Chapter 19: Playing pretend

"Alex!"We all gasped.

"What? what's the fun in the game without some spice?"He shrugged.

"Fine then"Matt said and began to pull off his clothes. As he was about pulling off his boxers,i immediately shut my eyes.

"Damn you're huge"I heard Zoey mutter but i didn't dare open my eyes till after fifteen seconds and he was now fully clothed.

"Your turn"Alex handed the bottle to Matt who gladly took it and spun it. The bottle landed on Justin.

"Truth or dare?"Matt asked.

"Truth"Justin answered.

"Do you like my cousin Jane?"He asked.

"Yeah"Justin simply said and i could see Jane's cheek flushing red.

"Okay....your turn"Matt handed the bottle to Justin who spun it. The bottle landed on Zoey.

"So Zoey....truth or Dare?"He asked, smiling.

"Dare"She simply said.

"I dare you to kiss Alex"He said and everyone's eyes widened. I suddenly no longer like this guy. How dare he.

"Please change the dare, I can't do it"Zoey told him.

"No...you have to...right Alex?"He turned to Alex who sat there quietly gaping.

He was only trying to get back at Alex,i could tell. But what he didn't know is that none of this would affect Alex. How dumb.

'But it will affect you' my subconscious mind said, making me frown.

Why would it affect me?,I don't care who Alex kisses.

"Um..yeah..."Alex said unsurely.

"This is insane,i can't do this!"Zoey protested.

"You have to,now hurry up" Matt said, earning a death glare from me and Zoey. Alex seemed to be enjoying this.

"Hurry up Zoey"Alex smirked and i scowled.

He can kiss whoever he wants to,why would i care. Hmph.

I folded my arms as i watched Zoey stand up from her position.

"Sorry Liv"She whispered as she went to where Alex was sitting.

Why's she apologizing to me? I'm not Alex's girlfriend. I don't care.

"Go on Zoe"Matt said and she shot him a nasty glare before going on her kneels before Alex. She pressed her lips against his and i could feel my hands clench as Alex pulled her closer, deepening the kiss.

Asshole.

"Let go of me moron!"Zoey squeaked as she pushed him away from her.

"Um....that was some kiss, right Liv?"Matt asked.

Seriously I'll punch this dude on his balls if he doesn't keep his damn mouth shut.

Why did Jane even bring him here by the way?

I gritted my teeth and simpered.

"Yeah"I said rudely.

"My turn"Zoey said and grabbed the bottle from him. She spun it and it landed on me. She gave me a sly smirk which i couldn't comprehend.

"Liv,truth or dare?"She smirked.

"Dare?"It came out as a question.

"Good...."

"Sorry i mean truth"I told her.

"You can't change your answer"Justin said and i glared at him.

"I dare you to make out with any boy of your choice"She said.

"What?"I exclaimed.

"You heard me right"She smirked and i tilted my head to look at Alex who's eyes had turned dark.

I might as well use this to my advantage and have some fun.

"Fine"I paused. "I'll go with....Cade"I smirked and stood up. I scampered to where Cade sat and knelt down in front of him. I could see Alex clenching his fists from the corner of my eyes. I chuckled gladly as i wrapped my arms around Cade's neck and smashed my lips against his.

The kiss started as a sweet touch of our lips before Cade deepened it. His hands encircled my waists as he shoved his tongue down into my mouth. His hands were wrapped around me tightly as he pulled me closer to him.

His hands went under my sweatshirt and i suddenly felt uncomfortable as his fingers trailed up my back.

He was about to pull my sweatshirt up but then i was yanked away from him roughly and i looked back at Alex who was furiously glaring at Cade.

Before i knew what was happening,Alex was on top of Cade, throwing several punches at him.

We all gasped in surprise as Alex kept throwing punches at Cade.

"Please someone should stop him!"I squeaked.

They were now punching each other. Cade was now fighting Alex with blood coming out of his nose and he had a small cut by his lip. His face was already swollen as they kept fighting each other.

"Justin do something!"I panicked.

"And risk getting beaten up my Alex and ruining my beautiful face?no way,this is fun,they had it coming anyway,let them fight it out" Justin said and i shot him a death glare.

