RO🌹E

Chapter 6: Finally Official

Alex

It's been almost 2 weeks since Celestine and I started our deal, and so far we've been on 6 dates.

1. Bookstore date after school because she told me to drop her there but I wanted to be with her so I pretended I needed books.2. Arcade date because she asked if I had any ideas for things we could do to post and I immediately suggested the arcade and won her a teddy bear because I've always wanted to gift her something, just never found an appropriate way to before.3. A mall date because she said she just needed me to drop her there since she needed to get back a dress she sent for altering. I, of course made up a lie that I needed to go shopping and tagged along.4. A car drive date because Mindy said some bullshit that pissed her off, and while I defended Rose I eventually realised she was pissed so I told her to hop in and took her for a drive (I promised that I would show her my motorbike later on when I bragged I had one.) 5. A painting date since she saw a reel of a couple doing it and giggled talking about how cute it was, in front of me.  So I told her if we'd do it it'd be cuter.6. A sunset viewing date because she was on her period and felt overstimulated so I took her to watch the sunset on the beach till she felt relaxed and comfortable enough to be in my arms again.

Not that SHE would count any of these as dates but until I can make this the real deal, to me they were. And as for me getting close to her, almost every photo we've taken has consisted of me either kissing her cheek, mouth or neck. Any intimate moments between us I saw as opportunities and instantly took them to kiss her as much as I could. What I didn't do however, is let the kiss turn too heated. This was for a number of reasons, : I knew I might've gone too far that day in Eco class, I wanted those moments to feel special and maybe not so in public, we've been hanging out but never really anywhere private, its always school or any dates like this.
 I was tempted on the beach but stopped due to my next reason, she's been on her period. 

I'm not sure why but the day I fingered her in school I could tell something was off. I initially thought it was because of her interaction with Alan, but for the past few days she's been acting a bit odd. I wanted to inquire but to be honest, the moment I was going to bring it up she burst in tears talking about how her cramps were killing her and how she hates crying but she has to otherwise she won't feel good later on. I knew I would only be adding fuel to the fire so instead I took her in the back seat of my car and let her cry it out as much as she needed to. After she cooled down she did profoundly apologize for acting immature and wetting my t-shirt but I was honestly so happy with the fact that she felt comfortable enough with me to let it out and let me hold her till she felt alright. If that's not boyfriend duties then I don't know what is.

I text her asking if she's free, pacing in my room waiting for a response like a love-sick puppy when I FINALLY hear my phone buzz,"Not today, my Aunt's coming over. I'll prolly be free tmrw though," Ah shit... I really wanted to hang out with her today, but I'm obviously not going to be a brat about it."Of course Rose, just let me know when you're free tmrw then yeah?" "Okie shore"
I sigh in disappointment and toss my phone on my bed. I mean... at least she's off her period so I know she feels better, that makes me happy. But damn it I wanted to see her. Gosh this woman will be the death of me.

Celestine

He hasn't touched me. Alex, for almost 2 weeks now! I mean, he's been the absolute sweetest and we actually ended up going on a few dates. He even put up with me when I idiotically cried in his car, for nothing!
 I'm a crier when I'm bleeding and its pathetic I know but I really can't help it. But like I said he was the most sweetest person ever, I mean I've had boyfriends before but NONE of them took care of me the way he did. Its like he's REALLY my boyfriend.  Except,he hasn't touched me. Not counting the days I was on my period but when I wasn't, the closest thing to intimacy we had was maybe kissing when we were taking photos or when he just felt the moment was right. And trust me, he has good timing. But he never let it go any further, only kissing. It was gentle and sweet and kind of perfect but I can't help but question if the real reason he fingered me in school that day was actually just to piss Mindy off. I'm so confused with this boy. I mean, he says one thing but does another. This was supposed to be PRETEND. Stupid fake pics for Instagram stories, slight PDA to show off, riding to school together so people think its legit. But none of this ever really felt like pretend.

