Chapter 35: Chapter: 35

ADDISON

After what Shepherd did, defending me against Angela in the dining hall, I would be lying if I said I wasn't touched by it. A part of me has started to forget all the reasons why I should stay away. And honestly, I don't know which part of me was winning anymore.

The part that insists I keep to my promise to keep my head down, swallow all the humiliation, and finish high school quietly.

Or the other me, the real Addison Campbell, who refused to take shit lying down and tolerated bullying. Lately, the lines had blurred.

That part of me didn't want to bend to anyone, regardless of the consequences. But that kind of thought is against everything my family told me.

Especially now that the media's eyes are back on us again. Not that it ever went away.

Honestly, I'm just exhausted from hiding the truth. I never knew what a burden secrets are until I found myself here.

Every second, I'm afraid someone will find out who I am and make my life miserable, but on the other hand, I feel like I could be free from the burden of hiding the real me.

And I had a feeling it had everything to do with Shepherd.

After the drama at lunch, the whispers around school were even louder than usual. Everywhere I went, eyes followed me.

I caught fragments of conversation, my name, Shepherd's name, and a whole lot of exaggerations. And for once, no one made any snide remarks towards me, no one looked at me the wrong way, and no one called me a charity case.

The rest of the day passed pretty quickly. And yet, my mind was still filled with worry for my family. Although it's the first time, I didn't feel like I was walking on spikes.

“Hey, Jess! Do you have any dirty clothes? I'm going to wash a few of my clothes downstairs and, of course, my uniform,” I yelled at Jess, who was taking a shower.

“Just my uniform,” she yelled from inside the bathroom. “I think I caught a little bit of that pasta.”

I walked into the bathroom and checked the hamper. Jess's uniform was inside. I'd had mine wrapped and shoved into a bag after I cleaned up in the bathroom at school.

Then I had Jess grab my cheerleader uniform, which I wore beneath Shepherd's hoodie, and we went back to our dorm.

It's already night now, I’d only remembered about my ruined uniform and decided to do some laundry, because I couldn't stop thinking about what happened at the library.

My stomach had been in knots ever since, and my heart wouldn't stop its incessant pounding. I still can't believe that it really happened, that I'd agree to be Shepherd's fake girlfriend.

Sure, it wasn't like I had any options at the time. Shepherd had used my fear to coerce me into agreeing to this sham of a relationship.

Deep down, I already know I couldn't hold off for long, especially not after he'd revealed that he always knew who I was.

The asshole had known all along that I was Raymond Campbell's daughter and had kept it a secret and had only exposed the truth when it suited him.

I shake my head, trying to banish his thoughts from my head. I grabbed the basket of dirty clothes and walked out of our room into the hallway.

Although it's a bit late, some of the girls in our dorm are still awake. I pass a couple of them in the hallway as they all go about their businesses.

“Addie!” My head snapped up as I glanced at my side, where the sound came. Emma stood inside their open bedroom with her phone to her ear.

I flash a soft smile and wave at Lia, who was sitting on her bedside, scrolling through her phone.

“Where are you going?” Emma mouths as she listens to the person on the other end of her call.

“Downstairs to the laundry room,” I replied, frowning when she waved me over. I walked towards her.

She covered the mouthpiece and lowered the phone from her ear. “Listen, can you please do a recital with me? I've been chosen to play the female protagonist in our theater, and I need someone to read the script with me. Are you available?” Her eyes pleaded with me.

I grimace. “Sorry, I'm going to do my biology assignment after this. But if it's not urgent, I can read it with you tomorrow, tonight?”

Her smile widened. “Oh my god! Yes, sure. Tomorrow is perfect. Just let me know when you're free so I can come over.”

“Okay, deal.”

The laundry was almost empty, except for a short blonde I know as Gloria, who was folding her clothes. She sent me a smile which was strange, she's never done that before, but whatever, I smiled back at her as I walked to the industrial side washing machines.

I carefully sorted out the clothes, shoved my uniform, which is the worst of them, into a separate washing machine, and then the others into one, then I started it.

Then I walked back to the chairs and wall and sat my ass down.

Gloria waved goodbye and then left, leaving me alone with only the sound of the washing machine as company.

I reach into my sweatpants pocket for my phone only to realize I'd left it back on my bed. For a split second, I thought of going back to our room and getting my phone so that I won't be alone in this silence, and also because I don't want to think about Shepherd's palm against my naked ass cheeks.

Every time I thought about it, I felt a pulse down south and an excited thrill in my blood. Even now, I feel my stomach quiver just by thinking about it; that alien feeling of his hand touching a place so intimate instantly floods my insides and makes me squirm in my seat.

God, I shouldn’t feel this way about Shepherd touching me. I should be disgusted with the way he treats girls. Admittedly, the girls knew what they were getting into.

But even so, Shepherd should be the last person I think of in that way; the way he treated Angela should serve as a warning.

But then, I’m not Angela; I would never cling to a man who doesn’t know my worth or feel the same way I do for him.

Just then, the dryer buzzed so loudly it startled me. I jump to my feet.

“Shit!” I mutter, glaring at the machine guiltily, as though it personally offended me.

I pulled open the dryer, and a wave of warm air hit my face. I start to take out the clothes when I get a familiar sensation behind me.

