Roses And Daggers

Doing It

"So, when are we going to do it?" Zeke asked, cocking an eyebrow.

Victoria looked up from her phone. "It?"

"You know, when will you introduce me to your friends?"

"Oh." She breathed a sigh of relief. "That 'it'. I knew you were doing this just for popularity, Zeke."

Something inside him flared. Zeke massaged the bridge of his nose with one hand, while the other gripped the steering wheel. "Popularity? If being popular was being a low life bitch like you, then no."

"C'mon, get over yourself, Zeke. You and I both know that you have the potential. You're dating me. You get along with Amanda and are kinda good looking. You're good at sports. You could be popular, but you're too over smart. You act like you know everything. That is why you don't have friends," Victoria snorted. He thought he was the king of the world, he needed to be pulled back to Earth.

Zeke raised his eyebrow. This was the first proper compliment he'd got from her.

"Well, I do know things you don't," Zeke whispered, almost too soft for Victoria to hear. Out loud, he said, "I do have friends."

"Who?"

"Peter, Finn and Luke."

"Isn't Luke the sandy haired guy on Justin's team?"

"It isn't Justin's team, but yeah."

Victoria rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she said, picking at her nails.

"Look, I don't want us to fight. I don't want this Titanic to sink. Though it must sink and Jack must drown," Zeke sighed, like he regretted the day.

Victoria just stared at him blankly.

"Oh my God," Zeke said as he swerved the car suddenly to the left instead of going straight. "Don't tell me you haven't seen the Titanic. Call Mrs. Rocher immediately, Victoria Mary Stone! You're coming over to my house."

Victoria dialled the number, unsure. She was aware that Zeke's mother was not very fond of her. Was going over a good idea?

But she had no choice in the matter, for Zeke took the cell phone from her hand and said, "Mrs. Rocher, Victoria is with me. I have something incredibly important to show her. Yes. My mom will be at home with us. Don't worry. I'll have her home by nine. Thank you. Bye."

He tossed the phone back to Victoria. "You've highly disappointed me, Victoria. I didn't expect this from you."

Victoria grinned. "Sorry, mom. It won't happen again."

Zeke played along and glanced at his watch even though he knew the time. School had just got over and it was close the half past three in the afternoon. "You, young lady, are grounded at my house for an entirety of almost 4 hours for not having seen the best movie ever made."

Victoria gasped dramatically, then giggled, punching Zeke playfully on the arm. She felt a little surprised as she felt his strong arm muscles under the thin fabric of his shirt.

It was weird, how they were fighting a moment before but now they were like best buds. The conversation had switched in the matter of seconds and now their sulking expressions were replaced with smiles. They couldn't be that good at pretending, could they?

"I didn't know you watched chick- flicks," Victoria observed.

Zeke frowned. "I wouldn't call Titanic a chick-flick. You'll see for yourself. Is that why you never watched it? Because you thought it was a chick-flick?"

"Kinda. I knew it was too emotional and all. And," she looked Zeke in the eyes, "I don't like crying."

Zeke fidgeted under her gaze. "Um, I think you'll like Titanic. It's not just crying."

"Well, let's see it then."

Zeke grinned a slightly conscious smile, then grabbing a very surprised Victoria and kissing her on the cheek.
~.~.~

"Is it you Zeke?"

Victoria and Zeke entered the house hand in hand. Victoria looked around apprehensively, but Zeke calmed her with a smile.

Mrs. Brand glared at Victoria, but she knew better than to call her out. She put on a fake smile and led them into the living room.

Victoria found the hardwood floor and cream walls of Zeke's house strangely comforting. She felt at home, yet there was a nagging feeling at the back of her mind that made her feel terribly unnerved. She looked at the pictures hung on the walls and tried to imagine what Zeke's childhood might have been like. Once or twice, she saw another figure in some of the photographs, a little girl with blond hair like Mrs. Brand.

Probably Zeke's sister, she thought.

She didn't remember seeing the girl at school all term, but her face seemed vaguely familiar and a cold feeling creeped up Victoria's spine. She wanted to look at her closely, to try to remember where she had seen her, but she was whisked away into the living room by Zeke.

Mrs. Brand told them to make themselves comfortable and that she would have to leave as 'something had come up at work'. Victoria sighed with relief. The visit was not as bad as she had imagined. Mrs. Brand seemed pretty nice. But Zeke had other thoughts. He was sure that she had left just to avoid Victoria.

Victoria and Zeke stood awkwardly in the room for a few minutes, before breaking the silence with laughter. It was strange how accustomed they had become to each other's presence. Victoria played some music on her phone and Zeke went to prepare popcorn, dancing along to the beats.
Victoria let out a hearty laugh as Zeke raised his eyebrows and gave the moonwalk a try. It was a disaster.

"Babe!" He called out from the kitchen. "Chilli or cheese?"

"Both!"

"One finger licking, amazing popcorn coming up." Zeke walked into the living room, a big bowl of buttery popcorn, with cheese powder sprinkled on top, in his hand and an apron saying 'Kiss the Cook' on his torso.

Zeke grinned and sauntered over to Victoria on the couch. She hugged his neck and kissed him very lightly on the lips. The last kiss was deep and passionate, setting off fireworks in their stomachs; while this one was soft, like a butterfly kiss, and overwhelming with that warm, fuzzy feeling.

When they finally broke apart, Zeke looked a bit disgruntled and shocked- this was the first time they had kissed since that day. He looked around for the remote and muttered, "Let's just watch the movie."

Victoria pouted but leaned back against the couch and waited for the movie to start. Sometime during the movie, Zeke's hand had found Victoria's, and they had snuggled up against each other. By the time the last credits rolled, Victoria was asleep on Zeke's shoulder, a small smile on her lips. For some reason, Zeke did not feel offended that she had fallen asleep. He caressed her cheek and gazed at her face adoringly. He traced the freckles on her button nose and stroked her strawberry blonde hair. He always knew she was beautiful, but this was the first time he had accepted it. He kissed her in the forehead, then shifted slightly, so as not to wake her.

As Zeke walked back into the kitchen, he realized what he had done. He was starting to like Victoria, and that could never happen. He had to hate her. The entire purpose of this game was to make her fall for him- not the other way round. This had to stop. He shook his head to clear his thoughts.

From now on, he thought, no more mistakes.
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Sooo how was this chapter? Hopefully I'm improving. Please comment and vote to let me know what you think. Thank you!