My Fake Relationship

by V. R. Knight

  “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.

  Chapter 19

  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 w
hy 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.”

  Chapter 20

  We got into his car and turned the heat up but it blew freezing air out.

  “Sorry,” Zane said, as we drove.

  “It’s ok. I’m used to it.”

  He nodded. He turned the music up a little. “You can change it if you want,” he said casually.

  I smiled. I turned it to rock and left it low. I looked out the window as we passed the city. I frowned.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  He smiled at me. “It’s a surprise.”

  I gave him a questionable smile but nodded.

  We came into a small town. The houses were a little shabby but everything looked small, compared to the big city. “Where are we?” I asked. He looked out and in front of us was a little chapel then beside it was a small theater.

  “This is Fairfield.” I looked around.

  “Are we still in New York?” I asked.

  He laughed.

  “Yeah, we are. I used to live here.” I looked over at him stunned.

  “How long did we drive for?”

  He looked at the clock.

  “Two hours.”

  “Wow,” I said.

  “I want to take you to the Diner.” We pulled into a small diner that had an old sign outside saying “Lisa’s Diner” that flickered every once in a while. The place looked like a trailer. It was silver and pink. Zane got out and stretched. I got out too, looking around. There were about 5 cars plus ours in the lot and people walked out even in the cold.

  “This town is so small!” I said surprised. Zane laughed and came over to me.

  “It might be small but the hamburgers are the best!” We walked into the diner and people smiled and waved at us.

  “Zane!” an older lady in her 30s, behind the bar, skated on skates to us.

  “Bonnie, hey,” Zane said, with a smile.

  “Wow! You’re looking so grown up! I hardly recognized you! But you look so much like your mother.” She had bright red hair with red lipstick. She looked at me and grinned at Zane. “And who is this little girl?” she asked putting her hands on her hips. Zane blushed a little.

  “This is Olivia….my girlfriend.”

  “Well, hello Olivia!” she put out her hand and I shook it.

  “Nice to meet you,” I said kindly. She sighed.

  “I’m glad your back to visit us. Now, would you guys like something to eat?”

  Zane nodded.

  “Of course. Does Bob have those hamburgers nice and hot?”

  Bonnie grinned.

  “Well, yes he does. You guys can go take a seat over there at the booth and I’ll be over to get your order.” We nodded. Zane and I walked to the booth in the corner and sat down. Everything looked like it came out of the 60s. It was amazing. I sat across from Zane and looked around.

  “This is so cool!” I said excited.

  He laughed quietly.

  “Yeah, my mom and I would come here every week and get hamburgers and milk shakes.” He looked down. “I miss it.”

  I smiled at him.

  “When was the last time you were here?” I asked.

  “Um,” he said thinking looking up. “It’s been about a year maybe a little longer. I forget.” I nodded slowly. His hands were folded together on the table in front of him. He was looking down at them. I reached across and my fingers touched his hand softly. He looked up at me and I smiled. It was a kind of sweet and caring kind. The kind of smile that I would give to Grant when he was sad. But somehow this was more important. He moved his hand and clasped it around mine softly. We looked at each other and I rubbed my thumb over his fingers. Zane’s eyes were a blue that was so different and I liked it more than I should.

  “Ok, what can I get you dolls?”

  We both jumped and separated our hands. She didn’t see. Zane cleared his throat.

  “Um, two hamburgers and two chocolate shakes.”

  My mouth dropped a little and I glared at him. “OK coming up!” Bonnie left with a smile.

  “Oh honey, I just love it when you take control like that!” I said in an annoying Barbie voice. He smirked.

  “You know I can talk.”

  He laughed.

  “Yeah probably too much.”

  I gasped. He laughed again. “Seriously trust me when I tell you this is the best stuff!” I narrowed my eyes at him.

  “Fine,”

  “This is good!” I sipped my milkshake smiling. Zane laughed.

  “Told you so.”

  I shrugged and drank the rest of it. I sighed and sat back holding my stomach. “Ugh, I feel like I gained 20 pounds.” Zane laughed and sat back too placing his hand on his stomach.

  “Me too.”

  He burped and I laughed.

  “How was it?” Bonnie asked picking up our empty cups and plates.

  “Great!” I said.

  She smiled.

  “Well, great! I’m glad you both enjoyed it!” She left with our plates, skating back.

  “I would trip and kill myself if I was her,” I said watching her disappear behind the counter.

  Zane laughed.

  “She’s been working here for as long as I can remember. She’s used to it.”

  I smiled.

  “So is this all you brought me here for?” I asked looking at him. He grinned.

  “Nope. Come on.” He stood up and we gave our money to Bonnie.

  “You come back here again Zane and don’t let it be so long.”

  Zane smiled.

  “OK, good seeing you Bonnie.” He waved as we headed out the door.

  “Oh and you bring Ms. Olivia back too!”

  I laughed and Zane nodded. I kicked my feet at the dusty ground as I walked around to the car.

  “So where next Boss?” I asked.

  He laughed.

  “Well, we’ll have to see. I’m pretty sure we’ll be ok but….” I raised an eyebrow at him.

  “But wh
at?”

  He shrugged and grinned.

  Chapter 21

  We drove on the outskirts of town on the small roads. I watched closely and saw most of the leaves were off the trees. I shivered and Zane cranked the heat up. We slowed as we came around a corner. On the right side of the road was a light green house with a long room on the left side. “There it is.”

  I frowned.

  “What? It’s a house. We could have seen that anywhere.”

  He rolled his eyes.

  “It’s not the house, it’s that room on the end.”

  I looked down and saw windows surrounding it. “So? It’s a room.”

  He gasped.

  “Just wait.” He went back an alley down the road from the house and got out.

  “What are we doing?” I asked.

  He smiled.

  “Get out and I will show you.”

  I got out and covered myself up from the cold wind. “This way,” he said as we went through a field. “Dunk,” he whispered as he crouched a little lower.

  “What the hell are we doing?” I whispered in a yell.

  He laughed.

  “You’ll see.” We made it across the lawn and over to the green house’s yard. We hid behind a tree. Zane looked out at the lot but there were no cars there. He grinned. “Good, no one’s home.” “What?!” I asked. He grabbed my hand and ran across behind the long part of the house. A small window was creaked open with a little pebble. Zane let my hand go and put his fingers up through the window and then opened it.

  “Zane!” I yelled.

  “Shhh!” he yelled.

  “What are you doing?!” I whispered.

  He grinned at me.

  “We’re going for a swim.”

  My mouth fell and he laughed and opened up the window.

  “But this is illegal! Sneaking into people’s houses!”

  He laughed again and jumped in through the window. “Zane!” I yelled. I looked in and saw the nice deep dark blue pool. I raised an eyebrow. Zane stood at the bottom smiling like the foul he was. “Oh no!” I said shaking my head stepping back. Zane laughed.