My Fake Relationship (12 page)

I went out running on Sunday morning, then came back and got a bowl of cereal and watched cartoons like I did when I was 8. It was fun. Monday came quickly and I found myself looking out the window at the storm that had covered everything in a thin layer of snow. I smiled. I ran down stairs and heard the knocking on the door. I swung open the door to find a shivering Zane. I laughed.

“Not too hot are you now, hot stuff?” he rolled his eyes with a smile and pushed past me in the house.

“Damn, I hate the cold!”

I laughed.

“If only you would wear more than that leather jacket.”

He turned to me.

“It was my uncles,” he said softly. I frowned. “He died a couple years back. Closet thing I had to a father.” It was silent.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I said quietly.

He shrugged.

“Just don’t insult the jacket.” he said and posed.

I laughed and rolled my eyes.

“Come on I think my mom made something to eat. Want anything?”

He grinned.

“Yes!”

We went into the kitchen to find dad sipping coffee and reading something and mom drinking a glass of water by the bar.

“Hey Zane!” she said and smiled. “I just made some breakfast, would you like any?”

He nodded eagerly.

We ate breakfast with my mom and dad. It was a little strange but I found myself relaxed. They like him. They actually like him. Dad wasn’t too fond of Grant but he seemed to like Zane, surprisingly. Wait, why do you care if they like him? You’re not really dating him stupid! I suddenly lost my appétit and put down my fork and took a sip of water. Right, it’s not real. He doesn’t like you….a churning went through my stomach and I thought for a moment I might hurl but then regained myself.

“You ok, Olivia?” Zane asked across the table. I looked up and he looked actually concerned. The churning started again. He was faking it. He was faking everything. He doesn’t like you! I was yelling at myself. I felt like I was going to…no…oh no!

“Olivia!” someone yelled. I pushed back my chair and ran up stairs holding my hand to my mouth. I ran into the bathroom and slammed the door shut, then puked into the toilet. 

If I thought eggs would look like that, I would have never eaten eggs in my life. Zane pushed open the door as I was wiping the back of my hand over my mouth. His eyes were wide.

“Olivia, are you ok?” he asked as he ran over and sat down to me.

I nodded.

“I’m fine,” my throat felt raw. He put his hand on my shoulder and massaged it. I closed my eyes then realized why I had barfed. I opened my eyes back up.

“Maybe—“

“No!” I pushed his hand off me and scooted away. His eyes looked hurt. I looked at him. It was his fault you’re barfing at the not so good looking eggs. “I said I was fine!” I said my voice louder. I grabbed a towel from the towel rack above my head and wiped my mouth off again still tasting the eggs.

“I was just going to say why don’t you go lay down.”

I shook my head and grabbed the wall and started to stand. I started to slip and Zane was right there holding on to me. I pushed him back and growled.

“I can do it myself!” I yelled. He frowned. I stood up and leaned against the wall trying to get my head back on. I went to the sink and washed out my mouth then brushed my teeth. Zane watched me.

“Don’t you have anything else to do?” I snapped as I got done. He clenched his teeth together.

“Olivia!” mom said as her and dad came up the stairs. “Oh honey! Are you ok?” she asked as she came in past Zane. I nodded as she put her hands on my face. “You look pale sweetie. Let’s go let you lie down a bit. I’ll call the school.”

“No!” I said making everyone jump from my outburst. Dad frowned, mom just looked worried. “Honey—“

“Mom it’s ok. I’m fine. I think it was just the eggs.” I wouldn’t meet Zane’s eyes. I couldn’t. I was lying, of course, but I didn’t want him to know.

“OK, if you think you are ok.”

I nodded.

“I am.”

She pulled me out of the bathroom and we went down stairs. “I think we better just leave.” I told Zane who I knew was behind me, watching me. He didn’t answer. I put my jacket back on, my hands trembling a little. I grabbed my backpack and Zane followed behind me as we went out.

“Bye!” mom called. I stopped on the porch and looked at Zane’s crappy car.

“I don’t have 4 wheel drive,” he mumbled.

I nodded.

