Chapter 48 CHAPTER 48

Chapter 48 CHAPTER 48
"Did you make a bet with Amy?

There was no anger in Cross’s voice, just a quiet neutrality paired with a mask of indifference.

Apprehension spread across my every nerve. I never texted Amy about that bet. And the bet was a silly one. The kind Cross wouldn't react to this way. Which meant whatever he saw wasn't real.

"Yes. But…"

"Shhhh," he said softly, placing his index over my lips and crushing them to silence. "I ask the questions. No explanations unless I ask for them."

I swallowed the lump in my throat.

"I was the target of this bet, yes or no?" he asked softly.

"Yes."

"Yes, of course I was. Because I'm just a manwhore anyway, so why not mess with me?" He brushed my cheeks tenderly, thumb molding the corners of my lips into a chilling imitation of a smile. "I know I've made comments in the past that hurt you, I just didn't realize it was enough for you to want to ruin me. What was the plan? Be my girlfriend, and then leave mne to be with someone else? For Theodore. Yes, that would've actually hurt."

My eyes widened. "Where are you getting this false information from?"

He clamped my lips shut with his thumb and index, like a captor trying to control a noncompliant hostage.

"You keep asking questions. Next time you delete messages, make sure you go to the delete bin. I refused to hear Amy when she tried telling me then, but she still went ahead a week later and screenshotted your conversations to me."

I shook my head furiously, denying everything he was saying. Cross wouldn't let up on my lips. He even gave them a quick peck.

"It's okay, Clara. I know I was mean sometimes, but I always cared about you. It's obvious by your actions and the way the text messages stopped that you must've had a change of heart about me, am I right? Did I convince you of my change?"

All I could do was nod. Cross smiled. He finally released my lips, but it was only to replace his fingers with his mouth. His lips brushed mine in a slow, dark kiss, heavy with accusation and longing.

When he pulled back, I spoke, "I would never do that to you. The only bet I made with her was to get your attention. That's it. Those messages are fake."

He bit my lower lip hard enough for me to wince. "Answer my last question, do you have feelings for Theodore? Any at all?"

"No. And I would never use another guy to make you jealous. That's why I cut things off with Jacob before it even began. I'm closed off to dating anyone in school unless it's you."

"Oh?" He got distracted staring at my face, brushing strands away from my forehead.

At last satisfied with my response, he rested his head on my chest and closed his eyes. His arm draped over me, warm lead pinning me down so I couldn't escape. In this position I barely managed to reach for my phone. When I tapped the screen to read the content, my heart immediately dropped.

He was right.

An entire fake conversation with Amy in the deleted bin. From her second number. The one she bought online when Cross blocked her on her first.

The most chilling part was these text messages did sound like me. Especially in the beginning where she wrote things I'd previously told her.

They began with me supposedly giving Amy advice to get over Cross. That she should move on from a player who didn't want her.

It transitioned to Amy stating her 'genuine' feelings for him no matter what. And a subtle jealousy of mine poking through -but not jealousy for Cross, but towards Amy- which led to me making a dare for getting Forrest's attention to prove any girl-even a girl like me could get him.

The text threads escalated to making him my boyfriend with the end goal of breaking up with him publicly and then giving my feelings to Theodore.

"Cross, you know I'd never do this to you."

He didn't lift his head. His voice was hollow. "It's fine. This is my karma for fucking around too much."

"I care about you," I said earnestly. "At least look at the dates and timestamps," I said, maneuvering the screen to reveal them.

I had to restore the messages from the trash bin to show the timing. "Look- every single message was sent during cheer practice. That's impossible. She must've slipped into the locker room pretending she needed the bathroom and typed it all herself."

My mind was blown. I had no idea she'd been carefully watching enough to memorize my code. In my fury, I sent her a text.

Clara | I know about the fake texts. Count your minutes.

Meanwłhile, Cross refused to even glance at the screen. "Prove it."

"I am… look."

He didn't budge.

"Differently."

I exhaled. He was being difficult. "How?"

He finally looked at me again. His eyes were streaked like fractured skies, jagged with emotion.

"You become my girlfriend, and then..." His palm pushed against mattress as he hovered over me again. "Then you marry me and never leave me."

I stared at him. "Do you hear yourself? First you want me to follow you to college, and now you're bringing up marriage?"

And the terrifying part was he wasn't even kidding. My hand rose to cup his cheek, my fingers trembling over his soft skin.

"I'll be your girlfriend, but we should give our relationship time to develop. Your feelings are new right now"

"I've been wanting you."

"Cross, think hard. I know you understand the feelings you have for me now, but you were confused not too long ago."

