Boundaries

"I know people are temporary, but please just this once, be permanent"

• Inara •

The end of the day was a warm fucking welcome
Even if I did have to walk home today.
"Inara?"
I stopped, facing... Nate?
Was that his name?
We only have two classes together

"I was wondering, as you and Tommy aren't a thing anymore, if maybe you want-"
"Inara"
We both looked over to... Kane?
Unlocking his car
Looking at me expectantly

"Come on, we'll be late" he said
Late? For what?
"Oh, sorry, I didn't realise you two were a thing" he said
"We're not, it's... it's complicated" I said
"Right" he nodded, walking away

I felt... bad. I neared Kane, wondering what the fuck he was playing at
"Get in" he said
"No... thanks, I-"
"Get in" he said again.

I nodded, nervously getting in
Before he started the car
And thus began the painful ride
I wanted to give him directions but he seemed to be going the correct way and I was too nervous to speak.

I should say something
Anything!
"I normally just walk or get the bus-"
"We need to talk" he said
What? About what?
What did I do?

"About?" I asked
"Us, a supposed 'us' anyway" he said
I said nothing.

"Everyone now thinks we're a couple. I think we should keep it that way" he said
"Why?" I asked
"Because, school ends in a few weeks, it'll keep Tommy off your back and everyone else off mine" he explained

"That's... crazy" I said, thinking about it
"We barely know each other, we can't act like a couple" I said
"Everyone thinks we're a new couple. If you think about it, it benefits us both" he said

"Except we'd have to be around each other, act like we're in a relationship, talk to each other" I thought aloud, before the car stopped
And I looked up to see my house
How did he know where I live?

"Think it over alright" he said
"How do you know where I live?" I asked
"I know things, agree to this and you'll find out" he said
He was being... lighthearted?

"Give me your number" I said
He looked at me curiously
"I'll think about it, so give me your number" I said
He pulled his phone out, handing it over
I put my name and number in and handed it back
Leaving it up to him to text me

"Okay, bye then" I said awkwardly, getting out.

•

"Good day?" Ethan asked
"The best" I said sarcastically
"Did you pack the swimsuits?" Mom called from upstairs
"Yes" Ethan called back
"Your mother... we're not leaving until the end of the week" he sighed

Mom was a planner
She needed everything sorted for her mind to rest for even a second
"I can't find the holiday towels" she shouted
"Oh my god" Ethan groaned, leaving the kitchen to go and help her

My phone buzzed
And I stared at the foreign number in my phone

- Got an answer Petal?

I reread it over and over
The nickname was uncalled for
As was the pressure

Maybe it's not such a bad thing though.
I didn't want to date anyone
Not Tommy and certainly not Nate
Maybe keeping people off our backs was a good thing.

Means I wouldn't have to go to homecoming either.
And the look on Tommy's face when we're together is too good to pass up.

I text back against my better judgment, saving his number

- Fine, let's do it

Only for a long wait
It wasn't until I was in bed and half asleep that my phone lit up again

Kane
-I'll pick you up tomorrow morning

Ever the gentlemen.

• Kane •

Petal
-Goodnight Kane

I looked at it, over and over
Do I...
"Boy, help me for fuck sake" dad called from the doorway
I put my phone down, leaving my room to see dad falling over himself in the doorway
I sighed, heading down the stairs to help him

"They threw me out. Again!" He shouted
"Alright dad, you don't have to fucking shout" I muttered under my breath, helping him to the sofa
"Get me another beer, hm? I don't have to quit just because they've made me go!" He shouted towards the end.

"You don't need another one" I said, leaving the living room, shutting the door
"I'll have whatever I fucking want you-"
I shut my bedroom door, blocking out his incessant shouting

• Inara •

"Where is she?" Mom asked, looking at the clock
"Ivy's not picking me up mom" I said
"Then who is?" She asked surprised
"... Kane" I said, looking out of the window
"Who?" She asked

"Kane, a friend" I mumbled
"A friend?" She said, unconvinced
"Yes mom, just a friend" I said, before his car thankfully pulled up outside

• Inara's Outfit •

"He's here, got to go" I rushed out, shutting the front door before she could come out introducing herself
I got into the car, my stomach a bundle of nerves

He was definitely an attractive guy.
His mere aftershave made me nervous, let alone those green eyes looking at me like I was a stranger getting in his car

"Hi" I said unsurely
Before he started the car, ignoring me

"I... I think maybe we should talk, set some boundaries" I began
If we were going to do this, we needed a united front
An agreed stance.

