Chapter 1

LENNY'S POV

The rain didn’t wash away the blood on my hands; it just made them slippery.

I stood in the shadows of the administration building, breathing heavily, as my heart pounded against my ribs. If anyone saw me here, if anyone looked at the broken window behind me, my life would be over. Three years of perfect grades, three years of being invisible, all gone because of one desperate choice.

"That’s a heavy bag for a girl who isn't supposed to be here."

The voice was smooth but cold.

I froze and my lungs stopped working. I recognized that voice. Everyone on campus recognized that voice.

He was the Greek god of campus. The guy that every girl dreamed of. What was he doing on campus this late? Well, I guess that would be a weird question for me to ask since I was the culprit.

I turned slowly and my eyes met with Jace Callahan who was five feet away. He wasn't wearing a coat despite the rain. His eyes went to my trembling fingers and he raised a brow.

Though, I noticed that he looked bored. I guess catching a thief was the last thing he was interested in doing.

"I'm just leaving," I whispered and he stepped closer, maintaining eye contact with me.

"Are you?"

Seeing him up close, I realized that he was tall. So tall that he made me feel small.

"Because I saw you smash the Dean’s office window,” he went on and I swallowed hard.

"Please," I begged.

"Please what, Lenny?" He asked, leaning in. My brows creased.

He called my name so naturally. Like he had known me for a long time.

"How do you know my name?" I asked and Jace tilted his head making a drop of rain slide down his jaw.

"I know everything that happens on my turf, and right now, you’re breaking the law on my turf." He said, shoving his phone at my face and I saw a picture of me coming from the Dean’s office.

"I had to," I said, gripping the strap of my bag tighter. "You don't understand."

"I understand that you have the Dean’s master key in your pocket which means that you broke into his office.” He began, then he held my chin gently, but I brushed his hands off immediately.

“I understand that if I call my coach right now, he will call the cops. You won’t graduate and you’ll go to jail." He finished off, stressing the last word and my body froze.

No. That couldn’t happen. I had gone through all this stress to prevent dropping out. But I could tell that Jace wanted something. His tone gave him away.

“Why are you still talking to me then? Just do it, call them." I shot back, trying to maintain my composure. As he leaned closer, I took a step back which made my body hit the wall.

"You’re shaking," he observed.

"I’m cold."

"No, you’re terrified. I like that, it means you know what’s at stake." He added and I shot him a hard glare.

"What do you want, Jace?" I snapped. The fear shifted into anger. I hated people playing games with me. That was all I had faced my entire life because I was poor and I despised it.

“Money? I don't have any, my scholarship is the only reason I’m here." I replied and he laughed as if I had said the most absurd thing.

"I don't need your money, Lenny." His voice turned flat and I raised a brow.

"Then what?"

He leaned in, placing both of his hands on the wall, as if he was trying to cage me. I could feel his gaze going between my face and my exposed upper body and I cringed. Maybe this would be cute if the guy doing it wasn’t such a campus manwhore.

“I…” he began, but I interjected.

“I am not going to sleep with you Jace Callahan. Not everyone wants you.” I said bluntly and when he blinked confused, I felt proud of myself.

Take that you asshole.

But my pride crumbled as his loud laugh echoed.

“You’re funny, Lenny. What? You think I want you to? No. You’re not my type.” He replied and when he leaned in this time, I could feel his breath on my ear.

“I think if ever, you would need to pay me to have sex with a dork like you.” He said quietly and my heart sank.

It took a lot of resolve to prevent a tear from falling, that was a very mean thing to say to a girl, but I wasn’t surprised hearing it from him. He had a reputation of being very arrogant.

After a few seconds, he leaned back, clearing his throat.

“Anyways, I have a problem and I need your help," He stated. Trying to seem unbothered by his earlier statement, I raised a brow.

"The star quarterback has a problem? Let me guess, you crashed another car? Or you failed a drug test?"

"I am serious. The NFL draft is in six months and my 'bad boy' image is starting to scare away the scouts and my agent said that I needed a change; something that would show that I’ve grown up." He explained and I shrugged.

“And what does that have to do with me?"

"I need a girlfriend," he said. "A real one. Someone quiet. Someone smart. Someone who doesn't go to parties and doesn't end up on the school gossip pages." He stated and I chuckled as the realization dawned on me.

“You want me to be your fake girlfriend?"

"I don't want you to be. I’m telling you that you are." Jace corrected and I shook my head.

"In your dreams. No."

Jace was not only a man whore, but the one guy who my brother despised. Fake dating him would invite complications to my world.

"No?" He raised an eyebrow. "Okay, hand over the bag and I’ll walk you to the security office right now, so we can see how the police feel about your 'reasons.'"