“We’ll take mine,” I said quietly and I headed to my black jeep. I got in and started it up, shaking a little. Zane got in the other side. The jeep didn’t have very good heating so we were frozen until a block from the school when the heat finally kicked in. I put my gloved hands in front of it trying to steal the warmth. Zane just looked out the window. We didn’t talk as we headed into the school. He took my hand but it felt weird with our gloves on. We smiled at people putting on like we always did when we got mad at each other. But this was deeper. This was different. He walked me to my locker and we took our hands back.

“I’m going to class,” he muttered.

I nodded as I grabbed my books out of my locker and he disappeared in the crowd. I stared off after him. I should go talk to him. Make up for being a jerk. No, no Olivia don’t. You’re going to breaking up soon enough anyhow. It isn’t working with Grant or Kendra. Why bother going on anymore? They don’t want us back. But something inside of me wanted them to not love us. I wanted to feel that I agreed to do this fake relationship for a reason. I didn’t know what the reason was yet.

I frowned as I walked into class and sat in the back.

“Olivia,” a sweet voice said. I looked up and saw Grant.

“Hey,” I said and looked down picking at my finger nail.

“So how was your weekend?” he asked causally.

I shrugged.

“Pretty good. Yours?”

He shrugged too.

“So, so.”

I nodded still looking down.

“I wanted to talk to you Olivia—“

“OK class get settled in, we are going to start class.”

I looked up and saw Grant rolling his eyes.

“I’ll find you later today,” he said and nodded. The sound of his voice wasn’t like Zane’s. It didn’t affect me like Zane’s did. I didn’t know why. Why did Zane’s? I never liked him. Or did I? I shook my head and listened to our teacher.

Next thing I knew it was Thursday. Nothing really happened. Zane didn’t come over to the house after school, we both didn’t talk. But it wasn’t me. It was him. Something was wrong. He seemed really distant. We have dinner with his mom on Saturday. Wow, that’s going to be a trip to the park! I thought sarcastically. We don’t even hold hands that much. I haven’t even talked to Kendra or Grant. I had been too swamped with school. Algebra was kicking my ass. It had snowed more and it was two weeks till Christmas. School would be ending for the holidays in about a week. Zane and I walked out of the school both of quiet as usual. We got into the jeep and I started it up kicking my foot trying to get the snow off. I sniffed and wrapped my scarf tighter around my neck.

“My mom said, um, that I should go pick you up and bring you to the house since the streets aren’t safe.”

I looked over at him, surprised at his voice. It was throaty and sounded sick but it was the first I heard all day.

He looked at his hands.

“OK, what time?” I said and drove out of the school.

He shrugged and sniffed.

“6?”

I nodded.

We drove to my house where Zane’s car sat covered in a thin layer of soft puffy snow. I turned off the car and turned toward Zane.

“Zane, listen I’m sorry about Monday…it’s just I wasn’t feeling like—“

“It’s fine,” he said and looked over at me. Something stirred in his eyes and he let a small smile spread to his lips. “I’ve been….a little sick this week…is all.” He said quietly.

I looked at him and searched for anything. Why was he acting this way?

“I’m worried about you.” I whispered almost too low for anyone to hear.

Zane half smiled at me. “Don’t worry about me Taylor.”

I looked down at my gloved hands frowning.

“I’m sorry if I did anything to make you mad.” I said.

He laughed.

“Isn’t that what we do? Piss each other off?” He lifted my chin with his finger and smiled at me. “I think it’s kind of sexy when you’re mad.”

I rolled my eyes and laughed.

“Sure,” I said. He dropped his hand from my chin and sighed.

“I’m not sure Grant and Kendra want us back, Princess.” he said quietly looking down then looked up through his eye lashes. I bit at my lip and nodded.

“When do you want to break up?” he asked trying to cover the sadness in his voice. It still leaked through. The thought of breaking up, the thought of actually not having Zane take me to school or hold my hand as we go up to the school. The thought of not being able to touch Zane or to fight with him made my heart heave in a not beating way. I couldn’t live without his soft rough hands. But why? Why did my heart want this? Why did my body yearn for him? My lungs had almost stopped too, thinking about it. I looked at him and swallowed.

