My Fake Relationship (9 page)

We played around the park for about two hours. It was nice laughing and joking around with Zane. The wind picked up and played with my hair as I stood behind the ladder for the slide.

“Boo!” Zane said through the ladder. I jumped slightly and hit his hand that came through the bars in front of my face. “Ow!” he cried and jumped back.

“Oh! I’m sorry!” I said almost laughing.

He frowned at me and sucked on his index finger.

“That hurt,” he said and came back to the ladder.

“I said I was sorry,” I said.

He sniffed and looked down.

I rolled my eyes. “What else do you want?” I said throwing my hands in the air.

He looked up his eyes a deep blue making me stop and stared at him through the latter.

“A kiss.”

My eyes got a little wide and I stared at him.

“Wh—“

“I think a kiss would help me forgive you.”

I rolled my eyes. He leaned further in his face inches from mine. The wind blew at the back of his head sending me a whiff of his hair.

“Fine,” I said and stepped forward. I stood up a little. He stood very still as I reached in between the steps to his lips. I lightly kiss his lips. I opened my eyes a little watching him. His eyes were closed. I kissed him again a shiver going up my spine. I wanted to do more than this! I closed my eyes and moved his lips with mine and finally he started to help. My body was on fire again. I wanted to press myself against him. To feel him….but the ladder was in the way. I trailed my tongue across his top lip and he seemed too groaned. I smiled. I put my hand between the stairs and onto his jaw. He pulled back and looked at me his eyes a little wide. I frowned.

“OK…I forgive you.”

He was breathless. He has never done that to me before. I almost felt hurt. Come on! He doesn’t want you. I told myself.

“Um…yeah I think we should head back and get ready for Candice and Tommy.”

He nodded and swallowed. He looked at me sucking on his bottom lip his chest rising and falling.

“Yeah,” he said it out of a low voice. I cleared my throat and went out from behind the slide steps and toward the gate. I turned and Zane was still standing there staring at where I had been.

“Zane?” I asked. He looked up his face blank then came toward me shoving his hands in his pockets. I walked out and Zane walked next to me as we went back to the house.   

When we got back, mom and dad were in separate ends of the house. I walked into the kitchen and smiled at mom. She just gave me a grim smile.

“Um, Candice and Tommy, some friends from school, are coming over to watch movies. Is that alright?”

She smiled tiredly and nodded.

“Yes, of course baby. Do you want me to take you guys something?” she looked at Zane behind me.

“No, its ok. Why don’t you go to bed.”

She sighed, then her eyes got big.

“You can sleep in my room.”

She smiled, relief showing in her face, then she gave me a tight hug.

“Thank you honey. I love you.”

I kissed her cheek.

“I love you too.”

She pulled back and sighed once again.

“Well, I’m going to get a drink and go to bed.” she said matter of factly.

I laughed.

“Don’t let the drink be too strong, ok?”

She looked at me as if I had just insulted her.

“Of course not!” She waved a hand at me, then winked. “Maybe just two or three of your father’s expensive Scotch.” I laughed and Zane laughed too.

“Go ahead,” I said and patted her back as she grabbed a big glass cup and headed to wine bar in dad’s office. I laughed at her as she disappeared.

I turned to Zane and he shook his head smiling. “Like I said, I like your mom.”

I rolled my eyes and slapped his shoulder.

“No chance in hell.”

He gasped and laughed.

“We’ll just have to see….but for now…” he looked down at me with an amused look. “I have to be your boyfriend….but you know I don’t think it’s that bad.” the words ‘your boyfriend’ rang in me and made my stomach feel alive again.

“Wow, was that a complement from Zane Walker?” I asked putting my hand to my ear. He laughed and rolled his eyes. He pushed my hand down and I laughed.

“Yeah, actually it was,” he said smiling like the stars. He pulled me toward him and my breath was caught again. “Olivia….” He trailed off and looked down pink coming to his cheeks a little. My heart was beating quickly now before he could say anymore.

“I think we should make the snacks now before it gets too late.” I pulled back and went over to the frig. I closed my eyes just for a moment then grabbed the milk and eggs. I turned around and Zane was biting the inside of his jaw then looked at me. He regained his face and put on a funny one.

“What are we going to make boss?”

I smirked.

“Cookies. Want to help?”

He gasped.

“I don’t—“

“Here!” I gave him the milk jug and the eggs and he grabbed them before they fell. He looked at me under his eye lashes and I grinned. “You’re so sweet now let’s go.”

We made chocolate chip cookies. It was fun. Zane and I stood side by side making them. Mixing, putting them on the sheets, putting them in the over. I put the last tray of cookies in and shut the over door. I sighed. Zane washed his hands. I grabbed a piece of left over cookie dough and ate it.

“Eww!” Zane cried looking at me in disgust.

“What?!” I asked laughing. He scrunched his face up shaking his head.

“What? Haven’t you ever tried it before?”

“That’s sick Olivia. There’s raw eggs in there!” he said, pointing to the empty egg carton. I laughed.

