0.5
~ Skye
I don't feel like going on a date since the fight with Mum this evening. And when I decide to take a shower and a small nap, I hear a tap sound on my window. I turn to see what it is... no, who it is. It's my annoying neighbour and my fake boyfriend. He's never pulled up this stunt of talking to me through my window before since the room whose window is opposite mine is Mia's room.
I sigh, walking to my window and throwing it open. "What?" I ask him.
"Are you seriously asking me that? What is today? Didn't you check your phone? My text?" He rambles.
I hold my finger up at him so he can shut up. Slowly picking up my phone, I read out his text. It says he'll come pick me up for the date when it's five p.m. "I'm sorry, I can't go," I say, dragging my words slowly.
Ethan raises his eyebrow, staring at me with a questioning look. I think he demands an explanation. "What's that supposed to mean?" He asks.
"It means, I can't go." I raise my voice.
"Are you being serious right now? A while ago you were blushing so hard at the thought of going on a date with me. What changed?" He looks mad now. I don't even know what to say to him because I'm so tired and confused.
"I... I fought with my Mum. I'm not feeling too well at the moment so... that's why." I say after a while.
He doesn't say anything, and I'm starting to think he'll just slam the window in my face. But he surprises me by asking. "What was the fight about?"
I fold my arms across my chest. "Why do you care?"
He smirks, oh gosh! "Because I'm your boyfriend. And I'm coming over now. Or should I just climb in?"
My eyes widen. "Ethan, no!" I gasp.
"What? It's just seeing my girlfriend and no one will talk. They know we are a thing." Ethan smiles and his smile kind of warms my heart in a certain way I can't explain. I tie my hair in a very messy bun and step away from my window. Ethan starts climbing into my room and all I do is watch him, a part of me wondering how it's so easy for him to climb through a window.
Finally, he's in my room and standing so close that our bodies are touching. I take a step back, while he grins and walks to my bed, falling on it with a thud!
"What are you doing?" I find myself asking in disbelief.
"It's a nice bed. Soft sheets... Ever wonder how it'd feel when we are..." He grins sheepishly as I shake my head in pity. Ethan Reid has a very dirty mind.
"What were you doing in Mia's room?" I ask absentmindedly. I'm not in a very good mood and that happens. At times like this, I'm short of words and I don't do much but stare around and ask irrelevant questions.
"It's my new room. Mia and I switched rooms yesterday. She wants us to be closer," Ethan explains while I bit back a chuckle at Mia's silliness. I feel sorry for her though. I wonder how she'd react when Ethan and I end our deal and break up.
"I figured that... since you're emotionally unstable and wouldn't be able to go on a date, I'd bring the date to your home. What do you think about making pizza and staying up late watching movies?" Ethan sits up on my bed, his gaze on me.
I don't know what reply to give. I'm amazed at his idea that all I do is nod. "My Mum is making dinner anyway. She'd give us some privacy if we talk to her but I can't do that because..."
"Why did you fight?" He asks, this time, truly looking concerned. I'm tempted to tell him it's because of Ava, but I keep mute, not saying a word.
"Fine, if you don't want to tell me. I'm going to get the ingredients for the pizza. I'll meet you at your door like a normal guy and a boyfriend material at 6." He doesn't wait for my reply before climbing out.
I smile, and then I go to change my outfit. I toss the old shirt and shorts I'm wearing into my laundry basket and change into a cream-coloured V-neck romper. I let my hair down, brushing it as I did. I looked presentable... like a girl whose boyfriend was coming over for dinner.
It's six. Past six... Seven. Past seven... Eight, past eight. And Ethan doesn't ring the doorbell or anything. He doesn't come back like he said he would.
I go to sleep on my romper, and I get up at night to a message from an unknown number. It's a video. I rub my blurry eyes as I tap on the play button, and the video starts playing.
At first, I couldn't make out the faces. But then, I see Ava and Liam and more familiar faces from school. I keep watching... They are all at a party and whoever is taking this video is also from our school. Then I see Harper, she's all dolled up, her red hair curled and her lips a glossy red. She's grinding on a guy's lap and making out with him.
