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Chapter 8

"Please, Hayley!" I begged, getting down on my knees. "Can you please just do this for me?" Shannon watched me in amusement as Hayley brushed off my begging. They didn't understand how important this was.

"Sorry, but no. I'm not pretending to be your girlfriend." Hayley answered. "Besides, what would Gale think?"

"I'll explain it to him later. He'll understand." I replied, although I was somewhat unsure. I wasn't entirely sure Gale would be okay with this. I mean, we had been dating for a few weeks, but we don't talk about ourselves to much. Gale doesn't seem to like talking about his personal life. I realized that I don't know him very well.

"Please, Hayley? If you don't do this, they'll find out about us, and Gale doesn't want the school to know! Please?" I grabbed her ankle, stopping her from walking away from me. I kept whining and begging until she finally broke.

"Fine! God!" She yelled. "I'll do it! Just let go!" I let go and stood up, brushing off my clothes.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" Hayley rolled her eyes and stomped away from me. She smiled and went upstairs to her room.

"You owe me big time." Hayley called out over the banister. Shannon cackled and followed her sister upstairs, leaving me alone in their living room. I sighed and headed out to my truck. I'm sure Gale wont mind.

***

You did what?!

I cringed as Gale signed quickly, so fast that I could barely keep up. We were sitting at our usual lunch table. Hayley was listening (or watching?) as Gale signed to me, clearly frustrated. I sighed and nodded.

"It was the only way! You were there when I told her!" I cried and Gale ran a hand through his beautiful blonde hair. I wonder how he gets it to shine like that. Hmm...maybe he's a mermaid! Maybe that's why he doesn't tell me anything about his life. Wait, wouldn't he be a merman? I wonder if it would offend him if I called him a mermaid...

A hard thump to the back of my head brought me back to reality. Gale was signing furiously. Hayley and, weirdly, Damian were laughing at me while Shannon and Danny looked amused.

"Wait, Gale, slow down." I said, trying to understanding what he was signing. His face got red and he started hitting me with his little fists, which really did nothing but tickle. Hayley started giggling wildly and almost fell off of her seat. Damian reached out to steady her, his shoulders still shaking. The people around us stared at us, but we didn't notice.

"You know, for someone so cute, you're pretty vicious!" I exclaimed, trying to fend off his slaps. Suddenly, the entire area became quiet and Gale stopped hitting me. Satisfied, I brushed my clothes off, until Hayley, who sat next to me, punched my shoulder and pointed behind me. I tilted my head backwards and came face to face with Reyna.

"Cute?" She said, confused. I frowned and then realized what she was talking about. I just called Gale cute in a public place. Instead of denying it, I just went with it.

"Yeah, isn't he? He's like a kitten." I said, smiling, while subtly wrapping my arm around Hayley's waist. Gale tensed but otherwise remained unfazed.

"Isn't that a little bit...gay?" She sneered, and I shrugged, pretending to be oblivious to her blatant hostility, even though it was as clear as day. Gale looked uncomfortable, like he'd much rather be somewhere else. If that was the case, I second that motion.

"No. I don't need to be gay to say he's cute. He knows I don't mean it that way, right Gale?" I said, and he agreed, somewhat reluctantly. I'm thinking Gale isn't too happy about the plan. Hayley nodded and leaned in to me.

"Besides, if he did mean it that way, I'd be jealous." Hayley pouted playfully. I smiled and hugged her close. Shannon watched us, amused as always. Danny was staring somewher else, but I couldn't tell what he was staring at. Reyna narrowed her eyes at us.

"Really, because you guys haven't showed any interest in each other until now." Reyna stared at us hard, and I fought the urge to squirm. Hayley took over and stared right back at Reyna boredly, trying not to look bothered.

"Why do you care anyway? I like Jasper, and Jasper likes me. Why the interogation?" Hayley asked calmly, but her words were a little more forceful. Everyone in the cafeteria had stopped to watch the conflict. Hayley vs. Reyna. That's a smackdown I'd pay to see. These two have hated each other's guts from the get go.

"Because I heard a rumor that I think is true. and if I think it's true, I'm going to prove it." Reyna said. Then her smile got better. "Aren't you a lezbo anyway?"

Everyone looked at Hayley, including Shannon, all equally confused. Hayley blushed but didn't break eye contact with Reyna.

