Ch 4

I spent the first half of the next morning conflicted.

Aaron hadn't texted me after leaving my house last night, but I knew he was waiting for my answer. I craved the excitement outside of my lonely life, but I wondered if agreeing to Aaron's plan was setting myself up to get hurt.

I went to my mirror and opened my long straight hair that was in a ponytail and let it cascade down my shoulders. I looked at my reflection. My brown hair reached to my petite waist. I was skinny, with little to no curves, but I didn't quite mind it. Each body was, indeed, built differently. I looked back to my heart-shaped face, grimacing at how pale I was.

Brown doe eyes stared back at me; so large on my face.

What bothered me was that my looks were far too plain: something that blended in with the surroundings and nothing to notice. For a second, I felt a rush of distaste run through my mouth.

Why would anyone believe that someone like

Aaron Walker wanted to date me?

To give me some time to think without my mom watching over me, I decided to walk to the local café for lunch.

As I arrived, the smell of freshly baked bread hit my nose, making me salivate; I was starving. I skipped over to a seat and scanned the menu.

Choosing what I wanted, I told the waiter my order when he came over.

I tapped my fingers on the table to occupy myself whilst looking around the small, cute cafe. It was always so quaint, and I admired the tranquillity it brought me to be here alone after being tormented through the troubles at school and home.

And all would have remained tranquil had my eyes not stopped immediately on the one thing that ruined my seemingly pleasant mood.

Opposite from me, Aaron was seated. But that wasn't what had me do a double take. A redhead sat on his lap, facing towards the table as they scanned the menu. Her hand went back to play with his hair and his hands were settled around her waist.

I recognised her as a girl from our school, his actions confusing me entirely.

His story yesterday had moved me, and I had gotten all emotional, feeling sympathy for his plight. But his plight was most definitely not something I should have been worried about. He didn't seem to be distraught, nor did he seem to be thinking about the huge agreement we had made just yesterday.

How could I help him when he didn't seem to want to help himself? How could I feel any sense of sympathy for a mere boy who wished for nothing but to lose himself in his desires? Had his story yesterday even held any truth, or had he just made it up on the spot as some form of Friday entertainment?

I couldn't bear to think.

This was my place of serenity; the only place where I could achieve peace without getting lost in the dark thoughts. But he was ruining it.

Yesterday, he had looked like a man in need of help; a broken man that I had respected. He had wished better for his mother and, in doing so, had roped himself up with me. Of course, his methods of pleasing her were questionable, but the intentions were clear—he wanted her happy.

However, he was far from that image right now.

He had duped me.

I had heard tales of boys in books who would weave a tale of lies to lure the women and I had laughed at the women's naivety. I had found it so farcical for the girls to believe them, yet I had heeded his outlandish words. The very thought of being manipulated or lied to didn't sit comfortably with

me.

I chose to make my way to the exit. I had suddenly lost my appetite.

I tried to walk without looking at Aaron's table and leave as quickly as I had come, but it seemed as though God also had a vendetta against me and I tripped slightly on a dip in the cracked flooring, stumbling slightly as I hit near their table before closing my eyes in mortification. It was after a few moments that I gathered the courage to open them sheepishly, surprised at the hand holding my arm to stop me from falling fully.

Aaron's gaze was on me as he held me slightly and I pursed my lips, sparing a gaze to the girl beside him. The redhead, who was now sat beside him, looked up at the interruption and glared at me to which I avoided her gaze.

"Sorry," I mumbled out quietly, feeling the heat rise up my neck. I bit my lip.

"Are you okay?" Aaron said noncommittally. I nodded awkwardly.

Aaron raised an eyebrow as if to challenge my presence there, and I stilled at the silent question, my irritation growing to palpable amounts. It was just yesterday that he wanted me to be his fake girlfriend, and now he couldn't even stand to be seen talking to me.

"Wow, okay, you really are as stupid as I thought you were," I let out before clapping a hand over my mouth when I realised I had said it out loud. I dared to look his way to see him to see a dark expression on his face.

He got up slowly then and I instinctively took a step back. He tensed at this too, I noticed, but I couldn't stop my innate reflexes. I was doing it on instinct. I moved away until I was backed up to a table and had no place to go. His hands leaned on the table on each side of me, caging me in.

"You should be more careful with your words, Alexis," he said quietly and I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. My eyebrows narrowed at the mention of my name, only increasing my confusion.

"Oh, so you do remember yesterday?" I said in a whisper to make sure no one else heard and his eyebrows furrowed, confusion apparent in his features.

"When did I say I forgot?" he countered, to which I looked at him with an incredulous expression.

