The Love Deal with Mr. Player

1. From best friends to enemies

I am tired of pretending that I hate you. In truth all I hate is my life without YOU!

Chapter 1: From best friends to enemies

(Liana)

"What are you wearing? Normal people don't dress like that, at least not when they are going on a date." It was the unmistakable voice of my very arrogant next door neighbour/ ex-friend, Asher Lawler, moron extraordinaire.

The derision in his voice was so palpable that I wanted to shrink back. But I didn't. I wouldn't. Not now. Not anymore.

"Why the hell do you care?" I shouted back. "I am not going on a date with you. Ew." I shrunk my nose in disgust. I want to kill him and bury him in my spit. I muttered to myself before turning back to look at the front door.

It was a surprise that he was still at home. He spent most of his time with girls, who he’d change constantly like they were his selection of T-shirts. Beautiful T-shirts, really, but it was just tasteless of him. I didn't know how or why some girls still fell for his shallow charms. I mean, look was not everything. In fact it was nothing. Absolutely nothing.

"Only in your dreams." He replied back, to my utter irritation.

"Nah, in my nightmares." I spat out.

I wanted to punch him and see the blood trailing down his nose. He made me angry like no one else ever had and to say that I had loved him once. Oh, the irony of life.

His family and mine - we were close. Like literally and in all the other sense.

Our houses were side by side and we shared a huge backyard. And to top it all off, our moms were best friends. Our dads were business partners, uhh. And yes, our brothers and our sisters were best friends, too. Like... this is a freaking awesome plot by fate.

As for Asher and I, we hated each other with the burning passion of a million sun. It was strong, the hatred. So strong that you could probably smell it from miles away.

We fought over silly things when we were young, but we got back just as fast. Because whatever it was, Liana and Asher were best buddies back then. Bah humbug!

I started to hate him when he turned from a nice person, my best friend, to one of those arrogant guy whose head was just too big to fit in the door. I started to hate him when he pushed me out of his life for only one reason – popularity and fame.

OK, make that two.

I remembered that day clearly – like it was videotaped in my brain. It was early in the morning and the white wisps of mist enshrouded the garden. We were fourteen, and it was a week into high school. I was waiting for him. We always went to school together. That day, he didn’t turn up. That was the first blow in our relationship.

Then I saw him hanging out with all the jocks and the cheerleaders, which wouldn't have hurt had he included me in that. Second strike.

I waved at him and he didn't even look back, which was the third strike and he was out!

Finally, I just decided to get rid of him from my life. It was not easy then and not easy now, but I had learnt the art of pretense.

After years, now I’d understood how to mask my true feelings and how to act like I didn't care. After wearing the mask, this mask of indifference and irritation, continuously, I didn't even remember my true self anymore, but I loved this.

This way no one could hurt me. No one could look clearly into my soul and had that kind of power over me. It was safe. It was easy.

I didn’t know why exactly he had stopped being my friend, not even now. I had so many theories, but the simplest one I had was, I was not pretty enough to fit right in with the

popular girls he wanted to date and his popular friends.

I wore glasses, which hid my round blue eyes. I'd always preferred baggy clothes and pants, and dresses were never my first choice. I just felt at ease in baggy ones.

My dark brown hair was as boring as the rest of me. And my hoodie was my bestie. I loved the warm protective feeling it gave me.

I did look boring, but my brain was anything but. It was the most colorful thing in me. The way it sparked, the way it bustled, the way it lit... sometimes there was just no off switch for my brain.

when my phone rang, I took it and saw it was Sidney. I answered. "Conference." She said and added my other three friends.

I have four best friends. They are the best people in the whole wide world!

Okay, may be not that much, but they are amazing. Wonderful.

Riya Smith was the mother hen of the group. Trent Trevor, the jock, Harry Cooper, the joker, Sidney Trevor, the all-knowing goth, and finally me, the misfit with misaligned brain.

"Is he there yet?" Trent asked and I grunted in response. "Nah."

I looked at my watch again. It was already late and the buffoon who was supposed to take me on a date was not here.

I hate waiting, and even more so for things I didn't actually care about.

I had just decided to go back inside and take a nap, but before I could turn back, a car pulled into my driveway and I stopped on my tracks.

"Ah, he is here finally. Tata, guys." I hung up and looked at him. He was kinda nice on the eyes, with cute smile, but I knew he was here only for Trent.

