R E J E C T S

CH.17: THE 'EX' FACTOR

"I don't get why you're worried that your ex is back." Rob said.

He took me back to his place just to avoid the drama.

I didn't really want to deal with Zayn back at my apartment and Rob understood me right away just by 'communicating' with our eyes about 30 minutes ago.

"You don't understand. He's VERY hot and I could fall for his charms right away whenever he's around which is something I do not want to happen!" I was frustrated alright.

"Why not?"

"Because! I broke up with him and I don't usually get back together with guys whom I already dumped plus he thinks we're together so that even makes things more complicated." I explained.

"How so?"

"Because I'm temporarily living with Luke." I sighed.

"Yeah, things ARE complicated. Hey, I could just say that I'm open with you seeing other guys... and girls. In fact, I think I already said that in school." He said.

"He'll just suspect something is up with our relationship. He knows me too well. Also the fact that I'm not bisexual."

~MEANWHILE~

*LUKE'S POV*

"I'm going to test you how well you do know Cher. I call it the 'ex' factor. Get it?" I invited Zayn to stay a bit longer so that I could interrogate him.

"No. What for?" The guy asked with a straight face.

To know if he's a potential threat or not...

"School project." I made up.

"Oh. Sure, ask away then." He nods.

"What is Cher's favorite color?" I began with a simple one.

"Black."

"Wrong! It's baby pink and white. Dude, that was like a bonus question. I mean, I've only been with Cher for like two weeks or so and even I know what her favorite color is." I made a face.

"Yeah, yeah. Quit bragging and just get to the next question, will you?" He says impatiently.

"Okay, what is her first tatoo?"

"The iguana." He said confidently.

"..." Is this guy really her ex? Now I'm starting to doubt it.

*CHER'S POV*

"Hello, sweetie. Are you staying for the night?" Rob's mom, I mean Martha, peeked into the room.

"Yes, if it's okay with you." I asked for her permission.

"Oh, it is more than okay! You can stay over for as long as you want!" She exclaimed.

'One night would suffice, Martha.' I wanted to say.

"You two should go to bed already." She added.

"Mum, it's only 7 o'clock." Rob had a poker face on.

"So? The earlier you make babies--- I mean, the earlier you go to sleep, the better your complexion would be in the morning." She explained.

"Are you telling us we're ugly?" Rob looked annoyed.

"Your words, not mine." Martha raises her hands up in defense.

"I think I'll just leave you two with the lights off..." She then flipped the light switch off before leaving the room.

"Whoa, I didn't know you had a disco ball in your room." We both glanced up the ceiling and was pretty amazed with how it made the room have a kind of 'romantic' atmosphere...

"I didn't know either." He says.

Awkward.

*LUKE'S POV*

"Question no. 48: What is Cher's heritage?" I asked.

We're down to the last three questions and he still haven't got anything right.

"Native American and Portugese." Zayn answered.

"What? No! She's proper British with Romanian blood from her mother's side. We're in England for crying out loud which is a clue itself!" I was exasperated.

"Chill man, what's the next question?"

"What is her mother's favorite song?"

"And why in the world would I know that? It's not like her mother and I are best buddies." He made a face.

"Because she got it tattooed on her arm and it's clearly visible?" How can he even miss that?!

"Oh, you mean the Spanish tattoo?" He clapped.

"No, that means 'I've got a pocket full of dreams'. The correct answer is, 'All you have is your soul'."

"Dude, how do you know so much about Cher? It's like you're married or something..." He sounded pretty amazed.

I wish! But I just asked Louis Tomlinson for some info though in exchange for a hundred bucks and the guy ain't cheap! Obviously.

"This is the last question, Zayn. You HAVE to get this right." I told him seriously.

"I'm just not good with pop quizzes, man. They make me feel queasy."

"Have Cher ever doubted her sexuality?" I ignored what he had to say anyway.

"Uh... maybe?" He sounded pretty unsure of himself this time.

"This is a 'yes' or 'no' question, pal." I said rather strictly.

"Then I'm going for a yes."

"Wrong! She said she never has although other people has. Game over!" This guy clearly doesn't have the 'ex' factor.

"Was that a trick question? I mean, there was this one time that I dressed up as a girl and she was clearly turned on by it." He shrugs.

"I did NOT want to know that but you failed so it doesn't really matter anymore." I conclude that this guy is not a potential threat between Cher and I.

*CHER'S POV*

"How do we get rid of Zayn? I mean, he's clearly a potential threat here and to our relationship..." I asked Rob.

"I think he won't bother you considering that you have a new boyfriend already."

We were both tucked into bed but still couldn't sleep for it was only 8 o'clock in the evening.

"What if he wants me back?"

"Well, if we just play our cards right then maybe he'll leave you alone for good." He says.

"You mean act as a VERY loving couple in public? That's kind of gross." I shivered at the thought.

"Hey, how come you won't sit at my table during lunch?" He arched a brow.

"I wrote down in the terms that I don't have to be friends with your social clique." I didn't really want to socialize and make 'fake' friends.

"Oh. Right." He said in deep thought.

"Why do I get the feeling that we're not as crazy for each other like other couples are?" He added.

"I don't know, maybe because we're not?" I shrugged.

"I think it's about time we step up our game."

"And how are we going to do that?" I asked.

"I'm telling everyone tomorrow that we're moving in together..."