Every car ride was filled with stupid banter and sweet sound of laughter, every kiss felt deep, real and true. Every story we posted happened on dates we ACTUALLY went on. Every word, every touch, every moment....it's all so fucking real. Everything except, that day in school.

I can't even count the number of times I've replayed that incident in my head. The look he gave her before he sat next to me, the gasps I took when he touched me, the stifled moans I made that he got high on, the look Mindy gave me when Alex left....the memory is etched in my brain.I'm going crazy trying to understand what the hell are we. Fake couples don't do this, aren't supposed to do this. So why do we?

I'm pulled out my thoughts when the doorbell rings, crap. Is it 10:00am already?
 I rush to the door in excitement holding my squeals inside, I haven't seen her in so long. And she's exactly who I need to talk to right now. I open the door to see a petite woman dressed in all black with short, jet black hair that has red highlights. She has brown, loveable eyes and despite her slightly gothic appearance, a smile that shows you how much she truly loves you. It is with that same smile that she greets me and those eyes that give me a wink before she opens her mouth to say, "Miss me?"

Instantly I'm in her arms hugging her as tight as humanly possible while we're both laughing and giggling at ourselves. Gosh I don't know how I survived for so long without her. Aunt Mira practically raised me along side my mom when my father died. She's the reason I know everything I do today, how to ride a bike, how to do my mom's finances, how to change a car tire, how to protect and defend myself if I ever needed to. She's the reason I know how to SURVIVE in this cruel world, and my mom's the reason I know how to LIVE in the part of the world where people aren't always so bad.

"Alright okay, let me get a load of this" Right after saying that my mom steps towards us and joins our hug while my aunt and my mom exchange warm smiles.

This is my family. I never knew my dad, he died in a car crash when I was 2 so obviously I don't remember him. What I do remember, is this. Me, my mom and my aunt. Together in a 2 bedroom house with my mom working 2 jobs and my aunt on her way to becoming the chief of her team so she could buy us a better, more spacious place to stay in. Not that the space ever mattered to me, in contrast I actually enjoyed the lack of space, because I was always near one of these women and that was all I ever needed.
We break apart from each other and head back into the house.

"Hey you got the room ready for me right?" "Of course, don't worry. Mom is dealing with all my books for the next 3 days" My aunt laughs at my reassurance while my mom rolls her eyes with a grin still plastered on her face. These next 3 days are going to be perfect.


"So let me get this straight, he's not your boyfriend but he pretends like he is so he can piss off his cheating ex and also so you can piss off your ex-best friend who went for your crush despite knowing how much you liked him?" I feel the smile creeping up on my face at her focused and bewildered expression while she tries to sum up my recent life."Yes.""Ok first of all screw Mindy because what the fuck? But moving on, this guy has fingered you, made out with you, makes you laugh, treats you like your his real girlfriend in fact treats you better than any boy ever has, goes on random dates with you and is constantly looking for ways to hang out with you?" "Certainly feels like it so, yup." "But you guys aren't actually dating?""No." "As in, this is supposed to be, pretend?""Uhuh.""Ok so either he deserves an Oscar or he is actually crushing on you, like BIG time" "I thought so too but your forgetting the whole fingering so Mindy sees situation. I can't get it out of my head""Really? I wonder why" The smile finally falls free on my face at her statement."Not like that shut up!" "Okay okay, sorry" Her giggles make me laugh a bit and shake my head."But honey, it doesn't take a genius to figure out that he does like you. And I know why your hesitant to reach that conclusion but guess what, if I'm being honest? Your overthinking this.""Really?""Look as far as I know, most men are idiots. They just do, don't really think about the outcomes nor what the other person might think later on. They just act on feeling, maybe that's just what that was. And that look he gave her? Maybe it's not what you think. And if you really want to get an answer to any of your questions, you should know he isn't magically going to give that to you. You have to communicate, talk things through. If your so worried about what you guys are then just, ask him. It really is that simple sweetie."

I go over her words and think as clearly as I can. She's right. Alex probably has no clue what I'm thinking about, and if I want my answers then I'm going to have to ask my questions. It really is that simple. Right?