Is It All Just Pretend?
Chapter 3: Stomach Bugs, Right?
Mitchie stood at the bar, her elbow resting causally on the side, her physique was calm, collected and confident, her breathing steady and her face plastered with a genuine smile. But inside, her heart was racing, her stomach completely numb and her lips tingling with anticipation and desire. She could feel Caitlyn's and Nate's startled gazes burning into her, their mouths open slightly as they attempted to comprehend what had just happened.
"Stop looking so shocked" Mitchie said through gritted teeth as she remained poised, brushing her hair elegantly from her eyes. "We're boyfriend and girlfriend, remember" Mitchie added after realising the couple seemed incapable of ceasing their shocked features. "That's what boyfriend and girlfriends do!" she whispered, letting her eyes casually glance over to Ruby, a little worried she could see this display of disbelief, relief flowing through her as she watched Ruby titter out of the room, a strange, panicking man at her heels.
"Yes, but you're not boyfriend and girlfriend" Caitlyn replied, her eyes refusing to regress back to a normal size.
"Well we are for a month" Mitchie said casually. "I know we're not really in a relationship but I just want to help Shane out. So start pretending you've seen us kiss before" Mitchie told them both, her words quiet.
"Ok, ok. We're sorry" Caitlyn finally murmured, shaking her head and finally letting her face appear content and regular.
"We'll do better next time" Nate added with a playful yet apologetic smile, a smile that Mitchie found impossible not to laugh at. She nodded at the pair, a loving, thankful grin appearing on her face.
"So what was it like?" Caitlyn suddenly blurted out, grabbing Mitchie's hands. Mitchie looked down at her, biting her lip as she contemplated the explosion that was still underway in her stomach and the numb chill that had taken control of her limbs.
"It was ok." Mitchie eventually settled on, after all, the feelings meant nothing. She was sure of it. She was completely certain that they were insignificant. Weren't they?
"Just ok?" Caitlyn asked, her cheeky, stimulated smile falling.
"Yep, just ok" Mitchie said certainly, her heart increasing in pace as she tried to decipher the strange, unexplainable feeling within her stomach. A stomach bug perhaps? Yes, that was most likely it. "Nothing special" She stated convincingly, with a small nod, her head now settled on the stomach bug scenario. After all, what else could it be?
"Well, that's boring" Caitlyn muttered, swivelling her stool flippantly as she turned to face Nate.
"So your theory wasn't right then." Nate smirked, letting his fingers glide casually over Caitlyn's hairline and framing her glaring face.
"What theory?" Mitchie cut in, narrowing her eyes as she pulled Caitlyn's arm, the stool spinning precariously back round.
"Oh, erm- I just thought that if you were pretending to be his girlfriend you might develop feelings for each other......and then when you kissed for the first time you would confess your love and fall into each others arms." Caitlyn recited, wrapping her arms tightly around herself, receiving a small scoff from Mitchie.
"Who knew you were such a romantic!" Mitchie said a little stunned, her stomach clenching tightly as her heart seemed to flutter at the dream like scenario. "Besides, that won't happen" She said confidently.
"Why?" Caitlyn moaned, stomping her feet amusingly upon the floor.
"Because we're just friends" She stopped abruptly, looking around the room casually before lowering her voice to a whisper. "This is all just pretend"
"But is it?" Caitlyn asked pressingly, leaning closer to Mitchie whose breath had seemed to stop and obstruct her throat. "Is it all just pretend?"
"Yes-yes it is" Mitchie replied calmly, shaking her head firmly at her friends attempts to impersonate cupid.
"Fine!" Caitlyn sighed stubbornly, gaining a smile from her best friend who simply poked her nose.
"Go play cupid elsewhere!" She smirked, sliding her tongue out.
"I'll play right here thanks" Caitlyn whispered coyly under her breath as she turned away from her friend, letting her legs swing from left to right, her body moving mischievously with the turn of the stool.
Ruby stalked down the halls, her heels crashing murderously against the floor as she swung her arms angrily through the air. She let her teeth grind furiously against one an other as the image of that slut kissing her man forced its way hatefully into her mind.
He was hers.
Simple as.
Ruby could hear the small pounding of pursuing footsteps behind her, a small voice calling her name. But she didn't stop, she continued to pace down the corridors, her breath harsh and agitated. She finally crashed through a familiar door, her foot kicking it open as she strode in, stalking into the small room and perching herself uncomfortably on the desk.
