IN 60 Days

Chapter 7- There is a thin line between love and hate.

It's been a week since the fight I had with Tyler and that was the last time I saw him too.

He had not been attending classes ever since our argument and departure on the road and I know this because I may or I may not have stolen a copy of his schedule from the principal's office and in my defence am desperate.

"Have you even been hearing what I have been saying?" asked Vanessa.

I looked at her blankly just remembering she was there.

I get so lost this days worrying about Tyler and it was getting both to her, Cherry and even Jay and anyone who has spoken to me for the past 1 week nuts.

I tried speaking to Eric and Melvin but chicken out every time they come close.

"Am sorry I got lost." I mumbled.

"Oh really! Am shocked." Vanessa sarcastically replied.

"I am worried about you, you have been acting off for the past one week are you pregnant?" she asked.

My eyes widened as I starred at her shocked.

"No I am not!" I blurted.

"Well that got your attention," she said chuckling.

"Still waiting till you are 18 before giving up the V card?" she asked.

"I am not having that conversation with you again." I shyly commented.

She laughed.

"So you are not pregnant?" she asked.

"No." I shouted.

She laughed even more.

"If you say so but know you can tell me anything I wouldn't freak out." she promised.

"I know." I replied smiling even though I knew I couldn't possibly tell her am worried for Tyler. She wouldn't understand, she would have a total misconception.

"Well... I was telling you about the interview with Top news channel is Tomorrow, The interview with Everything Celebrity was superb and well is achieving the expected purpose, It's reassuring them, I just hope that you and Tyler create the same magic tomorrow.

I sighed.

"But I haven't seen Tyler since a week now." I admitted.

"You have his number then call him... Hope that wouldn't be a problem?" she asked.

I shook my head.

"Nope I would call him right away." I replied pretending to dial his number.

"That would be nice." she replied then walked out.

Immediately she left I sighed and put my phone away.

Tyler was obviously avoiding me, I couldn't even call him because I was too proud to admit that I cared and the interview I dreaded the most in the world was tomorrow talk about bad timing.

I was interrupted from my thoughts by the sound of the bell, I had English class and Mrs Brown was an extremist when it comes to keeping to time. I hurriedly left for my locker to grab my book.

When I opened my locker, there was a note inside.

I shrugged... Concluding it was a note from Jay besides he was the only one who knew my locker combination number.

Smiling I opened the note already expecting one of Jay's lovey dovey messages but instead of the scrawly messy handwriting, this was neatly written and it's content strange.

It simply read.

Crescent Avenue Opp Lawman's Farm

I looked around scared and clueless to who dropped this and how since I could swear I locked my locker... For crying out loud I opened it just now and it doesn't look like what was broken into.

"I don't want you out of my space Lilah, In fact I want you in every space possible."

I turned and there stood Tyler with his hands in his pocket and his signature blank expression.

"Why?" I asked.

"Cause you are my friend."

"But Alexander hotels took your mother... I took your mom." I whispered.

He held my hand.

"I lied because it was easier blaming someone else.... Unrequited love, sadness, kindness, sacrificing for people who don't give a f**k killed my mom... My father never loved and respected my mother even before your dad came into the picture.... She was always more like a property to him." he replied sadness in his eyes.

He looked at the address still in my hand.

"That's the address to my secret haven... More like our secret spot now." he replied.

"Why me? Why would you give me something that means so much to you.... Showing me was enough, a rare privilege..."

"Because I want to assure you that I wasn't doing you a favor by being your friend... I love being with you Lilah." he replied.

I gazed at him.

"It's her right?" I asked.

"Who?"

"The only person you ever loved?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Now I think about it I didn't really hate you because you were a Louis." I admitted.

"Really?" he asked confused.

I nodded.

"I hated you because you and your dad had what I could never have again, My dad's attention. I blamed you for taking my dad away but I never stopped to think of how you were affected too by this rivalry... Now I think of it your hatred towards me was justifiable, I can understand how bitter you must have been upon seeing the girl who caused you pain in your class and... "

"It wasn't bitterness. It was fear Lilah, I was mean to you because I was scared." he replied.

"Scared of what?" I asked.

"Scared of getting attached. I used to have a crush on you, seeing you on television with your dad you were so adorable and when you said hi that day I freaked out and allowed my insecurities turn me to a jerk, I didn't want to let you in and you end up leaving just like my mom... I know it's foolish but that's why I attacked first." he replied.

I looked at him shocked at his admission.

"That's a huge one." I mumbled.

He looked at me for a while.

"Then what happened?" I curiously asked.

"What?" he asked.

"You said you used to have a crush on me, when did you stop crushing on me?" I asked curiously.

"That's for me to know and for you never to find out." he replied.

I shrugged.

"Am scared of the interview tomorrow." I blurted out.

