"You think I'm lying to you?" Was all that he said, his voice steady. I nodded, raising my chin in the air.
There was another moment of silence before Aaron moved closer. I moved back, feeling slightly scared, but Aaron didn't stop. He came towards me until he was just an inch away from me. Not expecting it, I gasped when he pushed me out of the way of the door. He opened it, but turned to me before he left- an emotionless look on his face.
"Fine. Believe what you want. Who am I to argue with you, Alexis." And- with that- he was gone and the flinched at the sound of the door shutting behind him.
I sighed, my eyes widening as I realised something.
He didn't call me Lexi.
12- Sheep And Gossip Boy
"You haven't touched your food."
I looked up from my plate to see Justin gazing at me from across the table- a look of concern on his face. I shrugged, looking down at the untouched food.
It has been a day since the fight between me and Aaron took place and, since yesterday, I haven't seen Aaron at all. Only today at lunch did I come to find out from Justin and Danny that Aaron hadn't been in school the whole day.
At first, Justin was suspicious as to why Aaron hadn't told me he wouldn't be in today, but I merely excused it to the fact that 'my phone was broken so Aaron couldn't have called me to tell me' and- added on to this- that 'Aaron knew that I would be able to find out from Justin and Danny, so it wasn't that big of a deal'.
Justin's suspicion seemed to douse at this, but I was still being cautious around him. I didn't want to tell him that me and Aaron had an argument because it would mean that he may ask me what it was about and I didn't want him knowing about me kissing Elliot. I knew I was being selfish, but I didn't want neither Justin nor Danny to have a bad opinion of me. From their view, they'd just assume that I cheated on Aaron with another guy. However, they knew only half the story. They don't know about our 'fake relationship' which means I am not entitled to abide by any rules such as not kissing another man. I can do that without it being seen as cheating because me and Aaron are not in actual relationship. My blood boiled as I thought of yesterday.
Aaron held up a finger to my lips.
"You cannot touch him because I forbid it." He said simply- his eyes trained on me and me only
How dare he tell me what to do when we're not boyfriend and girlfriend?
Before I could further develop my thoughts on 'different ways to kill Aaron', Justin waved his hand in front of my face. His eyebrow was raised in question and I suddenly realised that I had forgotten to answer him.
"I'm just not hungry, I guess." I said honestly, pushing the plate slightly away from me because it was true. I was in no mood to eat.
At this, Danny- who had formerly been flirting with a girl beside him- turned abruptly towards us; his eyes lighting up as he did. He licked his lips leisurely before reaching for my plate. However, before he could complete his quest, Justin's hand came hurling in at lightening speed and smacked Danny's hand away from the plate.
"Hey! What was that for?!" Danny squealed, pouting like an infant. He rubbed his hand slowly, glaring at Justin to which Justin just rolled his eyes.
"What did I just tell you the other day?" Justin drawled, turning to Danny with a pointed look. At this, Danny's face contorted into a pained look- a look I had recently found out he would sport whilst he was thinking. Justin drummed his fingers on the table impatiently, awaiting an answer.
Suddenly, Danny's eyes light up and he turned to Justin.
"Don't stroke a beetroot against a woman's arm. It's considered rude." Danny said, smiling smugly as if he had just won the lottery.
Justin rolled his eyes for the umpteenth time that minute before yanking on Danny's ear and pulling him closer with it.
"No. You shouldn't touch other people's food. That is what I told you" His voice was authoritative; his vacant eyes staring at Danny in a way that would probably make the devil cower away. He then let go of Danny's ear, pushing him away in the process.
Danny pouted again, rubbing his ear.
"You could have just said so. You didn't have to be such a meanie about it." Danny muttered, folding his arms across his chest.
Justin rolled his eyes at this, but chose to ignore it and- rather- turned to me.
"You wanna tell me what's wrong?" He asked, putting a cold hand over mine. I smiled at the comforting gesture, but shook my head nevertheless.
"Not really, no." I said honestly because I knew it was best not to tell him.
Justin opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, Danny pushed Justin away from me.
"Let me handle this, Justin." He said firmly before turning to me. He put a hand through his hair as he spoke.
"Whenever I feel upset, I just count Sheep. It makes me feel better; it may do the same for you." Danny said with a cheesy grin.
Justin scowled, rubbing his head as to show that Danny was giving him big headache.
"You count sheep to fall asleep; not when you're upset, Danny." Justin explained- a teacher-like tone to his voice.
Danny gasped exaggeratedly at this.
"Great! You control what I do and say! Are you going to control my sheep counting as well?!" He said angrily
"Guys!" I said, interrupting it before it turned into a heated argument. At my voice, both males turned to look at me.
I pursed my lips tightly before getting up.
"I need to go to the bathroom." I lied. I just needed to be alone right now and think about all that had happened in the last few days. So much has been going on and I needed to take it all in before I went ballistic.
Both Justin and Danny nodded at me and said their 'byes' before going back to their argument. I replied to them with a small 'bye' before walking out of the lunch hall. A few people looked at me as I walked down the hallway and I could hear some of the things they were saying about how I was unworthy of having two guys fight over me like they did. I ignored them and hurried down the corridor and into the school fields for some fresh air.
