One Nightstand with The Bad Boy

4- The Deal

"We what!?" My jaw practically hit the floor. This was beyond belief. What on earth was going on?

"It's a win-win situation, Angel, so you'd better accept it," he said, his smirk irritatingly confident.

Now, I know you're dying to hear what we talked about. Well, let me walk you through it...

FLASHBACK

He guided me to a secluded corner of the campus, stopping in front of an empty room. Gesturing for me to enter, he followed suit, locking the door behind him. Real gentlemanly move, huh?

My nerves danced as I took a step back. Sure, he didn't have a reputation for harassing girls, but who's to say? I barely knew him, and here I was, locked in a room with one of Clark's pals.

"So, I wanted to offer you a deal."

His words caught me off guard. What deal? What was he talking about?

"What deal? Do you think I'm just going to agree blindly? And stop with the 'Angel' crap. My name's Mianna," I snapped, irritation bubbling.

"Relax, Angel. Consider yourself lucky. You're the first girl I've actually spoken to," he replied, that annoying smirk still plastered on his face. Seriously, this guy smirked more than Clark.

"Well, Mr. Peter Johnson, it's been a true honor," I retorted, dripping with sarcasm.

"Enough small talk. Listen up, and listen well. I won't repeat myself," he said, his tone turning serious. I nodded, signaling for him to continue. Taking a seat in front of me, he motioned for me to do the same.

"I know what went down between you and Clark last night and—"

"You what!?" I erupted, leaping to my feet, eyes wide with shock. What the hell? I was blindsided. How did he know? Did Clark spill the beans? That jerk!

"Relax, Angel, he—"

I cut him off again, unable to contain my emotions.

"Relax!? How can I relax!? That stupid jerk!! He's going to pay big time!!" I exclaimed, feeling my blood boiling. This was beyond embarrassing. Oh, s**t!! Who would've thought my life could get this complicated because of that bastard? Panic coursed through me; I paced back and forth, unable to contain my frustration.

Suddenly, a chuckle interrupted my thoughts. And let me tell you, it was a really cute chuckle...

"You really are something else, Angel. You're amusing me," he said, smiling at me.

"I'm thrilled to be providing entertainment for you with my burden," I retorted sarcastically, rolling my eyes.

"Okay, can I finish before you react this time?" he asked, still amused.

I nodded, and he cleared his throat to continue.

"First of all, he didn't tell us. I saw you two last night, him carrying you upstairs, and I’m guessing that explains everything," he said, winking at me, and I felt a blush creeping up my cheeks in embarrassment.

"And about the deal. I wanted you to make Clark fall in love with you, and we were going to pretend that I was courting you, then date you."

My jaw literally dropped to the ground. Shocked was an understatement.

**END

"Are you kidding me, Johnson!? How was that a win-win situation!?" I exclaimed, frustrated.

"Look, Angel, I’m just a friend here. There's more to Clark than meets the eye. I've known him forever, and he needs true love, not just someone after his money, looks, or s*x," he said sincerely.

Wow, Johnson was really a nice guy. He was doing this out of friendship, but why me? There were thousands of students here at Blue Wing Colleges...

"Why me, Johnson? I'm not that nice a person. I have my own flaws, especially in my life," I said.

"When I saw you last night, I knew you had a problem and were drowning yourself in alcohol," he explained. I chuckled at his candidness, which made him smile before he continued.

"...and I saw some assholes checking you out on the sofa. I was going to approach you, but when I saw Clark heading your way, I backed off and let him handle those jerks. He just glared at them, and they backed off. Then you know what happened next," he explained seriously. I didn't say anything; I was speechless. When he noticed, he continued.

"...I noticed he's been staring at you differently, not like the other girls he's usually with. He's always looking at you, Eliot, even when you're unaware. I know because I’m always with him," he confessed, his gaze locked on mine, waiting for my reaction.

"I...I don’t even know where to begin processing all this, Peter," I finally managed.