"Oh my god! Not Harper," I mutter. I can tell she's drunk. I'm thinking of what to do when I see the next face. It's Ethan, and a blonde pretty lady is on his lap. He's kissing her...
I suddenly feel like throwing up.
I let my phone fall off my hands as I turned my face to my bed. I let sleep take me off to its peaceful realm, where I don't get to see my fake boyfriend making out with another girl who's not me.
"We'll find a way to get you your license this weekend. Have a productive day at school," Mum says without sparing me a glance. We are here at school and I'm contemplating whether to talk to her or just let it be for the time being. I chose the latter as I nodded and left the car without saying goodbye.
After she drives off, I walk into the school. I'm thinking about what explanation Harper will give to me. I still have the video and I re-watched it this morning. To be honest, I don't know how to feel. Ethan promised to come back so we'd have our date at my house. What made him change his mind? And what the hell was Harper doing in that... messy place?
I open my locker and glance around the room. Where the hell is Harper? She's always early since her Mum is an accountant and has to leave early for work. I take out my pen and a journal and I'm putting away my notebook when a hand closes my locker.
"It's so great of you to think that..." I stop when I see it's not Harper but Ava. Great! What does she want now?
"Hi," I mutter.
"Hi, where's your bestie? The redhead girl?" Ava asks. I open my mouth to say something when I feel arms around my shoulder.
"I'm here, what's up?" Harper! I sigh in relief as Ava walks away from us. What did she want to do to me? Anyway, not important right now.
"Girl... Tell me everything, don't leave out any details. How was the date with your hot boyfriend?" Harper gushes, nudging me playfully.
I slam my locker shut, without a word to her. "Skye? How was it?" She asks, spinning me around so I can face her while she shoots me questioning looks.
"Leave me alone," I tell Harper in a more harsher tone than I intended.
"What?" Her face scrunches up like she's trying to understand what's going on. She looks confused.
Actress.
"Skye, what's wrong with you?" Harper's voice is softer as she asks again. I shake my head, mumbling a 'nothing'.
"Don't tell me nothing. Something is up and you have to tell me what it is. Wait... did Ethan say something?"
I clench my jaw, as the memory of the stupid video returns to me. "I don't want to talk about it," I say, then I start walking out of the locker room, and Harper follows.
"Ethan said something and you're hurt. Why are you mad at me then?" She asks out loud making me halt and turn to face her. I stare at her, is she seriously asking me that?
"Are you kidding me? I saw the video, Harper. I fucking saw it."
I can see her face pale but she still acts like she doesn't understand. "What video?"
"The one where you were grinding on some guy's lap, making out with him. You were at that party with Ava and Liam and Ethan..." I stop to catch my breath.
Harper gasps, and she exhales. I wait for her to say a word. Anything to liberate herself. But she just stands there, looking all guilty. And I know she knows exactly what I'm talking about.
"Skye..."
"Don't. Why didn't you tell me about the party? What, you thought I wouldn't want to come?" I tightened my voice, pulling my arm away when she reached for it.
"That's not true,"
"Or maybe you didn't want me around to see you making out with randoms?" I ask. I can see a small crowd pulling up, eyes on me and Harper. It wouldn't take long for the small crowd to turn into half of the school.
"I was drunk last night... I didn't know what I was doing. And believe me, Skye, I was going to tell you about last night. Whoever took that video wants us to fight," She's on the verge of crying as she walks closer to me.
I sniff, rolling my teary eyes and pulling her into my arms for a hug. I can't take it anymore. I hate seeing Harper cry. And she's right. Whoever sent the video wants to break us up. And I think I know who the sender is.
"I'm so sorry, I promise not to attend any more parties without telling you." Harper exhales as we break the hug.
"I'm still mad. Not at you, though." I smile at her and she sighs in relief. "Did you see Ethan at the party last night?" I ask.
"Um... Yeah." Harper drawls. She's staring behind me and I turn, my head crashes on something hard. I can tell it's Ethan from the smell. I look up at him, he's grinning.
He's grinning like last night never happened. Like he didn't shove his tongue down some bitches throat. I suck in a breath, blinking up at him, bracing myself for what I'm about to do.
"Why are..."
I slap him.