I looked at the bag, then his phone which had a picture of me on it. Then I looked at him.

"You’re a monster," I whispered.

"I’m a winner. There’s a difference." He responded and I scoffed.

"I hate you, I don't even know you, and I hate you."

"Good, that will make it easier, we won't have to worry about you falling in love with me." He smirked and I shook my head in disbelief.

"That would never happen."

"Keep telling yourself that." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a phone, tapped the screen and held it up. This was another photo of me when I had accidentally broken the Dean’s window and hurt my hand.

I had been scared that it would alert the security men. I guess that was what alerted Jace.

My heart stopped.

"I have the original. It stays with me. As long as you play your part, no one ever sees it, you graduate, you get your diploma, then you disappear and everyone wins." He explained, smiling mischievously and my breath hitched.

"And if I mess up?"

"Then I ruin you," he said simply, he wasn't even angry. He spoke like he was discussing the weather.

"I will take everything you’ve worked for and burn it down. Do you understand?" He asked and I swallowed hard. My throat felt like it was full of glass.

"What are the rules?"

Jace smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes.

“Rule number one: When we are in public, you love me, you look at me like I’m the only man in the room, you touch me and you kiss me if I ask." He explained, his lips curving into a smile.

"I’m not kissing you," I hissed.

"You’ll do what I tell you to do," His voice dropped. He couldn’t even hide that I had hurt his ego.

"Rule number two: In private, we don’t have to talk, you can hate me as much as you want behind closed doors, but the second that door opens, you’re mine." He went on and I chuckled

"I am not yours."

"For the next six months, you are." He argued as his hands brushed against my cheeks and he was warm.

The only warmth I had felt all night, and I hated myself for leaning into it.

"Rule number three: Never forget this is a game, don't get confused, don't think I’m your friend and don't think I’m your hero." He stressed the hero part and I rolled my eyes.

I wish he could actually know how much he means nothing to me. I have never been one of those girls to fawn over him.

"You’re the bad one, Jace, I’m not confused." I replied flatly and he smiled.

"Good girl." He tucked a wet strand of hair behind my ear and it took a lot of resolve for me to not fling those hands away.

“Get home and dry off, I’ll pick you up at eight tomorrow morning."

"Eight? I have class."

"Not anymore, tomorrow is the homecoming rally, so you’re going to sit in the front row, wearing my jersey." He said firmly and I felt like throwing up.

I couldn’t believe that I would be associated as one of his fangirls or playthings like they call the others.

“People will talk." I argued, but I could tell that I was wasting my time.

Jace loved the attention. He thrived in it.

"That’s the point, Lenny, I want them to talk, I want them to see the king of the university with the smartest girl in the class. It makes me look stable. It makes me look like I’ve changed." He said proudly and I scoffed.

"That’s deceit. You haven't changed."

"Yes. I’m much worse than they think I am." he whispered, leaning down until his lips brushed against my ear.

When he pulled back, he stared at me for a while before speaking again.

"Give me your phone," He commanded and I panicked.

"Why?"

"Now, Lenny."

I pulled my phone out of my pocket with trembling hands, he took it, typed something in, and handed it back.

"I’m saved as 'J.' Don’t ignore my texts, If I call, you answer on the first ring. If you don't, I hit send on that photo." He stated and I legit felt like screaming.

Why must he be so controlling?

"I hate you," I said again.

"Get used to it," Jace said, turning and walking into the rain, he didn’t look back. He didn’t have to— he knew he had me.

I stood there for a long time, the rain soaking through my clothes until I felt numb. I looked at the bag in my hand then looked at the phone and my thumb hovered over his name.

J.

I walked toward my dorm, my legs feeling weak. On my way back, I was frightened. Every shadow looked like a camera and every sound felt like a siren.

When I arrived inside, I stripped off my wet clothes and changed into dry ones, then hid the bag at the bottom of my closet.

I was too tired to shower or fix myself something to eat so I crawled into bed and I fell asleep almost immediately

At 3:00 AM, my phone buzzed on the nightstand making me groan in annoyance.

When I saw the name on the caller ID, I fell back on my bed in frustration. Why was Jace calling me by this time? We just got to know each other today and he thinks he has the right to do this?

“Hello.Wear something red tomorrow. It’s my favorite color.” He said and I scoffed.

I stared at the screen in disbelief.

I didn't reply. I couldn’t find my words. Instead, I just cut the call.

Apart from the fact that I thought he was crossing the line, he was starting to remind me of my past.

I looked at the scars on my palm, the ones from the last time I trusted a boy like him. A reminder.

‘This is different. It’s just a game. Survive the season.’ I told myself