The Undercover Bad Boy

Chapter Five: Getting Closer

Chapter Five - Getting Closer

We were sitting in the middle of the busy food court. Families, couples and groups of friends surrounded us. They chatted loudly to each other, giving the mall a friendly, contagious atmosphere. I was getting slightly hungry, so I ordered myself a small portion of French fries. Zachary wasn't seated across from me, he was reading through the tracklist of a new CD he had bought.

After leaving the music store with our purchases, we just wandered around the mall, chatting conversationally, until our legs started to ache and we had to sit down somewhere.

After spending a whole afternoon with a person, you'd expect to at least understand them.

That wasn't the case with Zachary Edwards.

He had been switching personalities - as usual. For a moment, I hated to admit it, but he'd be sweet and funny, the next he'd go back to being his irritable and cocky self. The idea about him having a multiple personality disorder actually seemed to become more and more plausible every second I was with him. I was starting to believe it.

"I really want to know the real you," I finally said as he stole another fry from my tray.

He froze for a couple of seconds, as if the words had some type of effect on him, but he recovered quickly. He raised an eyebrow. "This is the real me." He sounded like he was trying to convince himself.

"No it isn't," I sighed, continuing to press him on the topic. I knew it wasn't the real him. There was definietly something he wasn't telling me.

None of us said anything for a few minutes, a silence lapsed over us. I almost regretted bringing the topic up. Almost. Curiousity got the better of me.

"You wouldn't want to know the real me," he said after an eternity, looking away. His eyes held pain, grief, and underneath everything else, they held sadness. He seemed very interested in a young family sitting three tables away from us.

"I would, Zachary. I really would," I added.

He shook his head. "No, you really wouldn't."

"At least try and let me get to know you."

He hesitated slightly. He seemed to be debating it over in his head. "Okay," he finally agreed with a nod of his head.

I smiled, thankful for his cooperation. "Let's start with the basic stuff. Tell me something about you."

He bit his lip. "I can't swim."

"If you teach me how to ride a motorbike, I'll teach you how to swim," I said, trying to lighten the mood.

It actually seemed to work. Zachary regained his normal composture and flashed one of his signature smirks. "It's a deal, Hale."

~

"You have to come," Tara begged to me on the phone, there was a hint of desperation in her voice. "It's my birthday party. You're my best friend. Put the two together. That means you have to go."

I sighed into the reciever, wishing that I never answered the call. I should have hung up on her the second she brought up the words birthday party. "Who's going?" I asked, making my reluctance and dislike clear.

She was quiet for a few seconds. That was never a good sign. I started playing with my hair, twirling it around my finger, nervously awaiting her reply. I had been trying to avoid this topic for well over a month. She had peen planning it for ages, as her best friend I was required me being there. I didn't like parties. Parties didn't like me. Socialising was mandatory. And looking presentable was a must. That was just too much work.

"Well, that's the thing. I don't know. A lot of people. Most of our year really."

"Ah."

"Please come. My parents are going to be there, if that helps. There will be music and karaoke and pizza. I know you like pizza."

"I'm only doing this-"

"Thank you so much Alex!" she cut in.

"-because of the pizza," I completed the sentence.

"See you tonight," Tara added excitedly.

"Wait, she actually agreed to come?" I heard Parker remark in the background before Tara disconnected the call.

My friends had so little hope of my social life that it was actually laughable.

It was Tara's actual birthday yesterday. She went out with Parker for dinner at some fancy restaurant. I dropped by in the morning to give her the gifts I bought - they consisted of a new hair curler and a charm for her bracelet.

Tonight, she was having her birthday party. I knew that I should have been a bit more supportive, or actual offered to help set up - I'm a bad best friend, there's no need to tell me, I already know.

I was about to lock my phone when the notification icon popped up on my screen. I had one new message:

Hey, Hale

The only person that called me by my last name was Zachary and I didn't give him my number. I decided not to ask why and just go with it. Since going out to the mall, we seemed to get along a bit better for the past week. The key words in that sentence were 'a bit'. It didn't stop us from being sarcastic.

Hey yourself, Edwards. We really need new nicknames.

A few seconds later, he replied:

Planning on having nicknames now, Hale. Aren't we getting a bit ahead of ourselves?

I glared at the screen.

You wish.

When he didn't reply, I added another message:

Are you going to Tara's birthday party tonight?

Him: Probably not.

Me: You should come.

Him: I'll see, my little cucumber friend ;)

Me: Did you just call me a cucumber?

Him: I thought you wanted a new nickname.

Me: Cucumber. Of all the vegetables, you chose a cucumber?

Him: Cucumbers are cool ;) Unless you wanted to be called a turnip. It just doesn't flow good. Cucumbers are long and - I'm getting a bit ahead of myself here.

Innuendo much? This boy actually had a sense of humour.

Me: You're impossible.

Him: But you love me.

I blinked, my mouth felt like sandpaper, as if I was critically dehydrated. He was just saying that. Right? I typed back the first thing that came to my mind:

In your dreams, Edwards, in your dreams.

And then I quickly shut down my phone.

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BONJOUR

Sorry, the chapter is pretty short but I thought that was a good place to end it!

I changed the title of the story as well, I thought it worked better

Anyways

BYEEE