How to Fake a Love Story

18:Of Apologies

It has been two weeks since his mother arrived and things were finally starting to calm down. That may have been one of the factors that led to him arranging a dinner date with Jared and his mother for them to get to know each other better.

"...and make sure you-"

"I'll be fine, Cierra," he assured, swatting her hands away from fiddling with his collar, adjusting it himself. "I've gotten over what happened and I don't think he'd do something like that in front of my mother. He's got that much decency. Besides, this was your idea."

Ryan admitted that it was a good idea since it would give him a chance to adjust with Jared in presence of a protector-his mother- and hence avoid freaking out.

Since Cierra had offered to beat the living tar out of Jared verbally without even knowing the reason why, Ryan had caved and told her what had happened. Sharing with Cierra what had happened only fuelled her desire to see Jared come to harm in the maimed and decapitated sort of way.

He prevented her from acting on her rather violent threats so she had settled for diverting the calls he received from his s*x offender boyfriend. Ryan was sure he had heard her give Jared a verbal whiplash several times but didn't have the heart to listen in.

"I know it was my idea." She frowned. "But I just wanted to know if you are comfortable with it." A worried Cierra was something Ryan had yet to get used to. He didn't think he ever would.

"I will be fine." As long as he didn't get into an enclosed spaces alone with Jared, he would be alright.

"You never did tell me your mother was a fashion designer as well as an ex-model." Cierra remarked, stepping back to see if the shirt fit properly. Ryan could make out a bit of his reflection in the TV in front of him and he looked fine.

"I never even told you about the fact that she was also a circus performer when she was young." Ryan shrugged. Cierra and his mother had gotten along frighteningly well and the previous week had mostly consisted of shopping trips that had thankfully excluded him.

"I can't believe that you made a deal to return back to London with her if she wasn't impressed by Jared." Cierra folded her hands across her chest and raised an eyebrow. "Do you want to go and live with her?"

"Of course not!" Ryan cried out. Living with his mother was the last thing he wanted to do. Most likely he would end up helping his mother with her company and he'd have to reconnect with his family and-there was an entire list of things Ryan didn't want to do. Going to London meant doing all of those things he had been avoiding for the past couple years of his life.

"The only reason I proposed this dinner is to convince her that Jared isn't really such a bad guy so that she will allow me to stay here. If she isn't convinced then I will have to keep my word and go back with her." Ryan tilted his head upwards. "I have no choice."

"How will you convince her when you yourself aren't convinced?" Cierra countered, her tone lacking the usual sharpness. Ryan deflated and sighed. Cierra was right. He might've pushed away his feelings for the sake of the money but there was no way he could feel comfortable with Jared now.

Which explains the reason he ignored the man and all his calls and pleas for the past two weeks.

Cierra watched him for a little longer and sighed, ruffling his hair slightly. "Look, maybe this was a bad idea. We can-"

"No!" he cried, panicking at the thought of having to go to London by default. "No... I'll do it."

Least of all he wanted pity from Cierra.

He would take crap from anyone within an inch of his life, would cross-dress to save his hide, would endure s****l harassment for money, and would lie about his not-so assassinated mother and not-really abusive father time and time again, but he didn't want to take pity from Cierra.

He was the one who took care of her, not the other way 'round.

Cierra silently looked at him for a few moments before answering. "Okay. Make it look good, then. Ruby's out for blood tonight, I can feel it."

"I know; I know she is. I just hope-"

The doorbell rang. They both turned to look at each other. Cierra went off to the kitchen while Ryan grumbled about random nobodies visiting him. "Cierra, I swear, if it's a door-to-door salesman I'm going to-"

It was Jared.

Green eyes lit up and he instantly adopted an apologetic look of remorse. "Ryan, I'm s-"

Ryan didn't hesitate to slam the door on his face. Cierra's head popped out from the kitchen. "Who was it?"

"No one important. And certainly not a serial up-and-coming r****t ex-pseudo-boyfriend of mine."

Raising an eyebrow, Cierra walked out and opened it up for Jared, letting him in and apologising insincerely for Ryan's earlier rudeness. Judging by the way Jared was slightly cowering, Ryan guessed that Cierra was also glaring at him. Served that bastard right. "I'll be in my room if you need me, Cierra," he said pointedly, glaring any protest Jared was about to make out of him.

So then Ryan went upstairs and laid down on his bed, forgot that his suit was silk, remembering, frowning, and then sitting up and straightening himself out in front of the mirror. And then he remembered that this was a suit Jared had bought it for him and proceeded to strip it off. It seemed like a small act of rebellion but it was satisfying in it's own right. He didn't want anything of Jared to-

Jared appeared in the doorway.

