn't even intend to see her that time." "Go inside and change." "I don't mind," I responded. The boy frowned and asked, "Should I take your phone?" "No, I will take it." "I don't want the store to think that you're stealing from them." "You're coming with me?" "You're coming with me?" He replied and I looked back cautiously at him. "I won't make a call to her." Despite the fact that I said, "I will not risk my job for a fake relationship," I agreed, but I was disappointed at the fact that I felt disappointed in myself. In spite of the fact that I had warned him not to get too involved, it didn't seem to make sense. I did not understand my feelings. We stood there in silence for a moment, sharing the same moment together. After chewing on my bottom lip for a moment, I began to feel uncertain. "Ella," he said, looking over my back at me. He paused, looking over my back at me. I looked over my back at him, looking at him. "What?" I asked again. I felt like Luke was taking things further than they needed to go. And so, I turned away from him. In Luke's case, I believe he would say that things are fine now if he told me so. Getting that dress is something you should do. It is really flattering on you. Please accept my apologies that I did not tell you sooner about how great the dress looks on you." I started to smile. "Thank you, Luke." He did not respond back.