My interest peaks and I face him fully. “Then what do you want from me?”
“Be my pretend girlfriend.”
My jaw almost drops to the floor. “What?”
“You know, not a real girlfriend, just a pretence in front of everyone.”
“I know what a pretend girlfriend means. I’m asking why you want me to act like yours.”
“It’ll stop the bullying.” He grins. “Isn’t that what you want?”
I narrow my eyes. “What’s in it for you?”
“Why do you care? You get to spend your senior year in peace.”
“You seriously expect me to just give in without knowing what I’ll lose?”
He holds a hand to his heart. “I promise that you’ll lose nothing.”
“No. Tell me about your reasons.”
Being in the dark is a sure way to lose before even starting.
He remains silent, scowling at me, to intimidate me no doubt.
I meet him glare for glare. “If you don’t tell me, I’m not signing up to this.”
His shoulders turn rigid as he says in a monotone tone, “I’m teaching someone a lesson.”
“Who…?”
It hits me then.
Xander was beyond pissed off when Aiden held Kim the other week. He’s been unnecessarily aggressive with him during practic
e, too. And I noticed that they only stand together only when Ronan and Cole are with them.
“You’re doing this to spite Aiden?” I whisper-yell then inch closer to him when a classmate gives us the stink eye while passing by.
Or more like she gives me the stink eye. She’s one of Xander’s endless admirers.
Another reminder of what I’ll deal with if I agree to become his pretend girlfriend.
Xander raises an eyebrow. “You have a problem with that?”
“Not really, but…” I inch closer. “You’re overestimating Aiden’s temporary obsession with me. He doesn’t care about me.”
He cares about belittling me, dominating me, and having me bend at his will.
He only cares about breaking me.
“Why do you think no one asked you out these past two years?” Xander lifts an eyebrow.
“W-what?”
“Other girls have boyfriends, but you don’t. Ever wonder why?”
“Other girls aren’t bullied,” I grit out. “They aren’t called Teacher Sluts.”