03

I was 13.

I was just 13 when I had gotten the news - the news that changed my life. That was one of the biggest surprises I had ever gotten and I thought nothing would even remotely compare to the emotional turmoil I had gone through then.

Now, what I was hearing a mere 4 and a half years later, however, came a close second.

I was going mental. My emotions were all over the place - shock, anxiety, confusion, fear and many more that my brain couldn't even comprehend what was going on anymore.

Was this some sort of joke? He could not be serious, not with something like this. He was the golden boy, the player, the badboy and any other cliche name you could think up for the 'IT guy' at school. So for him to ask me this question, out of the blue, I did what any normal person would have done in this situation.

I started to choke on my own spit.

"What?" I spluttered out.

Aaron raised an elegant eyebrow, probably taken back by my strange behaviour. I guess choking on your own spit isn't as normal as I thought. He smiled slightly, shaking his head, before stepping closer and rubbing my back slowly, trying to ease the coughs that splurged awkwardly out my mouth, his only reaction being the simple laugh coming out his mouth when he felt me tense at his touch. I caved away slightly from his touch, coughing into the palm of my hand.

Why had he said such an incredulous thing? Perhaps, he was more like Brittany than I had previously thought.

I pushed back away from him, giving him the biggest glare I could muster.

"You think you're so funny, don't you? Let's play pranks on the nerd. It'd be a fun way to start the weekend, huh?" I spat, eying him disgustedly. I turned to walk away, but was stopped by a warm grip on my forearm. I ignored the tingles arising from the foreign contact and turned back to look at him.

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

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

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

"I- look, it's complicated, 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 and nodded robotically.

"Yes, I get if you don't want to share, but then you can't expect me to make such a drastic and personal decision without knowing why I'm doing it."

He sighed heavily, his face visibly falling.

"I know, I know. I get it. It's just really hard for me to talk about- I.."

His smile faltered slightly. I almost found myself saying yes then, because I always happened to be such a people pleaser.

"Just think about it, okay?" He spoke after a while, not even trying to hide the dejected tone in his voice.

Not even giving me time to reply, he began to walk off, waving at a few girls who called his name. He smiled a nonchalant smile, talking casually, just like he was before he talked to me.

I sighed heavily. Before this whole unplanned conversation, I had hoped I could get home in time to tune into Two and a Half Men; a hot cup of cocoa in my hands, yet- now- it was wedged into the darkest compartment of my brain. Aaron's favour was the only thing on my mind, right now.

All I could think of was why he asked me this favour. What could he want from me as a girlfriend, be it fake or not, that he can't get from any other easy, willing girl?

Try as I might, however, I didn't want to flat out say no. Maybe, it was because 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 was always like that. Whenever someone seemed even the slightest bit upset, I felt the urge to make it better, even if I didn't know them. It was an instinct that many would take advantage of, I knew that, but try as I might, I could not find it in me to stop being like that.

I turned my gaze, instinctively 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 and talking to a blonde-haired girl. He looked miles away from anyone who could get upset. In fact, I had only seen him as a carefree male during the years I had seen him in school. What could have possibly happened for him to urge for my help, especially when he could have other girls at his beck-and-call.

The very thought made my mind knot in confusion and I shook my head at the questions arising. I had often characterised myself as someone whose curiosity was insatiable and, right now, I wanted to know what had caused him to say what he had.

Sparing him another tepid side-eye gaze, I bit my lip in contemplation at the very prospect of even hearing him out. I didn't have to say yes, but I could hear him out. Only if his explanation was reasonable, would I even then contemplate what I would do, I decided to myself.

I exhaled, willing my body to move from where it was rooted to the spot. He turned away from the blonde-haired girl and made his way to the exit and that's when my body could finally muster the courage to move. I dashed across the hallway in his direction.

"Aaron!" I shouted, no longer shy. There was no one else in the hallway anymore.

He turned towards me, his eyebrows furrowed, showing he was confused to see me coming up to him.

I couldn't help but think he looked adorable, confused. Like a little puppy. I smiled inside myself.

I stopped 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 finalised in a conflicted whisper, watching his eyes widen slightly at my words.

He smiled gratefully first, but then smirked.

"Quick decision. What made you decide that fast, my good looks or my good looks?" He questioned teasingly.

I smiled. This guy was full of humour, wasn't he? I put my hand to my chin and rubbed, in a pretence to think.

"Hmm, not either of the two options. It may have something to do with feeling pity for the way you practically begged me to be your girlfriend. I'm a very giving person; I can't say no." I smirked back at him.

He raised an eyebrow, obviously impressed.

"Aha, you're not as quiet as I thought you were," amusement laced his tone, as well as interest as he regarded me.

I smiled, taking it as a compliment.

I then breathed in dramatically and put on my best 'stern' look.

"Well, if I'm in, I want to know everything. No secrets" I wavered and, in response, Aaron folded his arms, smirking ever so slightly.

"And what secrets would I keep from my other half?"

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, almost as though I was finalising a deal and 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 my reason today." He urged out 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.

Today? 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 me with an urgency I couldn't quite fathom nor really associate with the Golden Boy.

"I don't have the time to wait for Monday." He muttered, his voice sounding uncertain and I processed his words for a moment, scrutinising his form. 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.

Aaron didn't seem fazed or conscious about my assessing eyes. Rather, he seemed more at ease with the unwavering attention and I realised how we were worlds apart. When I looked back to his eyes, he was looking to me with the same relenting gaze and I stilled at the intensity before letting out an awkward cough.

"I should be getting home," I answered weakly without so much as a reason yet Aaron didn't pick up at this and I watched as he nodded almost stoically, backing away slightly. I winced at this, feeling the sense to please again and, this time, I relented to it before I could process what I was doing.

"Just an hour." I urged suddenly, holding a hand out to stop him moving and he halted at my words, looking to me with a calculating look. It only lasted a moment before he smiled, raising an eyebrow.

"An hour is all I need."