"I'm bi." She gritted through her teeth. What?! Why is everyone keeping secrets! Since when was Hayley bi?

"No, you're definitely a lesbian." Reyna sneered. "Didn't you have a girlfriend at one point?"

"Reyna." Hayley warned stiffely. We all just watched. This was news to everyone at our table.

"What was her name again? Madeline? No, it was a C. Hmm...Caroline?" Reyna teased ina sing-song voice, indicating she knew who the girl's name was. We all hoped that she wouldn't say the name for the sake of Hayley, but wanted to hear it. Whoever this girl was must be important.

"Reyna, shut the fuck up!" Hayley snapped and pointed at her threateningly. Reyna looked a little nervous but kept pushing Hayley's buttons. Honestly, I'd be terrifed. Hayley is a brutal fighter.

"I think I'm close. Um...Oh! Crystaline? Right, Hayley? Didn't she dump you a few months back?"

I guess that hit a soft spot because instantly, Hayley stood up and lunged at Reyna. Everyone gasped but I caught her by the waist before she could throw a punch. Shannon stood up to help her sister, but Damian restrained her. The people around us stood up, hoping to watch a good fight.

I have never heard Hayley say as many profanities as she did then. Reyna stepped back and her friends backed her up. People were yelling and shouting and betting on who would win the fight, but before the two could fight, the campus security arrived.

Shannon snatched Hayley's arm and ran before she could get in trouble, and Reyna's friends rushed Reyna away. The crowd dispersed quickly and to avoid being targeted as a witness, I grabbed Gale and left. Gale looked a little upset. When we were alone in the hallway, I grabbed his shoulders and sighed

"Well, that went well. Are you okay?" I asked and Gale nodded reluctantly, but I could tell something was wrong. He wasn't looking me in the eye and he shuffled his feet. "Gale?"

Gale tensed before looking up at me sadly. He began to sign and I struggled to keep up with him. I think he forgets that I don't know that much sign language. Hayley still works with me, but I'm not good at focusing.

This...not...work, he signed. This not work? He signed it a few more times before I figured out the full sentence. This is not going to work.

"What do you mean?" I asked, a little confused and a little scared. Was he breaking up with me already? We haven't even gone on a real date! Gale hasn't had time to. Everytime I suggest it, he tells me he can't. Has he already gotten tired of me?

No one is going to believe you and Heyley are dating, he signed and I was relieved. He wasn't talking about breaking up.

"We'll figure something out. I know we'll pull it off." I replied happily, completely oblivious to Gale's rising temper. Gale may seem like a cute little rabbit, but when he gets upset, he's really scary.

You didn't even ask me how I felt about it, Gale signed a little forcefully. Still, I didn't notice. I was in my own world, scheming about how Hayley and I were going to pull this off. I didn't even notice him signing to me.

"Maybe if we hug a lot or something, it will be believable." I wondered thoughtfully. Suddenly, a book bag smacked me in the back of my head. I cringed and turned to look at Gale, who's face was red. Hmm, that's really cute.

He started signing quickly and I just stared, confused. What was his problem? I couldn't latch onto one word he signed, he was going so fast. One word caught my attention. Idiot. Hayley taught me the word when she signed it to me. I wasn't paying attention when she was teaching me, so she taught me the word to get me to focus.

Idiot? Why did he say that? Most would brush that off, but it hurt me when people called me that. The hurt must have showed because Gale stopped signing and stared at me. Then he looked away. It was silent, well more silent than usual when I'm with Gale, before I spoke.

"Gale, what's wrong?" I asked wearily. I tried to forget the word, but it stuck to my mind like a leech thirsty for blood. Gale signed slowly so I could understand what he was saying to me.

I don't want you to fake date Hayley. Do you know how hard that will be? We won't get to spend time much together or be out in public because of the rumor. You'll have to spend more time with Hayley or people will get suspicious. And you'll have to kiss her eventually.

I smiled softly and wrapped my arms around Gale's waist, pulling him to my chest. He was cautious but gave in and relaxed.

"If you aren't comfortable with it, then I won't do it." I whispered in his ear and he shivered. I tilted his chin up with my thumb and looked down at him. His long eyelashes covered his deep blue eyes.

"Besides, I only want to kiss you." I added and brought my lips down onto Gale's. He gasped but kissed me back. Our kiss was long and sweet. That is, until we were interrupted by a awkward cough. We both turned and looked up. Ashton Little stood down the hall, surprised.