And that is the worst possible reason to go on a date.

"Hi Liana," he greeted me and then stared at me like I was crazy. His face contorted into a frown, and he looked like he was constipated.

I didn't want to go out with a boy who had agreed to take me out, just because my best friend had asked him to. I was not that desperate. Never that desperate. But Trent convinced me.

Best friends, what would you do with them?

"Hi Frank," I smiled at him as I got into his car.

"Um, it's Fred."

My brain was just not built for things I wasn't fully actually interested in.

It was always that way for me, even when I was so young and I had always known I was not like everyone else. My normal never conceded with the actual definition of 'normal' but I loved this.

Diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder when I was seven was just a cherry on the top of my already amazing cake of the life. Note the sarcasm here.

But really, this was all I had ever known and the unknown normal brains were always just a theory to me.

I had difficulty with focusing too much on boring things, and I was so damn impulsive, so impulsive that I always got myself in trouble. Sometimes I did and said things I would regret later.

It was not easy to live with my colorful brain, but I was surviving the best way I knew how to. I was fighting for the best life I could have with all the odds stacked against me, with all the people trying to push me down. But...

I won't give up.

"Oops, sorry. I have short-term memory loss." I smiled sheepishly as I pointed to my head. "My brain is different."

He gave me another one of those looks that would make you want to bury your face in your hands. Nah. I just shrugged.

He brought me to the movies. I dozed off as soon as my popcorn was over, way before the intermission. I was not made for focusing or concentrating on uninteresting things.

When he woke me up, I was tired as hell that I almost punched him in his face. Almost. Key word. I didn't.

When he brought me back home, I was sure he never wanted to see me again.

Who takes their date to watch a chick flick? Stupid Freddie!

"See you later," he waved, but I knew he added 'not,' silently after that. I stared at his rushing car with a small derisive smile and shook my head. "Sorry Freddie. You are not into me and I am not into you." I said as I walked in and was instantly greeted by twin troubles. They were not actually twins, but for all instance and purposes, they were.

"Hey guys." I waved at Shayna and Blythe. They were sitting in the swing with a set of smile on their lips. Shay was my sister and Blythe was Asher’s sister and they were inseparable.

"Hey Lia, come over here." Bly waved at me with a smile and I walked towards the girls and we started talking animatedly. Sometimes even I was amazed at how easy it was for me to talk with my kid sisters than with people my own age - except my friends, of course.

"Guys dinner's up." Catherine —Asher’s Mom— announced in her strong voice. I jumped up and Shay and Bly followed.

"On the count of one... Two..." Before Shay could finish, I sprinted towards the table, Bly hot on my toes.

"That is cheating, guys." Shay glared at both of us before sitting down on her chair.

"No, we're being cautious." Bly waved her little hand at Shay and Shay pushed it away with a glare.

"Bly, I'm going to get my revenge!" Shay threatened, rolling her pretty blue eyes.

We had a huge dining table with twelve seats resting in the middle of our backyard. We’d eat dinner together, always.

This was like family bonding time between the families –The Stans and The Lawlers. I loved having my two families around me, but to my utter irritation he loved the dinner time as well.

Shortly after, my mom arrived with my dad. My mom and dad were perfect for each other. I was so happy that my parents loved each other so much. Same went with Catherine and Mike.

Our family was just too perfect, like way too unbelievably perfect that it hurt your hearts and eyes. In a good way.

I think that's why there was a small fault – Asher and I.

We were the only ones in the family who couldn't get along. Wouldn't.

'If I can just get away from you, my life will be so much better.' I thought as I stared at his room, with a frown on my heart.

___

1.1. Meet You In Hell

"We can't wait for the dinner, can’t we? Having biiiiig stomachs." My dad mocked the three of us.

"My stomach is not as big as yours, Uncle Andrew." Bly smiled sickly sweet at my dad and we laughed together, earning a glare from him. "Burn."

"Where's Mike? Why are you still not here, Mike Lawler?" Catherine asked as she put plates on the table. Mike ran towards us with fear in his eyes.

"I'm here, hon. I was just..."

"Stealing my steaks again. Why can't you wait for ten minutes?"

Mike raised his hands in surrender. "Hon, I can't stay away from you and your steaks. You know that." He gave her a smooch and

Bly faked a puke. "Parents, little daughter here."