He looked at me and for a second I thought he would shrug just like Jay and say Lilah just go there and say the truth.

"But you did great in the All About Celebrity interview."

"That's AAC, this is Top News. It's Britney George for crying out loud! That woman is the devil herself, she is known for her ruthlessness in chewing and spitting out celebrities, ruining their relationships and sometimes career, I don't want to be the one shivering on that screen tomorrow." I admitted scared.

"You are Lilah you make men speechless when you enter a room not only because of your beauty but because you have an air of authority difficult to ignore." he said.

"Sadly Britney is a lady and guess you are not much of a man cause you have a lot to say whenever I enter a room." I retorted.

He chuckled.

"Saw that coming."

He then frowned.

"Whether she is a lady or not that's not the point. The point is that you are an Alexander, her father's daughter. You are going to come with me tomorrow and we are going to sell our Adorable lie to that lady, All of it."

"What if I spill the whole deal fiasco, Tell them it's a game, what if I..."

"You wouldn't, all you have to do is to know the three rules in interviews. Blank expression don't show what you feel, do not express any emotion, you must disguise all you feel with a blank bored expression cause everyone would be watching your reaction, do not get defensive or angry it is as good as saying she is right, secondly c***k jokes when you are being asked a trick question it always helps, try not to stutter or be quiet when she asks you a sensitive question it's as good as saying she is right at whatever she is trying to imply."

"You are just making me even more scared." I mumbled.

He smiled.

"Trust me it's gonna be fine, this rules are only compulsory if am not there. But I would be there with you, together we would even be playing with her head on that set." he confidently replied.

I smiled cause surprisingly I did trust him.

"Now we are done with that, take this." I said playfully ruffling his hair.

"What was that for?" he complained trying to arrange his hair.

"Jeez you are such girl, and that's for making me scared, why weren't you attending classes for a week?" I asked.

He smirked.

"Someone is becoming really fond of me." he mumbled.

"You wish." I replied.

He laughed looking so hot.

"That's a secret." he replied.

I frowned.

"I thought we were now in the secret sharing page of our friendship In the friendship book." I replied.

He laughed even more.

"There is a book?" he asked.

I nodded.

He chuckled.

"So how were you able to open my locker?" I asked finally remembering.

"I have my ways." he simply replied.

"You are so annoying." I replied grumpily.

He chuckled.

"Am trying my best ma'am." he replied with an exaggerated French accent.

I laughed.

**************************************

"We would be live in three minutes." the Tech guy announced.

I was done with my make up so I quietly sat down on the plush love cushion beside Tyler, he was already done few minutes earlier.

He was dressed in a Dress up shirt and trouser, he looked hot as usual and surprisingly was In a bubbly mood which was the opposite of what I was feeling.

"We would be live in 5..4...3...2...1.."

We both plastered our television worthy look while Britney George was flashing her signature mischievous grin, the grin that says she knew something we didn't.

"Welcome to Top news channel, I remain Britney George your host on today's interview section we would be interviewing two of the most known families in the country, the Alexander and the Louis who are also known as sworn enemies up until two weeks ago when they were spotted hanging out together, everyone is confused to what is really happening so we have on set the only two people who can answer our question Lilah Alexander and Tyler Louis." she announced.

I plastered a fake smile on my face even though I didn't feel like it, totally regretting the sequins dress my wardrobe manager has chosen for me which was making me hotter and more uncomfortable by the second... I just wanted the interview to be over as soon as possible.

Smiling she turned towards us.

"There are rumours circulating that you both are a thing is that true or not?" she asked.

"It isn't." Tyler simply replied.

Her smile didn't even falter, she was up to something.

"Then what are you both?" she asked.

"We are friends." I replied smiling so wide my cheeks hurt.

"That's exactly the point." she replied overly excited.

I was scared.

"If you both became friends so suddenly what are the odds that you both cannot suddenly become lovers besides there is a thin line between love and hate, you both are no longer enemies so does this possibly mean the line has been crossed?" she asked.

"No." I replied.

"Then do you both still hate each other?" she asked flashing me a triumphant grin.

It was a trap!

Tyler chuckled.

"Why does it have to be a line? I and Lilah have decided to use a circle, we Are inside the circle haven't crossed yet." Tyler jokingly commented.

Britney grinned.

I looked at him bewildered, this woman was leading us into a trap and he had the nerve to joke around.

"Talking about you guys friendship the whole world including I think it's so sudden, two days before the park scenario Lilah here posted a tweet saying..."

A screenshot of my tweet was displayed on the screen.

Get ready #TYLIE JAH Is gonna kick your ass.

"Don't you think it's too sudden how two days later you were suddenly in the arms of the very person you were threatening to kick his ass claiming to be his friend? something just doesn't add up." she said cunningly.

