Real Love Or, Fake Love?

Chapter2Ryder

Ryder

Ryder! Ryder! Ryder! Joe yells.

“When did you get here?” I asked. She looks very pissed off. I know why but damn. I want her to be happy.

“I have been yelling your name for five minutes.”

“Sorry I have my head phones on I didn’t hear you.” Why am I defending myself to her? She continues in what she had to say.

“Guess what I heard?” I’m really not in the mood for the games. So I just tell her to tell me.

“So Julies has always had a crush on you.”

“Are you for real?” That’s all I could manage to get out of my mouth.

“Nope!” Joe says with a bit of amusement.

I would never say this out loud but there isn’t really anything wrong with Julie. She really is nice and caring. I need someone like that. She just makes everything seem happy and everyone she talks to I have noticed always has a smile on their face. She has a pretty body as well. Joe continues.

“She has always thought you would realize how stupid the whole popularity thing is, she always thought you would want to be with her.”

“That gives me a great idea. Ill pretend to date her. It will be a joke. Have to show her who the boss is.” I don’t know why I want to do this. She didn’t do anything besides have a dream that I would want to be with her. I just hope that she doesn’t get to attached to me.

Joe replies. “Are you sure about this? I know how you are and I don’t think you could handle doing this.”

“What do you mean? I think I could do it.” She looks at me with a weird expression still when I say it. I continue. “If I do this you cant be jealous, cause ill be with her in everyway when we are here at school and outside of school.”

“So your going to really be dating her? What about you see me when your not with her?”

“That wont happen. You know me better than that.”

Joe is starting to get pissed off and I haven’t even asked Julie to be my girlfriend yet. She will make this hard. She will have to be on board cause me and joe wont be together for the duration of however long I choose to drag this on. She finally answers me.

“I wont cause any problems with your plans. I promise.”

I’m very surprised by her answer thought I would have to fight and argue with her in order for her to agree. We are going to make a show out of our “breakup” Joe wants to kiss me one more time before all this, I’m guessing to make me as hers even though we will be breaking up.

“How long are you going to be with Julie?” Joe asked the question even though I can tell she really didn’t want to know the answer to it.

“However long I want to do it for but I was thinking like five months.” I couldn’t help but laugh at it as I said it cause I know after the five months Julie will hope that she never thought about me and giving up my popularity to be with her.

Joe comes back with “okay I will take that challenge.”

The next day I look at Julie like really look at her. She isn’t that bad to look at. Maybe in a different life we could be together in a “real” relationship. I cant believe I’m doing this what would we even talk about we have nothing in common. I only have to pretend for five months then I’m free. I need to make sure that we don’t get to close don’t need people thinking we are really together. After this I should get best actors award. She will be the laughing stock of the school. I’m being diabolical. I really don’t know why I am.

Two weeks later… I decided to talk to Julie for the first time ever. I have to say it didn’t go the way I thought it would. I’m not mad though she didn’t hold anything back and I liked it. I wish more people was like her and told me what was on their minds but they wont. With just that little exchange we had I know I could see myself really liking her. That would be a big problem. I really should have just left it at that conversation but I couldn’t and I had to write her a note. Some of the things I said in it is true she could be popular if she wanted to. I made my mind up and by the end of the school day ill make her my girlfriend. I did just that going into the lunch room I sat at the table Julie and her friends usually sit at and I asked Julie to be my girlfriend. She said yes. Joe came in and walked past us then turned back and I must say she played her role very nice and had even me convinced by what she was saying and this was my plan.

We have class together after lunch. I catch Julie looking at me a few times. I think its cute. When she knows I know she is looking at me her face turns a shade of pink. I know she is very nervous. I do put on a fake smile on my face so she thinks I’m into her. I’m just glad its Friday and I don’t have to see or talk to Julie till Monday. I might try to talk to her this weekend I have to play my part. I would have to ask her for her number. Guess I could do that after we leave class. I have already decided her name in my phone will be saved under “joke.” After class is over Julie hands me a not but, the only thing on it was her phone number. I look down at her and smile. It’s a little strange though that she knew I was wanting to get it from her. Ill text her on Sunday sometime, that will give me a day to not have to think about her. If I don’t text her back I can blame it on the game. I mean it will be football Sunday after all. So I can ignore her and not have to worry about anything. Ill spend all day on Saturday with Joe. We don’t really have anything in common with each other but she is popular and sexy. Finally school is over for the week. I don’t even try to see Julie before I leave to go home. I do however have to stop by the pet store. Have to get dewormer for my puppy. It’s a good fifteen minutes from the school. I finally make it to the pet store and who do I run into… none other than Julie. She sees me and runs to me and hugs me. I hug her back cause I have to I just wish she didn’t want to hug me at all. It would be best if she didn’t touch me at all.

