The player and the shy girl (english version)

Pretend Love

I wake up in the morning and get up, heading to the bathroom before going to my closet to pick out some clothes.

I pull out a pair of black jeans and a black top. I brush my hair and leave it down, then put on my white Air Force sneakers. After that, I grab my bag, making sure to put my books inside.

I head to the living room...
No one is there.
What the hell, Lucas...?
He still hasn't come home, and for me, that's a bad sign since he hasn't even left a message.
I call him again, but it still says his phone is off.

Alright, Lucas, I hope you're ready to give me some explanations later...

I grab my keys. How am I supposed to get to school now?

Ugh.
I pull out my phone and call Austin.

Good morning, did I wake you?
Haha, you wish. Are you going to school?
Yeah, is something up?
Yeah, I'll tell you in person. Can you come pick me up so we can go together?
And you even have to ask? I'll be there in two minutes.
I'll wait for you outside.

I say and hang up the call.
I go outside and sit there until he arrives.
I try to reach Lucas again, but still nothing...

I sigh and look at the ground.
I hear a honk and see Austin waiting for me.

I get in the passenger seat as he smiles and hugs me.

"How are you?"
He asks as he starts the car.

"I have no idea."

"What's going on?"
He prompts.

"Yesterday when I went to Lucas's house, he wasn't there... I've been trying to call him, but his phone is still off."

"I don't like what I'm hearing."
He says, looking at me, and I sigh.

Something tells me Austin's words are going to come true...

We arrive at school, he parks, and we head towards the entrance.

There, I see Lydia with Lia.
There's nothing worse than waking up to your two enemies in the morning.

I see them walking towards us.
"Just tell me they're not coming this way."
I say to Austin.

"Sorry to disappoint you, but they are."
He tells me, and I sigh.

"Good morning, Emma."
Lydia says with a smile.
Someone hold me back; I'm about to snap.

"She's definitely not good."
I whisper, and Austin nudges me.
"What did you want, Lydia?"

"I just wanted to thank you for pretending to be Lucas's girlfriend. Because you're not, and he told me, and you know, yesterday he was with me. I realized that Lucas would never go for someone like you, he just did it to make me jealous, the sweet guy."
She says, and I feel my heart shatter into a thousand pieces, my breath catches, and it tightens painfully inside me.

Austin looks at me and then back at them. He holds my hand, and I squeeze it, signaling him I'm about to crumble.
I try not to show it.
I look her straight in the eye, wanting to tear her apart, to beat her to a pulp, I don't even know what...

"I'm glad you two are back together."
I reply and walk away alone, leaving Austin behind.

I run quickly into the school, my eyes are already watering, tears are starting to fall.
The more they fall, the more the pain inside me intensifies.
I enter a classroom, wanting to break down. I didn't want anyone to see me like this.

The door opens, and Austin comes in...
He looks at me and approaches.
He pulls me into his arms and hugs me tightly.

"Please, calm down."

In the end, Austin's words came true... what were you expecting, Emma? For him to wait for you? He was fooling you from the start, he'll keep fooling you now...

"I HATE HIM, I HATE HIM!"
I scream while still in his embrace.

My body collapses, and I fall to the ground; my legs can't support me anymore...

Austin lifts me and makes me look at him.
"EMMA, DAMMIT, LOOK AT ME!"
He yells, and I focus on him.

"You're amazing, stop crying over a jerk."
"You deserve none of what he has; you deserve so much more! And you know it! Stop crying and get it together! Show him what he's lost and what he'll never gain! Because no one is like you!"
He tells me, and his words resonate deeply.

I wipe my eyes and look at him...
I didn't know what to say or do.
"We need to go to class, please don't cry anymore. Think about what you're worth!"
He says, holding my hand as we head out of the classroom.

He takes me to my classroom and looks at me.
"Promise me you won't cry anymore, I'll come check on you later."
He tells me, kissing me on the forehead.
I nod affirmatively and step into my class.

Mia is sitting at her desk, as soon as she sees me, her gaze is fixed on my face.

I sit down, and she nudges me.
"Why are your eyes so red?"
She asks.

"Um, nothing, you know, nightmares about my parents."
I tell her, not wanting to say anything about Lucas. What could I tell her? That I fell for him, that he made empty promises and went with others, that he told me lies and I believed him?
No, I didn't want to...