My Fake Boyfriend

Carrots and Couples: Part ll

I smiled at Danny and told him to pick a movie to watch before making my way into the kitchen. Upon reaching there, I saw Justin leaning on the cabinet and made my way over to him.

"What's up?" I said, tapping his arm gently to which he shrugged and picked up a packet of microwavable popcorn.

"Just getting the snacks." He murmured as he opened the packet. I laughed slightly before turning him fully to look at me.

"I didn't mean 'what are you doing?'. I meant it as in how are you feeling?" I asked quietly in concern. I wasn't exactly fond of seeing Justin sad and, especially, angry. Justin turned to look at me and smiled slightly before turning back to the microwave.

"I'm fine, Alexis. I just wasn't prepared for this, you know?" He explained, opening up to me and I smiled gratefully. It had always been the case wherein Justin had closed off to me when I tried to talk to him or attempted to know about his life, but now it was different. He was telling me stuff now and I knew I could share everything with him.

I nodded my head before putting my hair behind my ears.

"I totally understand. You should have been told beforehand, but what's done is done. There's nothing much left to it." I explained and he nodded in understanding before pulling the popcorn out of the microwave and pouring into a big bowl.

I inhaled the buttery smell before turning cautiously towards Justin . I was curious about something yet I didn't know how Justin would respond when I asked him. Nevertheless, I tried my luck and picked up my courage. With a cough, Justin turned his eyes to me and I knew he was urging me to speak what was on my mind. I nervously played with my hair, before realising that over thinking it would just make it more complicated and opened my mouth to speak.

"Why are you so mad at Avalon? It seems as though it's beyond what happened with her and Aaron." I said, speaking my mind and immediately looked down as to not feel the heat of his glare.

Instead of glaring, however, I heard a slight laugh and looked up to see Justin with a smile on his face, pulling out cans of soda from the fridge. He shook his head and moved closer to me.

"She was my best friend before I became close to the guys. We knew each other since birth because our families were really close." He explained looking down at the can in thought. His eyes were sad now and I moved closer to comfort him with words but he spoke before I could.

"It's my fault, you know?" He said to me, putting the can on the kitchen cabinet. He looked guilty and I didn't like seeing him like this.

I shook my head slightly before turning to him.
"Don't blame yourself for this, Justin. Things like this happen and you shouldn't let it worry you.It wasn't your fault." I said in the best assuring tone I could muster,but it didn't seem good enough because the guilty look was still on his face.

He shook his head yet again.
"It is, Alexis. I'm the one that got the two to meet. I'm the one that persuaded them both to go out. If Aaron's broken heart is anyone's fault, it's mine." He said, picking up the bowl and cans and making his way out the kitchen, but I caught his arm before he could.

He looked at me curiously as I picked the popcorn and soda out of his hands and placed it back on the cabinet before turning back to him with the sternest face I could conjure.
"You made them meet. So what ? You made them go out. So what? Did you ask Avalon to cheat on Aaron? You didn't, Justin and it's because we can't control these things. Shit happens and we have to face it. Playing the blame game doesn't help; it just makes the situation take an unneeded tangent. Okay, let's for a second say it is your fault. So what? We're humans. We make mistakes and, as much as you look like an angel, you're human too. We're biologically predisposed to fuck up." I said and he laughed at my words. I couldn't help the smile that made its way to my face as I heard his laughter. It was beautiful. He was beautiful.

The way he placed all the blame on himself when it was all Avalon made me realise how tormented he must have been feeling the whole time; like it was all his fault.

His laughter ended shortly and he turned to me, his grey eyes glimmering.
"You're a good friend, Alexis. I'm glad you came into our lives." He said in a genuine tone.

So genuine that I couldn't stop the big smile that came on my face as I looked up at him. Abruptly, I pulled him into a hug and he groaned in surprise, making me snicker. At first, he seemed rigid and unsettled, but then he gradually relaxed, hugging back and I smiled at his attempt at affection.

Too engrossed in the hug, I didn't notice the kitchen door opening until a cough resonated through the room. We both moved back from the hug to see Aaron and Avalon stood and the door- Avalon looking at the ground and Aaron looking straight at us.

The look on his face, however, I could not decipher. His eyes diverted from staring at me to staring at Justin and I stood uncomfortably for what seemed like centuries.

At long last, Aaron opened his mouth to speak.
"What's going on here? You've been in here for quite a while." He said in an unemotional tone. My eyebrows furrowed; he was acting differently.

Probably, because he's invested all his emotion towards Avalon that he doesn't have enough for the rest of us.

I shook my head and turned to Justin with a smile; he smiled back before turning to Aaron.
"Nothing. Let's get going, shall we?" He said, gesturing towards the door behind them.

Aaron didn't make any movements for a second. All he did was stare at me. I squirmed under his stare before looking down at my shoes.

What was up with him?

He shook his head after a while before sighing.
"Lexi, you want to go inside?" He asked, a small smile on his face and I had to keep from melting at the nickname.

I wish she didn't have one.

I was about to nod, but realised it would mean leaving Justin alone with Avalon and I don't think he's ready for that yet. I shook my head before pointing to the cabinet.
"I would, but I need to bring the snacks in. You guys get going." I suggested, smiling at Aaron.

He didn't smile back, however, and a small frown formed on his face.
"You sure, you'll be able to carry all that?" He said, pointing towards the snacks and he even had the audacity to look at my hands as I tried picking it up, snickering at their size.

"I told you, you're small." He mused, raising an eyebrow. He folded his arms condescendingly and I glared at him pointedly.

I was about to retort with a sarcastic comment, but was interrupted by a voice.

A female's voice.

"I could help her. Why don't you guys get settled in the living room?" She offered, her voice as delicate as a flower.

She turned and smiled at me before walking over to me. Aaron looked over at us both before smiling.

"Yeah, I guess that's fine. Come on, Justin." He said, nudging his arm.

Justin turned to look at me, a curious look on his face. I knew from his expression that he was questioning how I felt about the situation and if I genuinely was fine. I nodded at him with a smile before making 'shooing' motions at them both.
"Leave then. Me and Avalon have this whole thing handled." I reassured them, turning to smile at Avalon to which she smiled back.

And it looked genuine.

With this, Aaron laughed and made his way to the door, waiting . Justin gave me one last look before speaking.
"I'll save you a seat beside me, yeah?" He muttered and I nodded happily at his words. Justin smiled and made his way over to Aaron who looked at us again with that expression I couldn't decipher and then- at long last- they both were gone.

I sighed heavily before turning towards the cabinet.
"Let's get this inside, shall we?" I said, picking half of it up.

I was about to thank her for her help, but was interrupted before I could speak.

"So, you've stolen Aaron and Justin from me?"

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S. A. A