Chapter 2: The deal

The Student Affairs office buzzed with activity as students hurried in and out carrying folders, laptops, and coffee cups. Pedro stood near the reception desk, checking his phone for the third time in two minutes.

He wasn’t even sure why he had come.

The idea of marrying a complete stranger—even on paper—was ridiculous.

A soft voice interrupted his thoughts.

“You actually showed up.”

Pedro looked up.

Liyanna Anthony stood a few feet away, dressed in blue jeans, white sneakers, and an oversized Georgia State hoodie. Her curls were tied into a messy bun, and she held a notebook against her chest.

“I almost didn’t,” he admitted.

“Same.”

For a second, they simply stared at each other before laughing awkwardly.

“So…” Liyanna said. “Should we find out whether we’re completely insane?”

Pedro chuckled.

“Lead the way.”

An advisor named Mrs. Collins welcomed them into her office.

“What can I do for you two?”

Pedro hesitated.

“We wanted more information about the Married Student Housing Program.”

Mrs. Collins smiled warmly.

“Of course.”

She slid a brochure across the desk.

“The university has a limited number of apartments reserved for legally married students. Those apartments are significantly cheaper than regular off-campus housing. Married students may also qualify for certain need-based financial aid programs, depending on their household income.”

Liyanna leaned forward.

“So…being married doesn’t automatically guarantee extra money?”

Mrs. Collins shook her head.

“No. Everything is verified. The financial aid office reviews tax documents, income, and other records. This isn’t a loophole.”

Pedro felt strangely relieved.

At least the university had safeguards.

Mrs. Collins continued.

“To qualify, you’ll need to provide a valid marriage certificate, complete an application together, and attend a short orientation.”

“How long does approval take?” Pedro asked.

“Usually two to three weeks.”

She smiled again.

“And congratulations, by the way.”

Both Pedro and Liyanna froze.

Neither corrected her.

Outside the office, they walked across campus in silence.

Finally Liyanna stopped beneath the shade of a large oak tree.

“Okay.”

Pedro folded his arms.

“Okay.”

“This is the point where sensible people walk away.”

“Probably.”

“So…”

“So.”

She sighed dramatically.

“I’m desperate.”

Pedro looked at the ground.

“Me too.”

The confession hung heavily between them.

Liyanna sat on a nearby bench.

“My mom’s bakery closed after a storm damaged the building. Insurance barely covered anything.”

Pedro nodded slowly.

“My dad passed away three years ago.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I’ve been trying to finish school without taking on more loans.”

For the first time since they’d met, neither of them felt like strangers.

They were simply two young people trying to hold on to futures that suddenly seemed out of reach.

“So what happens if we actually do this?” Liyanna asked.

Pedro pulled out the brochure.

“We’d have to live together.”

“Wonderful.”

“We’d split rent.”

“Less wonderful.”

“We’d probably have to pretend to be a real couple.”

She groaned.

“I hate lying.”

“I do too.”

Silence.

Then Liyanna suddenly smiled.

“If we’re going to consider this…”

Pedro raised an eyebrow.

“…we need rules.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

She flipped open her notebook.

“Rule Number One.”

Pedro laughed.

“You actually have a notebook for this?”

“I always carry one.”

She clicked her pen.

“No falling in love.”

Pedro nodded immediately.

“Easy.”

She gave him a teasing look.

“You answered that a little too fast.”

“I’m being practical.”

“So am I.”

She wrote it down.

Rule #1: No falling in love.

“Rule Number Two,” Pedro said.

“We each have our own bedroom.”

“Agreed.”

She wrote again.

“Rule Number Three?”

“No lying to each other.”

Liyanna paused.

“We’re literally planning to fake a marriage.”

Pedro smiled.

“I meant no lying to each other. If something changes, we talk.”

Her smile softened.

“I can agree to that.”

She continued writing.

“Rule Number Four…”

Pedro looked around before lowering his voice.

“If either of us wants out…the deal ends.”

She nodded.

“No guilt.”

“No pressure.”

“No hard feelings.”

She underlined the sentence twice.

Later that evening, Pedro sat in his tiny apartment staring at the list of rules they’d created.

His phone buzzed.

Liyanna

I forgot one.

Pedro smiled despite himself.

Pedro

What’s that?

Three dots appeared.

Then disappeared.

Then appeared again.

Finally her message arrived.

Rule #5:

We have to become convincing friends first.

Married people actually like each other.

Pedro laughed quietly.

He typed back.

Fair point.

Another message came almost immediately.

Coffee tomorrow?

He stared at the screen.

This wasn’t a date.

It couldn’t be.

It was research.

Nothing more.

Sure.

10 a.m.?

See you then.

The following morning, they met at a small café just off campus.

Instead of discussing marriage paperwork, they talked about everything else.

Favorite movies.

Embarrassing childhood stories.

Music.

Dream jobs.

Liyanna admitted she wanted to become an investigative journalist who exposed corruption.

Pedro confessed he’d always dreamed of designing affordable housing for low-income families.

“You want to build homes?” she asked.

“My dad worked construction.”

He smiled softly.

“He always said everyone deserves a place that feels safe.”

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Liyanna quietly said,

“I think he’d be proud of you.”

Pedro wasn’t expecting the lump that formed in his throat.

“Thank you.”

By the time they left the café, nearly three hours had passed.

Neither had noticed.

As they reached the sidewalk, Liyanna looked at him.

“You know…”

“What?”

“I don’t think you’re as serious as you pretend to be.”

Pedro laughed.

“And you’re not nearly as confident as everyone thinks.”

She gasped dramatically.

“I have a reputation to protect.”

“I’ll keep your secret.”

She extended her hand.

“So…”

He looked at it.

“Partners?”

Pedro hesitated for only a second before shaking her hand.

“Partners.”

Neither of them noticed the girl standing across the street.

She had watched the entire conversation from the café window.

And judging by the way she narrowed her eyes at Pedro and Liyanna’s handshake…

She intended to find out exactly what was going on.