"Careful, Aaron. For a guy who seemed hell bent on impressing his Mum, you sure are doing something she'd disapprove of now. I don't think I'll be accepting your offer anytime soon," I threatened, telling him the honest truth about what I felt about helping him.

All the confusion dissipated from his face, replaced with idle boredom.

"So you broke me apart from Amber just to play mother hen? I know what I'm doing, Alexis," he said, a levelled tone to his voice. I sighed deeply at his words, eying him in disdain.

Clearly, he hadn't meant any bit of his sob story.

He looked at me curiously, like he was assessing me. I didn't look away. I had always been very attentive to detail and meticulous above all. It may have been irksome to others, but everything had to be in order.

"Mother hen? I can't believe I almost agreed to help someone as clueless as you," I retorted. I didn't want anyone hearing us, but I wanted him to hear the disappointment in my voice. Disappointment at what I thought he was and what he turned out to be.

His eyes narrowed as his gaze slipped up and down my form in a scrutinising manner.

"Are you always this uptight?" he said back, his voice curious, and I felt the heat travel to my face in anger.

How dare he call me uptight for having some decency to try to help him? I had bent over backwards to try to convince myself that he was a person worth helping, but now I felt stupid as I shot him a furious look, not even caring for the eyes that glanced my way.

"I am trying to do you a favour and you repay me by calling me uptight? I was just trying to look out for you, but I guess old habits die hard, huh? I shouldn't have expected more from a guy who doesn't even remember a girl's name!" I hissed cruelly, hoping to have angered him.

It worked. If he was angry before then he was fucking livid now. The look in his eyes darkened, but I didn't feel like backing down right now, especially with that challenging look he sent my way.

"Amelia, go home," he said, turning to the redhead from before. I watched as she gaped, putting both hands on her hips pointedly.

"My name's Avery," she said incredulously, a nasal quality to her voice, but this didn't seem to faze him in the least bit. H and he let out a hum of annoyance, eyes not leaving mine.

"Just go home."

Her eyes widened at this, and she spared a tentative gaze to me before she walked out. I shifted my eyes up to meet Aaron's as his jaw ticked in what seemed to be anger, but that wouldn't stop me from speaking, especially after the way he had just behaved.

"Don't be rude, she didn't say anything wrong," I reprimanded, watching her retreating figure on the street before snapping my gaze back to him. It didn't seem as though he even registered my words, and he spoke again, his voice low.

"What was it you were saying about me?" he questioned, daring me to speak and I, being the stupid person I am, spoke. I wasn't particularly fond of the way he was challenging me with his gaze, daring me to try to say it.

"What did I say wrong? Is that not what you do-toy with girl's feelings and then throw them away when you feel like it?"

"Don't act like you fucking know me, because you don't," Aaron snapped lowly, looking me in the eye before leaving without another word.

Everyone in the cafe was staring at me, but I didn't care right now. I was too hung up on what happened, my body still shaking with adrenaline.

It seemed I had unknowingly hit a nerve, calling him out for wanting me to play the girlfriend role while he continued his womanizing ways behind my back.

Clearly, I didn't know him at all. And I wasn't sure I wanted to.

***

I went home in the shittiest mood possible.

I laid on my bed, trying to close my eyes, but I just couldn't stop thinking about what had happened and questions arose in my head.

Don't act like you fucking know me because you don't.

I shook my head, trying to clear my thoughts. If I'd ever considered saying yes to Aaron's crazy plan, I couldn't imagine going through with it now.

His words hurt me. I don't know why they did. I knew we were strangers, but something about the way he emphasised that fact made me feel like I was more alone than before; like I had no clue how to interact with the world around me anymore.

I made my way to the bed, deciding to have a little bit of a nap. Yet, try as I might, the next few hours were a restless sleep. I tossed and turned before letting out a huff of frustration, grabbing my phone. I had planned to scroll through meaningless videos, but the notification on my screen made me halt. I had never seen it before and when I clicked on it, the screen lit up with '1 voicemail in inbox.'.

Tepidly, I clicked on it, letting out a small, startled noise when a male voice rang across the room. It was one that I quickly realised was Aaron.

"I tried calling, but it went straight to voicemail..." he began, and I looked at the phone with folded arms as he spoke. It was odd to hear his voice through the phone. He must have called me whilst I was in and out of sleep.

I listened intently, hearing a slight hesitation on his side, which made me think that the voicemail was finished, but his voice filled the room not a moment after.

"I didn't mean to act the way I did and I'm really sorry. I guess you were right when you said 'old habits die hard' because I am trying, but I keep failing..."