“What are you needing help with?” Julies looks up at me and asked.

“I just need dewormer.” I replied back. I went to grab it and checked out and left.

I don’t know if I should have at least said bye to her. I finally get home and go to my room. To my surprise Joe is there and she is naked. I know what she wants but I cant give it to her right now my mom is hone. So I just eat her out. She is trying to be as quiet as she can but I have to also hold my hand over her mouth. She comes very quickly. I didn’t even put my best foot forward I just wanted to get it over with. It was weird. I’m kind of pissed that she was here in my room like this while my mom is home. After we are done Joe gets dressed and I take her out to dinner. Then we go our separate ways ill see her tomorrow anyways. The next day comes around very fast. Around noon or so I go get Joe to take her to the movies. We are going to watch Wonder Waman. We never really watch the movies we pay for we make out the whole movie. I wish we could watch just one movie. Before I know it the movie is over and we are leaving. Joe wants to go out to eat. I just want to head home. We say our good byes. We never really have a conversation. The car ride from her house to the movie was so quiet you could hear a needle on the ground.

The rest of the day went by to fast but I cant say I’m pissed. Football tomorrow. I also have to force myself to text Julie tomorrow. Noy looking forward to that. Joe send me a text that says.

“After you play like you want Julie come to my house and we can have some fun. I know what you want after a long day.”

I don’t know what I should say to this. I just ignore it. I don’t really want to deal with her right now. I know she likes s*x but sometimes I need more than that. I know I wont end up marring her. Joe is someone I can have fun with for now and leave when high school is over. I just want to find a person I can talk to and have a good conversation with. I cant help but think Julie is right and when I get older and popularity wont be important when I get older. Ill be keeping that thought to myself. Before going to bed Joe text me again.

“Hey baby!”

I really don’t want to talk to her right now but if I don’t text her back she will blow up my phone.

“Hey.” Is the only thing I say.

“So how is your plan going with Julie?”

“I don’t really know . I’m going to text her tomorrow.”

“Ohh really? So you have her number?”

Why is she asking me this she already knew the answer is yes. I told her the day I got it and showed her the name I saved it under.

“You knew this already. I told you Friday at school.”

“I forgot.”

No she didn’t. She has been on top of this whole thing since I brought it up to her.

“No you didn’t, you are jealous. You don’t have a reason to be.”

“Ryder I’m not jealous. Besides why would I be? Its Julie. She has nothing on me.”

“Joe, your voice says something different. Your getting pissed. Why?”

Your talking to Julie on Sunday. You don’t even talk to me then.”

“I cant talk to her now.”

“Whatever!”

I don’t need the stress so I I don’t respond to Joe anymore. I fall asleep really fast.

Its finally football Sunday. The game will start at noon. I cant wait my team is playing today. My happiness is lived short when I remember I’m texting Julie today. Maybe she wont text back. I did wake up to a text form Joe.

“I cant go through with your plan. I was thinking about it and its like your cheating on me. You have to pick either me or your joke Ryder.”

I respond saying. “ Good Joe. I choose my joke. Me and you don’t really match anyways.”

“Whatever, Ryder. You will come back you always do.”

I ignore her message. I finally get out of bed. I walk to where my pants sit from Friday and pull out Julies number. I send her a text.

Hello Julie, its Ryder.”

I walk down stairs to where my mom is in the kitchen and tell her I want wings today. She makes the best hot wings. She always knows that’s what I want so I don’t really have to tell her but I do anyways. I walk into the living room where my dad is and talk to him for a bit. My phone goes off. Its either Julie or Joe. I kind of hope its Julie. I don’t really want to talk to Joe. I take my phone out of my pocket and on the screen the name that pops up is “Joke” I know then its Julie.

“Hey Ryder, what’s up?”

“Ohh nothing. What are you doing?” I didn’t think I would respond to her but I did.

“I’m just waiting to watch the game. Well when it comes on that is.”

“Really?” That’s all I could say I was shocked.

