Is it really fake anymore?

[Captainsassypants]

Michael "Mikey" Briggs

Age: 22


Ellie Atwood

Age : 21

 

[HighFlyer]

Mikey ambled down the street, watching his feet as he went and mumbling under his breath. He was rehearsing his speech he was planning on giving Ellie. Although she was his closest friend, it was still awkward what he had to say and he prayed that she wouldn't take it the wrong way. Mikey continuously glanced over his shoulder, making sure he wasn't being followed. It was pretty early on a Tuesday morning so he was sure that she wasn't on his trail. The she in question? His crazy ex girlfriend Sarah.


Everyone always claimed to have that psycho ex who wouldn't leave them alone, but in Mikey's case, it was a scary reality. He and Sarah had dated for about 6 months before the clinginess grew to be too much and he had to cut her loose. For the first day or so, things seemed to be going great. He had his first gulp of air for the first time in 6 months. But before long, he began to notice that Sarah was actually stalking him and still obsessing over him. Even blocking her number and all of her social media accounts didn't deter the stubborn woman. Obviously the most sensible thing to do would be to get a restraining order, but Mikey didn't have the time nor assets to take someone to court. So instead he came up with this ingenious idea.


Last night, Mikey had sent Ellie an urgent text to meet him at the Bistro in town because they needed to talk. He was purposely vague with his message and hopefully her interest had been piqued and she actually bothered to show up. As he rounded the corner, the small shop came into view. His stride had shortened significantly, dread filled the pit that was his stomach. He pushed open the shop door and quickly gazed the seating area for Ellie. She was seated in a booth in the back corner so he approached her, flashing a quick, lopsided grin. Sliding into the seat across from her, he cleared his throat and began his well rehearsed speech, "Ellie I'm glad you came, I know it's a bit early. Anyways, I told you about how Sarah has been acting since we broke up and you know I don't have the money to take anyone to court so I came up with this great idea. You can pretend to be my girlfriend and eventually she'll get the hint. I don't have to kiss you or do anything weird like that, it's not like that I swear."

 

[Captainsassypants]

Ellie was sitting towards the back in the little bistro Mikey had asked her to meet him at the night before. She wasn't quite sure why she was there or what was so urgent that she needed to meet him so early in the day and it wasn't like he had offered her much information. He had simply told her to meet him. However if she was being completely honest with herself she didn't really even care what the reason for the meeting was- as long as he wasn't in any sort of trouble of course. She was just happy to spend some time with him, he was her friend after all.. Maybe even her best friend. So of course it was only normal for her to want to hang out with him right?


As a few more minutes passed and he still hadn't arrived yet she started checking her phone wondering if maybe he had changed his mind. Maybe something came up and he couldn't come. She was debating on weather or not to text him when she heard the tell tale chime of the door opening and some one entering the restaurant. To her dismay it was not Mikey but just a couple looking to get a quick bite to eat. With a sigh she directed her attention back to her phone double checking his message to make sure she had in fact come at the correct time. A few moments later and the door chimed again. She didn't even look up, barely hearing the sound in the first place. So when Mikey finally did slide into the seat across from her and started to talk she almost jumped out of her skin as she looked up startled and stuffed her phone back into her bag. "Jeez! I didn't hear you come in"


She then grew quiet as he kept talking going on a whole rant about his ex-girlfriend. At first she was completely lost having no idea where he was going with all of this but when he started with the fake girlfriend business her eyes grew huge. "I- you want me to do what?" She stuttered completely taken aback. "I mean do you really think that's a good idea? Wont Sarah just come after me if she thinks we're dating?" She questioned. She had heard more than enough stories to know she didn't want to get on Sarah's bad side. When he then started talking about kissing she couldn't keep the deep blush from creeping onto her cheeks. " So if no kissing or stuff like that" she looked down for a second the blush deepening. "What exactly do you want me to do then?" She asked and dared to glance back up at him while pushing a few strand of hair behind her ear. This whole thing sounded crazy. She wasn't even sure it would work. Don't get her wrong, she wanted to help, she really did. She just wasn't sure this was the right way to go about it. She had a bad feeling that this just wasn't going to end up well. Either she was going to get murdered by Sarah or this was going to end up ruining their friendship in some way.

 

[HighFlyer]

Mikey watched as her cheeks grew red before flicking his eyes up to hers again. He could tell she was hesitant and unsure but he didn't have many other options. "Listen," he began, holding his hands up in a surrendering motion, "I just need you to be all close and stuff with me in public. You know, holding hands and just going on enough dates with me to make this believable." The door chimed and Mikey jumped. He had been on edge the entire time they were seated. Quickly glancing back at Ellie, he shrugged lightly, "And if this doesn't work, or she comes after you we can stop this. I don't want to put you in danger."