His voice was slightly strained as he spoke, and I noticed how he danced around the specifics of what had happened. Namely, explaining his anger to what I had said. The sound of him sighing brought me out of my reverie and I looked to my phone as he spoke again.

"I don't expect you to say 'yes' anymore, is what I'm trying to say. I just called to apologise and to let you know I'm fine with it. I'll still tell Brielle and her friends to stay away from you. It's the least I could do. Enjoy your weekend, Alexis."

The sound of the call cutting off became noise in the background as I processed his words. He had said I didn't have to say yes. That was good, right?

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. My Mum came in, smiling widely. I forced a smile back. My Mum saw through it instantly and frowned. She could always tell what I was feeling.

"Are you okay, sweetie?" she asked gently and I nodded as I sat down, putting on my best smile.

She seemed to buy this, and I watched as she walked further into the room as she sat down on the bed.

"Honey, are you sure you still don't want to-"

"No" I said, cutting her off sharply. I knew what she was about to say. And my answer would always be no. It was a decision that would never change, and I needed her to know that. She dampened at my words, knowing all too well what my answer would have been, but she pushed on.

"Alexis..."

I sighed and went up to hug her. I didn't like seeing her be this tentative; it made me upset. It reminded me of Aaron's mom. If I couldn't cope with seeing my mother slightly upset, then how did he deal and cope with such a morbid situation?

I sighed deeply, knowing I had to go back. I had to go back and sort it out with Aaron. I didn't owe him anything, and a part of me knew that. But for as long as I've known, I had always been the type to want to help, so doing nothing now made me feel guilty.

I couldn't just sit around when I knew his mother was there waiting for someone to turn up.

I withdrew myself slowly, looking into my mom's hopeful eyes before shaking my head slowly.

"I'm sorry, but I can't," I answered quietly, to which she let out a sigh, casting her eyes to the floor. She didn't say anything, and I took the opportunity to get up and make my way to the closet to change. I picked out a simple floral dress before putting it on and made my way towards the bed where my Mum was sitting, wringing her fingers.

I placed my hand over hers and she looked up, watching as I smiled.

"I'll be back home soon," I uttered

I, not wanting to

talk about the previous subject and she reluctantly nodded, hauling herself off the bed as I made my way to the door.

I would be back to amend things like I always did, but we both knew that me being here for this conversation was unhealthy for us both. So, instead, I walked to the direction of Aaron Walker's house.

I knew the way. He had held a party at his house, and I remember driving past once looking at the crowded house with glazed eyes. I had envied that life and wanted it more than anything, especially when my life was crumbling down around me at the time.

When I reached his house and rang the doorbell, the feeling of nervousness set in full force.

The way he reacted in the cafe was far more angry than I would have initially anticipated Aaron to be; he seemed laid back from what I had seen. It was like he became another person, and I shuddered at the memory before hearing the clicking of the door handle being pulled down.

The door opened, revealing Aaron, standing there topless with joggers. He stood leaning against the doorframe, an apple in hand. I focused my face on his face, ignoring his naked torso and watched as his eyes notably widened as he looked at me, not even noticing my flustered face.

"What are you doing here?" he asked curiously, and I inhaled deeply, repeating only one mantra in my head again and again.

All for his mom.

All for his mom.

All for hi-

"Alexis." I looked up to see him still in the same position before, but now he was leaning forward, a frown on his face. I swallowed nervously, opening my mouth to speak, but a female voice interrupted me.

"Who's at the door?"

His mom came into view. She had brown hair and pink lips. Her eyes were blue, just like Aaron's, but not as electrifying, and dark shadows hung beneath her eyes. She looked stressed and tired, edging forward in the wheelchair she was slumped in.

"It's Alexis," he said, looking at me. I watched as she assessed my form for a moment.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you," she said with a smile, but it looked forced at its best and I stood awkwardly at the door as she looked at me. She struggled to wheel towards me and Aaron sighed, walking up to her and pushing her wheelchair over to where I was standing.

"Mum, you could have told me if you wanted something. You didn't have to move," he said, and I knew it came from a place of love.

This was the Aaron I agreed to help, not the angry one. Despite his behaviour towards me, I admired the sweet way in which he loved his mother immensely, going to great lengths to make her happy-even dating someone like me. She smiled up at her son with kind but tired eyes.

"Don't worry. Now who is this Alexis?" she asked, looking to me and I stilled as they looked to me.

For his mom, I repeated.

I took a deep breath and stepped forward towards Aaron so I was beside him. I ignored his stare when I smiled kindly at his Mum and said the words I hope I would not regret.

"I'm Alexis Dawson. I'm Aaron's girlfriend."