Fall For You (ON HOLD)

(20)

"That's a definite lie." I speak my mind's thoughts out loud. Alex quickly spins around on his chair so he's facing me.

"Excuse me?" Alex asks.

"Your mood just changed within seconds, you can't tell me that it's not because of something I said."

"You're so judgemental." Alex snaps. "You always just assume things about me, without even talking to me and getting to know me. You don't even care if you're right or not."

"You do the exact same thing!" I snap back.

"At least I don't make you feel bad about yourself." Alex mutters quietly. "You're so confident. You own who you are and don't care when people make comments about you. But I do."

"I make you feel bad about yourself?" I ask, ignoring Alex's comment about how I'm so confident momentarily.

"Yeah." Alex admits and looks down at the ground as though he's ashamed by his confession.

"How?" I question.

"You make this little comments that are rude, like when you said I wouldn't go to the party because my parents wouldn't want me to, or assuming that I'm a law student based solely on how I dress."

"Can I ask you something?" I ask, changing the topic away from the things I do to Alex that make him feel bad about who he is.

"Okay." Alex replies giving me a sceptical look, unsure about where this conversation is heading and to be honest, I don't even know what I'm about to ask either.

"But I get to ask you something as well and you have to give me a truthful answer." He adds, looking impressed at himself for his skilled bargaining.

"Sure." What's the worst he can ask? "What do you want to do once you graduate from UCLA?"

"My father is a lawyer with his own firm, he wants me to take over it so that he can retire." Alex responds easily, almost like he's robotic or has rehearsed the answer several times.

"That's great. But you didn't answer my question, Alexander."

"I did answer your question and I've told you before, I don't like being called Alexander."

"No you didn't." I say, shaking my head. "I asked what you want to do when you graduate and then you told me what your father wants you to do."

"Oh," Alex responds, realising, "I want the same thing."

"Bullshit." I call him out. I can tell he's not telling me the truth. "You don't want to be a lawyer."

"I do." Alex protests, once again raising his voice.

"Mhmm" I hum. "So tell me, what is a wannabe lawyer like you doing in a Literature elective?" I ask tilting my head to the side.

"I was there by mistake." Alex says, his face tinting pink giving away that once again he's not being honest, not only with me but also with himself.

"Bullshit." I repeat. "Stop lying."

"I-" Alex begins to say but I cut him off.

"So which is it, author, editor or publisher?" I question, raising one of my eyebrows slightly.

Alex mumbles something under his breath looking down at the floor but I don't hear it enough to make out what it was.

"What was that?" I ask.

"Whichever one comes first, I guess." Alex says, blushing. I don't think anyone knows about his desire to choose a career in the world of Literature and books.

"I get to ask you my question." Alex says, quickly before I have the chance to respond.

"A deal's a deal. What do you want to know?" I say and lean back on my hands.

Alex sits in silence for a few minutes, thinking of what question he wants answered. I'll only answer one question and he and I both know that.

He better make it a good one.

"Okay," Alex says finally. "I've thought of a question."

"And?" I push, wanting this over as quickly as possible. I don't like talking about myself.

"Where are you from? Your accent isn't American." That's it?  He only gets one question and he's using it to ask about my accent.

"Are you sure you want that to be your question? You only get an answer to one."

"I'm sure." Alex says holding his determination. "Where are you from, originally?"

"Australia." I respond simply.

"When did you move here?" Alex questions, his curiosity getting the better of him. I knew it would. He can't help himself. He needs to know everything, including every last detail.

"You know I said I was only going to answer one question, right?"

"I was hoping you'd change your mind after answering one." Alex admits.

"Not a chance. I don't like talking about myself."

"Please," Alex practically begs. "Just one more question. That one wasn't that good. It's just I've wanted to know where your accent is from since we met." Alex rambles, rushing out the words quickly.

The only way you're going to win this bet is if you leave him with little pieces of yourself. My subconscious reminds me. Answer another question.

"Fine." I tell him. "You can ask another question."

Alex smiles slightly in satisfaction and victory. "Thank you." Alex says politely.

Alex sits quietly for a few moments again as he thinks of another question. I can tell by the way his mouth moves from side to side that he's thinking hard, not wanting to waste another opportunity.

"Why did you move to the US? Was it because of your parents?" Alex asks.

"Don't mention my parents ever again!" I snap harshly. "I mean it. No more questions about them."

"I'm sorry." Alex says, unable to meet my eyes as he looks down to the ground before spinning back around on my chair so he's facing the desk.

I sigh, knowing that I've upset the overly sensitive boy with my tone. "My family is just complicated, Alex."

Alex doesn't respond, he just keeps his back directed towards me focusing his attention back onto his assignment.

I lay back onto Alex's bed, waiting for him to stop giving me the silent treatment so I can do something to improve my chances of winning the bet.