Do Not Fall For The Baseball Captains novel Chapter 7

A Weekend Set to Explode

A Weekend Set to Explode

Victoria’s POV

Elijah let out a short, dry taugh and leaned in, crowding into my space until the air between us vanished.

I caught the faint scent of mist, laced with the sweet cherry of his lollipop.

A knowing smirk played on his lips.

“Yeah. A best friend whom you love more than one. I see the way you look at him, Victoria. It’s pathetic. And it’s also perfect.”

I stepped back, hitting the edge of my bed.

“Perfect? How is that perfect for you?”

“Because it makes you a great partner in crime,” he said, his smirk widening. “That’s a double win for me. I get to hang out with you and figure some things out while actively pursuing who I want. We both get what we need.”

I stared at him like he’d lost his mind.

“Hang out with me? Figure what out about me? I’m not a science experiment, Elijah.”

He held my gaze, and for a moment, the silence in the room felt heavy.

The way he looked at me didn’t feel like how a guy looks at a “fake” girlfriend. It was intense, searching, and it made my spine feel like it was made of ice.

He shrugged and popped the lollipop back into his mouth, the tension breaking as quickly as it had formed.

“Let’s say, I want to know how much weird you can get,” he said through the candy.

I rolled my eyes so hard it actually hurt.

“I’m not weird. I’m normal. If you ask me, I think you’re the weird one. You’re the one standing in a girl’s apartment at 7:00 PM on a Thursday without an invitation.”

Elijah sighed, a long, dramatic sound.

‘I didn’t come here to fight with you, Victoria. We already have a reputation out there. The whole school thinks we’re a thing after that stunt at the party. Let’s make good use of it. So,” he pointed a finger toward the bathroom, “I need you to go in there, get ready, and let’s go for our first date as a couple.”

‘I never said yes,” I reminded him for the third time.

He craned his neck a bit, his bottom lip puckering out in a mock pout that was entirely too attractive for his own good.

You never said no either. And as someone who’s never been told that word, I take your one week of silence as a yes.”

‘Arrogant jerk, I mumbled, though my resolve was crumbling. The thought of staying here alone, obsessing over Caleb’s silence, was starting to feel much worse than a fake date with a narcissist.

‘That’s my middle name, sweetheart,” he said, flashing a cocky grin.

‘Now, go. I’ll be waiting. Try not to fall in the toilet or whatever it is you do in there.”

turned on my heels, already moving toward the bathroom, but I stopped and looked back at him.

He was standing in the middle of my room, his hawk–like eyes watching my every move, and I couldn’t deny the tiny tingles that sparked under my skin.

It was annoying. It was wrong. But it was there.

‘I don’t have anything great to wear,” I said, gesturing to my closet. “It’s mostly just hoodies and jeans. I don’t do the whole‘ date night‘ aesthetic.”

‘I don’t mind, he cut me off.

We stared at each other for a beat.

There was something in his voice–a lack of judgment–that caught me off guard. It was the first time he’d sounded almost … human. It warmed my heart in a way I wasn’t prepared for.

I didn’t say a word; I just turned and retreated into the bathroom, clicking the lock.

I stood in front of the mirror for five minutes, staring at my reflection. My cheeks were still pink. My hair was a disaster.

Why was I doing this? Why was I letting the campus bad boy dictate my Friday night? I asked my reflection.

I was going on a fake date with the guy Caleb hates most. This is going to end in a disaster.

I splashed cold water on my face, brushed my hair, and put on a clean pair of dark jeans and a slightly nicer oversized

A Weekend Set to Explet

sweater. It was the best I could do-

When Lopened the bathroom door and stepped back into the main room, my heart nearly stopped.

Elijah was sitting on the edge of my bed. He was holding a small, wooden frame, the one I kept on my nightstand.

It was a photo of me and Caleb when we were ten, covered in mud and grinning like idiots after a day at the creek.

And sitting right next to him, moved from its hiding spot under my pillow, was my diary.

“Hey!” I yelled, rushing forward. I snatched the photo frame out of his hand and slammed my diary shut, clutching it to my chest.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Mind your own business! You don’t have the right to go through my stuff.”

He didn’t even look guilty. He just leaned back on his elbows, a lazy smirk on his face.

“Relax, Victoria. I didn’t read the ‘Dear Diary‘ entries. I was just looking at the pictures.”

“It’s private!” I snapped, my face burning. “You don’t just… touch things.”

“You two looked cute,” he said, his voice dropping an octave. He nodded toward the photo.

“He looked like a dork even back then. You, on the other hand… you had that don’t look at my best friend‘ glare down to a science even at ten years old.”

‘It’s a useful glare,” I snapped, pulling the photo away. “And it’s currently aimed at you. Get off my bed.”

‘So prickly,” he mocked, standing up. He smoothed out the wrinkles on my duvet, his touch lingering a second too long.

‘Are we ready? Or do you need to write a poem about your feelings first?”

‘I’m ready to leave so you’ll get out of my house,” I said, grabbing my purse and heading for the door.

‘Technically, we’re leaving together. That’s how dates work.”

‘It’s a business transaction, Carter. Don’t get ahead of yourself. And, I still haven’t agreed, so act accordingly.” I forced a smile that didn’t quite reach my eyes.

We headed down the narrow stairs of my apartment building, our footsteps echoing in the cramped hallway.

We spent the entire walk down arguing about where we were going.

He wanted some upscale lounge; I insisted on the diner three blocks away because I didn’t want to be seen in a place where people wore shoes that cost more than my rent.

I am not eating a burger that costs four dollars, Victoria. My stomach has standards.”

And my wallet has boundaries! Besides, if we’re ‘dating‘ you’re supposed to do what I want.”

Who told you that? That’s not how it works in my world.”

Well, welcome to the real world, where the girl chooses the fries.”

We stepped out of the building into the cool evening air. His car–a sleek, black sports car that looked like it belonged on a acetrack–was parked right at the curb.

Fine,” he grumbled. “Fries. But if I get food poisoning, I’m suing you.”

Good luck with that. I have twelve dollars in my savings account.”

୮

reached for the passenger door handle, but before I could touch it, Elijah’s hand shot out, pinning my wrist against the cold metal of the car.

Wait, he whispered.

What now? If you’re going to complain about the…”

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