Damaged Beyond Repair by Kashmira Kamat (KittyKash) (ebook reader below 3000 .txt) 📖

"Killing two birds with one stone." I corrected him. "What was your score in English anyway?"

"I would never kill birds, y'know." He winked. The cigarette was pinched between his fingers as he brought it to his lips and took another drag.

"You're not supposed to smoke on university grounds." I said. "You can get expelled."

  He blew out a cloud of smoke. "My uncle just became the committee chairperson this year. How else do you think I got in, given my excellent grades and an outstanding reputation to remind me for a life time. That's sarcasm right there if you don't get my dark humor."

   "I know what you mean."

    I had to remind myself that Troy's uncle was Gary Masters who was Rowan's father.

   "So, how long exactly do I have to pretend to be your girlfriend?" I asked.

    "Well, until the rumors die down and people start minding their own fucking business."

     I snatched the cigarette out of his fingers and brought it to my lips, taking a small drag and exhaling a puff. This was my only chance to try a cigarette. So far, I'd broken two rules out of my best-selling novel goody-two shoes. Kissing a random guy at a bar who happened to be my ex-boyfriend's cousin and two, smoking a cigarette for the first time on school grounds.

Wow. My father would be so proud.

  I took another drag, longer and completely unnecessary. Suddenly, the smoke filled my lungs and a cough erupted from my chest.

Troy chuckled and whistled low as he snatched the cigarette from my fingers. "That's a lot of rebellious behavior coming from a virgin, non-smoker. I said I can't get expelled, doesn't mean you can't." 

  I smiled. If only he knew.

"One smoke wasn't going to hurt." I said in my defense.

He was amused. "So are you game?"

I realized that I didn't want to spend the rest of my year getting random vulgar messages from the football or the basketball team asking me if I had a spare weekend. Pretending to be Troy's girlfriend would definitely keep me from being the center of gossip.

"I guess I don't really have a choice. I mean, I can't undo that kiss in the club, nor can I erase that particular memory from everyone's mind, so one way or the other, they will think that we both hooked up for a one night stand considering the fact that they saw you carry me to your car. Wow, way to complicate things."

"Oh, come on. It'll be fun. I'm not that bad, baby." There was a playful spark in his eyes. "I'll make it worth your while."

"Whatever." I rolled my eyes. "So, I forgot to ask you, but how did you know my name that day in the club and my address?"

"Let's just say I've got a good eye for natural beauty. I've had my eyes on you since the time I joined, babe." He was flirting again. "What lecture do you have now?"

"I'm going to head home." I declared.

"Lovely, I'm going to head to my band practice. Wanna join?"

"Uh...I'm not sure, first I need to collect my things and say goodbye to my friend." I said as I turned on my heel and strode back towards the cafeteria.

"I'll be waiting in the parking lot by my car." Troy called out from behind me.

What was this feeling? Kind of seemed like we were official.

  I returned to the cafeteria to find Nina seeming bored out of her mind, the cheeseburger forgotten. She was checking the feed on her smartphone. This was going to be hard to explain, and I dreaded Chez's reaction to this. It wasn't like Troy was going to be my real boyfriend or anything.

Alana, you just want to try and date someone else who isn't Rowan Masters, even if it is fake. Admit it!

  I tried to tune out the voice in my head. Maybe, just maybe, I wanted to see what it felt like being in a relationship with someone else, or I just wanted to get back at Rowan. I was leaning towards the latter. It was downright childish behavior, but I wondered if Rowan would still be okay with the fake dating, how he would react if he knew that I kissed someone.

    Another voice in my head told me that it wouldn't even matter to him at all. The thought made me angry and mad.

   "Hey, what happened in there?" Nina broke the train of my thoughts.

   "Long story." I said as I grabbed for my things. "I'm going home and Troy is giving me a ride. You are welcome to visit me if you want to know the details, and yeah, don't bring Chez."

   "What about your mozzarella sticks?"

   "You can have them."

    "You're my best friend, I hope you know that."

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