Collette Archer
So James just kissed me, and then said something really mean, and the reason he kissed me was to make his ex jealous. Do I just have a curse of never being kissed nicely? My technical first kiss, was awful. Lia's ex, was drunk as hell and he literally forced me. It was slightly traumatic, not gonna lie, and now this one! I mean this wasn't exactly forced, and it was kinda nice, but well the kiss was not to kiss me, it was to show someone else. People just keep stealing my chance of having a decent first kiss. This one was different from the first one though, I know James didn't have any wrong intentions but his intentions weren't right either. I really don't know what to make of it. I just froze when he kissed me, it was so sudden, but for some reason I didn't feel like pulling away either.
Honestly ever since he hugged me and introduced me as his girlfriend to Davina, I have this weird feeling in me, I'm just really not used to him being nice to me, even before, when he used to do nice things he would always say terrible things and that would totally cancel out the nice action but this time, the way he was dancing with me, and every time I made a mistake he just lifted me up and twisted me or spun me, I felt a little like a princess. And all of the touching and hugging and grabbing my waist and whispering in my ear kind of made my heart race really fast, that's probably why the kiss didn't feel wrong and I didn't pull away. But I shouldn't feel this way, because it's all fake, it might make me feel butterflies but it's just pretend for him, nothing more than a game. And the most important thing is that he hates me, he could never possibly feel anything toward me, why else would he be so rude after after kissing me.
I was just walking around the garden, thinking about all of this and it was still pretty much well lit so I thought I'd stroll into the forest a little and then come out before dark, cuz the garden was pretty crowded and I wanted to be alone, but the forest was larger than I thought and I got lost. And right when I needed it most, my phone betrayed me and died for the second time this week and last time James was there to save me but this time I'm alone. He has no idea I'm here, nor does anyone else, so naturally I start panicking and then to make matters worse, I fall into a small ditch and twist my ankle pretty bad. Thats when I started to freak the hell out, it was really dark now, and I didn't even have a torchlight and I was so hungry and so scared, scared of being eaten by a bear. I know it's stupid but that's what happens in the movies when someone wanders into the forest and I couldn't even call anybody, I had to get out of this place, alone.
Somehow, I managed to get out of the ditch but that makes my ankle worse. I still didn't know which direction the garden was in, and then I heard my name being called out by a familiar voice and ran towards the voice, with my twisted ankle, ignoring the piercing pain. I go and hug James from behind, I was literally so relieved that he found me. How did he find me even? He's like my guardian angel, ok maybe that's a bit too much, James could never be an angel, he's my guardian devil. He turns and faces me, and I put my arms around his neck and let out the tears I have been holding in for so long. The pain in my ankle seems to have grown three times, and I cry harder because of it. You know what happens after that.
When he lifts me up, I really don't protest because I was in way too much pain. He carries me to my room, and I stop him, "No! not in there, Thalia's gonna freak out, and she's already sick, I don't want her worrying for me too" I say."You're right but I'm surprised you don't want her attention though"he says.
"You're supposed to be nice to me" I say, "I'm pretending to be your girlfriend and I'm hurt".
"Force of habit, sorry ma'am, I'll take you to my room then" he replies and I nod.
He places me down, gently on his bed, and keeps a pillow below my foot. He examines my leg and twists it a little, I flinch from the pain, and he takes his hands off, "Does that hurt?" He asks and I nod.
He brings a first aid kit and takes out a spray and sprays it on my ankle, it kind of burns a little but it's a nice burn.He looks at me, then goes and gets a towel, sits next to me and wipes the dirt off my face and my hands."This is all my fault", He says looking sad
"What is?" I ask
"All of this, you getting hurt, crying and all"
"Well it's not your fault, I was stupid enough to go into the stupid forest"
"That's true, but, you wouldn't have gone if I hadn't kissed you"
I look down, and don't reply."I'm sorry" he says, "I shouldn't have done that, should have got your consent first, I'm really sorry"
Wow, James pierce knows how to say sorry? And that to, to me? His arch nemesis? Unbelievable.
