The Heartbreaking Agreement

Chapter XIV

I stopped dancing, when I heard his words. Please, tell me this was some sort of bad joke. He couldn't be serious, right? Right?!

"You want me to be your fake date?" I asked, just to check my hearing.

He nodded, his hands still on my wait, even if both of us were now standing in the middle of the dance floor.

"Why?"

Jerome sighed, looking away, he's eyes now were focused on my shoes, which, by the way, were six year old black Converse. I seriously need new shoes.

"The Old Man says I'm grumpy and he believes a date would make me more... productive."

Productive? I wonder, in which way? Does Jerome's romance life reflect on the results of a race?

"Then why me? So many girls would go out with you and they wouldn't need to pretend they were happy."

A smirk appeared on his face. He didn't seem offended by my words, he took them as a joke. Unfortunately for him, I wasn't lying. Do I like Jerome? Neh, let's say he is a decent human being, ignoring the fact that he's a criminal in the eyes of law. Do I want to go on a date with Jerome? Not really. I can imagine dating Jerome as something irritating and pointless. Even if the entire thing is fake.

"I need to keep an eye on you, as you will be a fresh member of either Phoenix or Tigers-"

"Phoenix"

Jerome smiled lightly, again, making fun of me. He took hands from my body and crossed them on his chest.

"You know you have some time to make that decision? Once you make it, there's no going back."

I rolled my eyes. "Why would I join people, who want to kill my best friend and probably even me?"

"Who said Tigers want to kill you?"

"You told me that I might be in danger, because of Quinn."

"True, but Tigers are not the real danger here, at least not specifically. We all are, Cupcake. Everyone in this room can pull out their gun and shoot you, without any reason." he pat my head, like I was a child, which made my cheeks grow a little big in anger. Karma likes to say I looked like an angry chipmunk with that face. "But don't worry. I'll be by your side. I mean, I have to make sure you will not go to police and tell 'common' people about us."

"Won't that be weird, if anyone will notice you by my apartment door the entire time?" I asked, trying to imagine him in that scenario.

"Firstly, I'm not your dog, Cupcake. I'm your mentor, let's call it. Secondly, you will move in to my apartment for several weeks, until the Old Man says we can trust you."

Excuse me? I, Evangeline Sullivan, would never ever in my short life live with someone like Jerome Walls, and I mean it. I can only imagine that dark and filthy place, with dirty dishes in the sink and unclean laundry all over the floor. How can I live in that kind of place?

"Are you fucking with me?" I asked, not hiding my anger.

"Not with you, but you. And not yet, Cupcake. But patience, we will get there." he winked at me with a devilish smile. Jerome really had a weird sense of timing and humor. Put them together and you have a complete disaster. And yet, so many girls fall for him. It have to be eyes. There can't be another reason, why they want him so badly. He has beautiful, unique eyes. Although, I preferred my blue sparkles.

I sighed, trying to calm down and process everything. But with this loud music and hundred different conversations that were going on around us, I couldn't focus. I guess, I didn't have any other choice, then agree to pretend to be Jerome's date. And the living together part...