The laundry room door clicked shut. I whirled around and instantly froze in place. My eyes widened with disbelief.

“You have got to be kidding me,” I whispered, too scared someone might hear if I spoke any louder.

Shepherd grins, completely unbothered by the fact he's just broken a rule. Those liquid silver eyes rake over my crop top and sweatpants with deliberate slowness that had my heartbeat tripling all on its own.

“What the hell are you doing in here?”

“In the laundry room?” he asked, frowning as he pushed off the door and strode towards me, both hands in his jeans pockets. He looked too calm for someone who's committed a suspension-level offense.

“Here, in the girls’ dorm,” I hissed.

He shrugs. “I'm here to see you, of course, we didn't get to finish our conversation earlier.”

He smirks, making me blush, but I ignore the burning on my face. My eyes darted to the hallway beyond him. “If anyone sees you…”

“Relax, they won't,” he replies nonchalantly.

“You don't know that, my god, Shepherd, you're going to get me in so much trouble.”

“You said we needed to go over rules,” he says. “Tomorrow is our first public date, well, first ever date. So I'm here. I want to make sure we're on the same page.”

“We can always talk about this tomorrow. In public. During daylight. Like normal people, you know.”

Shepherd shrugged, just as he stopped a few feet before me. He stops a few feet away.

“Normal is overrated. Besides, it will be too late then, don't want you messing up on our first day.” He winks at me.

I crossed my arms over my chest. “You need to leave.”

“After we settle the contract.”

I snickered, rolling my eyes. “It’s not a freaking contract.”

“It absolutely is. Fake dating requires structure.”

I would laugh because of how ridiculous this whole situation is, except Shepherd looks every bit as serious as he sounds.

“I'm not signing any contract,” I muttered.

He grinned. “And I'm not asking you to.”

He steps closer, too close if I'm to be honest. Shepherd is dangerous, so I doubt even a mile is enough space between us.

His eyes caught mine and held, as though he could hear how loudly my heart was pounding and was expecting me to crack under his gaze.

“What are the rules?” he asks quietly.

I swallowed, forcing my brain into work because his proximity was distracting as hell.

“Rule one,” I started, taking a deliberate step back. “No actual feelings, this is fake, and that's all it will ever be.”

His face hardened, eyes narrowed, but he shrugged. “Agreed.”

“Rule two, you help me keep my secret from everyone. And I mean everyone. You don’t tell a soul, not even your friends.”

“That goes without saying. I already agreed to protect your secret in exchange for this fake dating arrangement.”

I sighed. “Three, when it’s just us, we keep our distance. You don’t interfere with my schedule, and you don’t hover.”

Shepherd kept his face perfectly blank. “I’m listening.”

“Four, there will be no excessive PDA. And if we ever have to kiss, you’ll keep it PG. No tongue. Ever.”

He arched one dark brow but said nothing.

My eyes narrowed. I didn’t trust his silence. I was waiting for him to argue, but instead, he waved his hand for me to continue.

“Lastly,” I continued, ticking off my final finger, “I don’t care if this relationship is fake. You’ll keep it in your pants. I won’t be made a joke because you can’t stop collecting girlfriends like trophies.”

Shepherd’s eyes darkened, something dangerous flickering in them. His mouth twitched, not quite a smile.

“I assure you, I can keep it perfectly in my pants.” He pushed off the wall and covered the space between us.

“But I'm not opposed to a little fun, if you decide to stop lying to yourself and want to find out why all the girls can't stay away from me,” he murmured low, making my heart hammer in my chest.

“So, we agreed?” I asked, biting my lip.

Shepherd steps even closer now, almost as close as we were this evening. Movement and sounds from the hallway make me whip my head toward the door, eyes wide with fear.

Shepherd hurriedly steps closer, blocking me entirely from view if someone looks in. He was literally pressed against me.

The footsteps passed, and the silence and sudden tension were thick enough to cut with a knife.

“You need to go, now,” I whispered.

“You first,” he says, “I'll go when you leave.”

I didn't argue, I hugged my basket and started towards the door.

“Wait!” he said, dragging me back. Honestly, this has got to stop. He's always dragging me whenever I'm about to leave.

“You need to stop doing that.”

“I will do whatever the hell I want,” he murmured, holding my gaze. “Now about your rules.”

I frown, my eyes narrowed because if he's going to say he doesn't agree with my rules. Then this deal is off. I don't care if he makes my life hell.

“What about them?” I gritted.

“You better be a damn believable actress when we kiss, otherwise I'm going to forget about your fourth rule and kiss you how I damn please,” Shepherd murmured, tucking a lock of hair behind my ear.

I swallow hard at that threat, or was it a promise? It sounded more like a promise, and I knew he would do it, too.

Sadly, I have nothing to say, because how do I explain to him that the only person I've ever kissed was him? That he was my first kiss. I'd rather die than admit that to him.

“Whatever,” I said, about to leave.

“Wait!” He stops me again.

“Really?” I hissed angrily, turning to glare at him.

Shepherd reaches behind him and plucks something from the dryer I'd left open, then raises my red bra, hanging on his index finger between us, his lips curved into a smirk, his eyes gleaming wickedly.

My face flamed with heat as I quickly snatched my bra from his finger.

“Pervert!” I snapped and stormed out of the laundry, his low chuckle the last thing I heard from him.