Blurred Lines

Chapter 8

"What?!!" Chloe shrieked while Zoe just started at me contemplatively and I tried to school my features even as my mind tried to keep up with the conversation.

Did he just say we were dating?.

Why?.

I glanced at Christian's smiling face but saw his eyes pleading with me.

To do what?.

Say yes we are dating?.

He came closer to me,staring at me his breath blowing on my cheek making me shiver.

"Is this true Ava?" Zoe asked speaking up for the first time since Christian's shocking announcement and Chloe perked up staring at me with narrowed eyes.

NO!.

"Yes" I heard myself say "I'm really sorry we didn't tell you earlier Zoe,we were so wrapped up in each other, we didn’t think to" I continued turning my head to gaze adoringly - I hope - into Christian's relieved eyes. "We couldn't think about anything else but each other".

Damn but I'm a great actress.

If somehow I don't end being an editor guess who's going to be an actress?.

"WHAT??!!" Chloe shrieked again.

Christ what's wrong with this chick?.

Is she hearing impaired?.

Zoe kept quiet through it all looking deep in thought then unexpectedly she yelled "yeah!".

She started jumping up and down grinning widely. Does she have a bipolar disorder?.

"You are not mad?" Christian asked her looking as incredulous as I felt.

"Are you kidding me?,this is the next best thing to you being with Chloe" she replied then hurriedly ran to me taking my hands.

"No wonder he was so concerned about you earlier,is he treating you right?".

Not waiting for a reply she dropped my hand and executed a swirl "I'm so happy for you guys" she gushed.

I laughed nervously she looked like she just got proposed to. I hope this lie doesn't hurt her too much.

All this drama is making me loose a few circuits.

**

"Thank you".

I glanced at Christian and saw him smiling at me gratefully .

I nodded to acknowledge his thanks looking at the passing scenery,we were in his car because he was driving me home.

After announcing our 'relationship', Zoe pestered me for information about our first date and I nervously mumbled some nonsense under my breath I was sure she couldn't hear.

Then after awhile Christian strolled in claiming Zoe was 'pestering his love so he's taking her home'.

it took me longer than it should to realise he meant me,but here we are one hour later in his car.

"Why did you lie?" I asked not looking at him.

"I know I owe you some explanation and I promise I'll tell you everything tomorrow. I'll come pick you up for school then after school we can go someplace to talk".

"It's none of my business whether you lie or not, but you shouldn't have dragged me into it" I continued pretending I didn't hear him.

"Please,let's talk tomorrow" he said.

"Fine, but you don't have to pick me up".

"I do. Zoe accepted me not picking you up because she thought we were making our relationship private, she'll be furious if I don't start acting like the doting boyfriend" Christian replied parking the car on the side of the road.

"Why are we stopping?" I asked when I saw we were nowhere close to my house.

"There are some things we need to say that can't wait till tomorrow" he explained.

"Okay..." I said getting impatient.

"First of all,I really appreciate you helping me back there, you could have called me out but you didn't".

"You already thanked me" I said uncomfortable with the way he was scrutinizing me and not caring at all for the way my heart was racing.

"I know,I just want you to know I appreciate your help,but you know we have to keep pretending right?,at least until Chloe goes back this weekend"

"Why?,you could say we had a huge fight over something and broke up" I suggested.

"I could but it would be too suspicious. What’s a few more days?". He said sounding as tired as I felt.

"The truth is,right now you are the only person I trust not to go tattling to the media,and since we're just pretending nobody would get hurt" he continued wiping his hand over his face and massaging his forehead.

"Okay. I'll help you" I conceded.

"Really?" His face lit up "thank you,I just can't go on a date with Chloe,can you imagine?" He shuddered "I'd probably choke to death on her perfume,that is if I don't loose my hearing from her high pitched voice".

I let out a laugh at his theatrics "it's just for a few days though" I told him still smiling.

"That's fine with me" he said and I nodded.

"I'll pick you up tomorrow then" he said.

"You really don't have to".

"I know I don't have to" Christian started the car "I want to" he said grinning wolvishly at me causing my heart that just settled down to go into overdrive again.

"Besides,its the least I could do to show you my appreciation".

I could muster no reply to that so I just nodded wondering what I just got myself into.

"Oh by the way,could we keep this our little secret?,I know you tell your bestfriend Neil right?" He asked and I nodded again "I know you tell her everything but I would prefer you not telling her so her behaviour toward me won't give us away" and seeing I was about to protest he cut me off "please?,I would hate for this to blow up on our faces".

"Okay.”

**

"So,is it true?" Neil asked suddenly appearing behind me on the lunch queue.

"Is what true?" I asked back absently thinking about what I should get in our school's limited menu.

"That Christian Taylor dropped you this morning" Neil said.

"Oh that" I waved my hand dismissively "yeah it's true" .

I might get the pizza,you can never go wrong with pizza.

"Then the rumours must also be true" she speculated looking at me intensely.

"What rumours Neil?" I huffed exasperated with her for breaking my concentration on deciding what to eat.

Should I get spaghettini?.

Maybe I should get both.

"That you and Christian Taylor are you know?" She asked then looked everywhere before leaning towards me and whispering "dating".

That stopped me. I glanced at her hating myself for the first lie I've ever told her "yes,we are dating".

"Omg!,so it's true,you are dating Christian FREAKING Taylor" she yelled.

"Jeez Neil,I don't think everybody in the cafeteria heard you,yell a little louder would you?" I snapped in annoyance.

"I'm sorry" she winced "it's just that I'm so excited for you,mad at you and a little hurt by you".

"I'm sorry Nelly,I know I should have told you before it got out" I said feeling really bad for lying to her.

"It's okay Ava no need to look at me like that"

"Like what?" I asked furrowing my brows in confusion.

"Nothing" she replied looking amused then muttered under her breath "God help the world when you discover what you can do with your eyes" .

Now I was really confused. What can I do with my eyes?.

But I dismissed her words when I heard "next person".

Time to eat I thought smiling.