Y/N got out of her room looking all fresh and clean. She got dressed into her cosy sweater and a pair of joggers. Her wet hair was being dried by the towel in her hands.
She was met by a whiff of pancakes that made her stomach rumble. She headed to the kitchen and saw Thomas putting the last disk of pancake on a plate. The girl smiled at the gesture. But at the same time, she felt a little embarrassed for how little her hospitality was today. "You know, you really didn't have to do that."
Thomas jumped a little when he heard her spoke up. He was too focused on making the both of them some food, he didn't notice her standing there. "I don't have to. But I want to." He remarked as he late his plate on the counter, "Besides, I'm hungry." He added as he sifted some powdered sugar on top of the flapjacks.
"You could've at least told me before I went to take a shower." Y/N interfered.
"Oh, come on. You've done this before with me and Ava. Let me do it for you this time." He insisted, pulling out a stool that was tucked in the counter, "Sit."
"But—"
"Y/N, you're not a maid. You don't have to do everything for anyone. Now sit down." Thomas suddenly cut her off as if it was an order.
Y/N reluctantly obliged. It did looked tasty after all. So she drizzled some syrup all over the food, picked up fork, and took a bite. She loved how fluffy and soft it was as soon as she ate it. She was also taken by surprise when she suddenly tasted the chocolate chips inside. "I never knew you could cook."
"I try to from time to time." Thomas shrugged as he started eating his own plate of food. As he did so, he couldn't stop questioning about the fact that he hasn't met her parents. Let alone, see them. "So, where are your parents?" He asked, swallowing the food down as he drank some water.
Y/N suddenly faltered. She was hoping he'd never ask about them. Unfortunately, he did. "At work." She answered shortly as she stabbed the fork on the piece of pancake.
"What do they do?" She thought that was his only one question. But Y/N thought wrong.
"My Dad's a lawyer." The girl said without a drop of emotion. Since he had that kind of career, and his boss always sue people and various companies, he was always busy. Heck, she barely even remembered what his face looked like. "He's actually coming home late."
"And your Mum?"
"She's a nurse in New Zealand for 4 years and counting." Y/N answered.
Thomas hummed, "So you're practically living by yourself?" His remark was meant to be half a joke.
"Sadly, yes." The girl sighed, "But what can I do? My parents work hard to get me a good education." She added in a mumble. The truth is, she was sick of being alone at her home. At first it was fun, but now she'd been falling into a pit of boredom.
Thomas felt bad for the girl. He never knew she lived a life filled with solitude. So he decided to stay for dinner.
"So, what else could you cook?" Y/N changed the topic when she realized she had zoned herself out. The both of them were finished eating. She insisted on washing the dishes.
"I've been practicing with pasta." Thomas replied while turning to her as she walked towards the sink. "In fact, I want to cook some for dinner."
As much as she would love him to stay for dinner, she just couldn't accept it. "Now, now, you don't have to stay. Your parents might get worried." She interfered, loading up the sponge with soap.
"Already texted them a while ago that I'll be home late." Thomas reassured. He didn't know why he was doing this, but somehow, he wanted to be around her more.
Maybe I like... No.. that cannot happen. He thought, I shouldn't feel these things. She's just a friend.
Of course, Y/N couldn't refuse him now. He made a little effort to give her some company. Even though he didn't really need to. "Fine, you could stay." She sighed dismissively.
"I never said I would leave when you tell me to."
All Y/N could do was roll her eyes at him.
****
After they finished their homework, they started playing Mario Kart as they played loud music that it echoed through the whole house and other more random things such as dancing and jamming over Y/N's instruments.
Overall, the both of them had a great time. Come to think of it, Y/N never knew Thomas was just as silly as she is whenever she's alone. It amused her.
And she never knew their last rule of having a fake relationship was easier said then done... What?
No, she shouldn't feel those kind of things. It was part of the deal, Y/N thought. Besides, it had only been two days (Yes, the starting point of their whole thing and the bullying are two separate days).
At this point, they were having dinner. She gladly enjoyed the pesto pasta Thomas cooked that comfortable silence surrounded them.
Thomas watched her amusingly as she didn't shy away from devouring it. "I reckon you like it." He said as he ate some as well.
"Like it? I could marry this pasta itself." Y/N replied, making him laugh.
Although she had a wonderful time, she couldn't help but wonder why he was doing all of this. Sure, he was a friend of hers. But he doesn't do these things with Jack or Dylan.
She wanted to ask him why. But she figured things would go downhill if she did.
Thomas, on the other hand, was wondering why Y/N was still hanging out with Amber and Dianne. He never knew why, but he couldn't help but worry about her.
"Why do you still hang out with those two?" Thomas asked all of a sudden. She knew exactly who he was referring to.
The girl sighed, "I don't." She replied, "I get myself away from them, to be honest. But those two hags just couldn't stop pestering me." Which was true. Everyday, she would just mind her own business then all of a sudden they go all 'friendly' and whatnot.
