Exception

*Chapter 8*

Leo had punched Aiden and Chris was now holding Leo from inflicting more pain on Aiden.

"What the fuck is wrong with you man?" Aiden shouted wiping some of the blood from his nose.

"You were cozying up to my girlfriend!" Leo shouted back and I softly cursed knowing I was to blame.

If I had just listened to my rational side I wouldn't be here in the middle of a brawl between my fake boyfriend and my maybe future boyfriend. A small crowd was already gathering and I decided I wouldn't become some school gossip column's story. Instead of fixing the problem at hand I decided to run like a coward.

***

Saturday

I woke up to the direct rays of the sunlight and I lightly cursed before blindly patting my bedside for my phone. My eyes fluttered open after I rubbed the sleep from my eyes and I swiped up to see the notifications on my phone.

There were 12 missed calls from Linda, 16 from Leo, 2 from Amelia the only sane friend I had, 14 from Chris, 5 from Ben and a dozen messages from Leo asking me to call him back.

I decided to face time Linda first as I sat up on my bed and it didn't take her a minute to answer.

"Oh my God; are you okay? I was worried about you," Linda screamed into my phone and I smiled before assuring her I was fine. "You caused quite the scene yesterday girl I mean Aiden and Leo got into a fist fight over you."

"It wasn't a fist fight," I argued and Linda gave me a look.

"Describe what it was then," she countered and I rolled my eyes.

"It was a disagreement that couldn't be solved by words so Leo used his fists as a way of sending a message," I explained and Linda laughed.

"If it helps you sleep at night," she told me and I rolled my eyes again with a smile on my face.

"So tell me what did I miss yesterday?" I asked her and she gushed.

"Did you know Brent and Gabriella are now a thing?" she asked me with wide excited eyes and I shook my head no even though I'd known for a while. "Well they had this reveal thing at the party like they're some celebrities or something but it was fire. I even took a video; I'll send it to you. It's trending on instagram and even Oakgossip.com posted them with the caption cutest couple ever and a red heart."

Linda stopped to take a deep breath which made me chuckle.

"Seems like you guys had fun while I was out with Aiden," I commented and she gave me a look which translated to what's going on between you and Aiden. "Before you say anything, nothing is happening with me and Aiden, we were just hanging out."

Linda gave me a disbelieving hum in response and I rolled my eyes.

"Believe what you want but I just told you the truth," I told her and she shrugged her shoulders still unconvinced. "Listen Linda, I have to go, I smell bacon and eggs talk later?"

She nodded with a smile before saying 'love you' and I said it back before ending the call.

My stomach rumbled and I realized how much I'd missed waking up to the smell of breakfast. These days my dad had been working later than usual, I rarely saw him but I didn't mind much. Staying alone the majority of the time had its own advantages like I didn't have a curfew. Okay I did have a curfew but was it really a curfew if there was no one to monitor if you kept it?

I quickly freshened up before running down the stairs almost tripping in the process but I managed to reach my destination in one piece. I was expecting to see my dad standing by the stove but when I saw Blake my older brother cooking I let out an ear piercing scream before lunging onto him giving him a big bear hug.

"What the hell are you doing here?" I screamed in excitement after I'd finally released him from my death grip.

"I got a part time job at a local law firm this side which means I'll be here for a couple of months or more," Blake told me pouring the pancake batter into a pan.

"That's amazing! I'm really happy you're home and you'll be here for a while. How have you been?" I asked him curiously taking a seat on one of the counter chairs in our kitchen. I cupped my face with my palms while my elbows rested on the kitchen counter and watched my brother cook the pancakes with expertise.

"I've been great. I broke up with Holly by the way," he responded glancing at me.

I gasped loudly. Holly had been my brother's high school sweetheart and my dad and I thought that they were going to get married. They were one of those couples who were perfect for each other and always seemed to be in sync with each other.

"Why the hell did you break up with Holly?" I questioned and he shrugged. "She was such a nice girl and you guys were perfect for each other."

"I guess we grew apart," he replied and I rolled my eyes.

"That's bullshit. Tell me why you really broke up with Holly."

"There's this girl I met," he began and I raised my eyebrows with a smile. "Our meeting was not like the usual meeting, she called the wrong number and we started talking from then on. A couple of weeks later we met and I think I really like her Jenna. She's funny, sweet, she loves people a lot and she's always volunteering at the animal shelter. Her heart is made of pure gold."

I smiled as I watched Blake serve me a castle of pancakes dripping with syrup, eggs, bacon and orange juice.

"I'm happy you're happy Blake," I whispered and he gave me a sad smile before he served himself some breakfast. 

"How about you, what's up with you?" Blake asked me and I took a stuffed my mouth with eggs avoiding the question. 

"I have a fake boyfriend," I announced after a while and Blake's eyes widened.