CHAPTER 21: Field day One.
1717 Words
ODESSA
“I love being in Oakwood.” Liam and I are sitting on my bed, in my room. “Despite everything, I really like it here and I don’t want to leave.”
It was clearly Jessica’s idea.
“I know.” He still looks sullen.
“I need this to work Liam.” I already feel the tears pricking my eyes, “I need things to change,” to be better.
I can’t worry about people trying to Tonya Harding me while I’m practicing for the showcase in order to impress the Julliard orchestra scout. I worked too hard to let this be the thing to stop me.
It’s not the Dominaka way.
“And they will.” A nod, “we’re in this together Vecker. I got you.”
“Okay,” I try to smile but it comes off weird… broken.
“JJ just texted,” he’s holding his phone. “We’re trending on blackbook which means all eyes will be on us from now on.”
“But how do they know?” I feel nauseous.
“Someone took a photo of us earlier and posted it.”
Of course, the kiss wasn’t even 3seconds long but someone already has a picture. I really need to track down my college tour guide because that man owes me an explanation.
“How do you feel?” Liam looks up from the screen.
“Eyes have been on me, it’s nothing new.” I pull down the sleeves of my cardigan to stop myself from rubbing my wrists.
“I know you don’t want to do this but I promise it will work,” he puts his phone away. “You just need to trust me.”
“Okay.”
It’s all I can say because no matter the outcome, it’ll affect me more than him like it has been all this time.
“You can set some rules if it will make you feel—” I grab his face and kiss him.
“Wha—why—huh?” His lips part when I separate our faces.
“Just trying to get used to kissing you,” I press my thumb on my lower lip. “And I wanted to get you back for earlier.” I almost smile.
Consent is still very important but sometimes so is getting even.
“Okay.” He blinks and it alarms me.
The kiss wasn’t that bad. It was actually sort of…nice? He has soft lips and he tastes like mint and chocolate.
“I have no rules I can think of,” I answer his earlier suggestion. “I just want to do music again.”
I want it to be easy again.
“And you will,” his eyes drop to show a light brown field of long eyelashes.
Lucky bastard.
“Just…” he clears his throat. “Please let me fix it and once it’s done, you can dump me in front of everyone and you will never have to see my face again.”
“Promise?” I’m not sure if I’m kidding or not.
“Yeah,” his smile is weak. Sad.
Why are we acting like we’re about to sacrifice a bunch of new borns? It’s just fake dating, we can handle it…right?
“I have to go but I’ll come by to help set up for Jess’s party tomorrow,” he stands from the bed and I follow.
“Okay.” I pull on my sleeve, “do you want me to walk you out?”
Please say no. Please say no. Please say no.
“Nah,” his hand is on the doorknob. “Bye Vecker,” he takes his leave and I fall back on my bed.
Lord, please don’t let us mess this up.
I wake up to so many notifications, I’m scared to check my phone. Fortunately I have America who goes through my newsfeed in record time.
“It’s 50/50.” That’s her verdict. “Some people are glad the drama is over and you guys are together but some think its suspect so your appearance at Jess’s party tonight is crucial for this plan.”
“No pressure.” I slam my face into a pillow. “I can’t believe my first relationship at Oakwood is fake.”
How sad is that?
“At least he’s hot, rich and has that face.” The mattress shifts, “and fake or not. You’re failing up girl, now get ready because I’m making you breakfast,” I hear the door close.
It’s that weird autumn-spring transition period in Oakwood where the leaves are turning green but it’s still sort of cold. Today, the weather is very forgiving and the sun seems happy.
Which is why I wear a denim blue ankle grazer, skinny jean. A white string strap vest, a matching fitted cardigan, white AF1 and gold pearl studded hoops. I want to wear my hair up but it looks better down after I blow dry it.
I know eyes will be on me for a different reason today so I cover the bags under my eyes with a little concealer, apply some mascara and wear flavored sparkly lip-gloss.
“Liam?” My fake boyfriend is in my kitchen.
“Hey, America let me in.” He gives me a long once over. “You look nice,” it’s his decision.
“Of course she did.” I mumble under my breath, “you look like nice too” my glance is quick.
“Thanks,” he says as I realize something.
“Shit.” I look at him again. “Are we matching?”
God please no.
“Huh.” He gives me another long assessment.
We’re both in denim and white.
He looks like James Dean in a clean white t-shirt, Chuck Taylor’s and dark blue jeans folded at the ends. His bouncy locks are sleeked back and the small bruise on his jawline looks worse in daylight.
Damnit Felix.
“We sort of are,” Liam finds it amusing. “Anyway, I saw online that your first class got cancelled so I thought I treat you to breakfast.”
“You know my class schedule?” I open the fridge.
“Yeah and I emailed you mine.” He waits for me to turn around. “So breakfast?”
My hand is full of tiny fruit. “I think America already made—” I look around the empty kitchen.
Wait.
“She just said that to get you down, she left 7minutes ago with John B.” He taps the countertop with his knuckles as I bite a grape.
Of course she did.
“Fine. I could eat but one of us has to change.” I stare at him, “and it won’t be me.”
“I have a navy plaid shirt in the car,” he picks up a strawberry and kisses my hair.
That’s…new?
“I—I didn’t mean—it’s just that I always see John B do that to America and I thought to try it out but you—”
“Can we just go eat?” My words are muffled by the grape in my mouth.
Liam takes me to a vegan café very close to campus. I order waffles, a small bowl of fruit and iced tea while he gets pancakes and coffee I don’t think he likes very much.
“Work starts Sunday, right?” He steals one of my strawberries. “Will you be able to handle it along with rehearsals?”
“Ahm…” my mouth is full of food. “What are you doing?” I put down my fork and swallow.
“I’m taking an interest in your—” why?
“Look I get the breakfast dates. The compliments and the kisses,” especially the weird, uncomfortable ones that I admit was very sweet.
“But what we are not going to do is pretend that I didn’t have to quit my job. Spend who knows how many hours in the hospital yesterday and got cyber bullied and threatened by the dean because of you.”
I can pretend but Jessica is the actress, not me. This nice boyfriend act he is doing is really not necessary when we are alone.
“So what? We pretend in front of people but—”
“Stay out of each other’s lives in general? Yes” I nod. “I think so too.”
This is a fake relationship. It is for show, we can kiss and do lord knows what to sell it but in private I’d rather have him as far away from me as humanly possible.
“Got it.” His phone pings and lights up next to his plate.
I try not to choke when I see my face on the screen but it’s really hard because my FACE IS ON THE SCREEN!
It’s a side frame of me at the black hearts party. Strobe lights are reflecting on my cheek as I smile with glee and the curly antenna is pushed behind my ear to show the side of my face and the top half of my red dress.
My small boobs look amazing as the sleeves fall off to show my collarbone and shoulders, my jawline sharp and my makeup perfect.
“Ah.” I sip my drink to help the food go down.
Nonchalantly, Liam takes his time picking it up and start texting. Is it a nice photo? Yes, it’s a very beautiful picture of me. Did I know it exists? No, I did not.
“What’s that?” I point at his phone when he puts it down.
“What?” He looks behind the cover to check.
“Your lock screen,” I click. “What—where—huh?”
I don’t even have the picture, where the hell did he get it?
“Oh this?” He faces the phone screen at me. “You’re my girlfriend…”
Fake girlfriend!
“…it only makes sense you’d be my lock screen.”
Okay, but where did you get Liam?
“Right.” I fill my mouth with food and look at him suspiciously.
- Writer
