The Fake Girlfriend's Rulebook

Zoey.

My life was a complete mess after catching my boyfriend Orion Gritton, the star hockey player from Oakwood University cheating with a cheerleader. That alone would’ve been enough to wreck me. But getting dumped by him in front of the entire state during his big game? That was a new level of humiliation.

All I wanted to do afterward was crawl under my blanket, disappear forever, and pretend none of it happened. But life doesn’t work like that. I had to get up eventually, had to step out of my tiny dorm room and face the world again.

So today, I forced myself to get dressed. I tugged on my favorite oversized Riverview University hoodie and a pair of ripped black jeans that felt like armor more than clothing. I shoved my hair into a loose ponytail, even though a few stubborn strands kept falling around my face like they were mocking me.

When I finally arrived at Riverview University’s main campus I let out a tired groan as I stared at the building. I stayed there for a moment, not bothering to take a step forward.

I inhaled. Exhaled. Inhaled again.

Then I checked my reflection, using my phone screen for the fifth time , no smudged mascara, no leftover tears. Just me. Zoey Blake. Ex-girlfriend of Orion Gritton. I hated that title more than anything. But today, I had no choice but to face it and the people who had watched my humiliation head-on.

I finally took a step forward,  my white sneakers squeaking on the pavement. My oversized Riverview hoodie almost swallowed me whole. At least it made me feel like I could hide.

As I walked toward the main building, I heard the whispers.

“That’s her… the one he dumped for Layla.”

“She’s the girl, right? The one who went psycho?”

“She actually looks normal…”

“I don’t know why she didn’t settle for boys at our school.”

My stomach twisted. I pulled my hoodie tighter around me and kept my head down.

I promised myself I’d never even look at another cheerleader again. I also promised myself I would be laser-focused on my studies nothing else. No side distraction, just school.

“ZOEY!” I jumped as I heard that infamous squeal  which  was my best friend Julie. I didn’t expect her to speak to me after the breakup I wasn’t really close to her after I started dating Orion. I did try to make our friendship work but Orion was jealous. He always wanted me to himself.

It was pretty terrible balancing a possessive boyfriend and energetic friend and trust me I did a terrible job.

My eyes swept over Julie and I noticed  she was wearing her usual artsy style: big denim overalls covered in paint splatters, a white crop top underneath, and platform sneakers that made her almost as tall as me.

“I didn’t expect you to speak to me,” I breathed, clutching my chest.

She laughed and threw an arm around me. “I made a promise to always stick by your side through thick and thin. I’m keeping to it.”

“So you have forgiven me for ditching you for Orion or this is just  you pitying  me?”

I forced a small smile. “I know. It’s just… hard. I can’t help it.”

“Well, you better start helping it. Don’t let that dumbass ruin your year.”

I opened my mouth to argue, but just then, my phone buzzed notifying me that I had class. Julie  gave me a gentle push. “Go! You’re gonna be late for Dr. Harrington’s class.”

I sighed and walked into the building, weaving through clusters of students in the hallway. When I finally stepped into the lecture hall, Dr. Harrington’s sharp gray eyes immediately pinned me down.

“Miss Blake,” he called out, making me freeze in the doorway. “See me after class.”

I shuffled to my seat near the back, sliding in and trying to shrink into myself. As he started the lecture on advanced behavioral psychology, my mind drifted to Orion. His smirk. That night he came back smelling like cheap perfume and lies. The blurry videos that ended up online. Layla’s fake-ass apology video where she blamed “fate” for their love story.

I snapped out of it when Dr. Harrington clapped his hands sharply at the end of class.

I stood up, my legs were wobbly as I walked. The rest of the students trickled out, some glancing back at me like I was about to be executed. I felt like poking a hand in their eye but I just had to control myself.

Dr. Harrington leaned against the desk, as I moved towards his direction. “Are you going to tell me to visit the guidance counselor because I know you saw the videos.”

He shook his head. “No!”

I let out a breath I didn’t know I was holding.

“I haven’t seen any need for that yet.” He said as  took a step closer.  

“And there wouldn’t be any need for that all.” I said sharply wondering where he was going with this and what he wanted to speak to me about.

“Zoey,” the sound of his voice calling out my name made me straighten up. “I know you’ve had… personal challenges this past semester, but your GPA remains exceptional.”

I swallowed. “Thank you, sir.”

He nodded slowly. “Because of your performance, we’re assigning you as a tutor for a special group this term. You’ll receive extra credit toward your scholarship requirements.”

My heart dropped. “A tutor?”

“Yes. You’ll be working with some of the university athletes. It’s an honor  and a necessity if you want to maintain your scholarship.”

I clenched my hands at my sides. “I… I really wasn’t planning on—”

He cut me off with a sharp glance. “You need the credit, Miss Blake. Consider it non-negotiable.”

I bit my lip. He was right. My scholarship was already on thin ice after all the distractions last year. I had no choice. “I’ll do it,” I muttered.

“Good,” he said. “They’re waiting at the tutoring center now.”

I nodded and walked out, my heart pounding in my ears. I took the long route across campus, passing the main quad where some students were tossing frisbees and others sprawled out in the grass. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down.

When I reached the tutoring center, I stopped outside the door and pressed my hand to my chest. “You can do this, Zoey,” I whispered to myself. “They’re just athletes. It’ll be fine.”

I finally pushed open the door.

The first thing I noticed was the smell of cologne, sweat, and a weird spicy deodorant scent. Then my eyes landed on four guys sitting at a round table, each wearing the dark green Ridgeview Titans varsity jackets. Their team logo which was a roaring titan head was stitched proudly on their chests.

My heart dropped straight to my shoes.

The guy closest to me had a messy mop of honey-brown curls tousled on top of his head, bright blue eyes, and a bored expression as he scrolled on his phone. That had to be Rowan.

Next to him was a tall, sharp-faced guy with hazel eyes, a jawline that looked carved from marble, and a tiny scar on his left eyebrow. Emrys.

Another leaned back in his chair, arms folded behind his head, showing off toned arms. His dark blonde hair  were tied in a low ponytail, and his deep brown eyes were fixed lazily on the ceiling. Julie had told me about him once. He was Kieran. The  leader and a big time jock.

The last one had jet-black hair slicked back, emerald green eyes that looked like they could see through every lie you’d ever told. That was Casper. He hardly speaks, and every girl in school wants to desperately get in his pants. Only Anna, one of the girls in the cheerleading team that ever got close enough.

As I froze in the doorway, Emrys lifted his gaze to me, eyes narrowing with curiosity.

My heart slammed into my ribs so hard I thought I might actually faint.

My mind was screaming at me to turn and run, but my feet felt like they were glued to the floor. I could feel their eyes on me, burning, and judging me all at once. I felt like I just  stepped right into a den filled with lions.