Chapter 12:

   The next day, Shally arrived to Gerard's room carrying some plastic bags, Gerard asked: "

× Hi! How are you feeling?

× Do you want the truth or the lie?

× I'd rather have the truth.

× Well! I feel so exhausted, I didn't sleep until 3am because I slept yesterday afternoon, I have a lot of work to do and I feel a huge pressure, my mom is mad at me because I missed two dinners with them, she already doesn't like me getting late home, it's like she senses that I'm around a rich man and that bothers her and there's also lying to your mother, so how will I be in your opinion?

× I told you I'd solve that one.

× I know; I trust you.

× (Wondering) What are all these bags?

× (Sitting on the edge of the bed next to Gerard) Oh yeah! You said yesterday that you're so bored from staying the whole day in your room so I bought you movies, a book you may like, a chess game and a doll. I'm sure you have everything, I didn't really know what to bring you so this is what I could think of.

× (Shocked and surprised in the same time) A doll? You brought a 33 years old man, an adult man...a doll?

× Yup, you can imagine it me or anyone you want and talk to it when you're alone and feelling bored.

× Do you want to turn me crazy?

× (Putting the doll in the bed next to Gerard) It's not that bad, it good idea in my opinion."

Gerard left a smile murmuring to himself: "She doesn't stop surprising me" then talked to her: "I'm glad you still can be nice; after all, it appeared you can be fierce sometimes" leaving a real small laugh.

× "Oh shut up Gerard." Said Shally while sitting on the desk and started working.

× "So? Will you watch a movie with me?

× I'd love to sweetheart but I have to work, stop sabotaging me.

× As you wish but at least tell me which one I'll watch.

× Choose anyone you want, just leave the horror one, we'll watch it together later, if you want to of course.

× (While looking to the movies' covers) Why the horror one? So when you get scared you jump on me and hold me tight?

× (Laughing)You're really so funny, I like your sense of humour.

× I'm serious.

× Don't worry I'm not jumping on you, I'm used to watch horror movies alone and I don't get scared so you're safe.

× Are you serious right now? Come on! That's too much.

× (Not getting anything) What's too much? 

× Don't you get scared of anything? Don't you hate anything? Isn't there anything expected about you? Isn't there anything negative about you?

× (Amused) Do you realise that you're saying I'm perfect indirectly?

× (Denying) That's not true, I'm just saying that women are supposed to feel scared while watching horror movies.

× (Not arguing) Okay fine. There are a lot of negative things about me, you just need to know me more to figure them out.

× Like? (Annoyed) Or should I ask Henry? Since you spent and spend a lot of time with him.

× (Suspiciously) Can you be...a bit...jealous of Henry?

× (Laughing nervously) Absolutely not, why will I get jealous of Henry? No chance.

× If you say so. So you want to know my negative side?

× I just feel curious to know a bit of that side.

× (Counting) I'm stubborn; sometimes negative about everything; chatty; perhaps boring; sometimes I get in that mood where I be so honest with people not caring if I hurt them with what I say or not and I regret it later after getting out of the mood of course; I like to revenge, if anyone does something bad to me I don't move on before making that person feel what he made me feel; sometimes I bomb fronts without caring; I fear to lose the people I love especially my parents; I fear to have my heart broken...etc. So dear Gerard, I'm not perfect as it seems to you.

× That makes you a normal person and I'm glad about that."

Gerard finally chose a movie to watch and started it while Shally kept working and Henry called her later as usual, he calls at least 20 times a day, Gerard pretended to be watching the movie but he actually stopped it to listen to their conversation; when Shally cut the call, she sight deeply putting her hands on her hurting shoulders trying to decrease the pain.

× "Do you need a massage?" Asked Gerard.

× "That would be so nice but I'm not going to take advantage of a man with a broken leg, I'm not that selfish. Thanks for the offer.

× You're welcome."

Shally smiled without being noticed by Gerard feeling so happy by his offer and his care; suddenly the door was opened without any warning, it was Gwen and as usual, she never knocks before getting in, Gerard stopped the film and sighed heavily: "

× Gwen? I told you 50 times to knock on the damn door before getting in, is it that hard to understand?

× (Ignoring the question and Shally's presence) Gerard my dear, I've missed you too, how are you feeling? Are you okay? Do you have a fever? Let me check?" Gwen put her hand all over his face and neck to see if he has a fever.

× "(Taking her hands away) I'm fine Gwen, actually I was perfect until you got without knocking on the door.

× It's not a big deal babe, I missed you so much that I didn't want to waste time on knocking and got directly, after all, I'm not a stranger."

Shally turned her head shocked talking inside her: "Babe? Did she just call him babe? And she's flirting with him like I'm not even here, it's true that I'm his fake girlfriend but she doesn't know that. What's this confidence? Not a stranger? No matter who you are you should knock on the person's door, what if he was naked?" Shally who's already pissed off by Gwen made a sound 'Ahem, ahem' to inform her that she's there and can see her flirting with her fake boyfriend but Gwen ignored her again and continued flirting with Gerard in purpose to irritate Shally: "

× Gerard darling, I'm so sorry I couldn't visit you more often I got so busy these days, otherwise you know I never like to leave you but this is work, I had to, after all, not everyone can bring his work to your room.

× Well! Not everyone is his girlfriend to do such a sacrifice for him." Shally said with a provoking voice.

Gwen's face changed, she felt so angry and turned to Shally: "If only you were..." before she finished the sentence Gerard expected what she was going to say and interrupted her: "Gwen, thank you so much for passing I'm better but I just need some rest right now if you don't mind" Gerard was doing different expressions with his face to make Gwen leave without saying anything and without Shally noticing him, it was so hard on Gwen to swallow what just Shally told her and she was about to expose that she knows she's a fake girlfriend if Gerard didn't stop her, she finally finished by leaving just to satisfy Gerard. Shally didn't understand what happened or what Gwen wanted to say so she asked Gerard about it: "

× What was she about to say? If I were what?

× (Nervous)I don't know, I don't think it's important, never mind.

× She was really flirting with you in front of me like I wasn't here at all, what's this love my friend? What's this confidence? She clearly called you 'babe' in my presence, really?

× (Amused) Is it possible...that you felt...a bit jealous of Gwen?

× (Nervous) What's the relation? What jealousy? I just asked from where she got that confidence, that's all.

× (Laughing)I'm sure it's just that. She was doing that just to irritate you, she never called me those callings before.

× Did she confess her love to you or not yet?

× (Hesitating) She...actually...

× ...She did, oh she definitely did I can see that on your face. (Curious) What did she say? How did she confess?

× (Running away)Why do you care about this? I have a movie to watch.

× Oh come on! Please tell me, I really feel curious.

× (Sighed)Fine, she just told me that she liked me since we were kids and that we have a lot of things in common, we like the same things and..." then Gerard turned silent.

× "And what? What did she add?

× And that our names start with the same letter, so...we are meant for each other."