Finally, his highness, Asher, arrived with a big smile on his face. "Always late for everything." I muttered under my breath.

I didn't know why I was still fighting with him after years. After everything he had done to me, I should have just walked away, but it would be difficult to discard him completely out of my life. I mean, impossible with how our families were...

"It's none of your business." He said with a glare. His green eyes were throwing daggers at me.

"It is my business. As you can see, I am in this dumb table waiting for food and as long as I am here not eating, it will be my business" I told him completely with an indignant frown.

“Like I care about what you do and don’t. Gah. She talks like a loser, as well.” He rolled his eyes with a careless shrug.

"Who are we kidding? I know you never care about anything except your girls. Are they made of gum and plastic and have clay in their brains? I mean, how could they even look at you and smile?!" I smiled at him sweetly. One of those smiles that was so, unashamedly fake.

"Someone is burning with jealousy." He smiled back, just as fake. "You smell that?"

"Oh, I'm not envious about that. I just pity those girls, falling for a walking STI." I said sarcastically with a smug smile.

"Oh don't worry about them. Worry about yourself." He smirked at me, before flipping his hair away from his forest green eyes – green like the ponds in the late summer.

"Again, who are you kidding? Your standards are as cheap as your retorts. You have no idea how clueless you are, but please, don't talk about standards." I shrugged and pushed a piece of chicken into my mouth.

"Are you envious that no boy has ever looked at you like that?" Asher asked with a big smirk on his face.

"Like I care.” I said with a frown.

Sometimes, I did wish I had someone who would love me for who I was, but I would never let it stop me from living my life. I didn't want to change myself for someone to notice me. I liked being this impulsive, out of focus, restless person, even though it was difficult at times. I got better and stronger with time.

"Guys will never like girls like you.", He said with a sly smile.

Our parents watched us with a tired sigh. They had stopped interfering with our fights after years of trying. It just wasn't feasible anymore.

"That's a relief, because I've never liked guys like you, pig-headed and brainless!" I shot back, feeling completely irritated.

"Shut up both of you and eat!" When my dad yelled over our voices, I immediately stopped talking. Asher looked down at his plate with a guilty look on his face.

"This isn't the place to unleash your unfriendliness, and there are little girls present here." Mike frowned pointedly at me.

"What's STI?" Shay asked Asher as soon as Mike had stopped.

"Yes what is it, Asher? Lia said you’ve one." Bly looked up at him with her big eyes, while he kept glaring at me. I gave him an innocent look and pushed my head into the delicious food on my plate.

I just love food. They are my way of getting away from my sometimes harrowing life.

"How was your date?" He asked after he deflected Shay and Bly.

I looked at him completely shocked. I knew everyone was watching us. Was he actually starting a decent conversation with me? Was I dreaming?

Is he talking with me and that with a pleasant smile on his stupidly handsome face? Is the Earth gonna rip out from its core?

"With Frank?" He smirked at me and then I knew – he was making fun of me.

Oh. Thank you, Lord. No Earthquakes. We are safe.

"Why do you care?" I shrugged and started eating. I noticed my mom glaring at me. She'd probably think it was my fault that we were at each other's throat. She wouldn't understand that Asher was not really the guy she thought he was.

After dinner, I walked to my room and wore my pajamas. I stared at the shining moon out of my window. The night was calm and placating. I closed my eyes and enjoyed the chilly breeze as it embraced me.

My window was adjacent to his room; when we were friends, we’d always talk to each other, sitting on the window sill.

Wonderful memories, but I never liked to look back at them, because all it would bring was more tears and pain. It was just too hard to live through all those beautiful memories and feel the pain of loss, again and again.

The light from his room came to life and before I could slam my window shut, his head popped out of the window. His green eyes shimmered in the moonlight. The wind messed with his brown hair.

"Goodnight, meet you in hell." He waved at me with his trademark smirk.

Ugh! How I hate that stupid smirk! I really wanted to swipe that smirk off of his stupidly smug face.

"People like me belong in heaven, so please go ask someone who will go to hell with you. Wait, no one would do that for you. So

you must go alone." With that said, I slammed the window shut with a satisfied smile.

I jumped into my bed, pulled the cover over my head and sighed.

I had so many reasons to hate him, yet I could only pretend to hate him. I’d never hate him for real and I hated myself for that.

With a small sad smile, I closed my eyes.

I knew I’d never let him go, the older version of him.

___