"That's Anthony, right?" Alex spoke, eyeing the angry man.

Summer didn't even hear his words. She was too focused on Anthony's expression. It was clear that he was angry. But what Summer, being his good friend, feared more was that his eyes displayed betrayal. Anthony wasn't just angry at seeing the two of them together, he felt deceived.

"Just drive, Alex." Summer managed to say.

Alex quickly started driving away, leaving Anthony behind. Just as their car passed him, Summer glanced at him with an apologetic face and saw his face turn sad. It was a face she had rarely ever seen on him. And she hated herself for putting him through it.

Her phone buzzed and she opened it to see it was a message from Anthony: Wtf are you doing with him?

There were several calls and messages from him and his father the previous day too, that she hadn't returned. She decided to visit the cafe after her date. It would take more than a text message or call to explain what she had planned to do, to her best friend. She needed to be in front of him to do it.

After driving for a few minutes, Alex parked the car in front of a tall building in a posh part of their town. He got out of the car and walked around to open Summer's door for her.

"You don't have to do all this for me," Summer quietly said.

"But I want to." His reply was quick and confident.

They walked up to the building entrance and got in the elevator. Alex pressed the button for the roof.

***

It was a very nice and expensive restaurant. Just by browsing through the menu, Summer realized that it was one of those restaurants in her town that catered to the mega-rich. She gave up on deciding what she wanted to eat as everything seemed very sophisticated and new to her. Alex happily pitched in and ordered for both of them. The food was delicious, but to Alex it didn't matter. He couldn't soak in the flavors of the exquisite food properly, with someone so exquisite to him sitting across from him.

"I hope you're enjoying this." His voice was very soft, but laced with real hope. He wanted to make everything perfect for her.

"Of course," Summer gulped down the food in her mouth quickly and replied. She wiped her mouth and took a sip of the delicious champagne. "This is a really nice restaurant. I didn't even know of its existence."

"Yeah, it's not that popular.... among the...."

"Poor people?"

Alex was surprised. "No, I didn't mean that."

Summer started laughing. "It's okay even if you do. I won't take offence."

"But why would I call you poor? Whatever may have happened to your dad's factory recently, you've never really been poor, now have you?" Alex smilingly asked.

"Well," Summer began. "I haven't been raised like a rich person. I have middle class values."

"So do I."

"Alex, I remember you being like the rest of us back in high school. But you have changed. I'm not saying it in a bad way. I'm just telling the truth."

Alex let that one slide and changed the topic to her food interests. But he kept on thinking about what she meant. She, on the other hand, was really only telling the truth from her perspective. She had noticed his changed, high-handed ways. His car, his dressing sense, now his choice in restaurants... it was all making it more and more clear to her how he had all the money in the world and an expensive lifestyle as well.

They finished their food and continued talking about casual stuff. Summer was in a hurry to see Anthony, so she declined Alex's proposal to spend some more time together and asked him to drop her at The Brewery. He agreed, sensing he ought to let her deal with Anthony alone. Though he couldn't deny he was jealous of him for being the one that Summer cared about so much.

Summer was quiet on the way back, thinking about what Anthony may accuse her of. But she really was clueless in that matter. She couldn't understand why he was that hurt. Must be some misunderstanding, she thought.

Alex, on the other hand, was happy. Though he wished to spend more time with her, he was grateful for what he got. And after all, he would have her as his fake wife in a very short amount of time.... how that thought pleased him!

"Hope you're convinced everyone's taken well to.... us... being together." Alex said as Summer got out in front of the cafe.

"Not everyone." Summer replied and shut the door. She waved him away, and then entered the cafe after taking a deep breath. Let's get this over with, she thought.

For the second time that day, Anthony stared at her with a pain-filled expression.