“Try it!” I grabbed a spoon and put a little on it.

“No!” he said laughing a little.

“Come on! It’s good just try it!” I backed him up against the counter laughing. “Ugh! Just try!”

“No!” he yelled. I pushed his shoulder so he hit the counter and he saw he was pinned.

“Just try,” I warned, smirking.

“I don’t want to try it,” he mumbled as I pushed the spoon to his lips.

“Yes, you do,” I said laughing. “Zane! Just open your mouth!” I yelled. He huffed and opened his mouth. I put the spoon in his mouth and he chewed it up his eyes closed.

“See, now, how was that?”

He opened his eyes and tasted it. He looked surprised.

“It’s actually not bad.”

I rolled my eyes and threw the spoon in the dish pan.

“See! What’d I tell you?”

He laughed, put his hand on my waist and pulled my hips to him.

“I would do it again because I liked being backed up to the counter like this.” He whispered low and seductively. A shivered coursed my body but I pulled back and gave a nervous laugh. “You’re so stubborn and perverted,” I said rolling my eyes taking a breath. He smiled at me. The door bell rang and I jumped slightly.

“Come on,” I told Zane as we made our way to the door.

I opened up the door and Candice and Tommy stood there smiling but shivering from the cold. “Hey guys, come in,” I said and let them in. I shut the door and shivered myself. The air was getting nasty.

“Ugh! I hate the winter!” Candice complained as she took off her layers of clothes. Tommy laughed and just took off his jacket.

“I have snacks and stuff but we still didn’t pick out a movie.” I said.

Candice laughed.

“It’s ok we brought all three Back to the Futures and chips!” she pulled out a bag of chips. I smiled.

“Awesome. I love those movies.”

Zane looked at me surprised.

“You like those movies?” he asked.

I nodded.

“Yeah, my dad and I would have weekend movie nights and we would watch them.”

Zane was looking at me as if I had risen from the dead.

“Well,” Candice said and took her seat on the couch. “I’m ready to watch movies and drink something, what about you guys?” 

Dad came out during the second Back to the Future movie and got into a discussion with Tommy about it, then Zane.

Candice and I laughed.

“It’s cold in here let me start the fire up for you guys,” he said, went over to the fire place in the corner and brought the flames to life.

Zane and I sat on the floor on a blanket and had pillows propped behind our heads. We held hands and we sat an inch apart but Candice was curled up to Tommy beside me.

She sighed and we all thanked my dad for making the fire.

“Night Oll,” Dad said kissing my head as he passed.

“Mm,” was all I said. Zane gripped my hand tighter as he went past and I looked at him frowning. His jaw was stiff but then as my dad left the room he loosened up.

“What’s wrong with you?” I whispered.

He looked at me and the fire dance in his blue eyes.

“Nothing.” He said with a shrug.

I frowned.

He was wearing a dark green long sleeve t shirt and it was ridden up a little on his side exposing a little black and blue mark. I looked at it then up at him. He looked down as well then covered it up quickly. He wouldn’t look me in the eyes.

“Zane?” I whispered.

He didn’t respond. What was going on? Why did he have bruises everywhere? I didn’t want to argue with him now. I sat back then laid my head on his shoulder. He flinched slightly but sighed and slouched more on the floor. I could smell his cologne and it smelled good. And I could smell the peppermint.

I looked down at our hands and frowned. Why did I like the way our hands fit together? Why did I like the way he kept his hand over mine in a protective way? Remember Olivia, it’s just for show. Don’t forget that.

Candice and Tommy went home late that night and had said we should do this again. Zane and I agreed.

Zane left not too long after that. He seemed distracted and left quickly.

I went to bed and sighed as I saw my mom in bed. I pulled the half empty bottle of Scotch from her hands and covered her up with my comforter. I slipped on a pair of my shorts and a tank top. I grabbed my pillow and a big blanket and went back down stairs to the couch.

I lied down and pulled the blanket over me staring at the fire. It was peaceful. It felt like Christmas Eve. I would sneak down stairs after my parents went to bed and wait for Santa. When I turned ten I stayed up all night, waiting. That year I found out that Santa wasn’t real.

Saturday morning I stood up and pulled down the curtains in the living room at 8:30, knowing I wasn’t going to get up for about 5 hours and crawled back on the couch. I stuff my face into my pillows and sighed. My eyes drifted shut and I started to dream.

……….I was in a big open field. Birds sang and bees buzzed around me. I smiled. I was wearing a white summer dress with no shoes. But with this lushes grass you didn’t need any. It was soft, like sheep’s fur. I smiled and closed my eyes. The air smelled like fresh cut grass.

“Olivia,” a voice called. I opened my eyes and looked across the field and there was a big tree. It sprouted from the ground with big roots and the thick branches escaping from the top. I frowned slightly. Did I dream that? Then I saw something in the tree, he jumped down and smiled at me. I recognized those blue eyes. I walked toward the tree and suddenly I was under it. Zane stood leaning on it with one of those heart melting smiles. “Olivia,” he said his words clear and full of passion. My heart was pounding in my chest.  

