You are the Reason

Chapter 31

I was walking away from my locker when someone jogged up to me.

I looked to see Damien, one of Drew's friends, slowing to my pace and walking with me.

"So you're the one Juli sent to do this?" I asked without missing a beat.

"Yeah, I am quite the charmer" he winked.

I never really knew Damien in a personal way but he seemed cool.

"Let's get this show started" he whispered in my ear when he saw Shane coming down the corridor.

Why did I agree to Julia's plan?

He put his hand on my waist and leaned in kissing me on the cheek.

I looked over at Shane to see him walking towards us his eyes on Damien's hand around my waist.

"Hey guys" he said raising a brow when he reached us.

"Hi man" Damien said grinning at him.

I just smiled.

"What's going on here?" He asked looking at me and Damien in turn.

"Just walking my girl to class man" Damien said and I almost choked on my spit.

"Your girl?" Shane asked eyeing us suspiciously.

"Yeah, popped the question this morning" he said grinning.

"Well congrats" Shane said looking me dead in the eye.

I looked away.

He walked away and I glared at Damien.

"What? It was part of the plan" he shrugged and followed me to my class.

"Whatever" I said going in.

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Julia's plan went on for a week and I could see Shane getting more frustrated.

We still hung out but he didn't try anything which led me to think Julia's theory was wrong.

He didn't like me.

That was until he texted me that we were going to 'our place' the Saturday evening.

I didn't know what he wanted because he didn't really seem fazed by me 'fake' dating Damien.

Maybe he wanted to practice our duo where no one could hear us other than the birds.

Yeah that was it, the duo.

We were making progress and looking forward to the competition next week and Julia's drama piece on Tuesday.

I walked out front to see him waiting for me in his mom's car and I got into the passenger seat.

He'd said he was saving to buy a car of his own and was almost there.

He drove off to the familiar journey and we soon arrived at 'our' place.

We walked to the spot we claimed every time we came here and I looked over at him wondering what this meet up was about.

We got settled and he asked the question I knew was on his mind for the past week.

"So you and Damien huh" he said looking over at the water.

"Yeah" I said looking at him to see his reaction.

He clenched his jaw and looked at me.

"Why him?" He asked.

"I don't know...it just...happened" I said trying not to give anything away.

"Can I tell you something?" He asked looking at me.

"Sure" I replied.

"After my best friend, Ciara, died I said I wasn't going to love again" he looked into my eyes.

"Ciara?" I whispered, I don't know why but I just felt that if I spoke too loud this moment would be gone.

"Yeah, she was my first love" he said looking out to the ocean.

I kept silent.

"I went ballistic when she died, the guy that she was dating took her to some party and then he began to drive her home drunk when they met into an accident, I-I lost my best friend Shana, I lost my first love" he said tears now coming out of his eyes.

"When I heard the news I began to mope around and not care about life anymore, I got into trouble and my parents couldn't handle me anymore, Dad wanted to beat me to get me back in line but mom said no and from there they started arguing" he said more tears slipping out and I reached up to wipe his tears away with my thumb.

"They later got divorced and I knew it was my fault, I broke our family" He took a deep breath.

"I was sent to boarding school and when I got back we moved here and I met you" he said looking at me now.

"When I met you, you were fiesty and had attitude all the time but it just drew me nearer" he said and I froze.

"You reminded me so much of Ciara that I didn't mind not making any other friends but just hanging with you and Julia" he continued.

"And when I saw you with Dylan and now Damien I realized something" he said looking me dead in the eye turning his body to face mine.

"I like you" he said and my whole body heated up.

He liked me?

Holy mother of cows.

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Votes and comments are greatly appreciated.

~Alia😘