Justin and I were working on finishing our English projects about the story of Aphrodite that night and it was before ten already.

"Do you think will be good enough for that fat professor to pass me?" Justin asked.

"You already revised that for about a hundred times already, Justin," I chuckled.

He winced at me.

"Okay, well, we've done our best so that's enough I think. Actually Aphrodite is one hell of a goddess," I smiled.

"Like you," I thought I heard him say.

"What?" I asked for him to repeat.

"I said Yes, she is," he raised a mocking eyebrow on me and we both ended up laughing when my phone rang.

"Hey, Cris!" it was Paul. What does he need now?

"Hi," I said and my heart was beating fast when I knew it was him.

"Have you-" he was saying something when I saw Justin writing something on the back of my hand. I didn't notice it at first but because he pushed the pen too hard I saw it and pulled it away.

"Ow! What's that for?" I said. He was wearing a wide smile.

"I'm sorry Paul. What was that you're saying?"

"You have company there at this time of night? Is it-" he said but before he could ask I told him he didn't need to worry because it wasn't Faith who was with me.

"Then who?" if I could be right, he sounded a bit surprised. Why would he care anyway, right? And besides, I wasn't doing anything wrong. Justin stood up and went to get something in my fridge.

"No one. Anyway, we'll be finished with this project-" before I could continue, I saw Justin eating my last cup of ice cream.

"Justin! That's mine!" I stood up almost forgetting that I was talking with Paul on the phone.

"Hey! Don't be selfish. Anyway, even if you cry I won't return it. I love this flavor, you know," I stared at him in disbelief.

"Fine, you can have it but replace it or else..." I said when Paul cleared his throat on the phone.

"Oh, Paul! I'm sorry. Where were we?" I realized I was still on the phone.

"Oh, yeah! He would go home soon after EATING MY LAST CUP OF ICE CREAM!" I said while wincing at Justin who was wearing a wide smile.

"You're with Justin? ANd you didn't tell me?" he sounded annoyed and irritated.

"I'm sorry but hey..." I thought about it, I didn't need to tell him who I'll be studying with or who ever I was with.
"Well, I didn't need to tell you who I'm with, Paul," I said when Justin went to the kitchen to throw out the "empty cup of my favorite ice cream!"

"Oh, yeah." his voice was lower as he realized I was right.
"I'm not your boyfriend. I forgot," he said and hang up after saying bye.

"What was with him?" I looked on my phone and closed it.

I couldn't understand what he meant by he forgot he wasn't my boyfriend. I really don't get it. I didn't want to get a wrong assumption.

*********************************

In school, Paul didn't ask me about anything about Justin or that night when we were sitting together in the cafeteria. Well, I think that's better. He wasn't talking much with me either. I think that was one of my points when I told him we shouold lie low. Well, it took days before he agreed with me.

While Paul was practicing with the football team and my team mates were practicing, too. I excused myself for a while because I was getting worried. I didn't see Faith all day at school and because Paul looked like he didn't want to talk to me, I didn't dare ask him any questions. Maybe he was having a bad day.

I went to my locker in the hallway and looked for my phone when Justin startled me.

"Hey! Miss Aphrodite!" he said smiling wide. He leaned his hand on the locker supporting his body.

"Justin! You startled me!" I let out a deep breath.

"I want to tell you something," he said and I just raised my brows wondering what it was he would be wanting to tell.

And then his face got closer to mine.

"Justin?" but he wasn't stopping. it was like his face would be falling to mine and my first reaction was to close my eyes.

"You idiot!" it was Paul's voice.

I opened my eyes and saw Justin on the floor touching his cheek. Paul punched him on the face. I saw his fists still clenched so I stood between them.

Paul looked so angry. Was it still part of the pretending? I couldn't understand.

"What's wrong with you, Paul?" I asked in surprise and anger that he punched my friend.

"He was about to kiss you!" I was shocked. yes, Justin was about to do that but why was he so angry about it? No one would see it and our pretending wouldn't be ruined. Or was he feeling pissed because he was still my fake boyfriend in school that if somebody saw Justin and me, his reputation would be damaged.

"What's this about, Paul?" I asked again while Justin stood up and stood behind me.

"You didn't tell me you were with him last night and now, you're willing to be kissed by him? I must be the one asking what's wrong with you, Cris!" Paul announced it.

The students, the rest of the Scorpions and the squad were all there. Now, he ruined his reputation. He was going way too far. I couldn't understand now if it was about his reputation or his relationship with Faith- the pretending. He was confusing me too much and Faith wasn't around wither making me worried sick. I felt dizzy and fell into someone's arms.