Old Times

It's dawn and Ana is getting ready for school, exam week is over and she's having breakfast with her friend Davi:

“I'm so happy that exam week is over, now all I have to do is finish some work and I'll be able to relax, and how are you enjoying your internship at my parents' office?”

Davi smiles and replies:

“Oh, yes, I'm improving my language, and I'm learning new things, it's been very good for me, darling.”

Ana still turns red and frowns every time he calls her “darling” but it makes her feel special somehow, she was really missing her friend, since she's not getting on well at school, and making new friends, in fact the ones she did make, she ended up avoiding, for now Justin and Paul are the people she has the most contact with at school, and of course Luke.

Everything was going well at breakfast, until her mother notifies her of a letter that has arrived in the post, notifying her that the Elders of her family, the Beckers, and the Howards have organized a family meeting, to seal an engagement agreement, they are just waiting for a date but it will be soon, Ana ends up choking on her coffee, one of her nightmares is finally coming true.

("Damn, I'd finally forgotten about this ‘future engagement agreement’)

Ana tries to calm down, and Davi reassures her that they can continue to pretend to be dating, so that she can try to dodge this family engagement agreement, it wouldn't be a bad idea since Ana has been using this story since the beginning, she can only say that she changed boyfriends, because Davi doesn't look anything like the person in the photo she showed him earlier, he has brown hair, and greenish brown eyes, being even more handsome than his cousin in the photo, they decide to keep their “fake dating”.

Everything is going well at school, until Scoot looks for Ana to talk to, this isn't the first time he's gone after her, he goes to the library because he knows that Ana is always there reading or studying, she's sitting at one of the tables in the library, her desk is full of books, she has an assignment to do and hand in, Scoot sits down in the chair opposite her, and pushes some books away, to look at Ana's face, she notices his presence she looks at him, but still remains serious, she pulls the books back as if wanting to avoid him, but again he pushes the books away, and as soon as she goes to pull them back, he holds her hand she tries to let go of his hand, but he continues to hold her, she gives up and asks:

“What do you want Scoot? I told you, I'm angry with you, because of you...”

She stops in the middle of her sentence, she sighs, he makes a face like he's aware of what's happened, and retorts:

“Good morning, Ana, I've already explained, it was an accident, we were in the middle of a bet.”

Ana looks confused now, and asks:

“What? What do you mean a bet?

Scoot gives a slight smile as he explains:

“I wasn't the one who hit him on the head, I can't be blamed for something I didn't do, about the fight he was there because he wanted to be, there was something important to be bet on, that's all I can say for now, I'm waiting for the sleeping beauty to wake up.”

Ana continues to frown, she still seems confused by what he's saying, Scoot remembers something important and continues his speech:

“By the way, did you get the letter about the Elders' meeting? You can officially become my fiancée now.”

Ana rolls her eyes, she has heard from him before that his invitation for her to join his team in the Awakening Test had been turned down before, but now it has become something bigger, if it is the will of the Elders they will seal an engagement agreement, it could be with the Howards, or with Scoot, she pulls his hand that he is holding, and says:

“I heard, but I have a boyfriend, so this deal can't be made.”

Scoot smiles again, brings his face close to Ana's and whispers:

“A fake boyfriend won't be enough for them to change their minds Ana, they've probably already chosen their future fiancé.”

Ana tries to argue:

“Fake? What do you mean, he's staying at my house, sleeping in my room, how can anyone think that's fake?”

Scoot doesn't look convinced, the end of the break bell rings, he gets up and before saying goodbye, gives her a wink and says:

“If your plan goes wrong, let me know, I'll be your replacement.”

Ana turns red with embarrassment, she can't tell if it's because she's lying, or if it's because Scoot is always so provocative, but she knows that her plan probably won't work, she needs to think of a backup plan, that will depend on whether Luke is awake by then.

...