Alex was back on top of Cade and he kept throwing punches at Cade who was helplessly now trying to survive.

If the situation wasn't so intense I'd have been proud of Alex. Damn,the boy really knows how to throw punches.

"Now is not the time to admire Alex"My subconscious mind told me and i began to panic.

If Alex isn't pulled away from Cade,he might murder him.

Why do i have a feeling that this isn't just about Cade kissing me.

No one was willing to do anything. Zoey stood there screaming, Jane was just yelling for them to stop fighting, Matt stood there like a frozen yogurt.

I really don't like that dude.

Justin on the other hand was just sitting down and watching them.

Why do i have to ve surrounded by fools?If something isn't done soon, Alex might turn to a murderer with the way he was busy punching Cade.

The look on Alex's face was something I'd never seen before. He hand anger and hatred in his eyes.

The type of anger and hatred that was burning inside him was ten times bigger than the one he use to have for me back when we hated each other.

I had to do something. I had to act fast.

With shaking hands,i immediately pulled Alex away from Cade with all the strength I could muster but he pushed me away and pounced back on top of Cade who was already half dead.

"Stop it Alex!"I yelled angrily and pulled him away from Cade once again with my hands landing right on his cheek. That seemed to calm him down as he stood there staring at me in shock.

I bent down immediately and helped Cade up. He was bleeding profusely all over with his hand on his stomach.

"Don't worry about it Liv,i deserve it"Cade said.

"Are you insane!this is all my fault,if i hadn't gone and kissed you,this wouldn't have happened"I said.

"No Liv, it's my fault, I'm sorry....i should go" He said.

How is he still defending Alex even at this condition?

"Wait, let me help you dress the wounds"I offered.

"No, don't worry, I'll help myself...please"He gave me pleading eyes and i beamed sympathetically at him.

"Yeah get lost,if i see you here ever again, I'll send you straight into Coma" Alex yelled.

"Liv... I'll be on my way"He said.

"Me too"Zoey stood up as she took Cade's hand. Why weren't they saying anything to Alex?

"I'll go with Zoey"Jane said and Matt stood up with her. They waved at me and then took their belongings before leaving.

"That's my cue...see you tomorrow"Justin said and i glared at him, remembering how he didn't even bulge during the fight.

"Bye"Justin said and left, slamming the door behind. I turned around and left the living room walking towards the stairs.

"Liv"Alex called after me as we approached me. I kept walking, ignoring him as i made it to the stairs.

I could hear him following behind me but i didn't bulge as i headed towards my bedroom.

Just as i was few metres away from my bedroom, he pulled me back to face him.

"Please Liv,hear me out,talk to me"He pleaded.

"I don't wanna speak to you"I pushed him away from me but he grabbed my hand again.

"Please Liv, I'm sorry, I'm not sorry for beating him up but I'm sorry i upset you"He said.

"You're sick Alex"I pushed him away from me as i made my way towards my room. Just as i was about to pull my door open. Alex yanks me back and pins me to the wall,with his hands on both side of my shoulder.

"Why are you acting like I'm the Villain here,you were the one that kissed him and not me!"He yelled.

"Oh but you also kissed Zoey and i didn't complain so why do you have a problem with whom i kiss!"I yelled back.

"He's not a good guy Liv, he's an asshole and a jerk!"He spat.

"I think that's the correct description of what you are, he's a nice guy unlike you, you're a jerk and a punk!"I yelled.

"Why can't you understand what I'm trying to say to you,he isn't a good person Liv, you shouldn't have kissed him!"He yelled, wiping away blood from his broken nose.

If i wasn't so mad at him I'd have helped him clean up his wounds. He had a slight cut on his lips and a broken nose.

I was glad Cade didn't completely damage his beautiful face.

I know I'm supposed to be wishing Cade damaged his face so that he'd never brag about it again but i was happy for some unknown reason even though i knew that Alex deserves way worse than what he got.

"Why does it concern you?why are you affected by who i kiss or whoever i make out with!"I yelled,my anger bouncing back.

"Because he's not a good guy"He said.