"Ryan, I-Ohmygod!"

And then he promptly turned around instead of leaving. Once a pervert boyfriend, always a pervert boyfriend, it seemed.

Ryan, to put it simply, was more than just a little mortified with no real way to lessen his embarrassment. He was half naked with only his underwear to cover his modesty and it didn't help that Jared was still standing by the door instead of leaving. At least he had the decency to turn around.

"Get out." Not that Ryan felt any better about that.

"Look, you're probably still angry about-"

"Angry? Who's angry? I didn't say anything about me being angry-especially at you for-"

"Ryan..."

"Get out."

Jared sighed, and-much to Ryan's horror-sat down in the doorway; turned away from Ryan-who was stripped to his briefs. "Let me explain." Jared insisted, still turned away from Ryan.

Seeing Jared for the first time in two weeks, not hovering over him with eyes full of mal-intent and making him cry, had brought to life all the frustration and indecision he felt about really just picking up and leaving. Cierra was the one who phoned Jared up for dinner plans. Ryan was the one who handled his mother.

Of course, Cierra had gone over how to deal with Jared when they finally came face-to-face, but all her knowledge, wisdom and sound advice effectively went to pot the second he saw Jared at the door. So right now he was feeling pent-up frustration and various other emotions from their last encounter after fermenting for two weeks.

"I am so-"

"Will that make what you did okay?" Ryan cut in, not in the mood to Jared's repeated apologies, no matter how sincere they were.

"No, it won't." Ryan blinked and stared at Jared's back. "I know that nothing I say will be sufficient to cover up my mistake. I lost control and-" He stopped.

"And you tried to molest me." Ryan smiled humourlessly. "You probably would have too if my mother hadn't burst in to save me in time." The reality of the situation had sunk in the next day of the assault which led to him not leaving his room for the whole day. His self-exposed exile was cut short only when Cierra had barged in and demanded to know what happened.

Needless to say, Ryan had never seen Cierra so angry before.

"I wouldn't have!" Jared stood up and turned to face Ryan. "I would've never done anything of that sort to you." Ryan had forgotten about the fact that he was half-naked and narrowed his eyes at Jared.

"I know that what I did was unforgivable. If Myra heard about this then she would castrate me. Even Cierra looks like she wants to do the same. I don't blame them." Jared bowed his head and stared at the floor. "But please believe me when I say that I would've never hurt you in that way."

Ryan hated the fact that there was a ring of truth in what Jared was saying. Jared had started to back off after Ryan started crying but Ruby had arrived at that exact moment. Of course, that didn't make it a lot better but it was reassuring to know that even if Ruby hadn't come his chastity would be intact.

There was a rather fitting lull of silence where neither spoke.

And finally-

"You were an ass."

Jared flinched but didn't say anything.

There was another lull of silence.

Sighing, Ryan folded his arms and turned away, angry with himself that he was doing this-angry with himself that such thoughts came to him when he wanted to be angry at Jared-when he had good reason to be angry at him.

"You were an ass, and I forgive you," he ground out grudgingly. "But that doesn't mean I trust you." He quickly added. Just because his apology was accepted it didn't mean what Jared did was okay. At the same time, if he wanted access to Jared's money he would have to suck it up. He hadn't come this far just to give up.

Arms quickly circled him and Ryan squawked slightly, trying to get away. Jared quickly stepped back to give Ryan his space though he still kept his hands on the other male's shoulder. "I'm really sorry," Jared whispered, sounding horribly remorseful.

"I forgive you," Ryan repeated quietly, trying to increase the distance between them. He was suddenly aware of the fact that he was barely dressed.

"No." Jared held him at arms length. He looked determined-probably determined to make it up to him in some way or another that Ryan would probably like him less for.

"I was really horrible to you! I just lost control and-and-to you I-I'm so-"

"Don't mention it," Ryan said briskly, cutting him off with a pointed look. He still wasn't comfortable being so close to Jared half naked after their previous encounter but held himself together. He would not do it again. Hopefully.

Jared sighed and his shoulders relaxed. "Thank you." He hugged Ryan again. Before Ryan could pull away, Cierra's head popped in the doorway.

"Hey, you lovebirds will be late for your dinner-date with Mommy." And then she took in the scene. Her eyebrows rose and a small smirk curled up her lips. "If you're going to make with the hanky-panky go to a-"

Ryan turned redder. "We're not!"

Looked like Cierra was back to normal. Now to handle Ruby Aurora.