Mikey leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. The look and his eyes was one that was desperate and begging. He studied Ellie even closer than before, eagerly searching for any hint that she agreed with him. His hands slid forward and grabbed hers gently. "Please, Ellie?" He begged. "I don't have many other choices here.." The door chimed again but this time Mikey was staring into Ellie's eyes, begging her with his.

 

[Captainsassypants]

Ellie didn't say anything for a long time and just listened. Despite feeling like this was going to somehow go wrong she was having a hard time denying him. Maybe it was just her. It might work out fine for him but she just wasn't so confident in her ability to pretend. She was afraid of it becoming to hard for her. She'd be lying if she said she didn't feel any feelings for him, and pretending do date might end up hitting just a little too close to home for her. Then again were they really doing anything different than they normally did? All she'd have to do was go out with him like they normally did, the only difference being they'd stand a little closer together and hold hands occasionally... She could do that, at least she hoped she could.


Biting her lip nervously as he leaned across the table to take her hands in his and give her a pathetic and desperate look she glanced at his hands and then back at his face again. The way he was staring so intensely at her made her want to squirm. This was far more serious than their normal encounters and she wasn't so sure she liked it. "Fine." She sighed finally giving into him. She new if she didn't agree he was only going to pester her until she did and she really just couldn't take him looking at her like that for any longer. "You owe me for this, big time." She informed him and tried to slip her hands out of his and place them back into her lap. "And if Sarah does end up killing me for this you're going to feel really bad" She said trying to joke a small smile playing on her lips now. She wasn't exactly looking forward going through with this but there was no use in acting miserable about it. She would much rather that they just act they like they always do instead of making it all weird.


"So since this is you're brilliant idea what exactly is our first plan of action" She questioned wondering what he had plan. How could he be sure that Sarah would see them together and believe they were a couple. Mikey had dated her for over 6 months so obviously she already knew that he and Ellie were friends. So her just seeing them together wouldn't really surprise her. They were really going to have to make her believe that they were no longer just friends but a actual couple now.

 

[HighFlyer]

Mikey cheered and pumped his fist, delighted at the fact that she agreed. He pushed his hair back out of his face and flashed her a huge smile. Although they were friends and this had the potential to put a huge strain on their relationship, he was confident that they were close enough to do this successfully. Besides, it wouldn't be anything weird, him and Allie already hung out a lot so there wouldn't be much of a change there. Aside from the occasional hand holding. Mikey laughed at her lame joke and nodded in agreement, "Yea, you're right."


The smell of pastries wafted into Mikey's nostrils, causing him to hum with content. "Well now it's just business as usual. Are you hungry?" He asked, before waving his hand to beckon the waiter over. In his rush this morning, he had forgotten to eat breakfast. Now his stomach growled in protest and begged him to feed it. The waiter approached and Mikey leaned forward, studying the menu. "Could I just get an apple tart or something?" He then looked up at Ellie with a slight smirk on his face. "Do you want anything, babe?" The smirk grew into a full on grin.

 

[Captainsassypants]

Ellie just smiled and shook her head while he pumped his fist in victory. She just hoped that they weren't making a huge mistake. "So how long do you think we'll have to do this for?" She wondered. She figured it would be until Sarah decided to leave him alone, but how long would that take. She might not ever leave him alone. She had just the right amount of crazy and determination to keep following him forever. He might end up having to get a restraining order after all. "Just a question, but how did you not realize how crazy Sarah was before you started dating her?" She teased.


But she was then distracted from any and all teaseing by the idea of food. She had been siting there a while now and she hadn't eaten anything since she woke up. So it went with out saying that her stomach was aching from lack of food. "Yeah I could eat." She said reaching for a menu and looking it over while he called a waiter over to take their order. She let him order first while she continued to look the menu over but at hearing his 'babe' comment her eyes flashed to him with a small frown and she kicked him lightly from under the table. She knew he had to just be messing with her. So she went back to pretending everything was normal and addressed the waiter now "Yes, I'd like a coffee and chocolate chip muffin please." the waiter nodded and walked away to get their order and she turned her attention back to Mikey. "Babe? I thought you said it was business as usual."

 

[HighFlyer]

Mikey had to suppress a laugh when Ellie kicked him under the table. He wasn't lying when he said that things wouldn't really change much between them, but he couldn't resist the chance to make her squirm. He raised his hand in a surrendering motion and laughed quietly. "I'm sorry, Ellie. That was just for fun. It's definitely business as usual I promise." He then folded his hands and placed them on the table, watching Ellie and trying to gauge how she felt. This was pointless though, Mikey was catastrophically terrible at reading people. His inability to do so is what put him this situation in the first place.


The waiter returned to the table, leaving Ellie her coffee before leaving again to get the rest of their food. Mikey wrinkled his nose as the bitter smell overloaded his senses. He couldn't stand coffee. It reminded him of Sarah. As if the simple thought of her attracted the crazy woman, the doorbell chimed again and Mikey paled as she entered the Bistro. "You've got to be kidding me," he said in the most exasperated tone he could manage.