"Boundaries?" He questioned
"Yeah, like all the abrupt... kissing. Touching, backstory, things like that" I said
"We're 'dating'. We should kiss" he said simply
Without any emotion
How is he so calm?

"Yes but... maybe stop catching me off guard so often" I tried
"Whatever Petal" he said
"Why do you keep calling me that?" I asked

"Cute nickname, you're my 'girlfriend' after all" he said boredly
"Oh, do I need one for you?" I asked
"No" he said immediately

I thought about it
It all just seemed so... stressful
"Don't think about it too much, it's a couple of weeks, and then schools over" he said casually.

Yeah. Yeah just a few weeks.

•

"I think this is amazing" Ivy said
"How?" I asked
"You get to 'date' one of the hottest guys here, what's not to like?" She asked
"Excuse me?" I looked up
Fuck

"Can we sit with you?" Koen asked
"Of course, we're practically a little family now right?" Ivy smiled as him and Kane sat down.

"Are we?" Koen chuckled
"Yeah, mommy, daddy" she said, pointing at me and Kane
"Best friends who have casual sex" she muttered, gesturing to herself and Koen
"What?" I asked

"Nothing" she mumbled, looking down at her food
"What is this then?" Koen asked, looking between us
"I don't know, it was Kane's idea, we're just... helping each other out" I offered

"Right... and this help includes what?" He asked
"What do you mean?" I asked
"How far does this arrangement benefit you both?" Ivy asked
I still didn't understand
"Are you two fucking?" Koen asked

"No!" I said
"Don't be an idiot" Kane grumbled
"I'm only asking" he said in defensive

"Well don't, it's not like that" I said, not daring to even look at Kane.

•

By the end of the day, I was so sick of Tommy's glares and everyone's gossiping, I retreated to the library to check out some books
A peaceful moment promptly ruined when Kane came storming in
"I've been looking for you everywhere" he said

"Oh? Why?" I asked
"To take you home?" He said like I was stupid
I started gathering my books up
"Sorry, I didn't realise you thought-"
I stopped, seeing his face

"Sorry" I said again
"What are they?" He asked
"Medicine" I said
"Medicine?" He questioned
"Yeah, I'm planning to go to college, study medicine" I said

He nodded
"What do you want to do?" I asked, trying to make conversation
"Right now? Leave" he deadpanned
"Alright" I groaned.

•

"So, are you free soon? We should go out, do something" I suggested
He laughed
Actually laughed.

"You know we're not actually dating" he said
"No, but if we're pretending to, then don't you think we should at least get to know each other?" I asked
He thought for a moment
"Fine" he said simply
"You don't say much" I pointed out

"Nothing worth saying" he said bluntly, pulling into my street
"Shall we go for ice cream?" I suggested
"I'm not sitting and eating fucking ice cream" he said
I sighed as the car came to a stop

"Fine, then you think of something" I said, getting out and shutting the door hard

He drove off before I even got to the door
"He's bringing you home too" Mom commented as I entered the kitchen, stood by the window
"Can't let me have any secrets huh?" I joked
"If you're dating a boy, we'd just like to know" Ethan clarified from the table, engrossed in his laptop

"He's not my boyfriend" I said
Which was technically true
"If you say so" Mom said

• Kane •

"Hey, bad night again?" Koen asked
"Yeah, can I stay here?" I asked
"Course" he said, letting me in
"Oh Kane, how are you?" Koen's mom asked
"Fine thanks" I said simply, heading up to Koen's room

Dad was going mental when I got back
It's best to just avoid him

"So, how was the drive home?" He asked, smiling
"We're not talking about Inara" I said

"Oh yes we are" he laughed.

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