"Do you know that I just gave him my virginity, and the ironic part is I let him take it? I don't know why, but I just let him take all of me, and then I saw him in that cafeteria sucking face with that bimbo on his lap. I don't want to get hurt, Peter. I just can't..." I trailed off, trying to hold back tears.

"That's why I approached you. I saw everything, Angel. And I know my best friend is an asshole."

"Thanks for the clarification," I said, interrupting with a chuckle.

"But, he's just not... I mean, he's still confused about what he really feels about you. Did you know that he was really frustrated this morning because you left him in bed? He told me he woke up and you were gone," he said seriously.

"I was scared, Peter, that's why I left him. I didn't know he'd feel that way..." I admitted, feeling lost.

"So, what do you think, Eliot? It's just for one month," he proposed.

"What if it doesn't work?" I asked.

"Then we stop and go back to our normal lives, like nothing happened," he said with a shrug.

"You know, Johnson, I'm still in the process of moving on. I'm confused. I don't know if I’m ready to put myself in this mess," I confessed, my voice wavering with uncertainty.

"I know, Angel. I’m not forcing you to do this, but can you please think about it?" he pleaded, his tone filled with genuine concern.

"Uhm... Peter, can I ask you something?" I suddenly felt a surge of curiosity.

"Go on, Angel," he encouraged.

"Do you have a girlfriend or something? I don't want to get into deep trouble when I agree to this," I voiced my concern, hoping for transparency.

"Honestly, I do have a girlfriend. She's not studying here, and I've already discussed my plan with her. She trusts me a lot," he replied, a warm smile gracing his lips.

I simply nodded, absorbing his response.

"Okay then, I’ll think about your deal, Johnson. I'll let you know as soon as I've made up my mind," I finally affirmed.

"Great! So here, text me if you make up your mind," he handed me his card with his name and number scribbled on it. As he turned to leave the room, a sudden realization struck me, and I called out to him.

"Wait!" I blurted out, causing him to pause and glance back at me with a puzzled expression.

"Yes, Angel? What is it?" he inquired.

"Uhmm..I...I just wanted to ask if we... If we start dating, does it mean we're going to hold each other’s hands in public, hug, and kiss in public?" I stumbled over my words, feeling a surge of nervousness.

"Well, if it's necessary. Yes, Angel, anything that dating couples do, we'll do," he reassured me, his smile putting me somewhat at ease.

I looked at him in surprise, my mind buzzing with questions about his girlfriend. It was as if he could read my thoughts, for he addressed my unspoken concerns.

"Don't worry, Angel. Like I said, she knows everything, and she's somehow part of this deal. You'll get to know her soon," he explained, his smile reassuring.

With that, he turned around and left me to ponder the whirlwind of emotions and uncertainties swirling within me.

What the hell just happened!? Am I dreaming? Should I accept that deal? I really don't want to be played again; I just can't bear the thought of hurting again.

As I sit there, mulling over Peter's proposal, a whirlwind of emotions sweeps through me. On one hand, the idea of making Clark fall in love with me seems utterly absurd, almost like a fantasy concocted in some romantic novel. But on the other hand, there's a glimmer of hope, a flicker of possibility that maybe, just maybe, this could work.

Yet, doubts plague my mind. Could I really make the bad boy fall in love with me? It sounds like a Herculean task, especially considering our tumultuous history. But then again, Peter seems earnest in his intentions, and he knows Clark better than anyone else. Maybe, just maybe, there's more to Clark than meets the eye.

As I weigh the pros and cons, I can't shake the nagging feeling of uncertainty gnawing at me. What if this is all just a big mistake? What if I end up getting hurt all over again? The fear of heartbreak looms large, casting a shadow over any glimmer of hope.

Yet, amidst the chaos of my thoughts, a tiny voice whispers, urging me to take a leap of faith. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the beginning of something unexpected, something beautiful. And isn't love supposed to be worth the risk?

With a deep breath, I steel myself for the decision ahead. Whatever I choose, it will shape the course of my future in ways I can't even begin to fathom. But for now, I need to trust my instincts, to follow my heart, and to embrace the unknown. After all, sometimes the most extraordinary journeys begin with a single, courageous step.