CHAPTER 4

The next morning, I woke up earlier than usual. Not because I had suddenly developed a love for early mornings or because I was excited about class. I had a very specific reason for getting out of bed that early, and her name was Lily Parker.

According to our contract, we were officially dating now. Fake dating, obviously, but if we wanted people to actually believe it was real, we could not only act like a couple when it was convenient for us. We had to make it look real in public, consistently.

I got dressed, grabbed my backpack, and walked out of my room. Tyler's voice called out from the living room,

“Where are you going?”

I looked over and found him stretched across the couch with his eyes fixed on the television like he had been there all night.

“Class.”

He glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned,

“Since when do you leave this early for class?”

“Since today.”

“That doesn't sound like you.”

“Just watch your game.”

He shrugged and went back to the television without arguing further. I left the apartment and headed toward Lily's dorm building.

The walk was not exactly short, but I did not mind the distance. I needed to get there before our first class anyway, and I wanted to start this whole fake relationship plan properly from day one.

When I got close to her dorm building, I saw her walking out through the entrance with her bag over her shoulder and her books clutched tightly against her chest. I smiled to myself because my timing was perfect.

“Great.”

She looked up and stopped walking the moment she saw me.

“Logan?”

I walked toward her with my hands in my pockets,

“You're ready early.”

She adjusted the strap of her bag and said,

“You didn't have to come all the way here.”

“I know.”

“Then why did you?”

I stared at her for a second before answering,

“Because we're dating.”

Her mouth opened slightly in surprise. I continued before she could start arguing with me,

“If we're going to make people believe this is real, I have to start acting like your boyfriend.”

She glanced around the busy walkway and lowered her voice,

“People are already looking.”

“Good, that's exactly what we want.”

“You're serious about this.”

“Very serious.”

I started walking beside her, and she fell into step with me. After a few seconds she asked,

“So what's the plan today?”

“First, we need to catch the attention of the school gossip.”

She looked at me with confusion,

“The school gossip?”

“Yes.”

“Who?”

“Her name is Samantha Brooks.”

Lily's eyes widened instantly,

“Oh, everyone knows Samantha.”

“Exactly, that's why we need her.”

Samantha was basically the unofficial news station of the entire university. If two people were seen talking for more than five minutes, she would know about it before the day ended. If someone broke up, got together, failed a test, got drunk at a party, or even changed their hair, Samantha somehow found out everything. If we wanted everyone to believe we were together, she was the exact person we needed to see us.

“We need her to see us,” I said.

“And then what happens?”

“Then she'll do the rest of the work for us.”

Lily looked nervous and said,

“What if she doesn't believe us?”

“She will.”

“How do you know?”

“Because I'm Logan Carter.”

“Of course you would say that.”

I smiled because there was something about teasing her that was becoming surprisingly easy and natural.

We continued walking toward the main academic building. After a few seconds, I remembered something else important.

“Oh, and there's something else you should know.”

She looked at me,

“What?”

“You have to come to all my hockey games.”

She stopped walking completely and said,

“All of them?”

“Yes, every single one.”

“Logan, I'm not really into sports.”

“That doesn't matter.”

“It matters to me.”

“You still have to come.”

She looked at me with complete disbelief,

“Why?”

“Because girlfriends of hockey players come to their games.”

“Do they?”

“Yes.”

“You sound very sure about that.”

“I am very sure.”

She sighed deeply and said,

“Okay, fine, I'll come.”

“Good.”

“But I'm warning you now, I don't know anything about hockey.”

“You'll learn eventually.”

“I don't want to.”

“You're dating a hockey player.”

“Fake dating.”

“Still counts as dating.”

She shook her head at me. I smiled and added,

“And you have to sit where people can see you clearly.”

She groaned and said,

“Of course, we need people talking.”

“You really thought this through.”

“I have to think it through.”

I could not tell her that there was another reason I wanted her at my games. I liked the idea of looking into the stands and seeing her there watching me. I pushed the thought away immediately. This was a contract and nothing more.

We reached the building where our first class was held and I told her,

“We also have to sit together.”

She looked at me,

“In class?”

“Yes, in class.”

“Why?”

“Because couples sit together.”

“Is there anything couples don't do according to you?”

“No, not really.”

“Fine.”

We entered the building. Students were already moving through the hallway, talking and laughing as they headed to class. I glanced around, searching the crowd for Samantha.

I didn't see her anywhere. Maybe she had already gone inside the classroom.

We continued toward our classroom. Then I remembered something important,

“Oh, and don't forget, after classes we're going shopping.”

“I didn't forget.”

“Good.”

“You've mentioned it about ten times already.”

“Because you need to be prepared.”

“For clothes?”

“Yes, for clothes.”

“You're unbelievable.”

We reached the classroom door. I opened it and let her walk in first.

The moment we stepped inside, I knew the plan was already working. Almost everyone turned to look at us at the same time. It happened so quickly that Lily nearly stopped walking in the doorway.

I looked around the room slowly. Then I saw him.

Cameron was sitting near the middle of the classroom with a few people around him. His eyes were on us. More specifically, his eyes were completely fixed on Lily.

I looked at her. She had noticed his stare too. She leaned closer to me and whispered,

“It's working.”

“I told you it would.”

Her cheeks were slightly red. I reached down and took her hand without thinking too much about it. She looked at our hands immediately and her entire expression changed. She looked shocked for a second, and I thought she might pull away from me.

She didn't pull away. Instead, after hesitating for a moment, she tightened her fingers around mine. I looked at her. She looked straight ahead without saying anything. Neither of us said anything else. I wasn't sure why the simple action of holding her hand suddenly felt different. It was supposed to be part of the act and nothing more. I reminded myself of that as we walked toward the front of the room.

There were two empty seats near the front. Perfect for what I wanted.

I stopped beside them and said,

“Sit.”

“You're serious about this.”

“Very.”

I waited for her to sit first. She moved toward the seat closest to the window and sat down. I waited another second before taking the seat beside her. I wanted everyone to see us together, especially Cameron.

I looked back briefly. He was still watching us. I turned around slowly.

This was working, at least for now.

The professor walked into the classroom a few minutes later and everyone settled down quickly. I pulled out my notebook. Lily had already opened hers and was ready with her pen in her hand.

I looked at the board, then at my notebook, then back at the board again. I tried to focus. I really did try to focus. But my mind kept jumping from one thing to another. My grades, the contract, Lily, Cameron, hockey, the upcoming games. Everything felt like it was happening all at once.

I started biting my nails without realizing it. I'd done it for years whenever I was nervous or thinking too much about everything.

Lily glanced at my hand and quietly pushed it away from my mouth and whispered,

“Stop that.”

I looked at her and lowered my hand. For some reason, I smiled at her correction.

She turned back toward the board. I tried to pay attention again. The professor continued explaining the lesson, and I forced myself to take notes properly. For once, I couldn't afford to ignore my academics because I had too much at stake now.

I was halfway through writing something in my notebook when I heard a voice from somewhere behind me say,

“Logan.”

I froze instantly. I slowly turned around. Someone was standing beside our row and the look on their face told me this was not about the lecture at all. The person looked at me directly and said,

“Logan Carter, can I talk to you?”