"What's wrong?" asked an out of breath man who appeared in the door, leaning against the frame as he studied the enraged client before him. Ruby flicked her eyes up to him, sending a detesting scowl his way, forcing the man to cower slightly.
"Him." She said abruptly, the word falling from her lips maliciously.
"Shane?" The man asked timidly.
"Yes Shane!" Ruby snapped as she stood up, taking a step closer to the slim man. "He thinks he can waltz in here with his new girlfriend? How dare he!" She spat, turning her back to the man and circling the desk. "He's not over me, I know he's not! I mean how could he be?" She expressed, looking down at her body with a content, proud smile upon her features.
"I heard he was single" Thomas whispered.
"What?" Ruby spat, her neck snapping up.
"A-a couple of days ago, on E news, they seemed adamant he was still single" Thomas stuttered, Ruby's intimidating blue eyes staring harshly at him, but they quickly softened, her mouth stretching into a knowing smirk.
"It's fake" Ruby whispered, her finger glazing over the desk that lay before her. "It has to be, I mean, who would choose that over me?"
"I-It might be real, E news doesn't know everything" Thomas stated cautiously.
"Oh please Thomas! Of course it's fake, he's still in love with me, it's obvious" She exclaimed, her hands resting upon the table as she leant forward, a scheming and spiteful look appearing on her features.
"What are you planning?" Thomas queried, his eyes narrowing as he studied the daunting blonde in front of him.
"Well," She smirked again. "First I'm going to prove that it's fake, humiliating him completely and crushing that little bitch like a bug! And then he'll be forced to declare his undying love and desire for me" Ruby spat, her voice distant as she imagined the perfect scenario.
"But- but what if it is real?" Thomas questioned, his mind racing over the possibility that seemed inconceivable to Ruby.
"It's not" Ruby hissed "And even if it is, it doesn't matter, the plan still stands. Crushing, humiliating and then Shane confessing his devotion!" She snapped, letting a bitter, corrupt laugh escaping her thin, glossed lips. "I always get my way" Ruby added before stalking out of the room, flicking her hair bluntly over her shoulder, making certain that the bleached locks collided with Thomas's terrified face.
Mitchie remained, perched at the bar, her elbows resting casually against the side as she watched Shane. She was stood alone now, Nate and Caitlyn had decided upon investigating, Mitchie has chosen to stay, her eyes upon Shane. His intoxicating smile appearing as he spoke to his agent, every so often his laugh would drift over to Mitchie, resulting in a small shiver dispersing throughout her body. But it was obviously just the air conditioning.
Mitchie let a beaming smile illuminate her face as Shane turned to her, his eyes attaching to hers as he pulled out his heart-stopping smile. She lifted her hand almost nervously, waving casually in his direction, not realising that it would signal him to wander towards her.
"Hey, how are you doing?" He asked as he appeared in front of her.
"Yeah, I'm fine" She nodded, a soft smile gracing her features, her eyes inadvertently avoiding his.
"Good" he whispered genuinely "Sorry it's a bit boring at the moment, I'm just sorting things out with David" Shane stated apologetically as he pointed over to his agent.
"You don't have to apologise, it's your job" Mitchie replied kindly as she glanced into his hypnotic orbs of brown, she clenched her teeth slightly as she dropped her gaze to his lips then back again, preying that he hadn't noticed.
"Yeah I know, but I don't want you to be bored" Shane said sweetly.
"Shane, it's fine" She replied with a small chuckle.
"Ok, I won't be too long now" Shane replied, letting his hand graze over hers before wandering back to David.
"Ok" Mitchie said slowly as she looked at her now shaking hand, she could still feel the slight pressure that Shane had put around it, the thought causing her to smile uncontrollably.
Mitchie mentally cursed herself as her mind returned to the sensation of her lips upon his. It was only for a second, but it had been amazing, spectacular and enchanting. But she couldn't let herself fall, not now, not when he needed her, not when she knew it would jeopardise their incredible friendship. They were friends. Friends. She let out a small sigh, rubbing the now, tender skin of her hand as she surrendered, it was unintentional, unfathomable and completely undeniable;
She had fallen for Shane Grey.
A/N: So Mitchie has acknowledged her feelings towards Shane, will she tell him? And how far will Ruby go to get what she wants? You shall find out soon enough :)
Sorry for the rather long (Well, long for me) space between updates but I've had some major computer issues, but hoe hum its up now :) Thankyou so much for the reviews.....thirty one! THIRTY ONE! For two chapters....TWO! Thankyou so much. Thankyou to everyone who is alerting and favourtiting and even reading my story!!! You are awesome. x