Setting Ourselves Up

Book talk

Jade

"I don't understand " -James's annoyingly loud voice rings through my ears in a fine sunny morning at his diner -where im actually working and he's ..well I never really know what he does ."If this Wes guy liked Liz so much why did he help her get with another guy?"-he continues,a soda in his hand -my favourite book of all time ,on his other .
He had promised to read "better than the movies"and i can'tbelive he actually kept that promise

We're working a shift together today-I did promise i was gonna help him with the resturant after all.By help -it didn't occur to me that I'd be doing all the work while he argues that standing in a hot room ,cooking all day ,is twice as bad .

"He did it in the name of love duh"-i roll my eyes ,scrubbing off a spot of grease on the table roughly.
"Alright Springs ,don't assault my favourite table ,you actual menace " -he points an accusing finger at me ,before flipping another page on the book .
"That doesn't make any sense though -for example if I liked a chick this much -she'd for sure as hell be at least aware of it "-he swallows his drink -eyebrows furrowed as if he can't comprehend the idea of sacrifice.Shocking.

"Well sometimes you have to sacrifice for the people you love"
"Even if that means that you'll have to let them
go "-i reason ,plopping down on the chair next to him and cracking open a can of coke .

"Touching speech Springs"-James turns to look at me
"Really"

"Whatever you will never get it "-i sigh dramatically.

"I do get it ,trust me "-he chuckles ,shaking his head slightly.

Right .This guy has no idea what love is.

"So ,fake girlfriemd "-leave it to him ,to manage making me more pissed than usual .

"We need a backstory of how we got together"-he leans closer ,flicking my forehead .

I rub my forehead with the back of my hand before I glare at him .
"We somehow got over our feud and found out we're better together?"-i suggest ,with a fake smile on my face ,fluttering my eyelashes .

"Such a good fucking manipulator "-his eyes widened slightly ,as he whistles .

"Okay smartpants ,what do you suggest?"

"You finally got out of your head and realized how a nice , kind ,majestic man i am"-he shrugs nonchalantly.

"Right as if i would ever come to that realisation"-i scoff.

"We really need some advice or whatever Springs -seriously ,no one is gonna buy this shit ,if we're poor sellers "

_____||||_______

And that's how we ended up at Noah's bar ,sitting at our so called "fav spot " by Noah.Which is just us basically sitting  too close to his ass.

What can we say ?We love our new friends.

"Wait a damn minute ,let me get this straight "-Noah rubs his forhead,the smoke from his cigarette basically burning into my nose .

"You two are pretending to date to get your friends fo realize that your friendship won't get ruined if they date each other ?"-he stares at us deadpanned.

"Yeah ,isn't that great?"-James snaps his fingers grinning .

"No that's not great Henderson"-Noah blinks slowly -looking at us like we just broke to him that Santa's not real.

"It's a terible idea and you guys have no idea what you're getting into"

"What makes you think that Av and Xander would want to hang with you after you didn't even tell them you were "dating""-that brings some sense to us ,actually.

James and i look at each other ,at a loss of words.

What if Noah was right ?What if our friends hate us after this?And what happens if they find out this is fake?

"Sooo .."-James drags out
"What story do you think people will buy better?"-he leans his elbow on the counter,resting his chin on the back of his hand.

Noah glares at him ,and i quietly move the knife near his counter a bit further ,glancing between them .