Fake Fiancée

Chapter 23: Rumour Has It

A/N: Hope you guys enjoy seeing Lainie having little wars in her head lol! Please, please, please vote and comment! For me? :) xox

After realising I actually liked Henry, I didn’t think I could look him in the eye ever again. If he ever found out that I did like him, I knew he would shoot me down and ridicule me for falling for his ‘good looks.’ His cockiness still irritated the hell out of me, although I think I secretly liked flipping remarks back at him … wait, did I just really think that?

Yes you did, Lainie.

I groaned as the two different sides of my head argued with each other – one helplessly thinking about Henry and the other one telling me to shut these stupid feelings out. After all, it was just a crush right?

It was sad that I couldn’t pull my knees together on the lonely bench since I was in a dress. Instead, I hugged myself and gazed up at the stars twinkling the night sky. The bench I was sitting on was far out from the mansion so it was quite peaceful.

I didn’t know what would happen if I went back in there. Would I be all nervous to see and talk to Henry, or be heartbroken that he would never like me?

As I started to dwell on the possibilities, I heard a rustling sound come from behind me. My heart lurched as I whipped around. What if it was somebody dangerous?

It was.

I bit my lip nervously as Henry appeared from behind an oak tree which was behind the bench. He smiled sheepishly at me, which made me ask myself: how long had he been there? Had he been there watching me? Oh great, there goes the paranoid thoughts again ...

“Uh hey,” he said awkwardly, as he stepped up to the bench.

My eyes widened at the close proximity and I think my heart was beating overdrive. This was not good at all. “H-hey …”

Henry took a seat next to me and it kind of frightened me. I shuffled a bit closer to the edge, hoping he wouldn’t notice. “What are you doing out here?” He asked, frowning. “Natasha said you ran away. Everyone was worried …”

If I didn’t know better, I think he was upset that I was out here by myself. I then nearly smacked myself for thinking that. He was definitely not worried or upset I was out here by myself. Why would he be?

“Uh … I-I didn’t feel so well,” I stammered. I was making a fool of myself and I bet he knew something was up with me.

“Do you feel sick?” He asked. I shook my head but he seemed to think I was sick. “Well, let’s get you back.”

Before I could protest, Henry pulled me up from the bench. The short walk back to the mansion seemed to take forever. I think it had to do with the fact that Henry was with me though. I didn’t want him to want to confront him about Veronica, so our walk was quiet. It felt a bit weird since I knew I liked him but at the same time, it felt kind of peaceful. As he led me up the front lawn, Natasha spotted me and ran over. I was surprised she didn’t fall because of her killer stilettos.

“Lainie! Where did you go?!” She asked frantically, a few worry lines creased into her normally smooth forehead. “You just ran out! We were all so worried! Are you ok?!”

I nodded and gave her a strained smile. “I’m fine. I just needed some air,” I lied. Well, it wasn’t all a lie – I did need some air.

After a second of eyeing me suspiciously, she bought it. Clara, Aiden and Keith then appeared, and Keith instantly pulled me into a bear hug. That surprised me.

“Where’d you go?” He asked.

Before I could answer, Henry interrupted and put an arm around my shoulders. “I think she’s sick, so I’m going to take her home.”