The next 2 hours, they sat on the couch in front of the television, watching a movie before Thomas could go home. It was his idea and Y/N went on with it.
Halfway through the film, the girl's eyes were starting to get droopy. She tried her best to stay awake, although she didn't even realize she had fallen asleep already.
Thomas realized that after he turned to look at her. He also found out it was getting late. It was time for him to go home. It was a school night after all.
So he stood up, had Y/N lie down properly on the couch and laid a blanket on her sleeping state and turned off the television afterwards. For a moment, he stood there, looking at her with eyes that were filled with softness.
What are you doing to me? He questioned internally. Why was he feeling this now? When there's a deal that they wouldn't catch feelings for each other.
He didn't notice Y/N's father had arrived until he cleared his throat. "Good evening, sir." Thomas greeted nervously, "You must be Mr. L/N. I-I'm Thomas." He held his hand up for the older man to shake.
Though Y/N's father only looked at it before darting his eyes back to him with a glare, "Did I ask?" His stern voice intimidated the boy even more.
The blonde boy didn't have any idea on what his next move would be so he just retracted his hand back to his side. He timidly rubbed the back of his neck, not knowing what to say, "S-Sorry, I should—"
"I'm just kidding, lad!" The man's face suddenly changed into a playful look as he started laughing quietly. Thomas was confused but he laughed along as he patted his shoulder. "I'm guessing you're a friend of my daughter's?"
Thomas nodded, "Yes, sir."
"Well, it was nice meeting you. Now, it's getting late, isn't it?"
"I was just about go home. Have a good night, Mr. L/N." The both of them greeted each other with a nod and a tight-lipped smile as Thomas grabbed his jacket and got himself out.
When he got himself outside the door, he took a deep breath of relief. He wasn't expecting her father to be home so soon. If he knew, he would've prepared himself for it.
Why are you even stressing yourself about this thing? He thought to himself as he paced around the neighbourhood until he was back home.
****
"You met my Dad and you didn't even tell me?" Y/N conflicted as soon as they headed towards the gym for a morning assembly to announce the motif of the Spring dance, the rules, the dress code, and so on.
"You were asleep. What was I supposed to do? Wake you up?" Thomas spat back dismissively.
"Uh, yes!" The girl was panicking over what happened between him and her father. When she woke up this morning, he wouldn't stop teasing her with the boy.
The blonde boy scoffed, "Yeah, like I wanted be bald in a painful way." He remarked. The last time he did wake her up, Y/N kept pulling his hair until he stopped bothering her. He didn't want to experience it again.
"At least tell me what happened while I was out cold." She pleaded.
"Nothing." Thomas shrugged, "He just wished me a good night before I went home. That's all."
Y/N sighed in relief. She actually didn't know what she was expecting. But it unsettled her when her dad told her he met Thomas last night. Thankfully, nothing big had happened.
The girl avoided anyone's gaze as she got to the gym even though her incident had been forgotten. Well, at least thee rest of them. Amber and Dianne still took pride of what they did to Y/N.
But their beamed smug faces faltered after seeing Thomas intertwine his fingers with hers and dragged her to take their seats beside Jack and Dylan. He watched them envy Y/N as he kissed the back of her hand in reassurance.
Although Y/N knew he only did it to get them to leave them be, it flattered her insides. Stop! Y/N internally lectured herself.
Little did she know Thomas actually meant it.
Soon, the principal have arrived with a mic in his hand. "Good morning to you all!" He greeted with the echo of the microphone, "Now I would like to have the student parliament up to the stage to announce the details of this year's school dance."
From then on, Y/N stopped listening as soon as they started talking about the dress codes such things. She knew they'd be there for a long time seeing as their current student council were very detailed to what they were saying until they get to the theme. Which she didn't mind. It just mean she has time to stare off into space.
She usually didn't care about it. Considering the fact that she actually never attends those things, why would she have the audacity to care?
Y/N wouldn't have cared about this one as well. But since it was part of the agreement her and Thomas had, she had no other choice. She was stuck there.
Until then, she tried biting off a hang nail that she'd been struggling to pull out to distract herself from the whole thing. Though she still couldn't believe she had to attend this ridiculous school dance.
The student parliament eventually finished their whole speech with the given theme of the dance that was inspired by the movie Grease.
So it was all poodle skirts and leather jackets. I'll just raid my mum's closet. Y/N thought. Then again, she thought of how would things go. I mean, would it be that bad?
****
Y/N finally got her answer to her question last week. And yes, it was that bad. At least for her. Thomas looked like he was used to it.
She never knew the school had a lot of students. They were scattered all over the place. One move and she'd be stepping on someone's foot.
She was thankful her clothes were comfortable. If they weren't, she didn't know what do anymore. At this point, Thomas was trying to persuade her to dance with him.
Eventually, she reluctantly obliged and let him drag her to the dance floor. But she just stood there in a stiff position, uncomfortable of her surroundings.
"What's wrong?" Thomas asked, noticing how she was only standing very still in the middle of a dance floor.