It was a hot day. I sat down, removing the cardigan from my body. I thought back to when Aaron complimented me about my attire on the night of the party. I had smiled out of joy at the time, but now all I could feel was anger and disgust.
He had been a lie this whole time. He hid the real truth from me, merely acting as the victim of the story. This made my blood boil even more and I dismissed any thought I ever had of liking him.
He was a fake. Just a fake.
I looked around at the fields, trying to forget about the whole Aaron topic, but immediately stopped when my eyes landed on it.
On him. On Elliot.
Elliot sat alone on a far bench; a half eaten sandwich in his hand. I eyed the bruises on his face, grimacing at the severity. They looked worse in broad daylight and I felt the urge to go over to him and help tend to his wounds.
So, I gave into the urge.
Walking up slowly towards him, I was about to sit beside him, but- before I could- another boy came sat next to him. I watched as they both exchanged pleasantries with each other. I moved back slightly, giving them their privacy.
I'd just have to wait until this conversation was done until I can talk to Elliot privately.
I looked down at the grass, waiting for the boy to leave until, suddenly, I heard my name being said. I looked up abruptly to the unknown boy and Elliot.
Elliot looked at the boy- a confused look on his face. He folded his arms and sat back.
"Yes, I know Alexis. Why are are asking?" He said curiously.
Why was this boy asking about me?
In turn, the boy grinned largely and moved closer to Elliot.
"Is it true that there's something going on between you two?" He asked, the large grin still on his face. I sighed heavily. The fight that occurred yesterday had reached the ears of every student by fifth period and every individual took it upon themselves to devise the most plausible reason as to why the fight occurred.
How do pupils minds work?
At the boys words, saying Elliot was shocked would be an understatement. He looked bewildered. He stood up, looking down at the boy.
"What?! No." He said and I sighed in relief. If anyone found out about the occurrences between me and Elliot, they would automatically label me as a cheat even though me and Aaron aren't actually going out.
The boys grin faltered at this and I smiled slightly to myself. Of course Elliot would protect me from scum like him.
"Really?" The boy asked, disappointment filling his tone. He looked down sadly as if he was hoping for some juicy information to be given to him and I had to stop myself from laughing loudly at how pathetic he was.
Elliot nodded lightly before sitting back down.
"There's nothing going on. Well, from my side, that is. As for Alexis, she hasn't stopped trying to talk to me." He whispered into the guys ear to make sure no one else heard, but I did and it broke me in two.
The boy looked shocked; his eyebrows were raised in confusion.
"Seriously?" He asked, looking at Elliot. I watched in horror as Elliot nodded yet again- a smile on his face.
"Yes. Ever since we've met, she's been telling me how she'd do anything for me and how she'd leave Aaron if that's what meant we'd be together." He lied, stroking a hand through his hair. I gritted my teeth as I listened to the words he spoke. How dare he make me sound like a desperate whore when I did nothing at all to encourage a relationship between us both?
My blood was red hot and it was taking every ounce of self control I had to not go over to them and slap them. I needed to hear it all.
Elliot moved closer, continuing his tale of lies.
"That's how the fight started between me and Aaron. I merely warned him about his girlfriends nature, but he didn't seem to like that. He attacked me." He snarled- a look of pure hatred on his face.
Well, he wasn't the only one sporting that look. I stared back at him with the same face. I couldn't believe he was lying about this and making me look like a slut.
The boy nodded at Elliot, urging for him to continue which is exactly what Elliot did.
"Seriously. What a desperate girl. I mean, she's not even pretty." Elliot sneered and then they both were laughing loudly.
Tears stung my eyes and I numbly moved away from them both. At first, I walked slowly away from them, but it then turned into a jog and- before I knew it- I was speeding down the school fields, tears cascading down my cheek.
All the nice things he had said about me.
"So gorgeous."
"Your boyfriend is a lucky guy."
"Because I would hate for you not to like me."
Everything he had said to me was a lie. He didn't mean any of it and I didn't mean anything to him. He was a liar and a cheat. I cursed loudly as Aaron's voice filled my mind.
Aaron interrupted me, before I could finish.
"Elliot. That's the 'he' I'm referring to. You make him sound like such a saint, but I bet you didn't know he was the one to sleep with her. With Avalon."
So, Aaron was right... and I was wrong.
I ran back into the school hallways, ignoring all the shouting of the teachers saying 'Don't run!' I kept on running till I was out of the school and on my way to the house of the boy I missed more than I could bear.
To Aaron's house.
**************
Panting heavily, I sighed in relief as the realisation kicked in that I was only two streets away from Aaron's house. My legs were burning from running 20 minutes, but I couldn't stop. I needed to see him.
I walked up his street and breathed in, getting ready to apologise. I was about to enter his front yard when my eyes suddenly landed on something a little bit up the sidewalk.
Something that made my stomach churn.
13- BitterSweet Memories
The sight of Aaron on the floor; his head in his hands was enough to make me forget about the burning sensation in my lungs. Panting heavily, I ran as fast as my aching legs could muster, coming to an abrupt halt in front of Aaron.
