The photograph

Ry

"Oh fucking shit! Jesus Ava you scared the shit outta me." My hand holds onto my chest, how long has she been standing there? She shouldn't of heard any of that.

"Fuck, sorry Ry. You should know you've got an amazing voice." My eyes follow her as she sits down it's then I notice she's only wearing a long t-shirt and her hair is piled high on top of her head.

"Na, it's the song that makes it sound good." I chuckle, I watch as her eyes scan the lake.

"You ok, Ava?" She nods lightly before responding "I'm ok and I've decided to go ahead with your plan, but there's a problem." She turns to face me and my body instantly heats up, I nod for her to continue.

"Well James creeps me out and Aaron has a thing for Kayla." I immediately tense my best mate and my sister? No chance! She playfully nudges me "Stop it, Kayla likes him to." She scolds me and I'm met with her laughter when I roll my eyes.

"So you got someone in mind to help out with it then?"

"Yes but here is the problem. The only person I trust not fuck up this plan is you and well we have just started talking again and I don't want to mess things up." She lets out a breath after saying that rapidly.

"Ava, nothing will get in the way of our friendship again, ok?" She gives me a shy smile that makes my heart melt.

"So you're agreeing to be my fake boyfriend?" She laughs, "Yes I am."

"So do we tell anyone about this being fake?" I wish it wasn't fake, I really do, but I have to answer.

"We can trust those guys." I nod back to the house and she agrees "but no one else can know that this is fake." She smiles and wraps her arms around my neck and I'm now going to sound like a creep but I take a a deep inhale and smell her fruity perfume.

"Thank you Ry."

Ava

Last nights sleep was disturbed with constant images of the black haired, green eyed friend who has been a consistent part of my dreams for at least eight years now.

As soon as I get out of bed I head straight for a shower, a knock on the door makes me jump

"Who is it?"

"It's me." Kayla giggles

"One minute." I get out of the shower and wrap myself in a towel opening the ensuite door Kayla pulls me into a tight hug, why? I laugh and look through my clothes, I pick out my denim hotpants with white tank top and my white strapped wedges.

"The boys have cooked breakfast.' Kayla gags making me laugh while I dress.

"It might be good." I giggle. I quickly blow dry my hair while Kayla motions that she's going downstairs. I apply some heavier makeup today to cover the dark circles under my eyes, I make sure to give my eyes the smokey affect and straighten my hair before stepping into my wedges. Last night after Ry and I talked we decided to tell everyone at breakfast what our plan is which may be the reason I feel like I'm going to puke.

As I reach the the kitchen all eyes turn in my direction and I'm left rooted to my spot, you may think with me being popular that I like the spotlight on me but trust me I HATE IT!

"What?" I laugh nervously, Kayla walks over to me and pulls me into the kitchen area and pushes a polaroid photo in front of me and I glance down at it and I feel the blood rush from face. It's a picture of Ry and I at the first gas station where he was leaning on my car door making the bet but what makes it worse is there is a red target drawn on my head I whip my head up to see everyone staring at me so I drop the photo and run outside, what the hell is happening? I don't bully anyone, I don't hate anyone and I respect people's choice so why is this happening to me? The floodgates open and the sobs wrack through my body as I sit on the deck.

Ryan

Aaron and I were making breakfast while Janes and Pick were organising things to do for today when James yelled that's when he showed us the photo that had been stuck to the door, we immediately searched the grounds but couldn't find anyone but the worst part hit when Ava seen it her face paled it killed me.

I was going to go and see Ava but Kayla told me she would go, so myself and the lads are just finishing plating up breakfast.

"What we going to do?" James asks and at this moment my head is spinning.

"Ava and I came up with a plan last night but we need to make a police report also." He nods and for the first time today Pick speaks up

"What plan?'

"I'm going to be her fake boyfriend, the only people who will know it fake is everyone here, not even our parents will know it's fake! We get the rest of the team to keep an eye on Ava as well to see if anyone is caught following her." I expected them to kick off or laugh at our plan but no my boys surprise me and agree it's the best thing to do for now.

As soon as Kayla and Ava entered, Ava ran upstairs and Kayla approached us.

"She told me about your plan, and I totally agree but she can't go back to her place so I'm gonna talk to mom and dad and she will stay with us."

"Good, don't tell them about the fake relationship though Kayla." She nods and claps excitedly

"Oh my, mom and dad will be so happy about you two." She giggles and I know she's right I feel bad for not telling them about this being fake but I can't take that risk. Our parents love Ava and they always thought we would end up together.

Kayla has been on the phone to our parents for ten minutes when Ava comes back into the kitchen and sets about making coffee.

"Fancy the beach Ava?" James shouts making her jump but she smiles politely at him.

"Yeah let's do it. I'll go get a bag ready."

"All sorted with mom and dad." Kayla walks back into the kitchen.

Ava

I'm not going to lie that picture creeped me out but after talking to Kayla and her reassuring me that I'll be safe with them all I headed back inside where James asked if I was up for going to the beach which I totally am so I've packed some bits of clothes and I've slipped into my pink bikini top and bottoms and put my denim shorts back on over my bottoms.

As the beach is twenty minutes away by car Ryan has taken it upon himself to become my personal body guard and is riding with me to the beach not that I'm complaining his black hair is slicked to the side and he's wearing a white tank top which shows his sleeved tattoo, black shorts and Nike sliders.

He opens the playlist on my phone and selects a song it takes only seconds for

🎵Nelly-just a dream🎵 to play through speakers instantly bringing back the happy memories we all had to this song.

We arrive at the beach and I park the car, we take step out and I grab my bag and we head down onto the sand to wait for Kayla and the guys, I lay my towel down on the sand and slip my wedges off along with my denim shorts leaving me in just my bikini just then we hear a loud wolf whistle and turn to see Kayla and the lads walking towards us

"Hey beautiful." James coos as they get closer but Ry glares at him making James laugh, Kayla quickly strips to just her bikini and I watch Aaron's jaw drop

"Aaron, there's a bit of drool on your chin." I laugh as he wipes away the non exitant drool making everyone laugh "You bitch.' He laughs.