"Our friendship didn't start two days after my tweet... Inasmuch as we are friends we are also competitive... more like friendly competitors, we decided to be friends some months back but the moment in the park was our first public outing." I lied.

Tyler discreetly grinned at me.

She frowned.

"We would be right back after the break, don't touch that remote." she said.

We were off set.

She politely excused herself and left.

I looked at Tyler worried.

"Hope I didn't give anything away?" I whispered.

"Are you kidding me? You are going to be one of the greatest liar in history someday." he replied.

"Thank you, I suppose?" I added confused not knowing if I should take that as a compliment.

The make up artist a woman in her early thirties I suppose came to touch my makeup before the break was over.

"I don't think that's necessary." Tyler commented.

"But she is sweating and..."

"I think she looks perfect." he replied.

I blushed looking away.

The make up artist nodded and left.

"And we are back In 5..4..3..2..1.."

Britney was already seated.

"Welcome back.. And we are still here with Tyler and Lilah." she said looking straight at the camera. "Okay so as we all are aware the Team JAH and Team TYLIE fan base has trippled and multiplied over this weeks.... It's now more than just a school prom event, It's going international but what we all don't know is that there is another fan base known as the Team TYLAH with more than 10 million followers, they all believe you and Tyler would make a great couple."

The screen displayed pictures of group of people with T-shirts, placards and banner with Team TYLAH written boldly on it.

"Nice T-shirt." Tyler commented.

"Yeah." I agreed.

"But I and Lilah here are just friends, sorry to the Tylah fans but nothing is happening here." he replied.

"So you guys are willing to disappoint over 5 Million people?" she asked.

"It's cute really but it's not happening." I replied.

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I am in love with Jay Anderson." I pointed out something everyone has seem to forget.

"Yeah yeah apart from that why can't it happen?" she asked almost like she didn't believe I was in love.

"Because she loves pickles... I mean who on earth loves pickle? Alien alert." Tyler dramatically replied.

I chuckled inwardly immediately catching on, on what he was doing.

"And also his favorite colour is blue, so unmanly." I replied playing along.

She laughed.

"I also have a picture of you both... It was taken yesterday by a girl named Jessica, your school's gossip blogger." she replied pointing at the screen.

It was a picture of I and Tyler close to my locker, we were looking at each other, like looking doesn't really begin to explain it, it was totally intense. It looked so real that I couldn't voice my doubt of it being faked, I couldn't remember us starring at Each other like that.

"So?" Tyler asked.

"Common the whole world could see you both were having a moment here."

"Yes we were. I was telling her how lucky she was to have me in her life." Tyler sarcastically replied.

I chuckled.

"We are friends and we were having a moment, it could be anything, for all you know we could have been talking about Italian food, or even arguing, our arguing stares are pretty intense." I replied.

She smiled.

"And that's all for today's Top News interview section, seems like no magic would be happening between this two anyway. JAH fans and TYLIE fans seems like you guys wouldn't be heartbroken after all. Bye tune in tomorrow for more valid news." she said with her usual television signature smile.

Immediately we were off air she looked at I and Tyler pointedly.

"I would give it to both of you, you both are good and have handled yourself better than anyone I have interviewed on this show but that picture there can't be about Italian food, that was a picture of two people looking at each other with adoration and love, besides the chemistry between you both is unmistakably real. You both have officially made me a team TYLAH fan." she replied.

I chuckled, Tyler joined in.

"I and Tyler would never ever in million years be a Thing." I replied.

He nodded in agreement.

**************************************

"And that's what I call flawless." Vanessa commented as we watched the interview for more than the sixth time on her laptop.

I grinned.

"First time ever and Britney was speechless, I think she got nothing to say to you guys anymore." Cherry added.

"May we join in?" a voice asked.

We all turned and it was Tyler and his friends.

"Why don't you want to sit there?" I asked pointing at the Popular's table filled with jerks and bimbos.

The cafeteria has gone quiet, Though they Were all pretending not to be eavesdropping on our conversation but I bet it was a lie, it was a big deal to them. Almighty Tyler sitting with the Non populars.

"Cause he is running away from his girlfriend Leslie." Melvin jokingly commented.

Tyler glared at him.

"Am not running from my girlfriend, that would just be crazy." he defended.

Melvin snickered.

"Would have fooled me." he mumbled.

I laughed.

I raised a brow at the girls, they shrugged.

I nodded.

They grinned then immediately joined the table.

"I was just telling Lilah here how amazing you guys were at the interview." Vanessa said.

"Wasn't such a big deal." Tyler replied.

"It was.. " Vanessa disagreed.

"JAH and TYLAH are trending on every social media handle and it is now an international sensation. This is huge." Melvin replied.

"But.." Eric butted in.

"I saw that coming." Tyler commented.