Death of the Perfect Girl

22- The Untrusting

Poppy walked beside Fisher in silence. He seemed nervous about something.

"I'm glad you decided to walk me home," Poppy smiled at him trying to break the awkwardness between them.

"Sure," Fisher looked at her and forced a quick smile back.

Her eyes looked so bright it burned his heart. He had to tell her that he was pretending to like her.

"Poppy," he frowned down at her.

She stared at him with a smile.

He gulped and turned away. "I'm so sorry," he whispered.

"What's wrong?" She held his hand. "What are you sorry about?"

"Poppy," he stopped walking.

She stood in front of him with furrowed brows.

He bowed his head.

"Did Sadie do something to you-"

"NO!...No. She didn't. Why would you think that she did-"

"You guys have been talking a lot lately. She doesn't just talk to anyone. So, I figured she must be doing something to you. You would tell me if she was...right?"

Fisher gulped. He couldn't tell her. It would break her heart to know his feelings weren't real.

Poppy let go of his hand. "I'm not a very trusting person...and Liam's been feeding me this conspiracy theory that you're not really into me-"

"I am," Fisher put his hands on her shoulders and lied. At least he thought he did. "I like you...a lot. I'm not pretending."

Poppy stared into his eyes then she turned around and started walking again.

Fisher followed with anxiety drumming his chest. "You...you don't believe me-"

"I do," Poppy nodded. "Because you're not that kind of person. You wouldn't lie to me like that."

Fisher's hands began to tremble. He quickly walked beside her and grabbed her hand so it would stop.

She looked at their hands then she smiled.

"Why don't you trust anyone?"

"I didn't say I didn't trust anyone. I trust Liam. I said I'm not trusting."

"And why's that?"

Poppy stared at her feet as they stepped one above the other. "We haven't been dating for that long. It's too early for me to tell you certain things."

"And yet you're letting me walk you home," Fisher smiled.

Poppy giggled. "You already knew where I lived. I'm just a few blocks away from your house."

Fisher shrugged then he looked at Poppy. He kept trying to convince himself that she was annoying and weird but it was hard to sometimes. Like when they were alone together.

"I'll tell you something about myself if you answer a question for me."

"Okay...what's the question?"

"What is going on with you and Sadie?"

Fisher felt a tightness in his chest.

"Charlotte tried to convince Liam to break us up. She doesn't like you. So, there's obviously something going on. What is it?"

"What..what happens if I don't tell you?"

Poppy's face turned bleak. "Then we stop dating. We're not supposed to do this. And the only reason why I'm going against my parents is because I trust you."

Fisher almost smiled. This could've been the end. He had an excuse. Poppy broke up with him because of suspicion. Sadie wouldn't be able to do anything to him then. He looked at Poppy and his heart began to feel something. The despondent look on her face made him feel sad himself. He had to continue to fake it. For her. He wasn't easy on the eyes or charming. She would dump him eventually.

"Sadie...," he took a deep breath, formulating his lie," Sadie thinks that Mason likes you. And now that we're dating, she's been...asking me if I see any signs that you might be cheating with him or hanging out with him more than me. I told her that we've only recently started dating. But she doesn't trust him."

Poppy shook her head. "I don't like Mason that way at all. Maybe before. But not now. He's not the same friend I had years ago."

They stopped in front of Poppy's house.

"About my question," Fisher smiled at her.

"Which was?"

"Why are you so untrusting?"

Poppy sighed. "Do you want to come inside?"

Fisher looked at the house. "It's a little late. My dad might be wondering where I am."

"Then I'll answer your question tomorrow."

"What? No-"

"Trust me and I'll trust you. I'll tell you tomorrow. I promise."

Fisher nodded. "Fine...I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Okay," Poppy smiled at him.

He was about to walk away but she put her hand on his arm.

"Wait...I thought..."

"Thought what?" He furrowed his brows at her.

"Nevermind."

"Are you sure?"

Poppy nodded. "Yeah."

Fisher quickly rushed off.

Poppy sighed and walked into her house. Why didn't he kiss her? It's not like they hadn't before.