A Cupid's Guide To Fake Dating

Chapter 6

‘I NEED A LIFE,’ I grumbled to myself as I scrolled through my phone, reading the comments on my blog. The sun had gone down and now replacing it was a clear, navy blue sky. Miraculously, staring at my phone reminded me of the conversations between Austin and I. I didn't want to recall it but I did.

Deal or no deal?

I couldn’t believe I had accepted his offer. He had looked so confident that I would accept and that was because I knew he had my journal. I couldn’t even take it back from him. Ugh, I never realised how annoying it was that we happened to even be neighbours. Maybe that’s why we managed to steer clear of each other till now. I was one who had pride and I hated admitting to defeat but for the first time in my life, I had actually felt cornered. It was a different situation from Mom wanting to plan my birthday party.

But it had been a situation I had gotten myself into. If only I had not run into the skate park, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I had only agreed because I owed it to them and because the asshole still had my journal.

My face twisted into a scowl as I remembered the triumphant look on Austin’s face.

He was so going to regret it if anything were to happen to it.

‘Elena,’ Lay’s voice called, breaking my thoughts. I tore my gaze from my phone and looked at the door to see him standing at the door’s edge. ‘Can I come in?’

‘Sure,’ I shrugged and dropped my phone on the bed. Lay opened the door wider and walked in.

‘Anything wrong?’

‘Are you angry?,’ Lay sat on the edge of my bed. ‘I promise it’s just for two months. Everything will be over soon.’

‘I know. And I wasn’t angry. I was just surprised you’d agree to that.’

Lay ruffled my hair. ‘Sorry about that,’ he said meekly. ‘The guys really need the money and this is their only chance. You’d be doing a huge favour.’

I could sense Lay was really sincere about helping them out. I sighed.

‘No problem,’

He got up from my bed. ‘We’ll be going somewhere tomorrow so make sure mom doesn’t make any plans for you.’

My brow rose curiously, ‘Okay,’ before I could ask, he was already out of my room.

‘Well, I hope you are happy. I had to cancel a plan with my friends to be with you guys.’

‘As a matter of fact, Pierce, I am most pleased.’ Austin smiled as he passed by me, sparking a vein in my head.

Ethan, noticing my angered look, laughed. ‘Don’t let him get to you. He’s always like that. He can be a total jerk at times. He’s rude, insensitive, insults you for no reason-’ The others continued to walk up ahead chatting and laughing about something, unaware they had left me and Ethan behind. Ethan’s list about how Austin was such a jerk seemed to go much longer but I found myself smiling at his use of words. Glad to know someone felt the same way I did.

Urging Ethan forward, we made up to join the others although still giving them a little more space as I didn’t want them to hear what I said, ‘You are a lot nicer than them.’ I said. ‘You don’t seem to hate me.’

He laughed, a hearty and forgiving one. ‘Why would I hate you? You haven’t done anything to me.’

‘I got you banned from your skate park.’ I reasoned.

The blonde remained calm, watching me with a cool expression. ‘So? None of us hate you because of that. Even Austin.’

‘No, Austin doesn’t like me.’ It was as clear as the daylight.

‘Austin just has a hard time controlling his emotions but once you understand him, he’s actually a good guy.’

I nodded and looked ahead to the guys walking together further away. I caught Austin staring at me and Ethan and an annoyed look appeared on his face. His glare on me tightened before he turned back to his friends.

Yeah, he really didn’t like me. Not that I cared though.

‘By the way, where are we going?’

‘Oh, Lay told us you know nothing about skating. So we are heading to a skating shop to get you a board so we can train you.’

Up ahead I could hear the mumbled voice of Austin say to the others, ‘That i***t. We are meant to make her feel threatened and not welcomed.’

I scoffed. Is that what he was angry about?

‘Here we are!’ Martins announced as we came to a stop in front of a*****e. Now that I looked at it, it wasn’t like the skate store I had been expecting. It looked more like a rundown garage with broken cars and parts inside; a few lifted up the air currently being repaired on. The sound of drilling and hammering reached my ears. Looking up, I saw a sign that said in black ink graffiti; Anna’s Car repair shop.

‘I thought we were going to a skate shop?’ This was a repair shop. Didn't they know the difference?

Martins eyed me. ‘Have you been to a real skate shop? Those things are madly expensive. Let’s stick with what we can buy, okay?’

The others walked in, leaving me behind once again as I observed the shop. There was dark grease everywhere and the odour was almost suffocating. I could turn back now. I know I could.

‘Yo, Pierce! You coming in or what?’

But it felt useless to do so. Sucking in as much breath as possible, I walked into the shop, diving into the unknown depths of probably another walk-in trap.