Cover by: Riya

Zoe's POV

"It's not what it looks like," He said

He quickly grabbed the book from my hands as I glared at him.

"Enlighten me," I said folding my arms.

He sighed taking a look at the book in his hand.

"It was really something stupid," He began. "I figured if we were going to live together I might as well get to know you."

I stared him trying to understand his logic. How do you get to know someone by keeping a journal of something that is most likely to offend them? This sounded like the beginning of one of his lies, like he was trying to sugar-coat the truth.

"Get to know me?" I snapped. Keeping a secret journal writing whatever it is about me in it, is not how you get to know someone.

"A write every little thing about you." He answered calmly.

I was shocked by his response. Why would he even be writing about me, I sort of figured he had a lot of work to do. Much-less that he'd bother knowing anything about me.

I somehow softened towards him. He had the power to make me angry and then happy all in less than a minute.

"I call it a Rule book because it sort of has the does and don't." "I figured some other unlucky guy could use a hand, or our baby," He joked.

I glared at him and stuck my tongue out at him.

He started paging through the journal . "Zoe rule number three, she acts like a complete child," He read out.

"No I don't," I said defensive.

"Yet she gets completely defensive about it when someone calls her out on it." He continued.

He held the book open, showing me the page he had just read.

I thought he was being sarcastic, but he wasn't.

It was written Zoe rule #3 in bold at the top of the page and at the bottom, the words he had just said.

"Give me that," I demanded holding my hand out.

He happily obliged and handed the book over to me.

I paged it over to the second page.

I continued paging through the rest of the journal, which had similar things. While I read through the journal, he just stared at me with a satisfied smirk.

And where I was thinking he wasn't paying attention.

I shock my head at him in disbelief as I continued paging through.

"You just mad that I know a lot more about you than you have ever bothered to know about me." He retorted.

"Of cause I do know a lot about you," I said unsure. I'm sure that even he didn't believe that.

"I bet you don't even know my full name." He challenged.

'Why would I need to?' I wanted to say.

"As if you know mine," I retorted.

"Zoe Elle Morgans," He replied.

"Well..." I stuttered.

He folded his arms as his gaze on me intensified.

"I will know yours as soon as I sneak into your room while you gone to have a look at your ID." I answered. Or look him up on google.

He laughed at me shaking his head.

If only he knew I wasn't kidding.

"Just because you made a few 'observations' about me, doesn't actually mean that you know me," I said making air quotations. "I could have easily have said that you arrogant and that you hate it when things don't go your way." I said in a matter of fact tone.

"Really?" He challenged.

"Really," I answered.

"Okay," He said placing his fore finger on his chin. "You are definitely not a morning person," He stated. "You get a lot more irritated in the morning unless you have something to be happy about."

"Fair enough," I said. "But then again who really is a morning person?"

"Normal people," He answered with a hint of sarcasm.

I glared at him and stuck my tongue out at him.

"Childish," He muttered with a smile. "I honestly have no idea how you managed to get anything done, much less get a whole café up and running." He said.

"What are you implying? That I'm lazy. For your information, I was voted most hardworking and likely to succeeded in high school." I retorted.

"What do you spent the whole day doing?" He asked with a eyebrow raised.

"That's only because Mr. controlling decided I pretty much couldn't do anything just because I'm pregnant." I stated.

"Fine, if its my fault then you joining a yoga class as soon as your leg gets better."

I frowned at him. I once tried a beginners class and I couldn't last a week. The only reason I'm not obese is because I have a fast metabolism.

He shook his head at me with a smile.

"Also plenty of trust issues," He stated. "Not just because I might have lied to you."

I could feel my checks redden.

"You think I have trust issues? Why don't you try to be repeated screwed over by several guys and be lied to and see how that feels one of them being you might I add." I snapped.

The atmosphere tensed between.

He just stared at me as if he was trying to analyze me.

"Damn," He muttered. "I'm really going to think about it the next time I screw the next woman over. I wouldn't want anyone hating me the way you do."

I couldn't help but smile. He could be such a pain sometimes. I never thought I'd find any humor in his sardonic words.

He stayed silent for awhile as I turned slightly closer to the fire.

"You also always sleep on the left side of the bed and never in the middle like a normal person." He stated.

I thought it was thoughtful that he knew a few things about me. But him knowing the side of the bed I slept on, that was little bit creepy. Who knows what else he knew?

"It's your turn, why don't you tell me something about me. Since you are so quick to judge." He said folding his arms.

"I'm not quick to judge," I argued.

He simply raised his eyebrow, even I knew better than to argue for that statement.

I cupped my chin trying to think of a few things about Alex. He was right, I have always been quick to judge. I never really get to know people because I've already judged them and usually my judgements are wrong.

