Page 21 of Foul & Fake
It’s just too damn bad I won’t even listen to myself though, because although I haven’t come across her yet, I find myself looking for her within the first ten minutes. I casually walk past the few spots I’ve seen her in, my hand gripping my phone tightly as the urge to text her and ask her where she is creeps up my spine, but I spot her a few moments later just before she enters the library.
Only… I don’t quite make it to her before my younger sister steps in front of me. “Oh, so you’re alive then?” Juliana asks in an accusatory tone, her arms crossing as her best friend Maci looks me up and down with a blush. She always acts like this when I try to talk to my sister, and because of her I thought I wasn’t attracted to blushing girls. Riley taught me I was wrong.
“No shit. Why?”
My sister looks at her friend and then back at me, switching to Spanish so our conversation stays between us. “I’ve been texting you, dummy. You’ve never not responded that many days in a row.”
I feel a little bad she sounds so worried, but I’m pretty sure she didn’t show up at my house looking for me so she couldn’t have beenthatworried. “I’ve been busy. I had a lot of film to develop, and I usually don’t. What’s up?”
“She told me she saw you holding hands with some blonde this weekend.” Her head tilts toward Maci without saying her name. “Is it true? You never hold hands.”
She’s right I don’t, but I still don’t see why this is an emergency. “She stalking me or something?”
Like I’m one to talk.
“That’s what I’m trying to find out, Elias.”
Ah. Got it.
“Nah, she isn’t. I think you’re overthinking whatever kind of crush you think she might have on me. Everyone saw me holding Riley’s hand this weekend, so it’s not a secret.”
“Riley?”
She sounds more curious than worried now, so I look around us and then tell her most of the real story. I wouldn’t if it was anyone else on the planet, but Juliana won’t tell anyone. I trust my sister with my life.
She laughs at my expense of course, and I keep my internal dilemmas to myself, but it only takes a few moments for her to know more than everyone. “So, like I said. I’ve been busy.”
“That tradition has always been stupid, but it only works because you’re all stupid.” Have I mentioned she loves me? “I’m glad you’re not participating, but not glad you’re in this mess instead. Have you read any fake dating romance ever? It either all falls apart or you fall in love.”
That might have been the dumbest question she’s ever asked me. “Yeah, sure. I read those all the time.”
Juliana rolls her eyes and shoves past me, her head shaking like she’s a disappointed mother. “There’s also movies since we all know books go over your head, and I want to meet her if it lasts the week.” Lasts the week. Chick has no faith. “And text me back, dummy.”
“You’ve always been bossy, you know that? Even when you were a baby.”
She flips me off and takes her leave, making me forget what I was doing for a few seconds before it hits me again and I’m rushing inside the library to find Riley.
By now she’s already spread out on a table with her laptop, her furrowed brows bent over the screen like her fingers are being timed.
It’s much harder for me to sneak pictures of her in here, but I can’t deny how much she looks like she’s in her element.
The blonde strands of her hair falling in her face have me fighting the urge to walk over and tuck them behind her ear, but deep down I know that’s just because I want to touch her.
She looks so focused I can’t help but to sneak a few more photos with my camera before I put it in my bag, and then I pull my phone out of my pocket and take a couple more.
I swear models can’t even compare to her and they get paid to try. They all seem fake next to her beauty, and Ireallyneed to stop thinking like this.
After a few moments of me staring at her she decides to take an early break. She stretches out her back with her arms above her head, then pulls out a small box with a relaxed smile, making me almost break the “quiet” rule of the library when I see she pulls a fucking cupcake.
That’s my girl.
Wait,notmy girl.
Fuck it.
I somehow manage to get a really good photo of her first bite. Her eyes are closed in pleasure as the sweetness touches her tongue, and I immediately make it my phone lockscreen before walking over to annoy her.
“Hey, cupcake. What you doing?”
