Ch 2

Aaron Walker wanted me to be his girlfriend?

Was this some sort of joke?

He was the golden boy, the player, the bad boy.

Untouchable school royalty.

I couldn't help the cough that arose as I choked on absolutely nothing.

"What?" I spluttered out.

Aaron raised an elegant eyebrow. I guess he thought my shock was completely misplaced. He smiled slightly, shaking his head, before stepping closer and tapping my back slowly, trying to ease the coughs that splurged awkwardly out my mouth.

I caved away slightly from him, coughing into the palm of my hand.

Why had he said such an incredulous thing?

Perhaps, he was more like Brielle than I had previously thought, making fun of me for sport.

"You think you're so funny, don't you? Let's play pranks on the lonely girl. A fun way to start the weekend, huh?" I spat, eying him with disgust. I turned to walk away but was stopped by a warm grip on my forearm.

I ignored the warmth arising from the foreign contact and turned back to look at him with a pointed stare.

"I'm not messing with you, Alexis. I need a fake girlfriend, and I'll give you anything," he clarified, and I snatched my arm out of his grasp, eying him warily.

"Why?" I asked, my eyebrows knitted together in confusion. "Why me?"

Aaron's jaw notably twitched at this, and I felt I had hit a nerve. Nevertheless, if he was asking for such an unorthodox favour from me, I at least had the right to know what it was about.

"I-look, I can't tell you unless you accept it, okay?" he said firmly, tapping his shoe repeatedly against the floor, a clear sign the matter agitated him.

I let my gaze fall back to his eyes. "You can't expect me to make such a drastic decision without knowing why I'm doing it."

He sighed heavily, his face visibly falling as he nodded in a way that showed he understood. It was a sight so odd to see; I did not see any semblance of understanding in him, and I wondered briefly how such a heartless man had managed to make such an expression.

"I know, I know. I get it. It's just really hard for me to talk about with just anyone. I..." his words faltered slightly, and the people pleaser in me almost wanted to just say yes. It was a flaw I was not fond of, and I restrained myself as he looked at me.

"Just think about it. Whatever the payment is, whatever you want in return, I don't care," he said, not even trying to hide the dejected tone in his voice. I bristled at the mention of payment, my pride making me snap my gaze away.

"Don't hold your breath," I grumbled.

He just nodded and then turned away, trudging down the hallway. Someone came up to speak to him suddenly, and he smiled a nonchalant smile, talking casually as if our conversation had never happened. I could only watch curiously at the sudden change, feeling as though I had seen a forbidden side to him.

Before this whole unplanned conversation, I had hoped I could get home for a quiet night with a hot cup of cocoa in my hands. Now, Aaron's favour was the only thing on my mind.

What could he want from me as a girlfriend, be it fake or not, that he couldn't get from any other easy, willing girl? What made me special in his plan?

What scared me more was that I didn't want to flat out say no. Even if I didn't like it, I couldn't deny I had things to gain from Aaron. Dating him would certainly get Brielle off my back. And I was sick of the same Friday routine I had for the last 4 years.

Maybe the prospect of something slightly unpredictable in my life, regardless of how reckless, had me contemplating.

I turned to see if Aaron had left yet, but I could still see his lean frame, standing at the end of the hallway, his back to me. I had only ever seen him as cocky and carefree. What could have possibly happened for him to ask for my help, especially when he had so many girls at his beck-and-call?

I shook my head at the questions arising. My curiosity was unsatiable, and right now, I wanted to know what had caused him to say what he had. I didn't have to say yes, but I could hear him out.

I exhaled, willing my body to move from where it was rooted to the spot. He turned away from the student then and made his way to the exit, and that's when I dashed across the hallway in his direction.

The sound of my footsteps echoing across the hallway made him turn to me curiously, and I watched as his eyebrows furrowed. At long last, I finally came to a stop in front of him, panting slightly at the small exercise I had done.

"I-I'll hear you out. Only then will I make a decision," I said through breaths, watching his eyes widen slightly at my words. It was silent for a moment as he regarded me and then his lips were quirking up into a smile.

"Then tell me what you would want," he offered.

"From you? On any other day, I'd say absolutely nothing, but you seem to have a certain pull on Brielle. I want her and her friends to back off. She'd listen to you." I raised an eyebrow, awaiting his answer to my offer.

"I don't think you'd need my help in that department, but I'll accept anyhow." Amusement laced his tone, as well as interest as he regarded me. I only pursed my lips at his words, knowing all too well that he would never know the real me because I would not let him.

I would not let anyone in, and he was no exception.

"And I want to know everything. No secrets," I said.

Aaron folded his arms, smirking ever so slightly.

"And what secrets would I keep from my other half?" he teased jokingly, and I rolled my eyes at his words, choosing instead to back off, my hand fiddling with my backpack strap.

"Don't get too ahead of yourself. I'll hear your reasoning on Monday, and only then will I let you know," I answered.

Aaron stopped smirking at this, moving forward slightly, to which I raised an eyebrow in question.

"No," he said simply, and I let out a scoff at his one-worded smack in the face. Here I was, giving up my time, and he was refusing my help. Of all the ungrateful-

"I'll tell you my reason today," he continued before his gaze flitted to the floor and his jaw clenched in a sign that he was struggling to explain something.

My eyebrows only furrowed further at his words.

What was so urgent for him that he had to tell me now?

I shook my head, opening my mouth to decline, but Aaron urged further, his sapphire eyes staring into mine with an urgency I couldn't quite fathom nor associate with the image I had of him.

"I don't have the time to wait for Monday," he muttered.

I processed his words for a moment, scrutinising him. With every cryptic word he uttered, the more I felt the need to know. Nevertheless, I was still hoping to get home. After all, I couldn't be late, not today or at all.

"I should be getting home," I answered weakly.

When I looked back to his eyes, he was looking at me with the same unrelenting gaze. I stilled at the intensity before letting out an awkward cough, feeling the need to please. This time, I relented to it before I could process what I was doing.

"But I'll give you half an hour," I finished, holding a hand out to stop him moving.

He halted at my words, looking at me with a calculating look. It only lasted a moment before he smiled, raising an eyebrow.

"That's all I need."