The Haze [The Rosati Series]

eleven

"I-I was-"

"It's fine. You don't have to lie."

Heat flushed my skin nervously. How was I going to get myself out of this one without him finding out?

"I was...with him." I stumbled out nervously.

I couldn't tell what he was thinking or even feeling. His eyes were cloudy, and unreadable. "Look, you don't have to lie about who you've been with. You have every right to be with whoever you want."

"Wait, what?" I let out a laugh in disbelief. He thought I was sneaking out for a night on the town, or more like morning, with Nate? Go figure.

"You shouldn't be worried about how I feel about it. I mean...I get it. I honestly don't have a problem with it."

I soaked in his words and decided to just go with it. This was easily my way out.

"You're right." I sighed. "I'm sorry about not being honest I just thought that it might be a little awkward."

"Nonsense. I actually wanted to apologize for the other night. I don't know what got into me. I was out of character and got a little carried away."

I flinched slightly at his words. "So the stuff you said that night wasn't ...true?" I questioned unsurely. I don't know why it even mattered, but I was slightly let down.

"I'm sorry if I was being confusing-"

"No it's totally fine. I'm just... going to go to my room." I forced a smile and brushed past him before he could say much of anything else."

Of course it'd be me to get my hopes up about him actually having feelings for me. I mean I was starting to like him even if I never admitted it. I was just let down that he'd played with my emotions so easily, but it's whatever. I closed my door shut behind me as I waited for the morning to come. I was supposed to be going to school today, regardless of my recent avoidance and pleas to Amerie and Derrick. Afterwards, I'd be going to Mondo Delle Strege for training.

Sure enough I had slightly less than two weeks to perform a life changing spell all under everyone's noses. I couldn't help the bitterness I'd felt against Layla, Chris, Eric, Judi, and even Derrick and Amerie for knowing they weren't going to let me do the spell. It was downright cruel and inconsiderate.

A knock sounded at my door, shaking me out of my thoughts, and signaling it was time to go to school. I'd somehow changed into more school appropiate clothing in between all of my idle time and grabbed my things to go. As I stepped into the living room I was greeted by Derrick, Amerie, and the unthinkable, Nate.

I frowned immediately and cleared my throat. "Nate, uh what are you um...doing here?"

I could tell he was confused by the look I was giving him. "I was just stopping by to see where you guys were headed." He said slowly.

I was starting to panic and I think he was starting to notice. He didn't know that we were technically supposed to be fake dating, and I just knew Derrick would say something that would throw him off and cause a lot of confusion.

"We're going to school today. She can't miss too many days, or it'll cause suspicion. What's...going on here?" Amerie's face was starting to mirror mine as her brow furrowed, and she glanced between Nate and I.

"Nothing." We said quickly in unison.

Amerie slowly turned her head to Derrick for an explanation.

"You don't have to lie guys. Amerie is the only one who doesn't know."

"Doesn't know what?" She asked turning back to eye us in confusion.

"That we're dating!" I clapped my hands together as I swooped in for the save. All Nate had to do was just go with it now.