Cami exchanges a look with Anya.
‘You’re killing me,’ Cami groans.
‘We had a fun time, talked a lot, and I guess we just hit it off.’I feel shitty for lying to them, but I’m too embarrassed to admit it’s fake.It’s not technically a lie – we did everything I said and we did hit it off.
I keep my gaze fixed ahead of me on the road.I don’t feel comfortable sharing the fact that we agreed to be in a fake relationship with each other.It sounds sort of pathetic to admit.I know it’s two friends helping each other out, but admitting that my first official boyfriend is in fact notactuallymy boyfriend is a bit too pitiful.James and the guy my friend set me up with don’t really count.
I want to enjoy what’s happening between us, just for a little bit, until I have to confess to everyone it was never real.
‘Well, I’m happy for you,’ Cami says, drawing me from my thoughts.
‘Me too,’ Anya adds.
Relief washes over me at Anya’s approval.Fake dating her brother is complicated enough, so I’m glad she has no issues with the idea of a real relationship.I would never want to do anything to jeopardise our friendship.
‘Thanks girls, I appreciate that,’ I reply, genuinely meaning it.Even if they don’t know the whole truth, it feels like a weight has been lifted off me, the knot that has been bound in my stomach loosening.
Pulling into the carpark beside the bus shelter, I locate a park quickly.Cami has a cheer camp she’s attending with her squad and they’re heading off tonight.She unbuckles her seatbelt and leans over, giving me a hug.Her jasmine-scented perfume washes over me.It’s becoming a comforting smell to me.When I smell it, I know she’s around, and I feel a whole lot safer and better in my apartment knowing she’s there with me.
‘Thanks so much for dropping me off.’
‘No worries, have fun!’
‘Thanks girl.Talk soon.Bye Anya, enjoy your trip!’
‘Thanks, you too!Bye!’she says, just before Cami jabs her finger against the screen, ending the call.
When I arrive back at my apartment, I’m surprised to see that the door is closed.People have been coming and going all day.One of my roommates wedged a coaster over the lock so that the door could be opened and shut by anyone.I absolutely hate the lack of privacy I feel in my own home, but this is university living.Peoplelike to party and it’s a shared apartment.I don’t get to control who enters and leaves, I just make sure my bedroom door is locked every time I go out.
Pulling out my card, I pop it down into the reader and push against the door automatically.My forehead slams into the door and I stumble back in surprise, rubbing my head.
‘Ow,’ I whine, staring down at the electric card reader.Pushing the card down into it again, I watch as a red flash appears, instead of the usual green one.‘What the—?’I attempt the card access a few more times, with no luck.
Hearing the voices of my roommates floating in through the door, I bang my hand on it loudly.The chatter stops for a moment, indicating they heard it loud and clear, and then I hear the snickering.
‘Who’s there?’Emily calls out, and I shoot her a withering stare through the door, aware that she can’t actually see it.
‘Nora,’ I bark back impatiently.
‘Who?’
‘Nora!’I repeat, my frustration soaking through me and bleeding into my voice as I clench my hands into fists.
‘Sorry, we don’t know anyone called Nora!’
My mouth falls open.‘Emily, stop fucking around and let me in!’
‘Sorry!’she says, encouraging more giggles from whoever else is with her – it sounds like Steph.‘Can’t hear you!’
‘Bitches,’ I gripe, turning and striding down to the office, growing angrier with each step.I stalk up to the door and yank on the handle, but it doesn’t budge.I glance at the opening hours, realising it closed about an hour ago.
Could this get any worse?
Hung, I lean back against the glass and think about my options.
Going to my family is out of the question – at least the family that’s close.I can’t handle their probing right now.Mum is hours away, so that’s not a realistic option.Anya and Mason won’t be back for days and Cami would be on the road to cheer camp by now.
A cool breeze hits my face and a loud crack of thunder booms.Thankfully, I’m under cover, but I peer around the corner of the office, seeing the first signs of rainfall.Shaking my head, I reach for my phone and scroll through my contacts.Seeing Zayden’s name, I click on it, just as my screen turns black.
