I blinked rapidly, trying to process what had just happened. The contract was over? Just like that? Why had Bennett snapped like that? I couldn't let it end— not if it was because of me.

Ariana poked her head out of the dressing room door, mouth slightly agape. "Is everything...okay?"

"Yes. I'm just an idiot, Ariana."

"You are not. And you are not worthless either," she replied firmly. "I didn't mean to listen in and I don't know what has been going on, but please don't think like that. It hurts to hear you say that. I'm sure Bennett feels the same way."

"Maybe this is a good thing. He deserves someone better. I'm so immature."

"Everyone is a little immature, Henley. Especially when it comes to our feelings."

I smiled wryly. "I can't even deal with being told I'm not good enough for someone."

"Who doesn't get hurt by that?" she shot back.

"But—"

She closed the door to the fitting room a little more roughly than she should have. "Henley, what are you doing? You're not the type to beat yourself up like this. You're not good enough for Bennett? Why? Who can decide that?"

"His mother—"

"Doesn't know you," she interjected. "Just prove to her you're good enough for Bennett. Personally, I think you're too good for him. Even if this is just some fake relationship. Where's that feisty spirit of yours?"

Her brown eyes bored into mine as if daring me to talk back. I felt my shoulders relax. "You're right."

"I know. Now go chase that man down and talk this out."

I nodded. Right, Bennett was my first priority. I couldn't let him think this was his fault. I couldn't let this contract end. "Thanks, Ariana."

In only my socks and the dress I tried on, I hurried out of the waiting room and back into the main room. A quick survey of the room showed no signs of Bennett. Sebastian was chatting with the young man at the register, his back leaning against the counter. "Where's Bennett?" I asked him.

"He just went outside," he replied, frowning a little. "Did something happen? He looked pissed."

"Kind of," I said and then headed to the door.

"Excuse me!" I heard the salesman call after me. "You can't leave in that!"

I ignored him and exited the store. The sun had set leaving the sidewalks lit up only by fluorescent streetlights and the little bit of light seeping out from the stores. The pavement was chilly and I bounced a little on the balls of my feet as I looked around in hope that Bennett was still nearby. When I couldn't spot anyone, I decided to head back to the parking lot where the car was. He wouldn't leave, would he? A part of me thought he was oblivious enough to leave us stranded, but the better part reasoned he was smart enough not to do that.

But it wasn't a time to question Bennett's intelligence, anyway.

As soon as I set off, a loud voice sounded from somewhere around me. I jumped a bit and then recognized the voice as Bennett's. Rounding the corner of a section of buildings, I found him standing in the little hidden area between them. He was partially concealed by the shadows and I felt a little relieved knowing I wouldn't have to try and hunt him down.

"I know she's there," he was saying and I realized he was on his cell phone. "Give the phone to her right now."

Her? Did he mean his mother? "Bennett!" I called, closing the distance between us. "Wait a moment."

He glanced at me, eyes tight. "Not now, Henley."

Even in this situation, I felt a little irritation at his tone. "Who are you talking to? Your mother?"

"Henry, I will fire you if you do not put her on," he warned the recipient of the phone call.

What was he doing? Trying to start an argument with his mother? Over me? I wasn't worth that. I couldn't let him do that. Before he had a chance to react, I snatched the phone from his hand and hit the end button multiple times. "What are you doing?" I demanded.

"Give me my phone."

I moved it behind my back. "No. If you're calling your mother to yell at her about this situation, I'll keep it until you calm down."

"You should want me to do this."

"I overreacted earlier. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have taken it out on you. I really didn't mean it," I apologized, lowering my gaze. "Please forgive me."

He let out a frustrated noise. "You shouldn't be the one apologizing here."

I pursed my lips as I looked back up at him. "Yes, I should. Hearing you say you're not good enough for me sucks probably as much as you thinking I thought the same way about you. I don't want you to feel like that, Bennett."

"It's my fault for—"

"It's no one's fault. Yeah, your mother surprised me, but I shouldn't have let her get me so easily. I don't even know why she got to me so easily. I don't think I'm worthless. Please don't cause trouble over me. I know I'm pretty awesome, so don't worry."

"So she did say something?" he asked, ignoring my attempt at lightening the mood.

I grit my teeth a little. Did he only hear what he wanted to hear? "Let's just drop it, Bennett. I didn't come outside to argue with you."

"I can't just leave this alone—"

"You can and you will," I cut him off firmly. "This isn't something to have a family issue about."

He folded his arms over his chest. "Just hand me the phone and go back inside. You're barely wearing anything."

I stood up a little straighter. "I won't."

"Henley. I don't feel good about this. Let me rectify it."

"Alright, that's all I needed to hear. Problem solved. Do you feel better?"

He gave me an exasperated look. "No. My mother shouldn't be able to just do as she pleases with my relationships and she should know that."

"We're not even really dating," I said sharply. "It's not worth creating a problem over a fake relationship. In six months, this won't even be an issue. I'll be gone and your mother won't have to worry. Please don't say anything to her."

I waited for his response, but he stayed silent, fists clenching.

"This is the way you wanted it to be too, isn't it? Your mother knows of me now and I take it she doesn't really like me. So after this whole thing is over and done with she'll probably be more than happy that we broke up and give you all the time you need to find someone you actually care about," I tried, trying to put a cheerful note in my tone. "It actually works out perfectly, huh?"

His expression didn't change. "I said I would cancel the contract."

My heart fell a little. "Why? Because of me? I don't want that, Bennett."

