Chapter 3 - Chapter Three: In or Out

🎨 Skai's Pov 🎨 

"You're joking" I say, once the news finally sinks in. My ears had to be playing tricks on me because it was the only possible explanation as to why the Nathan Hayes was asking me to be his girlfriend. Today was so not my day. 

"I'm sorry. Did you call me all the way out here to make fun of me? What? Is this some kind of silly bet you've made with your friends? With Amber?" My voice is rising with each question but I can't help it. 

I already felt like shit enough yet I'd come here. To meet him. To hear him out. Because some stupid part of me had held out hope that he had something for me. Like I was actually worthy enough for him to want something from me. But here he was, tugging at what little I had left.

"Hey, hey" He grabs hold of my hand and I realize I'm halfway off my seat "I promise, it's none of that" 

The mixture of vulnerability and concern I see in his eyes makes my anger dissolve "Promise" He repeats and I cautiously lower myself back onto my seat.

"I really do want you as my girl" He enunciates every word like he's scared 

I'll try to bolt again.

"Why?" It's the only question ringing in my head. My need to know why he approached me, out of every other girl in school. My pulse is racing and my self preservation instincts keep screaming at me to run. To flee from what is an obvious trap. 

"Because" He shrugs.

"Because?" I echo, like I'm a glitchy chatbot. What did he mean by because? Here I was, struggling with the life of me to grasp why the hell he singled me out out of everybody to propose his offer to and he acting like this wasn't abnormal. 

Or was it? 

"Wait, is this something you go round asking every other person?" 

He shakes his head "You're right. I do owe you some sort of explanation" 

"Duh" I mutter under my breath and he laughs. 

It's strained though. Like he's trying not to. He looks me over with an unreadable expression as if deciding whether or not to trust me with his oh-so-secret reason. 

"It's my dad" He begins and I'm instantly alert "He's threatened to denounce me as his heir if I don't clean my act up" 

I don't bother asking what he means by heir. Everyone knows Nathan's family. Or at least, has heard of them. The Hayes family ran one of the biggest high-end real estate empires in the country, with landmark properties all across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. It's one of the many advantages Nathan has. Whether in getting girls or in simply existing. 

I do ask the other question though " What act?" 

He gives me a look like I'm joking. I stare back confused till realization floods me "Oh"

He nods, amusement flickering in his eyes.

I was very aware of what "act" he meant. The whole school was. Which meant I had to be too.

One of the perks of being a wallflower: you picked up details you weren't even looking for.

Nathan was disciplined on the court, sure. But when it came to the concept of abstinence? Not so much.

With his insane skills, reputation, and let's be honest, his stupidly good looks, girls basically lined up. Going as far D inviting him to parties, jerseys with his number, fake friendships with his teammates..they all tried. A few made it past the velvet rope. Most didn't.

And what he did with those few? Let's just say it kept the school buzzing.

Heck, I was pretty sure half the cheerleading squad were only there for him to notice them.

"So," I ask, folding my arms. "What's my role in this exactly?"

"You're going to help me prove to my father that I can maintain a relationship" He explains, grinning like he's offering me a lifetime scholarship to Hot Guy Academy.

"Why not ask your current girlfriend?" I counter "Y'know, the one you've been locking lips with since the start of the semester?"

He looks at me like I'm the one being weird "She's not my girlfriend."

"Oh, okay. So you just share saliva recreationally?" I ask, voice thick with sarcasm. "Wow. Wonder what you do with an actual girlfriend."

He smirks. "Say yes and I'll show you."

My breath catches at the implication of his words. Heat floods my cheeks, which only makes me madder.

He chuckles under his breath, leaning in like he's letting me in on a secret "Not everyone subscribes to your relationship rulebook, Skai. Some people have needs. Megan and I help each other out. That's it. No drama, no labels. And I'd like to meet it that way. So you see why your suggestion wouldn't work"

I blink, processing that. The casual tone, the brutal honesty. He might as well have handed me a TED Talk titled How to Be Emotionally Unavailable and Still Win.

"Okay, so why me?" I shoot back. "Pretty sure you've got a fan club of girls dying to fake-date you."

"Does it matter?" he frowns.

"Yeah," I say, tone syrupy and sharp, "It does to me. Also, you're missing the irony of claiming you never want a girlfriend while literally begging for one right now."