He didn't look up nor did he do anything else to acknowledge my presence. He just sat lifelessly, his face shielded from sight. No movement was made from his part.
I, on the other hand, had crouched down into a sitting position near Aaron, making sure to leave a suitable distance between us.
I hadn't forgotten what had happened the last time we had talked. I had wrongly accused Aaron and defended a filthy liar to whom Aaron held a displeasure towards. The chances are that Aaron hadn't forgotten it either and, if so, I'm probably the last person he wants to see right now.
Almost out of nowhere, Aaron spoke- the sadness evident in his tone.
"She's gone."
It was all that he said, but it was all he needed to say for me to understand what he meant. It was all he needed to say to bring the tears to my eyes.
"No." I whispered quietly as if doing so would change what has happened.
As if doing so would bring her back.
At long last, Aaron lifted his head from his arms and the sight of him had me both flustered and heartbroken; I couldn't stand to see him like this.
His face was pale and void of all colour. His hair was dishevelled as if he had ran his hands through it several times. I fell apart at the sight of him.
Yet nothing could compare with those eyes.
He stared at me with vacant eyes- so dull and dead. It wasn't the Aaron I had begun to know; it wasn't the eyes that I had lost myself in many times.
I blinked slowly and harshly as if I was trying to wake up. I needed to escape this nightmare, but- no matter how hard I tried- I couldn't seem to leave and then, suddenly, Aaron was talking and I knew that this nightmare was true.
"I thought I'd surprise her this morning." Aaron spoke quietly, hugging his knees to his body. I chose to say nothing. He needed to let it out. He needed the release.
He stared at the ground while he spoke.
"I got up earlier this morning- around 7:00am. I thought of giving her breakfast in bed like she did with me whenever I was sick. I mean, she deserved that much, right?" He asked, turning his head slightly to look me in the eyes and I nodded numbly. Aaron returned his gaze back to the ground.
A few droplets of rain fell from the sky. The temperature had dropped slightly since I had been here and I shivered a little as a rough breeze blew past. This weather wasn't good for my health, but I ignored it and looked to the grief-stricken boy in front of me. He was my main priority right now.
Aaron sighed deeply, looking up to the sky. A few droplets of rain fell on his face in the process.
"She was in bed when I came to her room with breakfast; her back was towards me. I put the breakfast down and went towards her to wake her up. I tapped her twice, but she didn't move so I went to the other side of the bed and-"
Aaron stopped mid-speech, running a hand through his hair. I stayed silent and rubbed his back, urging him to continue yet he didn't. He sat in silence as if the memory of what happened next had scarred him completely.
Whatever happened then, however, had scarred me completely.
A tear rolled down Aaron's cheek as he looked lifelessly ahead and I sobbed silently at the sight. Never, in the time that I had known Aaron, had I seen him cry. It seemed so strange to think of him even doing so and my heart clenched upon seeing him this broken.
I moved closer and lifted my hand, wiping Aaron's cheek, but before I could move back, Aaron had grasped onto my wrist. He held me in position as he spoke- his voice weak and fragile.
"When I saw her face, I was so scared." He said quietly. He then looked up at me. He seemed hesitant to speak, but- neve
rtheless- he continued, looking straight into my eyes as he did so.
"Her eyes were wide open, but she wasn't blinking. They just remained open and she was looking right at me. I couldn't help it, but I backed away from her. I know that makes me a bad son, but I was so scared. I called the paramedics, but- by the time they came- it was already too late. The time of death was pronounced 8:12am"
A few tears ran down my cheek. She was really gone. The thought of it seemed surreal yet I knew it to be true. I finally broke my silence, my voice quiet as I spoke.
"Where is she now?" I asked cautiously.
At this, Aaron turned his gaze to the road.
"By the time she was declared dead, I had already called my aunt. She arrived when the paramedics were taking my mom out of the house. I told my aunt that I wanted to stay home. I just couldn't tolerate seeing my mom again after that. My aunt seemed to have understood though and they left at around 9."
I looked at my watch before turning back to Aaron.
"It's 1:15pm, Aaron. Have you been sat here this whole time?" I asked yet I already knew the answer. Aaron nodded numbly, his gaze still on the road.
By now, the occasional droplets of water from the sky had turned to heavy rainfall and I moved closer to Aaron to share his warmth. He didn't seem to mind this and, rather, moved closer to me. I smiled at the small gesture, but Aaron didn't seem to notice. He looked down at the ground in sadness.
I sighed heavily. I couldn't stand to see him like this.
"There was nothing you could do, Aaron. This was meant to happen." I said, rubbing his back. Aaron could blame himself for years to come, but the honest truth was that Sam was meant to leave and he needed to know this.
Aaron sighed heavily just as I had done a second ago. His eyes became glassy again and I regretted saying what I had because it seemed to create a new storm of sadness in him. He ran a hand through his hair.
"Last night, she told me her stomach was paining and I told her that I'd take her to the doctors tomorrow. If only I had taken her as soon as she had said that then maybe she'd still be here. Maybe I wouldn't have lost her." Aaron shut his eyes tightly, his voice burning with regret.
Faker Boy (Alexis Secret Book 2) Page 9