“I don’t know.” I said.

He nodded.

“Well, after this weekend I guess.” he said and shrugged. He winced. I stared at him my eyes a little wide. “Gym practice.” he stated quickly. Too quickly. I nodded not believing him.

“Um, do you want to come in?” I asked hesitantly.

He bit the inside of his jaw thinking, then frowned.

“I can’t….I have to be home when my mom gets home…it’s just she isn’t….never mind.” I frowned.

“Is something wrong with your mom?” I asked concerned.

He shook his head.

“No….she’s ok.”

I nodded slowly.

“I’ll call you later or something.” he said and got out. I did the same slinging my backpack over my shoulder.

“Bye,” I said as he got into his car and drove. I’m so damn sick of this! I thought to myself as I slammed the front door shut throwing off my shoes. What the hell is going on with him?! I know we just made up and stuff but there is something that he isn’t telling me! I want to know the truth. Tomorrow I am going to force it out of him. Mom came in looking worried.

“Olivia, are you ok?” she asked.

I nodded.

“Yeah, I’m fine.”

Dad came in behind her and smiled at me. I frowned at the two of them. They looked relaxed for some reason. “What the hell are you guys grinning at?” I muttered.

“Watch your tongue,” dad warned.

I put my hands up in surrender.

Mom sighed.

“Your father and I decided we want our marriage to get better so we are going on a marriage retreat on Monday then coming back next Monday.”

I raised an eyebrow.

“Well….good.” I said not sure. Mom nodded.

“So will you be ok by yourself?” she asked.

I bit my lip so hard I tasted blood in my mouth. “Yeah it’s fine any time you guys leave me alone.” I said coldness seeping into my words. They didn’t notice.

“Ok good. We’ll have enough food and I’ll leave some money so you can order pizza and stuff.” I looked away and crossed my arms. “Something wrong sweetie?” she asked. I grabbed my backpack and avoided their eyes.

“No. I’m going to do my homework.” I went up the stairs passing their stupid faces. I went up into my room and dropped my bag to the ground realizing I had no homework today. I got out one of my books I hadn’t finished, slipped on my reading glasses and started reading; trying to get out of my own world to another.

It was 6 o’clock when my mom called me down for supper. I told her I wasn’t hungry. I didn’t want to eat. I didn’t want to go down stairs. I looked out the window at the dark sky and saw it was clearing off a little. But this close to the city you couldn’t see the stars. I sighed and got back to my book. My phone vibrated on my nightstand but I didn’t feel like looking. It vibrated again and I groaned and picked it up.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Olivia!” Zane said, relief in his voice. I got worried.

“Hey, what’s wrong?” I asked.

He sighed.

“I got into a fight with my mom and her….boyfriend. I’m out driving around and I can’t go home…..could I stay with you tonight?” I was stunned. “I mean I can go someplace—“ he said, after I didn’t answer.

“No! No, no you can come over I was just thinking about you. Yeah, my parents are home so you’ll have to sneak in my window but they are leaving early tomorrow morning for work. So yeah come over.” I said quickly.

“OK, which window is yours?” he asked.

I looked out the window and saw the road.

“It’s two windows from the front door. The porch is a wrap around so you can jump up there. There’s a stool by the side where I used to….” I trailed off.

He gasped.

“You sneaked out before?”

I was quiet.

“No comment.”

He laughed.

It rang like bells and I smiled.

He was ok.

“I’ll park my car down the street. Have your window open and the heat up. I’m freezing my ass off.”

I laughed.

“Ok.” I hung up and jumped out of bed and started to pick up my clothes and pilled them on my dresser and in my dresser draws. I went to the window and opened it up only to realize I was wearing shorts and an old t shirt. I grabbed my school sweat shirt and pulled it over me. I went to my mirror and fixed what was left of my makeup and nodded to myself. Good enough. I heard the noisy car down the road then slowed then went down the road. Whatever he was hiding I was going to force it out of him tonight. But just the thought of having Zane in my room, at night, sleeping made my head think crazy thoughts.