The Golden Fake Couple

Chapter twelve: of parties and teenage cliches

It was 9pm and the party was in full swing with drunken and hormonal teenagers around every corner grinding and making out with people they've probably never met and won't remember. I've never understood the attraction of party hookups. I love parties and dancing and hanging loose with friends but the whole one-night-stand thing repulses me.

"Jade!" My name is yelled over the loud bass. I realize my nose is scrunched up from my thoughts and try my damnedest to bring my face back to neutral, turning in the direction of whoever called my name.

Connor is waving at me over the crowd of people that have swept their way between us and I duck under arms and dodge stumbling girls as they try and navigate the hallway with heels and a high blood-alcohol reading.

"Jade!" I hear again

"What?" I frown as I finally reach him pulling myself into the kitchen and out of the clogged hallway

"What did you want to drink? There's cherry vodka over there and the beers are up there if you want me to grab you one" he says as he opens his bottle and takes a swig. I guess I'm driving home then after seeing the other boys bolt in as soon as we got here I can only assume they're already tipsy and flirting with any girl that'll take it. I sigh and I scrunch up my nose for the second time so far and grab myself a lemonade from the esky by my feet.

"Boooorinnnnnggg" Connor drawls, the liquor already making him buzz.

"Do you know what's not boring?" I say as I lean in closer. A suggestive smirk on my face. The idiot leans in and stares at my lips as I whisper:

"Wrapping your car around a pole on the way home". I dart back and grab his arm heading to the dance floor. Well technically it was the living room but everyone was in there dancing so I guess it'll do.

"Your so serious" connor says as I continue pulling him towards the congested space

"No fun" he pouts.

"I can totally be fun when I'm sober. When you drink, your awareness slips so you're more confident and don't care how you look." I gesture in a circle around her face. "I don't give a shit under normal circumstances. What's stopping me now when 70% of my body is showing and I still have the most clothes on in this room?" I smirk and Connor grins at me.

"I like the ways you think Williams"

The song changes to Time of my Life by Pitbull and I couldn't be happier.

"Yes! This is the best song ever! Dance with me you loser!"

"Ughhhh are you kidding this is so gay" he grumbles

"Shut up connor" I scold and poke my tongue out before I grab both his hands and intertwine fingers with both, lifting my hands up and moving his like a puppet. Soon enough he loosens up and we're dancing like weirdos to the beat. I've kind of gotten used to the couple thing now it's feeling more natural but the line between real friendship and fake relationship is still very stark. I know that. Another good reason to keep sober tonight.

"Guys! This is Cindy!" Nick's voice travels as we both look up to see some brunette on his hip. I roll my eyes and look up to see Connor doing the same.

"Hey Cindy I'm Jade" I smile at her to which she just beams for all one one second, before looking at Connor.

"Oh. Hey there I'm Cindy and you must be gorgeous?" She giggles.

Well crap. Connor looks from her to me before giving a small smile and muttering a comment to rush her compliment off. By now a few people are looking at us due to our new 'golden couple' status and Cindy's.... Assets aren't turning people away that's for sure. We were all silent for a bit before nick subtly disentangled himself from her and storms off.

"Ughhh here we go" Connor shakes his head

I turn to Cindy, determined to say something about the way she literally used Nick to get an introduction before the song flips to some slow Ed Sheeran song and Connor pulls me back to him.

"Look this is the best way to banish everyone's doubts that this is serious. Now act like you're in love with me" Connor says into my ear.

"Well aren't you just a bundle of modesty" I shake my head before reaching up onto my tippy-toes and wrapping my arms around his neck, Pecking his lips on the way down.

"So how's this party eh? Pretty good am I right?" Cindy slurs as she walks closer.

Is this girl serious

"Ok look I'm sorry but i'm not interested. This is Jade Williams, so I would really appreciate it if you backed off and let me dance with my girlfriend" Connor snaps at her. I'm heating up from this confrontation and smiling at his protective hold on me that tightened when she made her move.

"Right well I thought I could offer you a bit more than...." At this she pauses and looks me up and down

"That. but whatever. Your loss mate" and with that, she stumbled off. I completely froze at her words which cut through my like ice. I stopped moving with the music and just stood there, staring at the floor. I don't know why it bothered me so much honestly it's not like we were actually dating it's just that regardless, the words were meant more as an insult to me. To what I was and wasn't willing to do, or wear, or say.

"Hey" Connor hugged me to him but I didn't move.

"Hey. Jade." He tilted my chin up

"Don't you dare listen to her, you hear me? She's a drunk hoe looking for a hookup and you just witnessed her tantrum when she didn't get one. You just saw that she went for Nick, then flipped her programming when she saw me as a better option. So she ditched him and moved on. It's sad to say that it happens a lot between us guys and I guess that's why he's so upset with me but we'll work through that. You look stunning tonight okay? She's just pissed because she had to dress like a hooker to keep up with what you have naturally." He smiles down at me and pulls me into a full hug, propping his head on top of my head. I couldn't help my goofy smile as I crushed my head into his chest. It's nice when someone calls you pretty and it's nice when someone stands up for you. Making me actually half glad I decided to do this.

"Thank you" I look up at him, resting my chin on his chest. He simply smiles and wraps my arms around his neck again and placing his own hands on my waist. Whatever girl connor has his eye on is definitely going see the real teddy bear on the inside.