"And that makes you what?the good guy?if he's bad then you're way worse than him Alex"I told him.

"I'm telling you the truth Olivia, he's not a good person and I don't want you anywhere near him!"He yelled.

"And why's that?what did he ever do to you,answer me Alex!"He yelled.

"You know what?fine...do as you please, I don't care!" He yelled and pulled away from me. He went took out his car keys and walked away.

"Where are you going to?"I asked.

"None of your business"He yelled as he reached for the stairs. I scoffed and yanked the door to my room open.

I slammed the door shut behind me angrily as i scurried to my bed.

Why does Alex always have to be such a jerk.

***

It was already 11pm and there was no sign of Alex. I waited impatiently in the living room glancing at the ticking clock every now and then.

After a few minutes,i heard the sound of a key being inserted into the door and then the door opened.

The place was dark but i could tell it's Alex. He locked the door abd staggered into the living room.

He couldn't even walk properly. I stood up immediately and reached for him.

"Alex?"I questioned as i took hold of him. The stench of alcohol was coming from his body and i could tell that he was drunk.

I switched on the light and saw that he had a bottle in his hand. I immediately took hold of it, attempting to pull ot away from him but his grip on the bottle was tight.

"Liv...are you still upset with me?"He asked, taking a shot from his bottle.

"You're drunk Alex,stop drinking"I told him as i tried to grab the bottle from him again.

"No... answer me Liv,are you still mad at me?" He asked.

"If i say I'm not,will you give me the bottle?"I asked and he nodded.

"Ok, I'm no longer upset with you"I told him.

"Promise?"He gave me questioning eyes.

"Yeah"I said and took the bottle away from him. I placed it down gently on the couch as i took hold of his arms.

"Let's get you upstairs"I said and walked him up the stairs.

As we got to the door of his room,i pulled it open and then shut it behind as i took him to his bed, helping him to lie down properly. I pulled off his shoes and tossed them aside. I went to his drawer in search of a first aid kit, I'd seen it in his drawer before when I went in search of a tylenol. I shrieked at the thought of that episode.

How much I'd embarrassed myself. I ran back to the bed where he was lying down. I sat down on the bed beside him and pulled out a methylated spirit and cotton wool which i used to clean off his wounds.

After dressing the injury. I kept the first kit back into the drawer and threw the used products into the trash can.

I sat down beside him and pulled off his t-shirt and trousers. I placed them neatly on the couch and then sat down to face him. He looked so cute in his drunken state that my anger towards him subsided as i admired his features.

"Liv"He called.

"Yeah?"I responded.

"I don't like him"He said.

"Who?"I asked.

"Cade, he's a bad person"Alex said.

"Why?"I asked. Maybe i could take advantage of his drunken state and get some information off this secretive boy.

"Do you remember last year when you just arrived newly,i asked you out right?"He started.

"Yeah?what does that have to do with this?"I asked in confusion.

"Cade was the one who asked me to do it"Alex told me. My jaw dropped.

"What?"I gasped.

"I felt it was just a little game so i decided to go through with it but you rejected me"He continued.

"Yeah"I chuckled as i remembered the look on Alex's face when I'd rejected him.

"Do you remember at Stephen's party when you woke up the next morning and found yourself in my house?"He asked.

I remember the event. Zoey had forced me to go to Stephen's party,We all attended the party and i refused to take any alcohol. I took only a cup of juice which Cade gave me and then i woke up the next morning in Alex's bedroom. I waa very mad at Alex for bringing me to his place. He told me he didn't touch me and that it was only a prank he'd come up with. That was the day i started hating Alex and made it my mission to ruin him.

"Yeah?"I said unsurely.

"I lied to you about pranking you"He said.

"Wait...you slept with me?"My eyes turned dark.

"No...no....i didn't sleep with you" He said.

"Then what!"I flared.

"Can you please let me speak without being interrupted?"He said calmly.

"Fine...go on"He said.

"Cade gave you an orange juice which knocked you unconscious"He continued.

"Yeah he did.... that's why i also hated Cade since i thought you guys planned it together"I said.