"Just because I didn't know what they were doesn't mean they weren't there. We're graduating in less than five months. My life will be different soon."

"You don't think you're moving too fast?"

"No. There's no one else for me but you. I don't want anyone else, and I don't trust anyone else."

His arms coiled around me like a snake, eyes fervent and wild. I couldn't bring myself to convince him to slow down, not when he was this emotionally unstable.

I forced his head back onto my chest and willed him to relax. We spoke about very sensitive topics today. Rather than try to rationalize with him, it was best he just rest. I didn't want him overpromising things when he was so vulnerable.

"This means you agree, right?" he asked, closing his eyes. I remained quiet and merely played with his hair. "Good. I'm glad we're on the same page now."

I inwardly groaned. I didn't even say anything! And yet, in view of his obvious misunderstanding, I didn't have the heart to correct him. Not now. Slowly, Cross melted into me. His muscles relaxed and his breathing deepened.

We stayed like that for almost an hour. No words spoken, just a restful silence that draped over us like a blanket. There were moments he would jerk suddenly, his hold tightening around me constrictively untilI played with his hair or rubbed circles into his back.

The distant rumble of a car engine was what finally stirred him.

"My mom's here," he sighed, reluctantly lifting himself off me.

8pm. A long day at work today. I hoped meeting me hadn't become an inconvenience.

Cross steps were unbothered as he held my hand to the foyer. When the door opened, I wasn't sure what I expected, but what entered was a sleek bob, wide doe-like eyes, and a sharp suit skirt.

Cross immediately reached for the bags in her hands. I was relieved that instead of cooking she'd opted to order food.

"Hey honey," she said, kissing his cheek. She turned to me with a gentle smile despite her tired eyes. "I brought takeout. I hope you don't mind."

"Not at all! Work must be tiring enough." I extended a hand. "I'm Clara."

Rather than take my hand she drew me into a hug. "Cross mentioned you so much. It's nice to finally put a face to the name."

Cross grunted like she wasn't supposed to say that. She warmly guided me to the dining room, where Cross set placemats for the food. The evening which had anxiously hung over my head unfolded into effortless conversation.

Cross's mom, Julia, was as sweet as she was smart. Hearing she was a lawyer made me anticipate someone cold and calculated, but instead she was inviting. She apologized twice for staying late at work, and even insisted I come over again as soon as possible to try her famous lasagna.

She was delighted when I asked about her hobbies, and I learned she continuously joined marathons. On Saturday afternoons she went to a pottery class.

"Pottery lets me mess up without consequences," she said. "That's rare in my line of work."

She asked me similar questions and I told her how this year I finally joined the cheerleading team in a last-minute effort to continue my family's legacy.

Julia thought that was the cutest thing.

For a moment I wondered if Cross felt left out, we had been conversing amongst each other without giving him much space for input, but he seemed to be enjoying his lo mein in peace. It wasn't until she asked me about college that his ears perked.

"Which career path are you considering for college?"

"I’m between fields, but I think my gut is telling me PT school. I'm checking physical therapy programs this weekend to start applying, I'm a little behind, actually," I said, rubbing my neck.

"You're in a good place," she reassured. "When I went to college I had no idea what I wanted to do. At least you have direction, it'll save you from doing courses that don't count towards your major."

"I'll help you look," Cross offered, "some of the colleges I'm looking at have great health programs."

Translation; you can only apply to the colleges I'm considering. I felt his foot bump mine beneath the table.

His mom smiled knowingly.

"Sure,"I said. "We can do that."

His shoulders relaxed, and the night continued with ease.

When the evening came to a close and Cross dropped me off home, the first thing I noticed was Amy's car missing from its usual spot. Deciding to focus on Cross, I leaned in and initiated a kiss. His leg began that light tapping it did whenever he got excited.

I pulled back, giggling, and searched his eyes. "You know the messages were fake, right? You didn't look at the timestamps."

Cross clutched my hand to his chest dramatically. "If the only way I can have you is through pain," he said solemnly, "then I'd rather endure it than to never have you at all."

I groaned. "Cross!"

His smile turned mischievous. "You know what you have to do for me to believe you."

I sighed. "Go to the same college and marry you?"

He inclined his head in a single nod.

"You're something else," I muttered, but I was smiling.

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A/N: Aw, our boy lowkey has issues 🫠
What about it tho? Don't we all?? (We all do right?🫤)
Anyways, our story has like 3 chapters left (long ones tho) and maybe an extra if I'm feeling up to it...
Don't forget to support, it helps me more than you know 🙏🏿❤️