"Fake girlfriend," he says flatly. "Huge difference."

I frown. The nonchalance of his words grating on my nerves.

"Look, this is really important," he adds. "I'm not here because I want to be. I'm here because my future depends on it."

That last part hits different. His tone has shifted. It's less cocky, more desperate.

I don't know what it's like to have a future decided by someone else, but I do know what it feels like to be powerless.

"At least think about it," he says quietly. "If you say yes," he continues after a beat "I'll owe you. Anything you want, consider it done."

I blink "Anything?"

He shrugs like it's no big deal. "Yeah. Help with something, cover for something, even if it's just making someone jealous. I don't care. Just… be my girlfriend. Please"

And for the first time since this conversation started, I believe he would accept it if I said no. Even if it wrecked him.

So I nod, the last phrase of his offer resonating in my head "I'll think about it" 

♥~♥~♥~♥~♥

I, in fact, do not think about it. 

Between picking up my brother and helping with dinner, right before finishing bits of homework, I have zero time to think, let alone consider Nathan's offer. Not until I'm tucked in for the night, wide awake, sleep nowhere in sight. 

Anything I wanted? I couldn't think of one thing he could have that I'd want. This was just great. Now that I finally had an anything-you-want offer, I had no idea what I did want. Ugh, Aladdin's genie would hate me so much.

My phone's custom ringing tone slices through my thoughts and I turn on my side to pick it up. I don't bother checking who it is. I did make a special tone just for him.

"Hey" An instant smile spreads across on my face at the sound of his voice.

"Hey" I reply, loving the half naked sight of him. Sure he wore a singlet but it didn't count as far as I was concerned.

"See you got back safely" I nod my reply, his voice doing wonders to my system "Still not telling what you were there for?" 

"Why do you wanna know so bad?" I switch off the main lights, keeping only my bedside lamp and snuggle deeper under the covers. I may or may not also be imagining it was him. 

"Why do I want to know why my best friend suddenly wanted to drop by a coffee shop she's never for once thought of in all the years we've been friends?" He pauses " Gee, I wonder why"

"It's not just a coffee shop though" He rolls his eyes. I giggle "They've got milkshakes too" I add, thinking back to the strawberry one Nathan had bought me, even though I'd refused.

"Whatever you say Bubs" I force a smile at the nickname. Bubs was short for Bubbles, his chosen nickname for me. I wasn't sure if he called me that because he thought it cute or if it was his subtle way of calling me out on my size. I'd never liked it but didn't want to hurt his feelings by telling him. Still, I'd take it over all the things Amber called me.

"Hey, rate this girl" He sends a file and I'm now staring at a photo of a gorgeous Latina girl, leaning back on a sleek blue car and wearing a two-piece gym set that complimented the paint. 

"She's beautiful" I reply, not only because she was but also because with what I went through, I'd never rate any girl as less since I knew how much it hurt to be referred to as that. 

Very. I refrain from adding. I didn't need him to see just how low my self-esteem was.

"Saw her on Insta. I may or may not have been stalking her page" He shrugs and I can't help the tiny sting of jealousy I feel. 

We end the call few minutes after, with me reminding him he was my ride for tomorrow and him wishing me a good night's sleep. With air kisses too. 

A few taps and swipes later, I find the girl's page and the sting of jealousy that had been brewing earlier suddenly flares up.

Ryan's type was so obvious no matter how many times he claims to not have one. Girls with blonde hair and model bodies were his go-to for an ideal hookup. Which reminded me again why I didn't stand a chance.

My hair color, I didn't mind. He had once complimented it. But the rest? The body type? That was the challenge. 

 What if I had her body type? Maybe he'd look at me more. Maybe he'd stalk my page. And there was the added bonus of being able to look myself in the mirror and shutting Amber up forever. Then Ryan would give me actual kisses not air ones.

The more the "what ifs" and "maybes" swirled in my head, the louder Nathan's voice echoed:

 "Anything you want" 

Not being able to handle it anymore, I text him.

Skai: 

How much do you know about working out? 

He replies in a few minutes.

Nathan: 

Skai? 

Skai: 

Answer me. 

The typing indicator dots pop up. 

Nathan: 

Uhm, a bunch. Why? 

Skai:

Then I'm in.