5

CHAPTER 5

AVA

The first thing I noticed when Liam's Porsche rolled through the university gates was the deathly silence.

It lasted all of three seconds and a half and then complete chaos.

"Oh my God!" someone screamed.

"That's Liam Hayes!"

"Is that the scholarship girl?"

Ouch. Scholarship girl? That was what I was being referred to? I mean, it wasn't a lie, but it definitely hurt my ego a little.

"He's the guy who defended her."

"I saw the video. He really stood up for her."

"Maybe chivalry isn't dead after all.”

"They're actually together!"

Students poured out onto the sidewalks, their phones already raised.

Click.

Click.

Click.

The flashes came so quickly I had to squint to keep from going blind.

My palms instantly turned clammy, my eyes darting around. Who knew my fake boyfriend was so loved?

I had never really understood why people cared about celebrities, but being in close proximity with one, especially Liam, I kind of got it.

I kind of. But this was still too much.

"I don't think I can do this," I whispered.

Liam glanced at me before pulling into a parking space.

"You can."

"You sound awfully confident."

"Because I know you can."

He stepped out first before walking around to my side. As soon as he opened my door, dozens of cameras turned toward us.

I instinctively shrank back.

Liam noticed. Without saying a word, he held out his hand.

I stared at it.

"If we're going to sell this," he said quietly, "we have to start now."

I swallowed.

This was it.

No turning back.

Taking a deep breath, I slipped my hand into his.

His fingers closed around mine.

Warm.

Firm.

Surprisingly reassuring.

"Ready?" he asked.

"No."

He laughed. "Good answer."

Together, we started toward the Arts Building.

The whispers followed us everywhere.

"She's prettier than I expected."

"I heard she's on a full scholarship."

"Do you think they're actually in love?"

"They're kind of cute."

"I still think it's fake."

I kept my eyes forward, pretending I couldn't hear any of it.

Inside, my stomach was doing somersaults.

Liam gave my hand a tiny squeeze.

"Relax."

"I'm trying."

"I know." His voice was calm.

Steady.

Oddly comforting.

By the time we reached the main courtyard, nearly half the campus seemed to be watching us.

Then someone screamed my name.

"AVA!"

Emily came barreling through the crowd like a woman possessed.

She threw her arms around me before I could react.

"Oh my God! Are you okay?"

"I'm fine," I laughed.

"No, you're not! You disappeared yesterday with Liam Hayes!"

She pulled away and looked between the two of us.

Then back at me.

Then our joined hands.

Her mouth fell open.

"No..."

I sighed.

"Yes."

She pointed dramatically at Liam.

"You."

He placed a hand over his chest.

"Me?"

"What are your intentions with my best friend?"

"I'd like to think they're honorable."

Emily narrowed her eyes.

"I don't trust attractive men."

"I've noticed."

"I especially don't trust attractive athletes."

"Ouch."

"And politicians' sons are the worst."

Liam chuckled.

"I haven't even defended myself yet."

"You don't get to."

I couldn't help laughing.

Watching the two of them interact was strangely entertaining.

Maybe this arrangement wouldn't be completely unbearable.

Maybe—

"Well, well."

The laughter around us died instantly.

I knew that voice. I would know it in my sleep.

My smile disappeared.

Nic.

He stood several feet away with Vanessa hanging possessively on his arm.

Behind them were half the hockey team.

He looked from me to Liam...

To our intertwined hands.

Then laughed.

"So it's true."

Liam's grip on my hand tightened almost imperceptibly.

"What do you want, Sterling?" he asked coolly.

Nic shoved his hands into his pockets.

"Just wanted to congratulate Ava."

I frowned.

"For what?"

"For finding someone willing to pretend to love her."

A few people gasped.

Emily looked ready to throw something.

Liam, however, didn't even blink.

"Finished?"

"Not even close."

Nic walked closer until only a few feet separated us.

"I've been thinking."

"I'm sure it hurt," Liam replied.

Several students burst into laughter.

Nic's jaw tightened.

"This relationship is fake."

Silence.

"You only claimed her because I embarrassed her."

"I don't need to explain myself to you."

"No."

Nic smirked.

"But maybe you should explain yourself to everyone else."

He gestured toward the growing crowd.

"If she's really your girlfriend..."

He pointed at our joined hands.

"...then why does she look like she'd rather be anywhere else?"

Every eye turned toward me.

Heat flooded my face.

I suddenly became very aware of the cameras.

Of the whispers.

Of Liam standing beside me.

Nic folded his arms.

"That's because she's not your girlfriend."

Vanessa smirked.

"I told you this was just a publicity stunt."

The murmuring grew louder.

"They do look kind of awkward..."

"I knew it."

"It's fake."

My heart sank.

Liam remained unnervingly calm.

He looked at Nic for a long moment before speaking.

"Believe whatever helps you sleep at night."

Nic laughed.

"Oh, I will."

He leaned in slightly.

"But sooner or later..."

His eyes shifted to mine.

"...she'll realize she's just another game to you."

For the first time since we'd met...

I felt Liam tense.

His jaw flexed.

His smile disappeared.

"You should leave," he said quietly.

"Or what?"

The air between them became suffocating.

No one spoke.

No one moved.

It felt like the entire campus was holding its breath.

Then—

Liam smiled.

Not warmly.

Coldly.

"Or you'll regret it."

Nic stared at him for several seconds.

Then scoffed.

"This isn't over," Nic spat, eyes blazing.

“What are you going to do, second place?” Liam demanded in a voice so condescending, I winced.

If there was one thing despised, it was how he never really got the number one hockey player position because of Liam.

Nic’s eyes turned dark.

He stepped forward, slowly. Liam didn't budge, didn't even move.

“What did you just say?" Nic asked in an eerily low voice.

“I said, what are you going to do, second place?"

Silence. Cold, deafening silence and then,

Nic punched Liam straight in the face.

A cracking noise could be heard throughout campus.

Then, the crowd erupted into chaos, but what scared me was the look in Liam's eyes as he looked back at Nic.

Murderous.

Then Liam smiled. Not his usual charming smile.

Something colder and dangerous.

Then he looked at the blood on his knuckles and cracked his hands.

A shiver ran down my spine, and for the first time, I was scared of my fake boyfriend.