"You don't want us to cancel the contract?"

"No," I told him, shaking my head. "I'm not going to let this happen again. I was just frustrated. Remember what I said earlier? Next time your mother sees me I'll make sure there's nothing for her to nitpick at me about."

He pulled a hand through his hair, sighing. "That's exactly it, Henley. I don't want you to feel you have to pretend you're someone you're not anymore."

"It's part of our contract," I pointed out. "You wrote it yourself."

"That's—"

"And I knew what I'd be getting into when I agreed to this."

"No, you didn't. That's why you think I make you feel worthless," he said.

"You don't," I snapped at him, frustrated. "I told you. It was just a moment of insecurity. I don't care what your mother said, so please don't make it a big deal."

He narrowed his eyes. "You're angry at the wrong thing here. Why are you arguing with me over this? We should cancel the contract and just—"

"I'm the one who had the problem here and now I don't. I'm telling you right now that I don't want to end this contract, so don't to convince me to end it!" My voice echoed through the small alleyway and I clamped my mouth shut, realizing I was getting too worked up. I fidgeted for a moment, eyes anywhere but Bennett's face. This wasn't what I'd wanted to happen. Why was I fighting with him? I really wasn't helping out the whole immature aspect about myself like this.

"Why don't you want to cancel it?"

"Why?" I repeated, looking up at him. He held my gaze for a few seconds, dark eyes smoldering into mine and I lost my train of thought. "Because... because..."

"The money?"

"No," I said immediately. It wasn't because of the money. And I didn't want Bennett to think that was the only reason why I wanted to help him.

"Then why?"

What reason could I give him? What was the reason I wanted to continue it so badly? Was it solely because I was too stubborn to let his mother get to me? It was probably best to let both her and Bennett go. He irked me to no end and sometimes it was hard to keep up with him. But I found myself not wanting that to end. I didn't want to let Bennett go. In this whole world the number of people I cared about, I could count on one hand and Bennett had become one of them. "I..." I started, feeling my mouth go dry.

"You what, Henley? You better give me a good reason. You were so against this at first. Why do you want to help me now?"

Tell him, Henley!

"I don't like going back on my word," I babbled. "I said I'd help you and I will. Something like this won't stop me. Let's just forget this happened and go back to how we were before. We're getting to be pretty good friends, aren't we? I kind of want to rub our relationship in your mother's face. Ha ha ha ha!"

I kept laughing for a few more seconds and then slapped a hand over my mouth to make it stop when his lips didn't even twitch. You're a psycho, I scolded myself. My cheeks grew hot and I wanted to shove my face into the brick wall we were standing next to.

What the hell was I thinking? I didn't want Bennett to go? I couldn't tell him that! It would give him the wrong idea and he'd definitely cancel the contract. He'd probably run thirty miles in the other direction because no way in hell Bennett would ever end up with someone like me. He'd stated it right at the beginning— we couldn't have feelings for each other. And I didn't have feelings for him. It was Bennett. We were just friends.

I peeked at him and he stared back at me, his lips pressed in a straight line. Was he really not going to budge? Maybe I had to go for a dirtier tactic. "Also... I wouldn't have anywhere to live."

That got him. He relaxed his posture and let out a long breath. "You're right. I understand."

"So you won't cancel this contract?"

He nodded.

I felt a weight lifted off of my shoulders. "Okay, good. Let's forget this even happened then. It's embarrassing. I don't usually fish for compliments, so I feel slightly mortified right now."

"Compliments?" Suddenly it seemed to hit him. His eyes widened. "Wait. You just wanted a compliment from me?"

Having him put it that way made me cringe. "You didn't know?"

His face flushed. "No— that aside, I'm adding one condition to our agreement."

"What's that?"

"From now on there's no interaction between you and my mother unless I am present."

I shrugged. "That's fine with me. I mean, I didn't even plan to see her that time in the first place."

"Go back inside and get changed. I don't want the store thinking you're stealing from them."

Was that his try at being lighthearted? Like mother like son, huh. "You're coming with me right?"

"In a minute."

I eyed him warily. "Should I hold onto your phone then?"

He frowned as he held out his hand. "No, I'll take it. I won't be calling my mother. I won't risk my position for a fake relationship."

"And you shouldn't," I agreed, but I couldn't help feeling slightly disappointed in his words. Which didn't make sense, because I was the one who had told him not to make a big deal out of it. I didn't understand my emotions.

We both stood there for another moment, sharing the silence between us. I chewed on my bottom lip, unsure for a moment. We're we really okay now? It wasn't a huge issue, but I felt like Bennett took things further than they had to go. Eventually, I turned away from him. If he said things were okay now, I'd believe him.

"Henley," he started.

I paused, looking over my back at him. "What?"

"You should get that dress. I'm sorry I didn't say so earlier, but it really suits you."

I cracked into a smile. "Thanks, Bennett."

He didn't smile back.

__________________________________

Hey guys!

Sorry for the like, month delayed update. I've had some major writer's block. It usually happens when I finish a really good book / t.v show because I always think, "man that was so good. what I write is such trash." and then I have to wallow in self-hate.

You know, just typical writer things. LOL D:

This is kind of short but fret not because in about two hours the next part of this chapter will be out! I just wanted to split them because it's Henley's vs. Bennett's POV. This was Henley's (obviously). 

She's so dumb.

Anyway. I wrote an article on Buzzfeed about Wattpad if you'd like to check it out. You can find the link on my twitter :D I put the link in the external link or you can just search JordanLynde_