13 (Rewrite)Alex tricked Ava.

[ conversation on the phone]

Alex: Hello, am I speaking with Ava Lewis?

I replied: Yes, it's me.

Alex: Ava, my sister agreed, but she has a condition.

I frowned: What kind of condition?

Alex: Well, she wants an extra $1000, and she doesn't like the role of friend; she wants to play the role of girlfriend.

I was taken aback. I know Haley from "Modern Family"; she wasn't a lesbian or fond of playing roles. Is it because it's the real world, not a show or movie?

Alex: Ava, are you listening?

I replied: Alex, I can give the extra $1000, but this whole girlfriend thing is too much for me.

Alex asked with a worried tone: You don't want to?

I said: Let me think for a minute.

Alex replied: Okay.

After a few minutes.

Having a girlfriend is better than having no one in front of Mom. At least then Mom won't be worried.

I said: Alex, are you still online?

Alex: Yeah, so what's your decision?

I replied: I accept her condition, but she doesn't have to act intimate in front of my mom.

Alex: Got it, I will inform her. Bye.

After saying that, Alex hung up the phone.

I asked Katie, "What do you think, Katie? Should I introduce Haley as my pretend girlfriend?"

Katie replied, "In my opinion, it's your first relationship, even if it's pretend. So according to human psychology of a mother, she should be happy."

"That's great to hear. Then let's start with our experiment."

As Alex walked toward Haley's room, her mind churned with doubts. Was she doing the right thing? Despite his inner turmoil, he reminded himself of the famous saying: "What's done is done; focus on the future." With a determined stride, she approached Haley's door, faintly hearing her voice downstairs.

Downstairs, Haley was engaging in a tense conversation with her mother, Claire.

"Mom, my new friend invited me to her house for dinner," Haley explained, her tone cautious.

Claire's eyebrows furrowed with suspicion. "Is this friend of yours a guy?" she asked, her tone wary.

Haley shook her head. "No, it's a girl," she replied, hoping to alleviate her mother's concerns.

Claire sighed, rubbing her temples. "Alright, you can go, but I want to meet this friend of yours," she conceded, her maternal instincts kicking in.

Haley hesitated for a moment before agreeing. "Yes, you can, but please, don't ask too many questions," she requested, knowing her mother's tendency to pry.

As Alex descended the stairs, Haley's eyes lit up with recognition. "Alex, do you know Haley's new friend?" Claire inquired, turning to him for confirmation.

Alex nodded, playing along with Haley's charade. "Yes, I know her. She's a top student in her class," he affirmed, hoping to ease Claire's apprehension.

Claire breathed a sigh of relief, satisfied with Alex's endorsement. "Alright, you're allowed to go. If you want, you can even stay at her house," she relented, granting Haley permission.

With Claire's approval secured, Haley motioned for Alex to follow her into her room, where they could speak privately. Once inside, Haley locked the door behind them, ensuring their conversation remained confidential.

"What did she say?" Haley asked anxiously, her eyes searching Alex's face for reassurance.

Alex nodded in confirmation, relaying the positive outcome of their conversation with Claire.

Haley's shoulders relaxed slightly as she processed the information. "I know it's a lot to ask, but what's the name of my pretend boyfriend, or should I say girlfriend?" she inquired, a hint of nervousness creeping into her voice.

"Her name is Ava Lewis, from the 11th grade," Alex replied, trying to sound confident in his choice.

Haley's eyes widened in disbelief. "You mean that crazy tomboy?" she exclaimed, her mind racing with doubts.

Alex shook his head, determined to dispel Haley's misconceptions. "I met her today, and she seemed like any other person. I think the rumors about her might be exaggerated," he reassured her, hoping to alleviate her concerns.

Haley took a moment to process Alex's words before nodding resolutely. "That's great to hear. You can go now," she said, dismissing him with a wave of her hand.

As Alex left Haley's room, he couldn't shake the feeling of unease that lingered in the pit of his stomach. Was he making the right decision by agreeing to Haley's plan?

Later that evening, as Haley anxiously awaited Ava's arrival, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement mixed with trepidation. Would she be able to pull off this charade convincingly?

As the clock struck 5:57 PM, Haley's phone rang, signaling Ava's imminent arrival. With a deep breath, Haley answered the call, her voice betraying a hint of nervousness.

"Hello, is this Ava?" she inquired, her heart racing with anticipation.

Ava's voice came through the line, calm and composed. "Yes, it's me," she confirmed, her tone reassuring.

Haley's nerves began to dissipate as she spoke with Ava, their conversation went well. When Ava mentioned her arrival outside Haley's house, Claire's presence loomed large in Haley's mind.

"Ava, my mom wants to meet you," Haley admitted, her voice tinged with apprehension.

Without missing a beat, Ava responded with grace. "Sure, I can do that," she replied, her confidence unwavering.

Claire opened the door, her eyes scanning Ava with a critical gaze. "Are you Haley's new friend?" she inquired, her tone skeptical.

Ava met Claire's scrutiny head-on, maintaining her poise. "Yes, ma'am, I am. Can I take her with me? Don't worry, she'll be back before 10:00 PM," she assured Claire, her words dripping with sincerity.

Claire's demeanor softened as she observed Ava's polite demeanor. "Yes, you may. Wait here while I call her," she acquiesced, impressed by Ava's manners.

As Haley descended the stairs, Ava's presence brought a sense of relief. With a quick goodbye to her mother, Haley joined Ava outside, her heart pounding with excitement.

As they drove off into the night, Haley couldn't shake the feeling of disbelief at the turn her evening had taken. Who would have thought that pretending to be someone's girlfriend could feel so exhilarating?

As they arrived at Ava's family home in Beverly Hills, Haley's eyes widened at the sight of Ava's luxurious surroundings.

"You live in Beverly Hills? The celebrity area of Los Angeles?" she marveled, her voice filled with awe.

Ava nodded, a hint of pride in her voice. "Yes, we've been living here for seven years," she confirmed, her tone tinged with nostalgia.

Haley's curiosity peaked as she asked about Ava's encounters with celebrities. Ava's casual mention of meeting Mila Kunis left Haley speechless.

"You mean the voice actor of Meg Griffin in Family Guy?" she gasped, her excitement palpable.

Ava chuckled, nodding in affirmation. "Yes, that's her. She's quite lovely," she replied, her smile warm.

As they parked the car, Haley couldn't contain her gratitude, pulling Ava into an unexpected hug. The momentary lapse in control caught Ava off guard, her hand inadvertently brushing against Haley's skin.

Haley's soft moan of comfort brought Ava back to reality, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Sorry, I was just excited," Haley stammered, her cheeks turning crimson with embarrassment.

Ava nodded, her own cheeks tinged with pink. "Just try not to do that in front of my mom," she replied, her voice tinged with amusement.

As they entered Ava's home, Haley couldn't shake the feeling of warmth that enveloped her. Despite the initial awkwardness of their situation, she found herself drawn to Ava in ways she couldn't explain.

As they settled in for the evening, Haley couldn't help but wonder what the future held for their pretend relationship. Little did she know, their charade would soon blur the lines between fiction and reality, leading to unexpected discoveries and heartfelt connections.

To be Continued.....

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