She said No

Raeliana’s POV

I stared at him in shock but he remained unmoving.

Elias Lockhart was actually offering me a deal that sounded like something out of a trashy novel.

"Are you... are you actually serious right now?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Dead serious," Elias said, leaning forward and grinning. "You want revenge on Annalise, don't you? She just humiliated you in front of the entire school, and she’s single-handedly trying to run you out of Pembroke.”

He shrugged and continued speaking. “You fake-date me, and we both get what we want.”

My brain was running in a hundred different directions at once. He was right about one thing… I wanted Annalise to pay.

I wanted her to feel a fraction of the agony she had put me through.

"Think about it, Roosevelt," Elias pressed, reaching out to tap my shoulder. "You won’t get a deal like this again.”

I looked at him, taking in his messy sandy blonde hair and the arrogant set of his jaw… not to mention those full cupid-bow shaped lips.

This man was the epitome of a troublemaker. Getting involved with him in any way wouldn’t do me good

"No," I said, stepping away from him.

Elias blinked, his confident expression faltering for a fraction of a second. "What?"

"I said no," I repeated, crossing my arms over my chest. "I'm turning it down."

"Are you insane?" He straightened up, throwing his hands out in disbelief. "This is literally the best deal you’re ever going to get. Half the school is passing around a video of you covered in raw eggs, and you're turning down the only lifeline you’ve got?"

I rolled my eyes and stepped closer to him. “It’s because it’s terrible idea!" I snapped, my anger flaring right back up.

"First of all, fake dating is pathetic. Second of all, we will both be gathering unnecessary attraction. And most importantly of all?" I leaned in, meeting his gaze head-on. "You are completely not my type."

Elias’s jaw dropped slightly. Of all the things I could have said, that clearly hit him the hardest.

His blue eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not your type?" he echoed, pointing a finger at his own chest. "Are you blind? Half the girls on this campus would kill to stand where you're standing right now.”

"Then go ask one of them!" I retorted, rolling my eyes. "Because I like guys who are actually decent human beings, not arrogant hockey meatheads who insult my body the second they meet me.”

"Oh, like you're a walk in the park!" Elias scoffed, taking a step toward me. "You’re violent, you have a terrible temper, and you nearly tore my hair out by the roots yesterday. You’re definitely not my type either, sweetheart.”

"Good. Then we agree!" I barked. "The deal is off."

"I'm giving you time to think about it," he said, adjusting his collar and trying to regain his cool demeanor, though a flush of red was creeping up his neck. "You're stressed out right now. Take the night off and call me when you realize you need me."

"My decision is final, Lockhart," I said flatly, pointing toward the door. "Get out."

Elias smirked, though it looked forced this time.

He took a step backward toward the exit, resting his hand on the doorknob. "It's not final, Roosevelt. You'll change your mind by tomorrow morning. See you around, fake girlfriend."

"In your dreams.” I yelled as he slipped out the door, letting it click shut behind him.

The second the latch caught, the adrenaline left my body all at once. My knees buckled, and I crumpled straight down to the cold floor.

I buried my face in my hands, my heart hammering against my ribs like a war drum.

My mind was racing so fast I couldn't breathe. I felt trapped, and utterly alone in this large

city.

With shaking fingers, I pulled my phone out of my pocket and dialed the one number that mattered.

It rang three times before a loud, breathless voice burst through the speaker.

"Raeliana? Oh my gosh, are you okay?” She rambled, “why did you hang up like that?”

Hearing Betty's voice felt like dropping a hundred pound weight off my shoulders. Tears stung the corners of my eyes, but I forced them back. "Betty... I'm in trouble."

She paused for a moment then asked. "What happened?”

"I don't know what to do anymore," I whimpered, pulling my knees up to my chest. "Elias Lockhart is Annalise’s ex-boyfriend."

"Wait, the guy you punched?" Betty interrupted, sounding derailed. "The one you told me about before?"

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.

"He offered me a deal ten minutes ago," I explained, squeezing my eyes shut. "He wants us to pretend to date and said would get Annalise off his back and stop the bullying for me."

There was a long beat of silence on the line.

"Raeliana," Betty said, her tone suddenly dropping into seriousness. "Tell me you said yes."