“Zane, what are you doing in here?” I asked.

He walked forward his lips amused.

“Me? You put me in here. You are dreaming of me.”

My mouth fell open a little.

“Wh-what?”

He smiled.

“I never dream of anyone but Grant in here! I don’t dream about you!”

He smirked.

“I’m not Grant am I?” he asked putting his hands up a little. I looked at him. He was wearing brown leather pants and a loose white shirt. He revealed some of his chest. I held myself so I was didn’t seem distracted.

“Come with me Olivia,” he whispered, taking my hand.

“What?” I asked again.

He took both of my hands and pulled me toward the tree. “What is this tree?” I asked, gazing up trying not to look at our hands together.

“It’s my tree. The one I had back home.” I frowned at him and he smiled. “It’s fun. I’ll help you.”

I nodded looking into those baby blues. He climbed up on a branch then picked me up and helped me get up. He still held my waist as he looked at me.

“Zane,” I said quietly. “Zane, I think I’m---“   

……………..

I jolted up right on the couch, my face sweating, my shirt sticking to my skin. I breathed out a breath and noticed sun light was shinning into the big den and I groaned. I looked at my clock: 9:30 AM. I only got another an hour of sleep?! Ugh! I stood up my feet, a little wobbly. I pushed back my hair and sighed. That was a very…..that dream was amazing! It felt so real! But no! You were about to say something you would have regretted to him! Even if it was in a dream. You can’t admit anything to yourself. I never had dreams about Zane before. That was the first time. I can’t believe I dreamt that! I was so dizzy right now. I shuffled out of the den and walked to the kitchen in a tank top and a pair of short shorts. I heard the crunch of cereal but as I came into the kitchen in the dinner room, were two people eating reading the news paper. I walked over my eyes a little foggy. My dad sat at the one end with a cup of coffee and a bowl of cereal with a paper stuck in his face. Then as I looked to the other end I looked down, then up. Old sneakers, faded jeans, tight white long sleeved shirt. I gulped. The newspaper covered his face.

“What are you doing here?” I almost yelled.

Dad and him both jumped and looked at me. Dad smiled.

“Morning Ollie,” he said, cheery. Zane looked at me and grinned.

“Just waiting for you to get up,” his eyes trailed their way from my bare legs to my shorts then my stomach that showed a little then up to my chest where I didn’t have a bra on, then up to my eyes. “But I see you’re a little….um….” he was a little pink in the cheeks and that’s when I realized.

“Oh!” I said and crossed my arms over my chest embarrassed. Dad just shrugged and started to read again. “I’m going to go get dressed.” I said and ran to the stairs. I heard Zane laughing shyly. I smiled to myself as I went into my room hearing the snore of my mom still sleeping. I grabbed a pair of jeans and a blue shirt then under garments and left shutting the door. I took a quick shower then dried my hair. I put on a little makeup, then got dressed. I walked out and almost ran into my mom. She smiled at me, her hair messy.

“Hey honey.”

I smiled.

“How’d you sleep?”

She grinned.

“Great! Like a baby.”

I laughed and kissed her cheek. She went into the bathroom as I went down stairs. Zane was still reading the paper but not really looking at it.

“Hey,” I said quietly coming back down. Zane looked up his eyes surprised but sweet. “So why are you here?” I asked as nicely as possible.

He shook his head with a smile. Dad cleared his throat and looked at me.

“Oh, I didn’t hear you.”

I rolled my eyes.

“You never do.”

He shrugged. “You look nice.” he said and I smiled a little at him.

“Thanks,” I looked at Zane.

“Um, do you want to hang out today?” he asked a little unsure. I frowned slightly.

“With Kendra and Grant?”

“No.”

“With Candice and Tommy?” he stood up laughing a little.

“No. Just you and me.” he paused and looked at my eyes. “Only if you want!” he said quickly. I smiled and bit at my lip.

“Sure.” I said, shrugging but seriously, I was more tickled than anything.

He smiled.

“Cool. I want to show you some really great places.”

I nodded.

“OK, hold on.” I looked over at dad.

“Dad can I go?” he sniffed and pulled down the paper from his face.

“Yeah, go ahead,” he said.

“Thanks!” I looked back at Zane. “One minute, let me go get my cell phone.”

He nodded and laughed as I ran up the stairs. Mom was coming out of the bathroom looking like crap. “Gosh mom.” I said surprised. She laughed.

“Sorry sweetie. Just a small hang over.”

I laughed.

“OK, well you can go back to sleep in my room, if you’d like.”

She nodded.

“I might. Where are you going?” she asked. I ran into my room as she came in, I slipped on my shoes and grabbed my cell phone.

“Zane and I are going out. Call me if you need me.”

She nodded and fell down onto my bed with a groan.

“Is your father still here?” she asked.

“Yep!” she groaned again. I laughed running down the stairs.

“Ready.” I said as Zane put on his jacket.

He smiled.

“Great.”