His study was packed with books in all available bookshelves. The probably had more books than your average library. I'd be rich if I had to sell every one of those books.

"You like reading," I stated proudly.

He folded his arms as if to prove a point. "I actually hate reading," He answered.

'What kind of person is he?' I wanted to scream.

"Then why do you have so many books?" I asked.

"People just assumes that reading makes you a lot smarter, that's why I keep them. Besides, most of them were gifts from people" He pointed at me, "Who just assumed I liked reading."

I felt attacked, but he was right. So I said something more obvious.

"You like working out." I said.

Surely he must, there is no way anyone can look that good without working out. I couldn't even do a ten day work-out challenge.

"Only because I have too," He answered.

"You have to look this good?" I blunted out.

I only realised what I had said once the words were out. He raised his eyebrow at me as if giving me a chance to take my words back.

"You look above average, maybe a little bit more than above average..." I rumbled. This chilly weather was most definitely causing my brain to have a malfunction. It's like I had lost all reasoning.

"A few years back I landed up in the hospital. I had to make some changes." He explained. "Besides, it takes a lot to look this good." He joked.

I sighed defeatedly. I pretty much didn't know anything besides that he was rich, a bit arrogant, my baby's father and also his first and last name. Otherwise we might as well be strangers. What if he made as money by killing woman who got 'accidentally' inseminated with his sperm, I could be next?

"You really don't know me, do you?" he said.

"You don't make it easy to get to know." I retorted.

Other than flashing his money around, he has always been dark and mysterious. Some woman like mysterious men, I like to know exactly what I'm walking into.

A part of the reason I didn't 'know' Alex was because I hadn't bothered to. I was always too quick to judge and judging based on what was on the surface not to mention I had completely dedicated myself in hating him.

He shook his head at me in disapproval.

I made a mental note to try and find everything about him, that way I'd also have something to my advantage.

He moved towards me by the fire and pulled the bowl of marshmallows onto his lap.

We sat in silence for awhile and roasted marshmallows on a stick.

"Would you like some hot chocolate?" He asked.

I nodded.

He went to the kitchen and returned shortly after with two cups. He placed both cups next to me.

The next thing he did took me by surprise. I'd have thought that you'd put it in a cup of hot chocolate of eat it on it's own but he didn't. Instead he walked over to the cupboard packed with snacks and came back with a packet of cookies. I thought that he was going to have a little snack picnic, but instead, he took two cookies and placed a marshmallow between the two.

I watched in disbelief as he took bites and chewed.

"What are doing?" I asked.

"Eating," He answered wiping the crumps of biscuit off his lips. "You should try it, it's good."

I grew up must of my life thinking I was weird, but clearly I hadn't met him.

"How do you even eat that," I exclaimed. I covered my face with my hand and watched between my fingers.

He continued eating nonchalant.

I had to turn away from him to be able to swallow the hot chocolate, that's how disgusted I felt. At least I now knew one thing about him.

I sipped on my hot chocolate while he ate his cookies-with-marshmallows. I tried so hard to contain the inner critic in me and not to judge him but I just didn't see why anyone would do that.

As the evening progressed, I was more certain I wouldn't be able to fall asleep, I didn't want the night to end just yet.

We ended up at the balcony, laying on blankets and staring at the evening sky. For awhile we played a game of how many shapes and faces were could make out from the stars before he gave a lecture on star signs and why they are so important (none of which I understood). Turns out at some point in his life he had considered become an astrophysicist.

"How come you never talk about your family members and no one ever comes over?" I asked.

"There is no one else left," He answered softly.

What do you mean there is no one left? Not even cousins?" I asked.

"None at all, they all died." He answered.

"You really are the last member of your family," I asked for clarification.

My mind raced to the many times a had a fight with my family, even though we didn't see eye to eye on most things, their were always there. And he couldn't experience any of that, not even the pain of having a twin brother who stole your home work and claimed it was his.

"Yah," He answered.

"Luckily bastard." I muttered.

He turned his head over to me with a confused expression.

"Do you have any idea how many cousins I have. You lucky you don't have to deal with any family drama at special occasions." I answered trying to sound cheerful. "During Christmas time, they all expect a gift off me. That is so much money that you get to save that I have to spend, its no wonder you rich. The worst part is when I have to listen to them whine about how great their lives are."

He just continued smiling at the sky while I explained my dysfunctional family. It's a miracle I haven't head from any of my cousins yet after the many scandals I had recently been involved in.

"You have no one who'll borrow your money and never return it, you not missing out on anything fun." I continued.

By now Alex must have been bored from my verbal diarrhea, he'd just smile to himself and occasionally made some eye contact.

