Chapter Forty

Aria's POV

"My help? With what? Cause I don't know how to ski and unless you need someone to teach you how to trip over your own ski, I'm not your girl."

Dave chuckled which was starting to make me think that whatever he was gonna say wouldn't be serious. I was prepared to tell him to leave when he raised his fingers.

"You're funny, Aria. You know that? No, I'm serious. I actually do need you."

Wow. This did come as a surprise. Because... people needed me always. But it's only for school work and nothing else.

Of course, Dave would need me. Me, the girl he met only once. Very inconspicuous of him.

"Dave, that's... new. Most people only need me when they're failing some subject or the other."

"Well... I'm not failing any subject. But I am failing at something else."

I squinted at him. "You're failing at not being cryptic, that's for sure."

He rubbed the back of his neck, glancing briefly over his shoulder. "Look, don't laugh okay?"

Oh... now I was overly curious. I had to know what he'd say that could warrant me laughing at him.

"Aria. I need you to pretend to be... close to me."

Uh-oh. I frowned. Close like... just close or... close close? "Close to you? Define close. Like... how close are we talking here? Standing-in-line-close? Or sharing a bed close? Because there's a massive difference and you're not my type."

That earned me a crooked grin, that made one of his dimples pop. And I used to be such a simp for guys with dimples.

"Your type... You mean, hockey guys with complicated exes? I'm not asking you for something big. Just... look like you're interested when we're around certain people. That's all."

My lips parted slightly. "So, what... fake dating? That's what you want?"

"Pretty much. It doesn't have to be over the top. Just... stand next to me, hold hands with me, let me walk you to..."

"Dave, wait." I blinked. "I don't understand. You want me... to act as your fake girlfriend, in front of your friends, that I do not know." I folded my arms, watching as he nodded.

"Why me?"

"Because," he said simply. "You're believable. No one would think that it's fake. And if you say yes, I'll owe you one. Big time."

"Wow. I'm honoured you picked me. But, Dave, I'm not the girl guys line up for. You want someone... Go find Lily."

He shook his head quickly. "No. Not her. Definitely not her. It has to be you, Aria.".

Now that he wasn't looking fidgety, I suddenly began feeling uneasy. He was crazy, for real. How'd you meet a girl once and decide she was the perfect person for your...

"Aria, please."

"Dave... you barely know me, and I..."

"Sunshine are you..."

Dave and I turned to the open door, and while Dave's eyes widened at the sight of Jason, I face-palmed myself. What happened to guys and not knocking?

"I was going to ask if you were going to miss lunch," Jason said softly, then he looked at Dave and his jaw tightened.

Great. Just what I needed.

"The guy from last night," he started, giving Dave a slow gaze. "What's he doing here?"

"Asking Aria for a favour. Got a problem with that?"

My palms slid off my face. "Stop it, Dave."

"Aria, tell him to go. I want to talk to you." Jason said, glaring at Dave.

"Last time I checked," Dave drawled, as he stood slowly. "This wasn't your room."

"But it's her room. And she trusts me. She doesn't even know you."

"Doesn't she?"

"Both of you... Can you just stop? Please. It's past lunch time already and I have to get to the..." I wasn't done talking when Dave interrupted.

"I'll teach you. That's if you accept my offer." He smiled and that smile of his made Jason's brow arch.

"What offer? What is he talking about, Aria?"

Deciding to ignore Jason, I faced Dave. "Yes, Dave. My answer is yes."

"Wait... yes? Just like that?"

"Would you prefer that I said no? I'm taking the offer. I'm gonna be your girlfriend, Dave."

"Wait... What?" Jason looked gobsmacked.

"That's... great. My offer to teach you how to ski still stands, okay?" Dave smiled, he winked at me, and then he walked out.

Then as if Jason wasn't in the room, I went about to wear my boots.

"Aria, what just happened? You two were..."

"Dave asked me to be his girlfriend." I looked up, into Jason's eyes.

"I don't understand. How can you be his girlfriend?"

I rolled my eyes. "We're just pretending. He's a friend."

"You don't even know him. He's a random guy you met last night. And you want to be his girlfriend?"

"I said we're pretending. It's not real."

"I don't care."

"And it's so sweet of you to think that you actually have a say in this. Fake dating is fun, Jason. And I want to have fun. Or don't you want me to have fun?"

Jason's lips twitched, and I thought he'd smile, but his jaw clenched. "You want to have fun?"

I nodded. "Yes, I do."

"And you want to have fun with him?"

I looked up, then back at Jason's face. "Why not? People can have fun with whoever they want to have fun with. Like their exes."

Then he smiled. Not that cute smile of his, a brooding, smirky smile.

"Right. So that's what this is about. You're jealous."

"I'm jealous?" I scoffed. "You're unbelievable. I'm not jealous. I'm mad. I'm mad at you. And don't even dare to ask me what you did. I'm gonna be Dave's girlfriend for the whole of the ski trip. How does that sound?" I smiled, while he just watched me.

"And don't talk to me while I'm with Dave. I don't want to mess up this for him. It's important. If you want to talk, talk to Lily. She'll talk to me." I walked out on him before he could say another word.

That was brave of me. But hiding behind a pillar just to see if Jason would walk out of the room with an angry face wasn't.

He walked out, with a neutral expression. And as if planned, he spoke with Aiden and Liam and then kept glancing around and muttering.

The couch was filled with chattering students and Lily and Charlotte were together, around a small fire that they'd made.

I was walking over to meet them when I felt an arm encircle my waist. I didn't need to look twice to know who it was.

It was my fake boyfriend.

"Hi, girlfriend, ready to do this?" He leaned down to whisper into my ear.