Pretending

Chapter 3

I'm sorry, he what? Surely, I didn't hear what I think I heard.

But he seems as surprised as I must look.

"I want you to be my girlfriend." He says again, seemingly since I proffered my thoughts. Blake doesn't look happy. In fact, it's quite the opposite. His angry stare is still locked on mine.

I laugh towards his discomfort. Actually, I laugh so hard, I have to double with belly pains and tears streaming down my cheeks.

"What's so funny?" He barks, utterly irritated. Serves him right, scaring me like that.

When I'm able to control myself, I let go another chuckle before composing. I straighten my baggy black tank top and tight skinny black jeans. You could say black is my happy color.

"You." I answer. "You're delirious."

Okay, wrong answer. Hunter's nostrils flare with unkempt vehemence and his hands turn into fists.

"I'm funny?" He yells, incredulous.

"No need to get your panties in a twist, I was majorly talking about your fake offer." I tried to explain, using quotation marks on the offer, which only seemed to worsen the situation.

"First, I don't wear panties!" Hunter fiercely clears up. "And second, that wasn't a fake proposition! You're going to be my girlfriend."

My mouth opens wide with shock while my face scrunches up into an are-you-out-of-your-mind expression.

"Look, buddy." I stick a finger in his shoulder, pointing as I attempt to reason with him. "You'll be more lucky asking that to one of your brainless cheerleaders, because I sure as hell will only accept that in my nightmares."

Thinking better, no, not even in my nightmares. I have too many to consider having to put up with his grumpy self in them.

"You don't have a choice, Dakota. You'll be my girlfriend unless you'll like to suffer the consequences."

"Wow, wow, wow, what are we, kindergartens? Dude, get off of your high pedestal." I probably shouldn't be getting him all worked up. But who said I always did what I was told? "I don't want to be your girlfriend!"

"Too bad, because that's what you are since this moment." Hunter comes to my face, having to bend to my 5'3 feet in order to make me look directly at him. "This way Dylan won't get distracted by you, and you want distract him."

I frown even more.

"And being your girlfriend is the answer? Please, spare me your futile illusions, I have a class to get back to..."

Next thing I know, I'm grabbed from behind and carried caveman style to the outside. Just a second, let me rephrase that, I'm carried Shrek style, because I hate Hunter as much as Fiona hated that green monster. And in the end, that's what Hunter is, a big green rude monster.

I wriggle on top of him, but he only slaps my butt as a warning to stay quiet. The insolence! And where were people when we needed them? Hello, Superman, Batman, no? Anyone?

"Stop moving, you're not that light!" He notifies, emanating smugness through his words. "I won't be responsible if you fall over and get hurt."

"Let me go and I'll stop wrestling." I start to punch his back with one hand, careful not to lose the bag my other hand somewhat holds.

"And shush, I don't want to get caught leaving the school's perimeters."

"What?" I shriek, stopping momentarily. "I don't want to leave, this is kidnapping!"