Play the Game Boy (BWWM)

chapter 15

Faith

I knocked on his door, my heart pounding like crazy. He opened up, after what felt like an eternity, and the familiar green eyes met mine once again. His tattoos were peeking out of his casual t-shirt and I couldn't help but be reminded of when we had met at his brother's party, on the balcony.

It had been a bit chilly that night, but his warm laughter had kept me from feeling the frisk breeze. He had been the perfect gentleman then, and also on that day he took me to the festival, but now, I couldn't help but see the anger that had plagued his eyes the day I was forced to break up with him.

It was almost scary how much rage had been bubbling up inside of his stare, but now, I knew Brendan had been right from the very beginning.

Xander was no good.

"Faith," he slurred out, examining me from head to toe. A smile slowly crept onto his symmetrical face. "I knew I'd get you back."

My eyes widened in fury. Did he seriously think that framing Brandon for the website and sending me cryptic notes were going to win me back? What the hell was wrong with him?

Right now, I couldn't believe I could have ever fallen for him. What he did was plain wrong.

"I can't believe you did this," I let out.

His smile died out, and he passed a hand through his unruly hair in incomprehension. Did I really need to spell it out for him?

He motioned for me to come in and I reluctantly did, walking into the familiar space. Xander sat down on the couch, but I wouldn't budge, remaining still. I wanted to put as much space between us as I could, without compromising my plan because I, Faith Tristen, had a plan. A foolproof one at that.

I was going to clear Brendan's name —if I could survive this conversation that is.

"So you're going to act like a stranger here?" Xander said slowly, looking up at me with a smug smile. "Come on Faith, you know me a lot better than what you're letting on right now."

I raised an eyebrow.

"Do I? Because I can't remember knowing a liar."

A storm began to brew on his expressive face. He got up in a jump, taking a defensive step towards me.

"You better take that back. If there's one thing I never did, it's lie to you. You said you wanted a simple summer. Nothing but fun. I gave you fun."

He took another step towards me and I tried my absolute best to not let my fear perspire too much.

"That's why I paid off your mom's hospital bill," he added, softly. "I paid it so you wouldn't have to worry about it. I needed you stress-free because that's what I promised you before this idiot made us break up."

Did he suddenly forget that I broke up with him and that it wasn't at all a mutual decision? Or that even if Brendan hadn't coerced the whole break-up to begin with, I still would have let him go because of the many issues he couldn't seem to let go of?

Xander was starting to sound insane by the minute. He kept talking, closing the distance between us by making a few more steps in my direction. I let him talk, hoping he'd dig his hole on his own.

"I made sure you saw how shitty other people's lives were, even with all the money stuffed in their oversized bank accounts, so that maybe you could forget about your own problems."

As much as I hated the outcome of Xander's rhetoric, it sure did work. I had stopped worrying about my own issues during the time I was attempting to find out who owned the website. I sighed out.

"So that's the reason why you created the blogsite? Where you exposed Brendan's dad's clients?" I asked, pushing for an answer.

"Brendan had to pay for what he did to us," Xander said, as if it was so obvious. He placed a hand on my shoulder and goosebumps flared on my skin, all of my senses alert to his touch. "I know you didn't really mean to end things with me. But it's okay, now we can be together, no matter what anybody says."

I felt like fainting. What he was saying sounded so absurd.

"Just answer the question. Did you or did you not create the website?" I repeated.

"I didn't. Mason did. Back in sixth grade. He never posted anything though, but I revived it, unbeknownst him. He must've been so surprised to see his old blog on everyone's phones years after he had inactivated it."

My eyes widened. So that was the reason why Mason had been so reluctant to help Brendan and I find out the identity of the hacker. He was scared he'd expose his involuntary involvement with the website. It all made sense.

And it probably was the reason Mason's name wasn't on the list. Xander wouldn't dare expose his own parents just to distract me.

And it most definitely explained why Samara's name was on the list —she said she had known Mason from a summer camp that Xander probably also attended with his brother.

Although I was shocked at this discovery, I reeled my surprise in and decided to press for more answers since Xander seemed to be readily happy to divulge secrets. Plus, the more he said right now, the better my chances were at putting together Brendan's redemption.

"How'd you get access to the files?" I inquired. "You were fired three years ago from Mr Wenthward's firm."

"They never asked for my access key card back," Xander smirked. "You'd think that with such high profile clients they would have better security measures."

"Yeah," I muttered. "Go figure."

I had heard enough and now needed to get the hell away from him, but I had a feeling he wouldn't let me go easily even if I faked an urgency. So I tried to do what Brendan Wenthward did best —lying.

"Thank you so much, for all of it. You wanted to make me happy and it worked," I said with faked enthusiasm, trying hard to conceal my disgust and panic.

He hugged me. "Anything for you Faith."

I hugged him back, as convincingly as I could, before letting go.

"I came here to show you my gratitude," I lied with a smile. "I brought you something."

Xander's naturally choleric features settled into an excited expression. "Really? What is it?"

I brought my face close to his ear as I whispered into it :

"You'll have to wait here to find out."

He looked confused but nodded as I slowly moved away from him and flirtatiously took steps back to the exit. Once I slid through the door and was far enough into the hallway, I sprinted away, not once looking back.

When I had gotten far enough, I took out my phone which I had stuffed in my shirt, making sure it had recorded my entire encounter with Xander.

I smiled, seeing the audio track.

Xander was going to pay.

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a / n ; quick questionwho can you picture playing Faith?? I'm thinking of making
a cast for this book and I just don't know who to pick for her character :/