His Girlfriend

Ava’s POV

​The weekend went by in a blur of avoided phone calls. I knew I should have stayed home.

​I woke up to the sound of a dozen notifications on my nightstand. I reached for the phone, squinting at the harsh light of the lock screen. The school confessions post from the party was still at the top of my feed, the image of me and Ryan blurred but unmistakable.

​The caption read: The Queen of Hearts just took the King. Sorry, Daniel. Looks like you’ve been replaced.

​"Oh, no," I whispered, pulling the covers over my head as if it could shield me from the entire internet. I scrolled through the comments, my stomach twisting with every word.

​“Is this a prank?” I read aloud. Further down, another user asked, “Wait, isn't she dating that guy Daniel?”

“Ryan Carter doesn’t date. He barely speaks. How did she pull this off?!”

​Then, a text from Lily slid into view: MEET ME IN SCHOOL ASAP!!!!

​I groaned and rolled over in bed, staring at the ceiling. 

An hour later, I was stepping into the main hallway. I felt a thousand eyes on me instantly. I tightened my grip on the straps of my bag and kept walking. Head up. Don’t react. Don’t break.

​"Ava!" Lily appeared beside me like a sudden storm, already grinning. "You are officially the most talked-about person in this school."

​"Great," I muttered, staring straight ahead at nothing in particular.

​"No, not great. Legendary," she corrected, walking backward to stay in my line of sight. "Do you know how many people saw that video? The views are insane."

​"I don't want to know."

​"Too bad. Everyone knows."

​I groaned, the weight of the morning's notifications finally pressing down on me. "Please stop talking, Lily."

​"I can't," she said, practically vibrating with secondhand adrenaline. "This is the best thing that’s ever happened to me."

​"This didn’t happen to you."

​"It kind of did," she shrugged, completely unbothered by the stares we were drawing. "I was there. I’m an accessory to the crime."

​I rolled my eyes, but I couldn’t stop the small, traitorous smile that tugged at my lips. It faded the second I spotted them. Daniel and Nina. They were standing by the lockers like a pair of statues, watching my every move.

​My steps slowed.

​"Don’t," Lily said quietly beside me, her playful tone vanishing. "Not worth it."

​"I know."

​But it still stung. Daniel’s jaw tightened as our eyes met, his expression was a toxic mix of wounded pride and anger. Nina looked away first, shifting her weight awkwardly.

​Good.

​I turned and walked right past them, refusing to give them a single second of my time.

​"Okay, that was hot," Lily whispered once we were safely out of earshot. "The growth? We love to see it."

​"Shut up."

​"I’m serious—" Her voice cut off suddenly.

​I frowned. "What?"

​She didn’t answer. She just stared ahead. I followed her gaze and froze. Ryan Carter was leaning against a locker bank like he had nowhere else in the world to be. He looked like he hadn't just turned my life upside down; he looked like he’d been waiting for me to arrive so he could finish the job.

​My stomach tightened into a hard knot.

​"Speak of the devil," Lily murmured, backing away. 

"I’m going to… give you some space."

​"Wait—Lily—"

​Too late. She was already gone. Traitor.

​I exhaled slowly and walked toward him because apparently, I was in the business of making bad decisions now. His eyes met mine instantly, focused, unblinking, and entirely too intense for a Monday morning.

​"You came," he said. His voice was that same low, rasp from the night of the party.

​I stopped a few feet away, keeping my distance. "It’s school, Ryan. I didn’t exactly have a choice."

​"You always have a choice, Ava."

​"Not really."

​A beat of silence passed between us, heavy with the weight of that kiss. I glanced around. At least a dozen people were staring, pretending to check their phones.

​"We need to talk," I said, leaning in closer. "But not now. I have statistics this morning."

​"Actually, this is the best time." He nodded slightly toward the hallway behind me. I didn’t have to look to know Daniel was still watching.

​"You’re enjoying this, aren’t you?" I asked.

​"No."

​"You’re lying."

​"Not about this," he said, and for a second, a shadow crossed his face. Something dark. 

​ "Then why do you care?"

​His gaze held mine, steady and unreadable. "I think we can help each other."

​"That’s not an answer, Ryan."

​"It’s enough for one."

​I exhaled sharply, frustrated by the walls he kept up. "You’re impossible."

​"I’ve been told."

​"Frequently, I’m guessing?"

​"Only by people who don't listen." He stepped closer, dropping his voice so the eavesdroppers couldn't hear. "And what exactly am I supposed to be listening to? That you need this."

​"I don't need anything."

​"Then walk away."

​The challenge hung in the air. I hesitated, my heart hammering against my ribs. If I walked away now, I went back to being the girl who got cheated on. If I stayed…

​"Fine," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "Explain it properly."

​Something flickered in his eyes. Interest. Maybe even respect. "I'm saying you should be my girlfriend. You stay with me. We act like we’re together. Like it’s real."

​"What!" I hissed.

​"My girlfriend. What do you think?"

​"I think you're insane."

​"Look, this whole thing was to get back at Daniel, and it's working. But now the entire school thinks it's real, so let's give them that."

​"And when it’s over?"

​"It’s over. People break up every day, Ava. It's nothing new."

​I narrowed my eyes. "You’re leaving something out."

​"Probably."

​"Ryan."

​"Ava."

​I sighed, feeling the trap closing in. "What’s in it for you?"

​"A distraction," he said. It sounded like a lie, or at least only half the truth.

​"Ava."

​The voice made my body go rigid. Daniel. He was closer now, his face filled with desperation. "We need to talk."

​"No, we don't."

​"Yes, we do," Daniel insisted, stepping into my personal space. "This isn't you, Ava. Whatever this is, him, it's not real. You're just hurt."

​Before I could respond, Ryan stepped forward. He didn't just stand near me; he stepped in front of me, the heat of his body acting as a shield.

​"It’s real enough," Ryan said calmly.

​Daniel’s jaw clenched. "Stay out of this, Carter. This doesn't involve you."

​Ryan glanced back at me, his eyes locking onto mine for a split second, asking a silent question. I gave a small, firm nod.

​"It does now," Ryan said, turning back to Daniel.

​Daniel laughed, a bitter, hollow sound. "You’re really doing this? You’re actually going to pretend you care about her?"

​I held Daniel’s gaze, my resolve hardening into something like steel. "Yes."

​The word surprised me, but it felt right. Daniel’s expression turned venomous. "You’ll regret it, Ava."

​"Maybe," I said. "But not today."

​He stared at me for a heartbeat longer before turning and storming off. I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.

​"What just happened?" I muttered, leaning back against the locker.

​"You made a choice," Ryan said. He looked at me, and this time, he didn't deny the small smirk tugging at his lips. "Stay close."

​"Why?"

​His gaze flicked toward the exit, his expression turning cold again. "Because it's about to get really wild.”