First Heartbreak

Chapter Twenty-Nine - Pretend Boyfriend

Sam's POV

The rest of the day went through quickly. Before I knew it, Rome was already waiting for me outside the door with his legs crossed while leaning on the wall, standing. He smiled as soon as he saw me. I was taken by surprise when he immediately took my bag from me.

"Uh.. What are you doing?" I whispered to him.

He whispered back. "Relax, Sam. Make-believe boyfriend, remember?" Then smiled afterwards. "So, how was class?" He said it a little louder, definitely grabbing everybody else's attention. Some stopped while their mouths hanged open, while others just went about their business.

I wasn't entirely sure if Zen heard that but...

"What the hell? What the hell was that Sam?" A screaming Vanessa came into view. She looked at Rome, smiled and her eyes focused back at me. "Well?"

"I..uh...well.."I was stuttering while I looked from Rome to Vanessa. Luckily, Rome spoke.

"Hey Vanessa. I'm Sam's boyfriend." He answered without any hint of lying. Man! He's good at this.

"Y-You..You're Sam's boyfriend?" She then looked at me. "How can that be Sam? You didn't say a word to me! What about Ze-" Before she could finish I grabbed her by the arm away from Rome. I smiled at him and excused Vanessa and I. I gestured to him that it won't take long.

I dragged her into the janitor's closet. She then yelped as soon as I released her hand. "WTH Sam??' She crossed her arms on her chest.

I fidgeted my fingers while trying to focus on answering her question. "Well, uh... Y-You s-see N-Ness.." Gosh! Could this get any worse?

"Hold up!" She pointed her finger up in the air while she laid her free hand on her waist. "You and Rome are together?" I nodded.

"Since when?" She was practically screaming at my face right now. God I hope she doesn't accidentally spit her saliva all over my face! That would be gross!

"Can't remember." Was my response.

"What?! How can you not remember??" She asked suspiciously.

"Well, you know when you hang-out with that person and all of a sudden you turn from friends into...more than friends?" I answered. "Well... That's what kind of happened." I continued.

By now she was hyperventilating. I've never seen her this overly excited at something. She was breathing heavily and flapping her hands everywhere.

"NESS! Relax!" I held her shoulders. "Breathe girl, breathe!" I was now fanning her with a notebook I found nearby.

She took deep breaths and her heart rate slowed for awhile. "Oh-kay. I'm Okay." She replied. "Phew Sam! You've caused me a heart attack!"

I shrugged. "I'm sorry." I looked down. "And I'm sorry for keeping it from you. I just didn't want you to... you know.. get overly excited like this."

She smiled. "What? Are you kidding me?! I'm more than excited!" She laughed.

"Wait, hold on a second. You're not mad at me?"

"Mad? How can I be mad at you, Sam?" She giggled.

"Well.. Cause from the start you were like Team Zen." I looked down and rubbed by left arm.

She raised an eyebrow when I looked back up to see her expression. "Now why would you think that, Sammy girl?"

"Well, you've always supported me when it comes to Zen."

She laughed some more. "You're funny Sam. Really you are!"

"What's funny?" I frowned.

"Sam, the reason why I supported Zen is because you're happy with her. I support you whoever you're happy with." She smiled candidly. "And if it's Rome that's cause you your happiness, then I'm far more thrilled for you!" She grabbed me to a tight hug.

"Ugh... Ness.. Can't... Breathe.." As I tapped her hips.

"Oops!" She released "I got carried away."

"S'okay."

"So, when are you going to spill me the details?" She wiggled her brows.

I chuckled at her gesture. "I don't know. When can I come for another sleepover?"

"Hmm. Friday. My dad's going to be staying overnight at the construction site again so it leaves me with the house all to myself!"

"Great! I'll see you then." I grab hold of the door knob. But before I could twist it open, I turned around and spoke. "Oh and Ness."

"Yes, Sammy girl?"

"Please don't let him know about me and Zen. I...I haven't told him about her...yet."

She let out a deep breath and replied, "Sure Sam, no problem."

"Thanks Ness." And I opened the door from the janitor's closer finding Rome leaning by the door again.

"Hey!" He tapped my shoulder.

"Woah! Sh-t!" I placed my hand over my heart. "You scared me for a moment there, Rome."

"Sorry. So, ready to go?" He held out his elbow so I could cling into his arms.

I looked at it and nodded. What the heck, Sam! He's your "make-believe boyfriend"! Why don't you just go with it! I was reminded by the voice in my head. I closed my eyes and let out a small sigh and grab hold of Rome's arm. I hope he didn't noticed that.

We walked on the hallways of the school with me holding into Rome. We earned a couple of stares, some gasps, a few whispers, and a bunch of envious eyes.

"They're staring at us, Rome." I whispered in his ears.

He just smirked and said, "Let them." He then dropped hand from holding unto him and placed his arm over my shoulder as we continued to walk past the gossips.

I over-heard someone say "They look great together! Such a cute couple." I couldn't help but suppress a smile.

I looked over at Rome while still walking, with his head held high and arms still over my shoulders, he looked happy. Damn! He's good at this! And here I am, struggling too hard to make it look real. sigh.

Rome took me to his truck at the parking area. He has called Charles earlier asking him to come back in an hour.

He offered me a sandwich while we sat at the back of his truck.

"So, how did you think we did back there?" He asked.

"Well, you definitely started a stir of buzz from other students, alright!"

He laughed. "Did you see the look on their faces?" He then copied the face of this one boy I saw who almost drooled looking at us. I laughed at him. He was hilarious!

"Okay, now...stop....it!" I said in between gasps of air from laughing.

"Okay, okay, sorry." He chuckled and held up his hands in defeat.

We continued eating our sandwiches when he spoke again. "You did good back there." I looked down feeling embarrassed. "Thanks."

He then changed the topic and told me stories and jokes that he could think of. I honestly felt content with his company. He's sweet. We got so lost in our conversation that we didn't noticed his driver, Charles was already back.

"Having fun are we, Master Rome?" He asked while he was partly hidden by the driver side.

Rome just groaned. "Five more minutes, Charles. Then we'll head home. We'll drop off Sam first."

"Oh no! There's no need for you to drop me off." I smiled at Charles.

"But I insist." Rome replied.

I looked at him. "But it's fine, Rome. Really. I can just walk home." Yeah right. And be mugged by a bunch of robbers at a dark alley, my brain responded.

"Really Sam? You're still shy of me despite of everything?" He teased. "Come on. I don't want my girlfriend to be walking home alone without me." With that said he jumped off from sitting at the back and turned to face me. I could blush all day, by the way. He's always a gentleman.

I rolled my eyes at him. He just laughed and helped me down so we could sit up front.

Don't fall for him Sam. Just don't. All of this is just make-believe. I reminded myself, just in-case.