Play-Pretend

Chapter 1

*Zaire's POV*

•••

A loud clanging, caused by the friction between two metal surfaces roused me from my dreamless sleep. That was my husband making pancakes. I could smell the tantalising aroma of fresh pancakes with whipped cream and maple syrup. Mmm.

Wait what.
I didn't have a husband. And the clanging, was my phone having a seizure. I squinted at it in groggy disbelief, only to see the name displayed on its screen: Vero.

Veronica Harding had been my bestfriend for the past 16 years. She'd moved into the house adjacent to ours when I was a year old, and we'd been inseparable since then.

But as I stared at her name flashing on my screen, I felt anything but love for her. Everyone knew I cherished my 8 hours of sleep over the weekend. Did this girl want to die?

Reluctantly, I swiped at the green button on my screen- in preparation to give her a piece of my mind. But before I could interject, she shrieked into the phone, "Oh my god, Zazz. I NEED TO SEE YOU RIGHT NOW. I'M COMING OVER."
So saying, the little devil hung up.

WHAAAATTTT. It was 6 am, for Christ's sake. Couldn't this oh-so-important business wait?
Groaning, I pulled myself out of bed and headed to the bathroom to battle my bedhead and brush the foul taste out of my mouth. Vero would be here in a couple of minutes, and would probably blow the house up if I didn't answer the doorbell. Good thing I lived alone.

I finished my morning 'chores' a couple of minutes before the she-devil aggressively assaulted the doorbell.
She stormed in the second I yanked the door open, and grasped my shoulders a little too tightly.
"Dude, Jason just texted me. Samantha's bringing her new chick to the party tonight. And oh my god, I can't give her the satisfaction of my obvious loneliness", she rattled in a single breath.

I stared at her in confusion and partial annoyance. What did her ex-girlfriend's new girl have to do with me. More to the point, why did it involve me waking up at 6 am?

"Okay, Vero. I'm sure this piece of information could've waited", I sighed in frustration.

Vero tapped her fingers impatiently, "No Zazz, you don't get it. You're gonna pretend to be my girlfriend at the party."
Oh no.

"Oh no, definitely not", I frowned exasperatedly.

"Please babe, it's just one night", Veronica pouted.

"Nope, that's disgusting", I turned away. Was the girl bonkers?

"You know I love you", she continued, staring at me with her best I'm-an-innocent-puppy face.
"And you're going for the party anyway, aren't you?"

"Yeah, but I don't love you, you evil hag, and your puppy-dog face doesn't work with me, as you must already know. Besides, everyone knows I'm straight", I rolled my eyes.

"I'm telling everyone you've finally come to terms with your bisexuality, and you've found a place in my heart."

I almost gagged.
"A place in your heart? You must be retarded", I spluttered.

"Please Zazz. It'll mean a lot. In can't stand her gloating over me with that pretty hooker she's carrying around with her, while I loiter around alone", she pleaded.

Ugh.
I softened at the desperate look in her eyes, and also because I lowkey disliked Samantha.
"Fine."

"Thanks babygirl, you're the best! I love you so much, and I owe you one", she squealed, flinging her arms around me.

"Big time", I muttered grumpily.

"Okay I'll be here to pick you up by 6:30. Be ready.....Oh, and Zaire, wear that little black dress; the one with a plunging neckline. Sam's gonna wish she hadn't dumped me."

She winked, laughed at my expression and scooted out of the door.

I found myself smiling.

***

Why do you do this? I hissed in annoyance as I screwed up my winged eyeliner for probably the 50th time.

It was already 6, and my damp hair still resembled a clump of fungi. After I finally managed vaguely symmetrical wings on both eyes, I sighed in relief and stared at my reflection in the mirror.

"What do I do with you?" I mumbled frustratedly to my curly, auburn locks. Eventually, I went with a messy, just-madeout-with-my-boyfriend look; lavishly spraying my hair with frizz-control serum.

I studied myself in the mirror- matte black lips, smokey eyes, tangled hair, toned legs... I looked....damnn fiiinnee. I smirked at the thought of Vero's reaction, and then proceeded to text her.

Zaire: I'm ready, waiting for my......girlfriend.

She replied almost instantly.
Vero: Your girlfriend shall be at your doorstep in a minute.

I slipped on my 4-inch-heels just as Veronica pounded away at the door.

She stopped short, as I pulled the door open. Her pupils dilated to the size of Jupiter as she checked me out.
I felt kinda smug, as she mustered a soft 'woah'.

"So do we get going, or are you gonna rip my clothes apart right now?" I smiled cheekily.

She blushed, and whacked my butt indignantly.
"You just look so...gorgeous", she breathed. "Sam's gonna take a piss. I'll bet you're prettier than that little chihuahua of hers".

I chuckled.

As we neared Jason's mansion, Sam took one hand off the steering wheel, and nervously teased her fishtail braid. She was wearing a ripped, denim miniskirt and a black croptop with stilettos.

The party had already begun when we walked in, and grimy bottles of beer lay strewn about the floor. Flashing lights blinded us- assaulted us with vibrant shades of red, blue, green...Ear-shattering music blared from loudspeakers, situated in every corner. The place smelt of sweat, urine and alcohol.

Jason greeted us, looking surprisingly sober.
"Hello ladies."

Jason Harvey was more of Vero's friend than mine, although we were on pretty good terms. I'd seen him around high school, and he was definitely one of the nicer guys.
The two spoke for a bit, before Veronica grabbed my arm and dragged me to a side, digging her nails 3 inches into my flesh.

"HOLY MOTHER OF GO-" was all I could muster before Veronica yanked me into her and smashed her lips onto mine.

•••

A/N
Hey, so I haven't edited or proofread this chapter-but that's alright, because no one reads this anyways. Hope y'all like this one❤