“Yes. Why?” Julie and I could get a long after all.

“Didn’t know you liked sports.”

“Yeah, just football and tennis. Maybe a few other ones.”

“That’s cool. Who’s your favorite team?”

“The Steelers…. What’s yours?”

“The Tigers”

“Well Ryder may the best team win.”

“They will lol!”

We text for a while. Through the whole game to be exact. I had a lot of fun talking to Julie about the game. Never could do that with Joe she wouldn’t listen. Julie and I even agreed to meet for burgers later. The place is called Burger Shack. I even changed her name in my phone to Julie. I’m actually excited to meet up with her. Thats after five though. I’m also very upset to say her team won. Today was the first time I had a fun conversation In a long time. We even played around. It was better than I thought it would be. Its after five so I text to tell Julie I was on the way.

Julie said she was also in the way. I live twenty minutes away from the place. When I arrived I see her in a booth from the window and she looks beautiful in her football fan clothes. I’m still in my fan clothes as well. Before I can get inside I get a text. I look at my phone and see its from Joe. It says.

“So was it as bad as you thought or even worse talking to her?”

I ignore the message. If I’m being honest with myself I didn’t want to talk to her. I was having a great day and in part that was cause of Julie. I want to get to know her. Talking to Joe would just ruin my mood. So I put my phone in my pocket and head inside. I take a seat across from Julie. She looks up at me and smiles. She has a beautiful smile. Its in that moment I realize just how beautiful she really is. I try really hard to push that thought from my mind but I couldn’t. We talk about the game and she rubs in that her team won. They did win. The score was 44-39. They didn’t win by much but they did. In the middle of our conversation my phone goes off. Its from Joe.

“Do NOT ignore me, remember I know everything about what your doing right now.”

That text made me very pissed off. So I look at Julie and tell her I was sorry but I have to make a phone call. She says ok. I step outside to call Joe. she answers after the second ring.

“Hey baby!”

“Don’t you ever use that against me ever again.”

‘But, I do know why your really fake dating Julie. To teach her place.”

I know she is repeating what I said but why is it making me mad to hear her say it out loud.?

“I’m with her right now.”

Why did I tell Joe this. She broke up with me. Maybe to make her mad.

“That wasn’t apart of the plan. You said you would only hang out with her at school. That was it.”

“Turns out we have a few things in common. So I wanted to hang out with her.”

Why do I keep telling her? She is just going to get pissed that I’m with her. Everything I’m telling her and will tell her will be the truth. Joe has to know this. I don’t know if I can go through with my plan at this point. Julie is different then what I thought.

“Why do you want to get to know her?”

“Nothing wrong with trying to at least be her friend.”

“Yes, there is cause you don’t really like her. Besides once she learns about what your doing she will hate you.”

Joe is really starting to piss me off. She needs to grow up.

“She wont have to find out. After the five months is over we break up and leave it at that.”

“Ryder, you cant be for real?”

“I am. I’m also hanging up I have to get back to Julie.”

“Don’t you da……

I hang up on her before she can finish what she had to say. I am on a date after all and I have been out here talking to my ex for like twenty minutes or more. That isn’t fair to her. I walk back into the burger place. Julie is still in the same spot. It seems like she hasn’t ordered yet. I’m a terrible person. Julie doesn’t deserve this. I need to tell her before Joe does. I know she will cause she isn’t getting her way. The problem is this feels like a real date to me. I know what your thinking… this was my plan and I’m falling for the girl I shouldn’t. Julie is smart, beautiful, and very funny. We have a good time together. Julie snaps me out of my thoughts by asking me a question.

“Everything alright Ryder?”

“Yes, everything is fine. Are you ready to order?”

“I have another idea. Will you drive?”

Yes, where are we going?”

“The movies.”

I cant help but wonder why?. I thought we was getting something to eat. I’m hungry and I know she is to. Maybe I can get her to stay and eat first.

“Okay, but we eat first.”

“Well duh.”

“Why?”

“To watch a movie.”

“Okay Julie, what movie?”

“That’s a surprise cant tell you.”