"It's ok, I guess people just think I'm a pushover or something" I say
"No, you think people think you're a pushover?" He says, "Not in the least, you're intimidating is what you are, did you not see, the way people looked at you, in the party? You looked gorgeous and I'm sure every girl there felt intimidated.
"Did he just compliment me? James? Was there an insult hidden in that compliment? Was he being sarcastic? Didn't sound sarcastic though."Who are you, and what have you done to the James Pierce who hates me?"
"Uhh well, I was just, umm, oh, you're the one who said I'm supposed to be nice to you so that's what I was doing" he replies.
Well, that was a nice save, but I still think his compliment was genuine because it seemed pretty natural, but I guess it could be fake too. Ugh whatever, I've had enough adrenaline for the day. I should probably just get some sleep but I can't walk to my room with this leg. Will he let me just stay here? As if reading my mind, he says "You know you should probably stay here tonight, you won't be able to walk with that leg"
"Ohk" I mumble.
Someone knocks on his door and he gets up from beside me to go open it. It was Will, who was a little surprised to see me at first, but then waves and smiles, soon he notices my leg and asks me if I was alright."I'm fine it's nothing" I reply."It's not nothing, she twisted her ankle" James says.
"So she's gonna be staying here tonight?" Will asks
"Yep, you don't mind, do you?" James asks Will
"As long as I can sleep in my bed, why would I have a problem?" Will says, "and since you two are a thing, you're probably gonna share the bed right?"
"I mean, she's hurt, she probably needs the entire bed, I'll crash on the beanbag" James says, "and also let me let you in on our little secret. She's really not my girlfriend. She's just Thalia's best friend. And I had a little encounter with Davina, which led to me crafting an elaborate lie with Collette as my girlfriend, so yeah".
"That.. is.. wow.. okay I would not have guessed that, you guys looked like you were soulmates when you were dancing, the chemistry felt so real."
James and I just look at each other, and burst out laughing."Dude no way, we're practically archenemies" James says
"Yeah really, the only conversations we have are fights" I add
"Uh huh" Will says, not convinced, "Ya I could totally tell that you guys hated each other"We chat for a while and I convince Will to be on my side by telling him how much of a bully James was ever since we were young but I leave out the real fights we have had cuz their best friends and all. I would not just grouch about James to other people. I don't want others to think badly of him only because of the way he is to me, probably cuz I know he's not actually like that, he is actually nice to everyone except me, and I'm such a nice person!"Collette, you're pretty cool" Will says to me"Aww thank you, Will! You're pretty cool yourself" I say.
See Will spent like 5 minutes with me and he already thinks I'm cool but stupid James has known me his whole life and still doesn't know me at all! But it's not like I care, I don't care if he likes me or not, he can suck it!"Will, you can't just judge a person in 3 minutes, she's really not that great once you get to know her" James says.
UNBELIEVABLE
"You know what? You can deal with your Davina on your own, I'm done with this" I reply
"Shit, I'm supposed to be nice, god this is so hard" he says and I glare at him, "I'll be nice I promise" he says
"Practice now" I reply
He takes my hand and says, "Sweet Collette, please forgiveth me, I begeth thou"
"You're annoying"
"Areth thoueth forgiveth me?"
"Just shut up!" I command.
After talking for a little while more, we decide to get some sleep. James says he'll take the bean bag, but he doesn't even have an extra blanket and it's really cold, so I offer him mine, but he refuses to take it because 'I'm the one who's hurt'. But this bed is pretty big, big enough for the two of us, so I tell him to come and sleep here. "Are you sure?" he asks."Yes, now shut up and come here" I say.
We squeeze into the bed, shoulder to shoulder. "the only reason I'm being nice to you right now, is cuz you saved me from the forest" I clarify.
"Understood Ma'am" he scoffs.
"Wait, we need to.. shift.. I feel like you'll kick me off the bed when you fall asleep" he says
"You know I'm the one who is letting you sleep here...besides, I used to do that when I was 5, I don't kick people off the bed anymore!"
"Ya, I really don't trust you" he says and slides his left hand below my head and turns towards my side, "Night night, coco".
