Page 12 of My Fake Date With My Childhood Friend
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak. I wanted to tell him about what had happened at lunch today and the situation I’d gotten myself into; to ask him for help because he was my big brother, and he always knew what to do. But I wasn’t sure I could get the word out without crying yet, and I was worried that if I started crying now, I would never stop.
“Dad’s going to be home from work any minute,” I said instead. My dad always worked late into the evening, so we tried to eat as soon as he got home. “I should go set the table for dinner.
Charlie nodded and let go of my arm. He followed me deeper into the house, but when I veered toward the kitchen, he went into the living room with the kids. That wasn’t surprising in the least; he was so good with them, especially my sister, Flo. I think she and Charlie got along so well because they were both the middle kids. I was technically a middle kid too, but in a different way. Charlie, my oldest brother Elliot, and I were all from my mom’s first marriage, which was why we were so close in age. Then, she got remarried a little while later and had Carter, then Flo, and finally Benjamin. Charlie was the middle child of thefirst set of kids and Flo was the middle child of the second set, which were probably the worst kids to be in a family of eight. I wasn’t much better either, but at least I got to be the youngest for seven years, until Carter came along.
Dad came home just as I finished putting the last plate on the table. Within minutes, we were all sitting and eating like a big happy family, minus Elliot, because he had to be at school until three days before Christmas. Charlie started filling everyone in on his first semester of college and what he had been doing. I could tell that he was tired, but he was so happy to be home that it didn't matter.
My December still wasn’t going the way I wanted it to, but at least with Charlie home again; it was starting to feel just a little bit more like Christmas.
four
It wasthe first day of operations for Penny and Alexander.
Alexander had to go to school early for a football team meeting, so we didn't walk together, but he did wait by the front door for me when I came up. Even though nobody was looking at us, he went in for a hug.
“You look lovely today,” he said when he pulled away, his voice deep and smooth. I blushed and ducked my head. It was the first time he had spoken to me like that, and it made my heart flutter for some indiscernible reason.
“Thank you,” I said. “So do you.”
He grinned and grabbed my hand, tugging me down the hallway.
“Where's your locker again?” He asked.
“In the first side hallway,” I said, jerking my chin in the general direction. “But you don't need to walk me there.”
“Don't be ridiculous,” Alexander said. “Of course, I will.”
We reached the school's main hallway, and Alexander slowed his steps. I frowned and turned my head to ask him when I noticed the people along the walls staring at us. Oh. He was slowing down to make sure everyone got the chance to see us. As if to make sure nobody could mistake us for anything otherthan a couple, he pulled his hand from mine and threw his arm around my shoulder again. I forced myself to giggle happily like I saw Nikki do with Joseph. Anything to sell the lie.
By this point, I was well used to people staring at me constantly, but it felt different today. It felt like they were looking at me with curiosity instead of pity. In a way, it was like they were approving of us. Whispers followed us for the whole walk, and I caught at least two people taking pictures. I didn't blame — nobody would believe that Alexander was with someone like me without photographic proof. Alexander pretty much had a different date, and even if he did, I was just some loser. Why would he pick me when he could have any girl he wanted? And yet here we were, needing to convince them that he had.
We reached my locker, and I dialled in the combination for my lock. I pulled out the books I needed for the day, but before I could put them in my bag or anything, Alexander grabbed them from me.
“Let me hold those for you, my lady,” he said.
I grinned. “Thanks... babe.” The word was unnatural on my lips, but pet names were something most couples used, so I better get used to it.
“Come on; I'll walk you to class,” he offered. Then he winked — at me. Even though I knew it was all part of this, my heart stopped a little at the sight of my crush winking at me. “Don't want you are falling again, right?”
I cringed as I remembered the way he had caught me in the hallway the other day. Definitely didn't need a repeat of that one.
Alexander moved all my books to one arm so he could hold my hand with the other one, and we started walking down the hall again. It might have been my imagination, but I felt like people were stepping out of our way as we walked, and I couldn't tell whether it was from the shock of seeing me with him orif this was just how everyone treated Alexander all the time. Joseph was popular too, and I had been treated differently than usual when I was with him, but he had nothing on Alexander, who was the king of the school.
We paused outside my classroom door. As he handed me my books, he also leaned in close and whispered in my ear, “I guess this is working.”
“Seems like it,” I whispered back. I didn't expect people to be convinced so easily.
“Have a good class, babe,” he said in a regular voice.
“You too,” I said. He squeezed my hand one more time before walking away.
“I'll see you at lunch,” he called over his shoulder, and I nodded even though he wasn't looking at me. I watched as he walked down the hallway, his broad shoulders moving gracefully under his shirt. And for a moment, I felt like everything would be alright.
A moment later, he disappeared into a sea of students in the hall. I took a deep breath and walked into my class. As per usual, everyone went silent as I walked in, and they stared at me as I walked past. But this time, I kept my head held high, even as I felt Joseph glaring at me. He must have heard the news. Good.
“Hey, Penny,” the girl sitting next to me said. I glanced over in surprise. It was the first time she'd ever spoken to me outside of class projects. Honestly, I'd always been a little intimidated by her. She looked more like she was ready to walk the runway every day than be at her. Her silky brown hair was long and thick, falling gracefully over her shoulders, her eyes an icy blue, and her face a perfect mask of mild interest at all times.
“Uh, hey, Samantha,” I said. “What's up?”
