It felt like I had been living in a dream for the past few days. Or maybe it was more like a movie, one of those romantic comedies where the quiet, unassuming girl gets thrust into the spotlight, all because of a fake relationship with the most popular guy in school. I would've laughed if it wasn't so surreal.
The coffee shop incident had been a success, in the eyes of everyone else, anyway. Ethan and I sat together, looked like a couple, and even exchanged a few laughs that seemed perfectly natural. No one questioned our bond, at least not in our faces. But that didn't mean I wasn't questioning it.
I wasn't naive enough to believe I was falling for him. No, that wasn't it. I was simply starting to wonder what this was all about, this fake relationship, this act. Was it truly just a cover for his family? Or was there something more beneath the surface? Because, for the first time, I was starting to feel like maybe, just maybe, I wasn't playing pretend as much as I thought.
The next day at school, Ethan met me by my locker again. This time, there was no pretense in his smile, no playful teasing. His eyes were softer, more serious. He leaned in close, lowering his voice so only I could hear.
"I need to talk to you about something."
I froze for a moment, unsure of what to expect. We'd been getting along just fine, at least, that's what I thought. There was a definite chemistry between us, or at least I could feel it. But we hadn't really talked about the boundaries. About what this fake dating thing actually meant, and what it was doing to us.
"I'm listening," I said, trying to keep my voice steady.
He glanced around to make sure no one else was nearby, then nodded for us to step into the empty hallway. Once we were alone, he turned to face me, his expression guarded. It was a stark contrast to the confident, carefree persona he usually wore.
"Look," he began, running a hand through his hair, "I don't want you to think I'm playing games here."
I raised an eyebrow, not sure where this conversation was headed. "What do you mean?"
"This whole thing," he gestured between us. "It's not… It's not easy. I know you've been going along with it because you're helping me out, but I don't want you to feel trapped."
I blinked, taken aback by his admission. "I'm not trapped," I said quickly, more for my own reassurance than his. "It's fine. Really. It's just a cover."
His gaze softened, and I caught a glimpse of something in his eyes, vulnerability, maybe? "I know. But I don't want it to be just that. I don't want it to feel like I'm using you. I wouldn't do that."
Something stirred in my chest. The warmth in his voice, the sincerity it was hard to ignore. But I couldn't let myself get carried away by it. This was a fake relationship. Nothing more.
"I get it," I said, forcing a smile. "No harm done."
He looked at me for a long moment, his eyes searching mine as if trying to gauge if I meant it. "Good. Just… if you ever feel uncomfortable, or if you want out, you can tell me. We'll figure something out."
I nodded, feeling a twinge of guilt. "Thanks, but I'm good. Really."
Ethan didn't seem entirely convinced, but he gave a small, relieved nod. "Alright. Just wanted to make sure we're on the same page."
We stood there for a beat, the silence hanging heavy between us. Then, without another word, he turned and walked back down the hallway, leaving me standing there, wondering if I had made the right choice. It wasn't like I could just walk away now, not when things had gotten so complicated. Not when my heart was starting to feel too much.
Later that day, during lunch, I found myself scanning the room for Ethan, my mind still replaying our conversation. When I finally spotted him sitting at his usual table with the guys, I hesitated before approaching. I didn't want to seem too eager, too desperate. But as soon as I walked over, Ethan's gaze landed on me. He smiled, and it felt genuine, no act, no pretense.
"Hey, Scarlet," he greeted me, standing up to pull out the chair beside him.
I sat down, my nerves bubbling up again. Why was I feeling like this? This was all supposed to be fake. But with every passing moment, it was starting to feel like it wasn't.
"Hi," I replied, trying to sound casual, but I could hear the uncertainty in my voice.
"So, how's it going?" he asked, his eyes still focused on me, though there was a hint of something deeper there, something unspoken.
I shrugged, pretending to be unfazed by the sudden attention. "It's good. I mean, this whole thing is a bit weird, but I'm managing."
Ethan laughed, his voice low and smooth. "Weird? You've been handling it better than I thought. I thought you'd be all awkward and nervous, but you're doing just fine."
I shifted uncomfortably in my seat. "I'm just trying to get through it. You know, for the sake of… the family."
He nodded, taking a sip of his drink, but I could tell he wasn't listening to my words. His gaze was still on me, too intense, too focused. I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure.
"You know, you don't have to keep pretending," he said, his voice lower now, just enough for only me to hear. "I'm not in any rush. But if you ever want to be… real, just say the word."
I could feel my heart race at his words. What was he saying? Was he implying something more than just this fake dating charade? The line between reality and fiction was starting to blur, and I wasn't sure where one ended and the other began.
Before I could respond, a group of students walked by, distracting both of us. Ethan's smile returned to its usual confident self, as if he hadn't just dropped that bombshell. He went back to joking with his friends, like nothing had happened.
But I couldn't shake the feeling that things were changing between us. The fake smiles, the forced touches, the stolen glances, they were all starting to feel too real.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. No, I told myself. I wasn't falling for him. This was all a game. A game that I would win, no matter what it took.