"I don't dance." Y/N said to him for a hundredth time.
The boy scoffed, "What do you mean? I've seen you beat the high score in Just Dance." He recalled.
"Well, we were alone that time!" Y/N retorted, "What makes you think I'd dance in front of these people?"
"Y/N, look at the others." Thomas pointed at the people who had their own dance moves, "They're too busy to care and judge you. C'mon! Let loose a little. At least just for tonight!" He persisted, twirling her and swaying her with him to the beat.
After he tried persuading her a little more, the both of them were dancing to the beat. The girl laughed when Thomas failed his attempt on doing the moon walk. For once, she didn't care about the people around her. She never knew why, but whenever he's around her, she felt comfortable being herself.
Soon, the music became slow. Everyone had their dates slow dance with them. "May I have this dance, M'lady?" Thomas held out his hand, waiting for hers to hold it.
Y/N smiled at his silliness while she played along, "Why, yes you may, Monsieur." She replied in a ridiculously posh accent as he took his hand.
With that, Thomas gingerly guided her hand on his shoulder and place his on her waist. The girl tensed at the sudden contact, but she calmed herself after getting comfortable with his warmth.
Their other hands held together before they both swayed to the rhythm. "So, you having a good time tonight?" Thomas asked.
"Eh, debatable." Y/N chuckled as Thomas twirled her again to have her back in his hold. Only this time, both her hands were on his shoulder, "I just wish I couldn't feel Dianne's eyes shooting daggers at me from behind." Once again, her self-esteem decreased. Her head hung low out of insecurity.
"Hey," Thomas lifted her chin up to have her look at his reassuring eyes, "just forget about them tonight. I just want you to enjoy the rest of the night before the song's over." He consoled. But it looked like it wasn't working, "Just focus on me."
Y/N's stomach suddenly churned as she heard his soft tone. Boy, it tempted her to gaze onto his chocolate brown eyes once more.
Somehow, the time went as slow as the song they were dancing to. It felt like they were the only ones that were dancing in the room. As cliché as it sounded, Y/N had always felt that way whenever they were together.
The blonde boy's eyes suddenly grazed down to her lips. Her lips that looked so soft and chapped at the same time were tempting to have his own press onto it.
Both of their hearts were pounding for each other, yet they didn't know if they feel something or each other. "Thomas.." The girl breathed as their lips were an inch away.
Though, it overwhelmed her. She shouldn't be feeling this way. Their relationship was just for show. She couldn't just fall for somebody who didn't feel the same.
Before the both of their lips touched, Y/N backed away from him. Thomas was confused and worried that he did something wrong. "I'm sorry." The girl whispered, "I.. I can't do this."
The boy didn't get to respond after she ran out of the gym without another word from her.
****
Y/N avoided him the next day. Whenever she saw him through the halls, she'd go to a different direction before he could even speak to her.
Thomas thought she'd forget about what happened last night. But it turns out, it scarred her for life. And he blames himself for it.
If he had controlled his feelings for her, she wouldn't be avoiding him the whole day.
At this point, Y/N was grabbing her stuff from her locker as she was ready to go home. When she closed it, Thomas' face appeared in front of her face, "Hey." He greeted.
But all he received from her was an aloof. She avoided his gaze as she walked towards the exit of the school. Unfortunately, Thomas didn't let her go.
So he gripped her arm to stop her, "Why are you not talking to me? Did I do something?"
"N-No, I just.." Y/N wondered how was she going blurt it out on him, "I don't want to do this anymore."
"What do you mean?"
"This!" Y/N flailed her arms between them, "This whole fake relationship thing! I can't do this anymore!" She couldn't do it anymore without falling for him.
"Why not?" Thomas argued.
"Because it's getting real!" Y/N blurted out.
"What's getting real?"
"That I'm falling for you!" Thomas blinked as he was taken aback by her words, "And I don't want to do it anymore because I know it'd just hurt me knowing you don't feel the same."
"What makes you think I don't love you back?" Thomas suddenly chimed, "That I only did what I did last night for show?"
Y/N didn't know what else to say. She was left speechless as her tears fell down from her eyes. "You know what, you're right." Thomas said, "The deal is off." She glanced up at him at his sudden remark. "No more rules, no more pretending." She didn't know he would actually oblige. Well, that's what you wanted, isn't it? She scolded to herself.
Though, Thomas wasn't finish, "Let's be together. For real this time." Y/N was stunned to hear his words. Once again, her heartbeat quickened as she smiled faintly at him.
With that, Thomas pulled her by the waist and pressed his lips onto hers.
The End.
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I'm gonna say it..
This is the most cliché ending I've ever written.. Sorry if it's crap. I still don't understand why it sounded better in my mind, but when I write it down, I don't even know what just happened.😂
I apologize if it took me a while to publish the last part. Lemme just tell ya, multitasking ain't my thing.
And I'm starting to get bored of this pandemic. So feel free to ask some questions! I'll answer them unless they're too personal.
Have a nice day/night!
-BloodyInspiredTri 🖤