"Uh, sorry, I was just...um...yeah." He stuttered and we jumped away from each other. Ashton was quiet before he tried to speak again.

"I, um, I won't tell anyone." Ashton said and left. Gale was blushing hard and I probably was too. What just happened seemed to hit Gale at full force and he started to freak out. I had no idea what he was signing but I grabbed his hands, stopping him.

"Relax. He said he won't tell anyone." I said and kissed his lips softly. He pushed me away and looked around.

Have you not learned? No kissing in the hallway! He signed and stormed off. I chuckled and decided to go talk to Ashton. Just to make sure. He was probably scarred for life. That made me laugh some more. I found him at his locker, staring aimlessly. Yeah, definitely scarred for life.

"Ashton." I called out. He jumped and slammed his locker shut, then rubbed his arm awkwardly.

"Look, I want tell anyone about it. I know you don't want all that hell." He said, shrugging a little. I frowned.

"I know you won't. What I want to know is why?"

"I...I just get it. If you wanted people to know, then it wouldn't be a secret." He sighed and ran a hand through his hair. It made me wonder if he was really okay. He looked stressed and tired.

"Alright, well, thanks I guess." I replied and walked to my next class, English. When I walked in, the entire class was chattering. Hayley was sitting at her desk with her head down, and Shannon was yelling at her in hushed voice. Gale was rubbing her back sympathetically. I went and sat by them.

"You okay, Hayley?" I askesd hesitantly, and she glared at me, her eyes bloodshot. Her mascara was smeared all over her eyes and cheeks. She looked like a racoon and I would've laughed if she didn't look like she was going to murder me.

"Shut up! This is your fault!" She snapped. I frowned and glared back at her.

"My fault? You're the one with crazy secrets you didn't bother to tell anyone. Maybe if I knew you were a lesbian then I wouldn't have asked you to go through with the plan!" I hissed back. Hayley was ready to say something back, but Shannon cut in.

"He's right. You didn't tell us anything." Shannon grumbled. I could tell she was extremely pissed at Hayley. There are just some secrets you don't keep from your sister, especially one as close to as Shannon is.

"Well sorry if I don't like to go in depth about my private life." Hayley said and Shannon rolled her eyes.

"You had no problem explaining yourself to Reyna." Hayley was quiet after that and class started. No one said a word to each other for the rest of the day. After school, I found Gale and offered him a ride, but he declined.

"Why? You walk home." I asked but Gale wouldn't look me in the eyes as he turned my offer away again. Still, I was persistent. Finally, Gale gave in and hopped into my truck. He didn't really do anything but fiddle with the radio and scribble directions to me on piece of paper.

I tried to start a conversation, but he answered everything with one word. I gave up later. The directions Gale gave me led me to a nice neighborhood with two story houses. It didn't look like Gale was poor at all. I pulled up to a large white house with a yellow fence and door.

Thank you, Gale signed and jumped out of the truck. He almost forgot hid bag and violin but I handed it to him. He smiled and started to walk away, but I called him back. When he reached me, I rolled down the window and pecked his lips in a small kiss. Gale blushed and bit his lip, fighting a smile.

"Hey." I said and he looked up. "Friday night? Please?" I used my amazingly effective puppy eyes, hoping he'd fall for it. He grinned and reached over, running a hand through my hair. I leaned into his palm and he cupped my cheek. We ended up kissing again. When we broke apart, he nodded.

"Yes?" I asked eagerly and he nodded again. I whooped and cheered while he silently laughed and tried to get me to be quiet. A few of his neighbors even came to see what was the problem. After kissing Gale again (what? I'm addicted), I drove away to plan out date, feeling like the luckiest guy in the world.

Gale

Shit. What did I get myself into?

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Dedicated to joyfullyme16 because when you added this story to your reading list, I remembered that I should probably update this story. So thank you for being awesome and stuff!

This took me way longer than it should've and I apologize. I've been crazy studying for finals and I found out I'm moving...My life has been hectic. But here it is! Chapter 8! I worked super hard to make time for Wattpad so I could do this. I hope you're all satisfied.

Also, check out my story Yellow. (Formally Chamomile Tea and Orange Ribbons) Yellow is...sad. That's all I'll say on Yellow. Yellow won't be worked on untl I finish this story.

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