Pretend to be mine tonight (GXG)

Chapter 15

Emily's POV

"You did what??" Cam's voice exploded with disbelief as she stared at Alexandria and me from the couch. I felt like a scolded puppy, while Alexandria sat beside me in a daze, her silence weighing heavily in the room. I wasn't sure if she was grappling with her grandfather blackmailing her over her mother's house or if she was upset that I had mentioned considering the marriage without consulting her first.

"I didn't know what to say... it seemed like the right thing to do at the moment," I tried to explain, but I wasn't sure if I was convincing anyone—Cam, Alexandria, or even myself.

"No, Emily, it was not the right thing! You're only 19. You are NOT marrying your teacher, who, by the way, is straight and linked to your father's business. He didn't even come to visit you when—"

"CAMERON!" I interrupted her, and I could see Alexandria shifting uncomfortably beside me.

"Smith isn't wrong, Emily," Alexandria finally spoke up, breaking her silence.

"I was trying to do what's right for you," I said, hurt that this was how she saw it.

"What about what's right for YOU? You deserve to find someone you can actually be with. You deserve love, Emily!!" Cam shot back.

"A girl?" Alexandria looked at me, puzzled. "You... you like girls?" she stammered.

"See? She's completely oblivious to who you are," Cam argued.

"Enough! Yes, Alexandria, I'm gay. Sorry if that offends you, but I'm proud of who I am. And Cam, I'm an adult. I can make my own choices. I don't want love; I want to help Alexandria. So Alexandria, will you fake marry me?" I said, hitting my knees with both hands before standing up angrily.

Alexandria tilted her head. "I am your teacher," she said.

"Really? That's your problem?" Cam asked, clearly exasperated.

"Yes, that is my problem. I don't care about love. Spending time with Emily is fun—she's my friend," Alexandria said flatly, leaving both Cam and me stunned.

"You... what?" I whispered.

"SHE IS YOUR FRIEND AND YOU WANT TO MARRY HER?? This isn't how friendship works! This is ridiculous, with all due respect, Ms. Vieira!" Cam snapped.

"I don't know how friendships work, but we'll be fake married. We'll live together and spend time with each other all the time. Why would that be a bad thing?" Alexandria asked, confused.

"Alex... do you understand what you're saying?" I sat down beside her and took her hand.

"I'm still your teacher. I don't know how that will work... Am I being selfish?" she asked.

"Yes," Cam said bluntly.

"No," I shot Cam a warning look. "I want to help you keep your mother's house," I reassured Alexandria.

"Then let's get married," Alexandria said with a warm smile. My heart skipped a beat. She really needed to stop phrasing it like that.

"I can't believe both of you," Cam said, crossing her arms. If I knew my friend, she was already accepting the idea.

After a lot of arguing and debating, we agreed to tell David that we would wait until I graduated, leaving out the fact that Alexandria was my teacher.

Alexandria was reluctant. She said her grandfather could find out the truth if he wanted to, but we hoped he wouldn't dig deeper since he'd likely be satisfied with our decision.

"I'll talk to my uncle tomorrow. It's getting late, so I should head home," Alexandria said as she gathered her things to leave.

I felt a pang of disappointment. I didn't want her to go; I was getting used to her presence.