We order our food. I get a double cheeseburger and fries. Julie gets a double cheeseburger with no pickle with fries on the burger and a side of fries. We wait for our food to get to the table. We talk about just about everything. She tells me about her wanting to be a vet. She says she loves animals. I tell her about me wanting to be a writer. She looks very surprised. I like that. After we eat we gather out things and head to the movies. Julie is paying for the movies. I wish she wasn’t but she wouldn’t take no for a answer. I was going to come here later on and watch John Wick. I guess ill just watch a chick flick instead. We don’t really speak on the way here. Julie wont tell me what we are watching. We get to the movies parking lot and I park my car. I open the door for Julie. Julie smiles and her face is turning red. A little thing like opening the door for her makes her blush its cute.

We are at a booth to buy the tickets. I’m waiting to see what chick flick ill be watching. Julie looks at me and again at the ticket dude. She asks for 2 to watch… John Wick. I’m shocked. She looks at me and I’m already looking at her. She is smiling.

“Why do you look surprised?”

She had a good question. I just don’t know how to answer it. I ignore it. We get snacks and a drink then we headed in to where they was playing the movie. Its still a black screen. We pick out our seats. We chose in the middle would be a good spot. As we sit down Julie reaches for my hand and I let her we are holding hands about to watch a movie I have been dying to watch. This was a very good first date. I don’t know if Julie is calling it that but I am. We watch the movie in silence. No kissing. Only Julie holding my hand and leaning on my shoulder. When the movie is over we walk out to get to the car. Julie looks at me and starts to talk.

“So Ryder would you say my surprise worked?”

“Are you kidding? I’m still shook we watched a action movie and not a chick flick.”

“I don’t like chick flicks. I guess that’s cause I was raised by my father.”

I didn’t know that her mother wasn’t in the picture. How would I though. I didn’t ever really talk to her till now. The only thing I could say back to that comment was.

“Wait what?”

“Yeah, my mother left when I was four or five years old.”

“I’m sorry. I didn’t know that.”

“No one but my friends and family and Joe know. Joe uses it as a joke all the time when she sees me.”

“ I didn’t know that.”

“Yep, she is a very mean person.”

“I’m sure she isn’t that mean.”

What am I doing? I’m out with Julie and she is telling me something I didn’t know about Joe and I defend her. I might be popular but I don’t make fun of other people that’s not right.

“Ryder I’m sure she is deep down. But she is mean to anyone that isn’t in your group.”

“We have all made fun of someone. That doesn’t make us mean.”

“ Yeah well you never told anyone their mom left cause of their disappointment of a child she had.”

“I’m so sorry. Do you want me to say something?”

Looking at Julie I know what I want to do about Joe. Why would she say anything to Julie like that? Has Joe said other things to Julie. I know what I’m going to do about Joe now though. I pill out my phone and I text her. The message says.

“We are done. Don’t talk to me or my girlfriend. If you try to tell Julie about anything I was going to do ill ruin you. I’m dating her for real now. This isn’t a game anymore.”

Before she had the chance to reply I sent it and turned my phone off I’m having a great date with my girlfriend Julie. I know when I get home ill have a text message from Joe but I cant bring myself to really care. I put my arm around Julie and she cuddles into me. In this moment I some how know that she is right for me. We sit cuddled into each other the whole movie. When the movie is over we head out and get into my car. We sit there for a good while. It’s a chilly night so I give Julie my jacket to wear at least till the car warms up. I take her home. I tell her she can get her car tomorrow after school and ill take her to it. Julie shakes her head and says okay. She goes to get out of the car and turns around and stops. I look at her confused.

Julie then leans in and kisses me. I’m so shocked that at first I don’t kiss her back but, after a few seconds I get over it and kiss her back. While kissing her I feel butterflies in my stomach. When we finally pull away from each other I can see her face heating up. Its cute. She then gets out of my car and starts for her house. I know I cant wait to see her tomorrow at school.

I get back home and I turn my phone back on, five minutes later its going off and I know its Joe. I look down and she has texted me and called me twenty times. Her text says.

“You cant be serious? Your stupid if you think I’m going to keep my mouth shut. You will not break up with me for a joke. I mean you even have her number saved in your phone as joke.”

She was right I did have Julie saved in my phone under joke. I really hope Julie never finds out what was going on. I didn’t think I would start to like her for real. So I respond to Joe saying.

“I am very serious. I’m starting to really like Julie. So either keep your mouth shut or become a outcast. Its your choice. After our date tonight I changed her name in my phone as “My Baby” I’m lucky to be with her I’m not going to ruin it. Goodnight Bye.”

After I sent that text I turned my phone on silent and went to bed.