Chapter 4 – Don't uncross

Asher’s POV

Rumors died fast at Harrington when you gave them something better to chew on.

Unfortunately for Lila and I, nothing new came up. It was a Monday morning and Lila had spent her time with her father over the weekend.

And even though I'd never say it out loud, I had missed having her around the house. I pulled into the school's parking lot, and turned off the engine of my motorcycle but I didn't stand up.

I know I said this was fake, but I could not stop thinking about her, not that I'll admit it to anyone. No other girl had ever made me lose sleep before. Hell, I didn't even smoke my cigarettes this weekend.

A beat up Ford sedan pulled up into the lot just then. It wasn't flashy like all the other cars in the lot. I've never seen that car before so it must be her. I was right.

Lila stepped out, slinging her backpack over one shoulder as her dirty blonde hair caught the morning light. Her face was set in a frown but still effortlessly pretty in her vintage sweater, miniskirt and mismatched socks. She didn't even care what people thought about her.

She didn't look too busy adjusting her bag as she headed toward the school's entrance. I swung my leg over the bike and jogged to catch up, falling in step beside her before she could notice me. “Jesus, smile kid.” 

I teased her by bumping her shoulder lightly with mine. She was startled and her eyes went wide. “Asher? What…are you..” she arched her eyebrows. “Were you waiting for me?”

I shrugged and tried to play it cool. “Your mom asked me to bring you lunch. Besides, the house was too quiet with you gone.”

She smiled then and I blinked and cleared my throat. God, her smile made me go weak in the knees. She ducked her head. “You're such a flirt. It's too early for this.”

I looked offended. “I'm not flirting.” I lied leaning closer as we walked. “I'm just stating facts, and I know you missed me too.”

She laughed, a tinkling sound that made me feel sheepish. “Do you tell yourself to sleep well at night, Asher?”

We pushed through the front doors of the academy then and heads snapped to us. A group of girls by the locker were giggling at me and when we passed by, I saw them hiding their phones like they were taking pictures of us.

 "Step-siblings? That's messed up." I heard one of them say. "But they're kinda cute together..."

I slipped my arm around her waist because I could sense she was nervous. I pulled her in that possessive way we'd agreed on for the fake dating act, but somehow it didn't feel fake. “Ignore them.” I murmured in her ear.

Lila nodded. “It's easy for you to say because you're used to the spotlight.” 

I spotted Vivian and her crew leaning against the locker close to the cafeteria. Her perfectly glossed lips twisted in a frown.

If looks could kill, Lila and I would be six feet under. She was practically foaming at the mouth while her minions whispered to each other.

Part of me felt a twisted kind of satisfaction. This is another reason why I wanted to do this fake dating thing, to get her off my back. 

Before I could say anything to Lila, the intercom drew everyone's attention. “Asher Harrington, report to the principal's office immediately.”

I scoffed. “Great. What now?” I muttered out loud.

Lila squeezed my arm. “Do you want me to come with you?”

“Nah, I'll handle it, just wait for me.” I winked at her trying to play off how nervous I felt as I made my way to his office. I hated being called into the principal's office.

*****

“Asher. Take a seat.” Principal Hargrove was rifling through papers when I walked in.

The principal office lacked colour as always. It was filled with motivational quotes and posters and the overwhelming smell of coffee. 

“Asher, we need to discuss your last results. It wasn't very impressive. I won't be reaching out to your father in regards to the ruckus your step sister caused. He seemed tense.” 

I sneered at the older man. It was no news that I hated school because I was dyslexic but my father never acknowledged that. When it came to my father everyone worshiped him. “Thank you.”

“No…no don't thank me yet. To boost your grade this semester, you'll be required to take up extra credits or at least try to get your GPA up.”

But I wasn't fully listening to him anymore. Through the window of his office I had a clear view of the main hallway and I didn't like what I saw.

There was a new guy who was tall and built like an athlete with tousled red hair and a jawline that belonged in Hollywood.

Girls were already clustering around him, giggling and batting their lashes. What the hell? Even Vivian had peeled away from her locker posse and she was flipping her hair and smiling in his direction too.

But that's not what caught my attention. No, what hit me to the gut was when the new guy saw Lila, he smiled and made a beeline for her. 

“Uh..excuse me sir.” I ran out of his office just in time to see him hug her and she was smiling up at him.

“Lila, baby! I have missed you.” he said loud enough for everyone to hear.

Lila hugged him back and she was laughing. “Oh my God what are you doing here?” 

I didn't go to her, I just watched them feeling a strange knot tying in my chest. 

Who the hell was this guy? And why was he calling her baby?