Let me just say this now:
Walking up to Rome was a mistake.
A huge, enormous, life-altering mistake.
I mean, he was standing there looking like he just came out of a music video where feelings are illegal and eyeliner is mandatory. Wind was probably blowing through his hair even though we were indoors.
But I'd already committed.
I stopped right in front of him. My legs were shaking. My soul? Already halfway to the afterlife.
"Hi," I said.
Rome looked at me like I'd just coughed in his coffee.
"…Do I know you?"
Okay rude.
"I'm Jack," I said, giving a little wave like a lost tour guide.
He stared.
I cleared my throat. "Sooo. Hypothetically. If I asked you to fake date me to avoid a very real confession from a very real guy I'm too emotionally unstable to reject… would you say yes?"
"You want me… to fake date you?"
"…Yes."
"No."
NO.
One word. Sharp. Immediate. Cold.
I swear I heard my heart crack in HD.
Rome slung his bag over his shoulder and walked right past me without another word.
LIKE I WAS A STICKER ON THE FLOOR.
I just stood there, dying internally.
Why did I think this would work? Why did I wear the socks with cartoon bananas today?
Before I could crawl into a locker and stay there forever, someone called my name.
"Jackkkk~!"
I turned.
Big mistake.
Because there he was.
Lucas.
Ella's cousin.
The guy who likes me.
Clingier than duct tape on wet skin.
He was running toward me like we were long-lost soulmates reunited in a K-drama.
"Oh my god," I whispered. "Please don't—"
But it was too late.
He flung his arms around me like I was a plush toy on sale.
"Jack! I've been thinking about you all morning!"
"Why?"
"You exist. Isn't that enough?"
I choked on my own tongue.
Lucas didn't let go. His chin was resting on my shoulder now.
"I had a dream last night," he whispered dramatically, "You were holding a frog and said, 'This is for you.' I cried when I woke up."
I physically felt my soul try to eject from my body.
"L-Lucas—maybe give me some space?" I laughed nervously.
He only hugged tighter. "You're so funny."
I turned to the hallway like a trapped hostage, silently screaming HELP ME at anyone who would listen.
That's when I saw him again.
Rome.
He was watching us from the end of the hallway, arms crossed, expression unreadable.
Our eyes met for one awkward second before he turned and walked off again.
And I just stood there, being clung to like a human teddy bear, while the only guy who could fake save me from this situation was walking away like he didn't just ruin my plan and my mental peace.
This was going GREAT.
Absolutely. Perfectly. Great.
To be continued…