Complicated Freak ✓ h.s

• 16 •

"So Harry, how's training?" Ethan broke the silence we four sat in. He had joined us at our table a few minutes after Harry sat down. "It's good" Harry muttered, I tightened my arms around my own body with hope that it will make me smaller. I just wish the ground beneath me would crack open and swallow me whole "Did you reply to Mr Graham?" Harry nudged my side and I furrowed my brows at him "The one from the art school" he elaborated and I tilted my chin in realization "Oh, no I didn't"

"Who's Mr Graham?" Carter quipped and I then explained "He's a friend of my Dad's, he offered me a place at his art school" Carter's eyes widened to the size of saucers "Graham? As in Barnes and Graham's school of artistry" I nodded gravely "Oh my god! Ads, that's amazing. If I was you I'd have said yes in a heartbeat but I know you've set your mind on medicine" I nodded again then getting an idea "What if you go in my place? That's your dream school anyway," I smiled at being able to help her get into an art school.

"No, I couldn't make you do that" Carter refused and I shook my head "Please, let me do this. It can be an early birthday present from me" I said hopeful. "Okay fine, but in return you've got to let me plan a huge party for your 21st, deal?" I groaned "You know I don't like parties" she then countered "You know I don't like favors" I narrowed my eyes at her "Touché" Carter chuckled. Ethan fake cried "Where can I find me a best friend like that?" Carter nudged his side and I laughed, forgetting that Harry was beside me.

"Can I talk to you, in private?" Harry whispered in my ear, the feather touch of his breath that fanned my neck, caught me off guard. I nodded before standing up from my seat, Harry followed and I blinked my eyes at Carter who passed me a questioning look. "What did you want to talk about?" I folded my arms once we walked out the cafeteria. "Well, I have this proposition" Harry started, taking in a deep breath "Which is?" I urged him to continue "For us to date," He stated and my jaw fell through the floor but he stopped me from saying anything further by covering my mouth with his hand. "Fake, of course" I simmered down and he removed his hand.

"Why?" I asked curiously, "So that these rumors die" he shrugged and that's when I noticed how the sleeves of his football jersey hugged his muscular arms. Oh gosh, Addy. Stop gawking at him again. I shook my head to get rid of my inhumane thoughts, "Won't that just add more fuel to that fire?" Harry groaned "For once, don't reply to me with a question. They all think we're a couple. If we give them what they want, they will realize that there's really not much to it. So it carries on for a month until we stage this horrendous break up in front of the school and since the media already knows about my supposed relationship with you, I'll send them an anonymous message about our break up, sound good?" Harry said in one breath

"No, not good!" I yelled, frustrated at the thought of being used. "I'm not some puppet, Harry. This is not a cliché movie where the bad boy and good girl start fake dating to end some stupid rumor but only to fall in love with each other" I growled at him and he took a step near "But you're not a good girl, Adeline" Harry's voice lowered an octave, sounding deeper than normal "Plus, who said anything about falling in love. Think of it as a friends with benefits thing, the only difference here is that we're not friends and we don't want the benefits except for that rumor being shut down, of course" I pursed my lips at his logic but sighed in response.

"You're a sneaky little shit, aren't you, Styles? You really do love playing games." I accused and he smirked down at me "Oh, sweetheart, we've only just begun. For now, to start of this whole relationship, you're going to use my jacket for the entire week until the game is over this Friday" I widened my eyes, watching Harry as he shrugged off the football jersey then placed it around my shoulders. "This marks you as mine and don't ever take it off" I internally groaned at the most cliché gesture ever. Harry walked away thereafter, I followed his muscular back before taking the jacket off my shoulders and then hung it over my arm.

Casually I made my way through the empty hallway, back into the cafeteria to where Carter and Ethan sat, snogging like there is no tomorrow. "What is that?" Carter questioned when I cleared my throat, separating the two of them "Is that?" Ethan gasped before I could even open my mouth to answer Carter "Aw, did he finally ask you out?" Carter cooed but I know deep down she's raging with anger "Sort of" she frowned "What do you mean?" I shrugged "Well it wasn't the romantic kind of way but yeah he did, in his own Harry Styles kind of way" I sank into my seat, leaving the jacket over my bag.

"Well that's great then" Carter rolled her eyes at Ethan before they each shared a worried look, thinking that I wasn't paying attention to them. "I think it is, I hope it will be" a dreadful sigh left my lips as I mumbled the last part. I began to wonder what it would be like to fake date Harry. Would it be fun? Would I want to grab his perfectly good neck and bash his head full of luscious locks against the concrete wall?

Okay I'm stopping there before I update again tomorrow. How do you like the plot so far? Do you think it's developing well?

All the love x