"Speaking of money, what do you plan on doing with all of it any ways?" I asked. "Not that I plan on murdering you or anything, at least not anytime soon."

He chuckled. "I'd just have to give all of it to our child." He answered.

Not a cent to charity. My grandmother was right, the only reason rich people ever give there money to charity was for a tax deduction.

"When is he supposed to learn the importance of hard work." I said instead.

"Most people spent their lives wishing they didn't have to work, you should be happy about that." He answered.

I looked up to stare at the sky. This was the most I have gotten out of Alexander, he is always so secretive.

I don't know what it was about tonight but he brought the talker out of me.

"Why do you work so hard," I asked.

"I have to," He answered.

"No you don't, you seem to pretty much have it all. It's bound to be enough at some point, right?"

"I guess that's the thing about money, the more you have the more you want." He answered.

"Have you ever thought of getting married?" I said.

He looked of at me as if he was trying to solve a puzzle. "No," He answered firmly.

"You don't want to ever get married? I wonder what screwed you up so badly that you decided against marriage. Didn't your parents love each other?" I regretted the words as soon as it came out of my mouth.

Alex hesitated, staring at the stars. "They loved each other so much that they died together." He answered.

They died together? I wonder what happened to them. The depressed tone in his voice sounded like they committed suicide or something. But I don't think they would have been cruel enough to leave him all alone.

"I'm sorry," I muttered.

"Everyone always is." He muttered.

"Aren't you going to ask how they died?"

"No," I answered. "Every single book I've read about weird rich guys with some skeletons in their closet tells me I shouldn't" I answered.

"Why is that?" He asked.

"I sort of like thinking of you as a terrible person. I'm afraid if you tell me then I'm going to start feeling all sorry for you and then I have to be nice. It would probably make me think you weren't always a bad person and that I misjudged you which will in turn make me feel like a bad person." I answered truthfully.

He let out a laugh.

"You don't have to worry about that, I'm a born and raised asshole." He answered. The cheerful tone in his voice had returned.

A part of me regretted not asking what had happened to them. What did he mean that they died together, did they decide on some double suicide or something, surely they couldn't have been so cruel as to leave him without a parent.

*********************

I woke up in my room, with the suns rays beaming through.

Last night was such a long night that I have no memory of when I ended up falling asleep or how I got in my room.

I felt just like the weather was outside the curtains, happy. I was determined that nothing and no one would bring me down today, so mush so that I was quitely humming to myself as I walked downstairs in pajamas.

"You look happy today," JoJo commented on my way to the kitchen.

"Thank you," I answered. "Good morning to you too," I said then continued walking down to the kitchen.

I should have known that my happy mood wouldn't last for too long, the happyness in me died out when I heard loud laughs coming from the kitchen.

With an eyebrow raised, I walked into the kitchen.

I walked on Alexander sitting at the coffee table with a mug in his hand. But he wasn't alone.

Next to him was a bottle blonde (at least that's what I think) who was laughing at whatever Alex had just said.

For a moment I must have just zoned out while looking at the two of them. The two of them just looked perfect together as they laughed at each others jokes.

He had never laughed that way with me, not even when he was busy trying to mock me.

She practically looked perfect. My one wish was that someone knocks her up that way she can he fat too.

"Oh," Alexander said upon noticing my presence. He said it as if I was a nessance.

"This is Cindy, she's a friend." Alex introduced us.

Cindy held her hand out for me to shake.

"I thought Justin was your only friend," I said turning to Alex.

"How do you know about Justin?" Alexander asked.

I was listening in on your conversion.

"JoJo must have mentioned him," I answered instead. "Plus, I met him once." I added.

"Justin and I went to high school with Cindy. We kind of stayed in contact since then." Alex said.

"Nice to meet you," I said ignoring her hand. Cindy finally got the memo that I wasn't interested in meeting her, much-less shaking hands.

It hadn't even been a month of sharing a house with Alex and I was already acting like a jealous girlfriend.

"Well, please excuse me." Cindy said. "A girl has got to fix my lip gloss up." She winked.

She walked to the downstairs bathroom. I waited until she was out of sight before I could speak.

"Don't you have work to do today or something?" I asked.

"What's wrong?" He asked staring at me.

"We should go now Mr. cuddle bear," Cindy said walking into the room.

I scowled. Cuddle bear? How old was she? Twelve.

"Jealously doesn't suite you sweetheart," He whispered. He kissed my cheek and turned his attention back at Cindy.

Something told me this wasn't the last of Cindy. While Alex was out having breakfast, I was left with the few of his lips on my cheek. I allowed myself to wonder how it would feel like if he would just kiss me once, because just like that, he had dropped me like a bad habit.