"There's more to that night than you remember. Zoey and Jane were drunk and wasted. Mark had dropped them off at their houses. After you collapsed,Cade took you upstairs to one of the guest rooms. At first i thought it was a prank so i didn't stop him but something in me told me to follow him"

"Okay?"I said unsurely.

"I went to the guest room to see you lying down unconsciously while he was......you were only in your underwear while he was pulling off his clothes. He wanted to rape you"He said.

"What!"My jaw dropped,my anger rising.

"Yes...i beat him up that day and took you with me. I took you with me to my house, thankfully ny parents weren't home. I wanted to tell you about it in the morning but i couldn't because you mumbled something in your sleep"He said.

"What's that?"I questioned. For someone who just found out that she was almost raped,i was calm.

"You said something about some boy who broke your heart and that you despise boys,you said a lot that night that i can't remember. I felt pitiful and so i decided not to tell you about it,i knew it would shatter you to find out that you were almost raped,you were still healing so i didn't wanna add to your problems,so the next morning when you woke up,i lied to you about planning with Cade and pranking you"He said.

"What!"I exclaimed. I didn't know what to feel right now. Alex had done so much for me whereas i only repayed him with mischief.

"Why did you keep pranking and making me hate you all those days,you painted a bad image of yourself in my eyes"I said.

"I wanted you to be happy,i only did all that to make you heal from your heartbreak,i know how heartbreak feels"He said.

"Have you been.... heartbroken before?"I asked.

"Yeah.... I don't wanna talk about it"He said and i didn't bother to force him. He'd told me so much already.

"I made you focus on me,your anger and hatred for me growing day by day and i knew you were slowly recovering from the heartbreak. I got carried away by some things you did and also made it my mission to trouble you. I enjoy doing it. You looked so cute whenever you were mad at me" He chuckled.

"I thought you're a player,why do you then care so much about me?"I asked.

"I'll always be a player Liv,i have no time for any sort of commitment to any girl but i do have a heart and I'd always protect you"He smiled at me.

"Thank you"I beamed at him and stood up.

"Stay with me for tonight..please" He stopped me.

"Um... I don't think...."

"Please"He said with pleading eyes.

"Okay"I said and lied down next to him, keeping a safe distance on the bed.

"Are you still drunk?"I asked.

"Drunk? I'm not drunk"He laughed.

"What?"I asked.

"I didn't drink, I only bought the alcohol and before coming in,i poured half of the content on my clothes so that you'd think I'm drunk"He laughed.

"Huh?"I shot him a nasty look.

"Relax honey,i was only playing pretend. It was all an act to get you to talk to me. The only time i drank out of the bottle was when i wanted to make you forgive me"He laughed.

"You asshole"I yelled as i got up from my position and pounced on him.

"I think you looked so fucking cute when you were dressing my injury"He smirked and i hit his chest angrily.

"So...all does things you said to me..were all lies?" I asked.

"No, it's the truth"He said.

"Are you being honest or are you just fooling around?"I asked with a serious look.

"I'm being honest"He said.

"If you aren't drunk then where were you all this while?i was waiting for you all the while and you didn't return until 11pm"I asked.

"I went out to chill and calm down, don't worry about it...come here"He pulled me to his chest.

"Don't ever prank me like that again,you got me worried!"I whined.

"Okay baby, I'm sorry"He said as his hot breath fanned me.

"Alex"I called.

"Yeah?"He answered.

"If you and Cade never got along then how come you both planned to prank me last week?"I asked.

"He was begging me to add him back to the basketball team,he was willing to do anything in return and I thought, why don't i have some fun then,so i planned to prank you but i didn't ask him to kiss you,that was all his idea and i was mad at him and that's why i beat him up at Zoey's party" He explained. It all made sense now. I rested my head on his chest. I could hear his heart beating fast.

"Alex"I called again.

"Yes?"Was his hummed response.

"If things were different and Cade didn't attempt to rape me before,would you not have beat him up when he was kissing me?"I asked.

"I'd have still beaten him but not as brutally as i did"He said calmly.

"Why?"I asked, raising my head slightly to looked at him directly.

"Nobody touches what is mine"He said.