"Damn Leo. Check her out!" Seth whispered in Leo's ear, pointing towards Isabela aka Bella.

"Stop being a jerk!" I reprimanded him, slapping playfully at the back of Seth's head, "It's rude to check out girls like that."

His head turned towards me and he mumbled a 'sorry', not meeting my eyes. His cheeks were tinged pink as he shuffled his feet, and rubbed the spot on the back of his head. Liam and Leo chuckled at him, but they weren't any wiser, their eyeballs moving to and fro to get a good glimpse of her. I sighed and shook my head.

The three of them stood leaning against the counter, elbows placed on the slab in a synchronized manner, and half turned towards me standing behind the counter. Five minutes had passed since they came back from their swimming practice, and they were already gawking at Brandon and Isabela who were talking at the nearest table.

"You know it's rude to blatantly stare at people like that?" I whispered, and the three of them whipped their head back towards me.

"Is it? Well I have always been on the receiving end." Leo chuckled, winking at me.

I rolled my eyes at his words though still working hard to subdue the hear creeping up my neck (that would obviously make me look like a tomato). Feigning indifference, I muttered, "Whatever. "

This time I looked at Brandon and her myself. Truthfully, I could see where their infatuation was coming from. Isabela was a beauty to the eyes and her low cut top and tight jeans only added to the appeal. Her red lipstick was spot on and even her hands were perfectly manicured flourish a lot of fantasies. She was the epitome of girl crushes and body goals, the boys were bound to treat her like a goddess however her attitude might be. Which wasn't that pretty. Despite knowing that, it made me feel like a junkie standing close to her polished form. My tank top and shorts looked almost kiddish and even my hair were their usual messed up curls.

I looked at the time to see that it was already half past six. They had been talking for over an hour now. Just what they were discussing?

Probably how to CPR the correct way.

"Ty, you can go now! Your sugar would be here soon!" my mother shouted from the kitchen followed by her short laugh. I blushed at her teasing and for a moment, a hush seemed to fall upon the cafe.

"Okay!" I replied, popping my head inside the kitchen for a moment to look at her, "And you could have just said his name, Mom! I should have never told you my nickname for him!"

"But it's too much fun teasing them." She winked, inclining her head towards the boys. I just shook my head at her over-worked mind. Turning back to the cafe, my eyes caught Brandon's eyes for a split second before I looked away.

Yeah, take that! I thought wistfully. Hopping back to the counter, I tried to ignore the burning stare Brandon was shooting me from across the cafe. Not giving him the satisfaction of returning the stare, I took out my apron and hung it on Leo's head.

"Do you mind staying here till my mother comes out?" I asked Leo, belatedly realizing that the three of them were staring at me. Brushing my hair out of my eyes, I blurted, "What?"

"You're going out?" Liam whispered. His voice sound dejected, but I didn't try to read too much into its meaning.

"Yes, do you mind? She'll be out in five minutes."

"Not at all, hun." Seth winked, and jumped over the counter and stood beside me in one fast movement. I took a step back, startled.

"Be careful with that!" I warned him, still unable to help myself from grinning at his antics.

"Just go." He pushed me towards the door, and I laughed, grudgingly walking out of the bakery. My eyes met Francis' at once when I noticed him climbing up the short flight of stairs to the porch area.

Francis smile as soon as he saw me. "Hey!" He saved from outside the door. Taking fast strides towards him, I opened the door and breathed in the fresh night air. It was mildly cool, the perfect weather to hangout with your friends down the beach.

I had remained aloof with Francis before. But now when he extended his arms to envelop me into his not-so-there near hug, I let him. There was a certain satisfaction about it when I thought of the audience we were performing in front of. Content with the show, I punched his back to let me down and gave out a hearty laugh.

"Hey, yourself!" I gasped out after the breathless hug, a little too much enthusiastic, and made myself calm down. I grinned back at him and shook my head. Some habits would just never change.

Out of my peripheral vision I tried to see Isabela and Brandon in the cafe. Isabela had her back towards the door so she must have missed the little debacle outside. On the other hand, Brandon sat facing us, and from his expression, he had not missed it. His narrowed eyes made me self conscious, but I didn't end the act. Gathering up my courage, I smiled at him and waved. If he was acting rude, it didn't mean that I had to treat him the same way. If I could, I would kill him with friendliness. He didn't return my gesture, and scowled, and looked sharply away from me.

Well, at least I tried.

"Let's go!" Francis grabbed my hand and started leading me away. I snuck one last glance at Brandon--who was once again busy talking with Isabela--before I started walking.

"Good that you asked to meet up, love. I have important matter to discuss with you," his voice was husky and full of raw emotion as he spoke.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, a little flustered now that we were alone, remembering that he had been hiding something from me since the last time we had met.

"Uh... yes," he said, a heavy pause marring our conversation.

"Come here." I led him to a bench not far away from the road on which we were walking.

"Tyler?" he said as soon as we sat down.

"Y-Yes? " I asked, fidgeting with my tank top. Francis hardly ever called me by my name. It was always the nickname. Maybe things were changing.

"I ran away from home."

"You what?!" I whirled around to look at him. My voice carried so much shock that Francis winced at my voice.

"Let me explain, please." He took my hand and squeezed it, as if to collect himself and I nodded silently. He had looked quite dejected when we had last met. No wonder I felt his visit was so out of the blue.

"Papa wants me to start working as a full-time employee at our hotel," he confessed simply, making me frown.

Francis was from a very rich household. For what Google told me, his family owned a whole chain of hotels back in Paris. Though from personal experience, I knew that he was far from the typical rich boys I knew at my school. He was down to earth, and above all, an amazing cook.

"But didn't you use to dream of doing that? You worked hard to impress your dad. You showed him you could bake, and that's the only reason he allowed you to go to a cooking school!"

"Oui. But there's another condition that he wants me to fulfill."

"Which is?"

"He has asked me to marry a girl for his business."

"I can't believe this! You are just going to graduate out of high school!" I protested.

"Yes! But he doesn't care about that at all!" Francis suddenly turned to me, and asked me in a rushed tone.

"Love, will you date me again?" His eyes were hopeful as he said it and blood rushed to my face.

Date him again? I thought to myself. The idea seemed ridiculous even in my head. Although Francis was looking at me, I could see that he was doubting that I would agree. And only truthfully so.

"I-I... Look, I have moved on and I know you have too. It wouldn't be fair to either of us if we get into a relationship again," I finished in one breath, pulling my hand out of his clasped ones.

"I guessed that much...so here's this thing," Francis paused, licking his lips, "I heard from my friends that she followed me here."

"Your fiancé?" The words felt foreign on my tongue as I asked him and he visibly winced.

"Yes, her. I don't know how she found out, b-but I can't marry her! Will you please help me?"

"Help you? How?"

"Will you fake date me this time?"

*****

What do you think Tyler's answer will be?