Pretending

Chapter 2

Dakota's outfit🔝

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I read the text, scrunching my brows. I read again and again. This doesn't make any sense.

"Hey, is everything okay?" Dylan whispers, seeing my confused stare. He seems kind of worried.

I'm about to nod my head when I notice the death glare from Hunter. What does he want n- oooooh, those messages must be from him. That bastard, how dare he? And how did he get my number?

I hope it wasn't Dylan. The last thing I want is asking if he gave my number to his best friend. Then he'll know Hunter is texting me, which I don't want anyone to know. I'll vomit my lungs out before that happens.

Really, it's amazing how in a short week I go from the new strange girl to the girl Hunter despises. I would be so ecstatic if people forgot this messed up situation. But no, they still dare to put mine and that banana's name in the same sentence. 

" Dakota." I feel a hand cover mine. Tracing it, I end up looking at Dylan's concerned eyes. Those beautiful honey irises that make me soften on the spot. "What is it?"

I can't lie to him, can I?

Think, think, think.

"Huh... I just huh.. got a reminder about something I have to do." I assure him, with a small smile that he easily accepts. "Nothing for you to worry about, okay?"

He visibly relaxes.

Technically, it wasn't a lie, I take my right hand from his left, picking my pencil to have something to busy myself with. I mean, it was kind of a reminder, and I sure as hell don't want him on mine and Hunter's business.

My eyes widen. That didn't sound right.

What I wanted to say was that I don't want to slip into Hunter and Dylan's friendship.

Damn, it didn't sound correct either. Let's start over.

What I meant was that I don't want to create problems between Hunter and Dylan, from any kind.

Okay, just forget it! Argh. I put my thoughts aside and listen to Mr. Robinson.

The rest of the class was pretty much uneventful, so when the bell rings I make sure to have all my things already packed and ready to go. What can I say? I don't want to prolong my stay when dickhead is waiting for me. I have to admit, Hunter can be really scary when he wants. Besides, I'm not up for an argument with him, not today, not this morning... not ever.

Dylan doesn't even realize I left his side from how fast I got in motion.

As I pass the threshold, an arm snakes through my waist and I'm all but carried away. As a matter of fact, I'm completely pulled out of class. It's so abrupt and unexpected, I don't complain until I notice from who the body that's pressed against mine is.

"What the hell is wrong with you?" I push Hunter away from me, rubbing the fresh fragrance he left on me. Disgusting, I know.

I start coughing from the smell. I wouldn't be surprised if this was part of his maleficent plan, whatever plan may that be.

"Don't be such a drama queen, I want to get over this quick." He takes a step forward, hiding me from the passenger's view. My back flattens on the locker and his arms rest beside my head. At least this way I'm not seen interacting with the Satan's spawn.

"I don't like what you're doing." Hunter says with his deep rough voice, locking his crystal eyes on mine. Our breaths start to synchronize with how close we are to each other. Too close for my liking, fyi.

"What exactly am I doing that you don't approve?" I whisper, narrowing my eyes. This guy is unbelievable. He must have gummy bears in place of brain cells, for sure.

Hunter gives one more step, having his ridiculous hard chest touching mine with it. For such a lean guy, he's also stupidly muscular. I guess those football practices must really pay it off since I have no space left to break away from his compressing presence.

"Providing false hopes to Dylan."

"Excuse me?" I  hold my head high, absolutely outraged. "And how, may I ask, am I doing that?"

"Don't look so innocent, darling. I know what you're doing, and that doesn't work with me."

"What the bubbly forks is wrong with you?" I puff my chest out, fuming from all corners. "Are you out of your mind?"

"Don't make me repeat what I said, Dakota, I'm not playing." He breathes out, sending me a mouthful of mint from his gum.

"What the hell? What's with you?" I start, changing my mind right after. "No, you know what, never mind, I don't care, just tell me what you really want so I can stop looking at your stupid face."

Hearing this, Hunter diminishes his intimidating stance, somewhat caught off guard from something I said. He's probably not used to girls not wanting anything to do with him.

However, he instantly recovers from his astonishment.

"Look, whatever you're doing with Dylan, it has to stop. I can't have you ruin our games."

That's it. He's downright illogical.

"Don't look at me like I'm crazy, I'm dead serious."

"That's the problem!" I shout back. "I'm not doing a thing to your best friend. Just go eat a snickers chocolate bar and leave me alone!"

"I don't think so" He pushes me back when I try to pass through him. The little brat. His hard jaw is set and his high cheekbones only make him look more intimidating. Great, now he's not only delusional, but also furious. Perfect combo.

My heart is beating a mile a minute, but I'm not fazed this time. I'm equally infuriated with him as he is with me.

"Just tell me for once what the freaking hell you want me to do!"

Hunter heatedly fingers his dark curls and pins me with his inflexible gaze. When the bell rings for my next class, we're still standing there, covered by the student's lockers. Finally, alone in the hallways, he articulates what I never dreamt him saying to me.

"I want you to be my girlfriend."