He hasn't called me that for a very long time. I used to hate that nickname but today, hearing it just made me want to smile.We both fall asleep pretty fast. The next morning, I wake up in his arms. His big muscley arms which make me feel like a little bunny. I feel him shaking, so I close my eyes and pretend to be asleep. He wakes up, lifts up my head slightly so that he take take off his hand from below then he puts my head back down into the pillow, and tucks my hair behind my ear. Then he gets up, and the bed feels so empty.
When I wake up from my pretend sleep, I don't seem to find him, he is probably in the shower. Will is still fast asleep, understandable because its only 7 in the morning. I sit up and try to move my ankle, I think it's better now, it doesn't hurt as much.I try to step down from the bed, using my good ankle first and then put my hurt ankle down and try to take a step with it, but the moment it touches the ground, the pain pierces through my ankle again and I let out a silent scream. I was this close to falling down but then out of nowhere, James comes in front of me and catches me. I grab on to him, my hands on his collar bones and my face against his bare chest, I bring my face back and realise that he is wearing just a towel.
I gasp and take my hands off, but that makes me fall again, this time, backwards, and he grabs my waist and pulls me close again."Who told you to try walking on your own ?" He asks.
I take a while to answer because I'm trying my best not to look down at his rock hard abs. "Umm.. I... my leg, it wasn't hurting a lot so I thought I'd just, try"
"You thought wrong" he said and then took my hands, wrapped it around his neck, lifted me and put me on the bed. The bed was literally just one step away, I could have got there on my own, without even moving, but he still lifted me. Why would he do that? Has he seriously lost his mind?"
Now wait here, let me put on some clothes and then I'll take you to your room" he says.
I nod. He changes, and picks me up again and takes me to my room, where Thalia is fast asleep. He puts my down on my bed and brings my legs up, on the bed. Then he leans down, so close to my face, and for a second I think he's going to kiss me again. I close my eyes, but hen I feel him fixing my sleeve, which had fallen off again. Then he comes closer and whispers in my ear, not to wake Thalia, "You should be paying me for all of that transportation".
"This is YOU paying me back, for being your girlfriend" I whisper back.
"Fake girlfriend" he corrects, "Now get some more rest, it's still early, and don't try to do any stunts, call Thalia for help" he orders
"Yessir" I reply.
I lie in my bed, unable to sleep and just replay whatever has been happening with James since yesterday, I didn't think James Pierce could ever bring a smile to my face, but I stand corrected, he's not only making me smile but also making my heart race, this is all fake though and I know that. But last night, there was no one watching us, he didn't have to pretend and today morning too, he was being nice to me, maybe even flirting a little and I didn't want it to end. He didn't treat me like he normally does and was so caring, for the first time I didn't want this reunion to end. But I know it will and when it does end, everything between us might too, but what if it doesn't? What if he doesn't hate me anymore. Usually in the movies when two people hate each other and then pretend to date, don't they start liking each other? What if that happens to us too? No, it can't, he hates me, and I hate him too, we are just pretending and not everything that happens in movies applies to real life! I need to keep reminding myself that!
Thalia wakes up after a while and notices my leg, "Letty! What happened?"
"It's nothing, I just fell, and um twisted my ankle"
"Oh my god! How is that nothing, let me get you some ointment"
"Don't bother, I already put some, it should be better if I take some rest"
"Is there anything I can get for you, babe?" Lia asks"No sweetheart, I'm good" I say "Also I think I'm gonna skip breakfast"
"Why?" She asks
"Cuz I'm hurt and really not hungry"
"Are you sure? do you want me to get you some food?"
"No really, I'm not hungry, you go" I say.
I should avoid James as much as possible, the lesser I see him, the better. Skipping breakfast is a great way to do that, and I'm actually not that hungry, even though I was starving yesterday in the forest, but I guess the adrenaline just made me forget my hunger, and I had skipped dinner last night too. No, no last night, no thoughts about last night or today morning. I should just go to my happy place, I'm in a castle and I'm a princess and I have animal friends who can talk in English, happy place, princess. Why does my usual faceless Knight in shining armour, look like James? Oh my god, my happy place has been corrupted, ahh! Stupid James finds his way into all of my thoughts. I think the best way to get distracted from him and everything else is just to sleep. I count to 237 sheeps and finally fall asleep.