Fake It

(12) i don't wanna be the blame

"Oh, out of my way, fool" Tay scoffed, bashing a guy in the shoulder with her own.

"I think I... I think I touched her hand!" The guy turned to his friend, grinning from ear to ear - he couldn't care less if he was just called a fool.

Heading into the school hall where the prom was going to be held, Taylor walked over to Josh quickly.

Tay was surprised that Josh was helping with the set up, but shrugged it off. "Joshy!"

"What do you want?" Josh asked the girl, ticking some things off on his clipboard before looking up.

"I was shopping for my dress just yesterday and then it occured to me that we haven't finished our plans just yet" Tay explained, smiling as she looked up at Josh.

Tay did miss her ex-boyfriend, and besides, there was no way she could be at the prom alone - other than Josh, no other guy at the school could meet her standards.

"Plans? What plans?" Josh raised an eyebrow, putting a hand in his pocket. What was Tay on about?

"For the prom" Tay nodded, speaking slowly as if Josh couldn't understand her. "I mean, we did say we'd always go together... Even if we are just friends."

"Uh, what about Alex?" Josh furrowed his eyebrows, feeling confused.

"Oh, him and I?" Tay rolled her eyes, feeling so over Alex already. "We're so over. Like, dead and buried sort of over."

"Look..." Josh trailed off, ignoring the fact that Tay was running her hands over his chest. "I have other plans in mind."

"Oh, your plan is to go with Hayley?" Tay asked, raising an eyebrow. She watched as Josh gave a nod and tilted her head. "If I'm not mistaken, Josh, it appears she's already taken."

Josh followed Tay's gaze and turned around to see Parker chatting to Hayley as they sorted through prom props.

Josh knew full well Parker was up to no good - as if he would have good intentions. Walking over to the pair, Josh was hoping he wasn't too late.

"What the hell are you trying to pull?" Josh raised his voice at Parker, shaking his head.

"Geez. It's nice to see you too, Josh" Parker rolled his eyes while giving a smug smile.

"Did he ask you to the prom?" Josh gulped, looking to Hayley.

Hayley didn't answer, not knowing if she wanted to speak to Josh. Parker answered for the girl instead.

"I did" Parker shrugged - his ego and attitude getting on Josh's nerves. This Parker knew and enjoyed doing.

"That's bullshit" Josh sighed, turning to Hayley who looked upset.

"Someone asking me to the prom is bullshit, is it?" Hayley felt taken aback as she blinked and tried to make sense of what Josh had said.

"l thought we would be going together" Josh frowned, watching as Hayley looked down at her feet.

"Enough is enough, Josh" Parker sighed. "This isn't cool anymore. I actually like Hayley. You need to stop this whole bet thing."

"Bet?" Hayley repeated the word quietly, looking up at Parker with a confused expression.

If this was all a bet, things would be start making sense for once. These past weeks spent in this bubble of popularity - was it all just a con?

"Yeah, I mean it was just stupid. Josh thought he could make any girl prom queen. You were the one he chose" Parker began to explain, speaking as though he had no part of it. "He thought that he would be able to take you to the prom and win."

Hayley stood still, almost frozen. The girl was shocked. As Parker went on, she began to shake her head from side to side, hoping this was all some kind of daydream.

Parker looked up at Josh and raised an eyebrow. "People have feelings, dude. Respect that!"

"ls that right?" Hayley asked, though she knew it just had to be true.

Why would Josh be interested in a girl like Hayley? A wallflower, a loser? These were the thoughts running through Hayley's mind.

"Was I just some fucking bet?" Yelling, Hayley had to ask a question she never thought she would have to.

"Yes" Josh replied truthfully, his eyes stinging with the prickling tears he was managing to hide.

Tay came over at the worst time, wrapping her arm around Josh's waist with a smile. "You thought you actually became popular, Hayley? That's so sad."

Hayley backed away slowly, before racing up the stairs to get away from Josh. She felt betrayed and hurt, let alone humiliated by Tay's comment.

Parker knew all of this that whole time? Ben, too? Why didn't they speak up? Hayley was way too confused right now.

Parker gave a smug grin to Josh, feeling as though he had won. Following Hayley up the stairs, he followed her to comfort her.

Parker had just as much to do with the bet as Josh did, in reality. In fact, it was practically his own idea.

Meanwhile all this was happening, everyone in the school hall had watched on with shock. A few made comments about Josh, believing Parker's lies.

Smiling to Josh, Tay gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Pick me up around 7 sweetie."

All Josh wanted was for the floor to open and swallow him whole. He hated that Hayley had to find out the way she did but was he ever going to tell her? He would have had to some day...