Written in the Stars *EDITING*

Chapter 3: The Terms and Conditions of Fake Dating

Nathan drove an average car, the kind most teenagers, inexperienced drivers that is, should own. This was not the average car of Redwood High, however, for Redwood high was filled with rich, unknowingly privileged teens. It was the reason Nathan was able to price his services so high and why his customers were willing to pay- they could afford it.

Mia hopped into the passenger seat, throwing her pale yellow backpack into the back seat as if she had been in the car a thousand times before. Nathan raised an eyebrow at her behavior but said nothing. They didn't talk about their school day or what they had agreed to. The only sound in the car was Mia telling him directions to her house and him making sounds of acknowledgment. When they arrived in front of Mia's single-family home, Nathan cut the engine and turned to her, as if to ask 'should we go in now?' They got out of the car and Mia unlocked her house before flourishing her hands and saying, "Welcome to my humble abode!"

She led him to the modern kitchen and opened the fridge. "Do you want anything to eat or drink? We have healthy juices if you're into that kind of thing." Turning to look at him, she ran her dark green eyes up and down his body. "You look like you're into that whole health nut thing. We only have these because my Mom makes my Dad drink them, claiming it will help him live a long life."

"No thanks," was his only reply. Mia shrugged and grabbed a strawberry banana juice before ushering Nathan into the living room. He sat on the long brown couch while she sat on a sofa across from him, opening her drink.

"So do you want to like make a contract? Or will we just swear on our word and honor that this is only to help me stop being bullied and it won't go to utter shit?" she said jokingly.

He slightly shook his head at her, realizing how she often used humor as a way to deflect. "You ask a lot of questions."

"It must come from my childhood trauma." Another joke that Nathan decided to disregard. Prying into her life would be uncomfortable and a topic for another day.

"I have a set of rules for us doing this."

"What are they?"

He reached into his backpack and took out a blue spiral notebook before tearing out a sheet of paper from it. He handed the sheet and a black ballpoint pen to Mia. "Write down a few of your fears and make sure to space them out evenly," he commanded.

"My fears? What is this, a therapy session?"

Nathan rolled his eyes at her joke before saying, "I don't want us to just date to get bullies off your back. If we do this then you're going to be more confident and less scared by the time we break up. You're going to face some of your fears because then you won't need me or your friend to fight your battles. You'll be able to do that on your own."

"You can't be serious. You just need to tell people we're dating and that's it. You don't need to help me conquer my fears, Oprah." Nathan stood up, grasping his backpack.

"Then this deal is off. Have fun dealing with Susan." He turned to leave.

"Wait! Ok, I'll write down my fears. Jeeze did you watch Doctor Phil or something before school ended." The last sentence had been muttered by Mia, but Nathan still heard. A small smile formed before it disappeared, going back to his usual stoic expression.

"Tell me them as you write them down. You only need to write a few. I'll even write one down, even though we won't be accomplishing it."

Mia tapped the pen to her mouth as she thought about all that she was afraid of. "Standing up to Susan. Sneaking out because the thought of getting caught terrifies me. Going to a legit high school party, with alcohol and hookups. Complimenting strangers. I mean what if they spit at me or something? Asking someone out. The aquarium. Sharing my poetry." She wrote for another minute or two before handing the paper to Nathan. He quickly started to tear the paper into strips, so that each fear was separated.