Real/Safe Deleted Scenes

Fake Love

*takes place the week before the gala in Real.

Cora POV:

I've been staring at the ceiling for 20 minutes. I can't focus on anything but the thoughts in my head.

Me and Damian are dating. Fake dating, anyway. When we were at the mall a few days ago, he introduced me as his girlfriend. We held hands!

My face feels warmer when I remember that. I liked holding his hand. It was warm and bigger than mine. I liked the way it made my heart thump like crazy.

We've held hands before, but that was as a couple. A fake couple. I need to get that through my head. We're not actually dating. It's just a cover story. He probably doesn't feel the same way.

A knock resounds from my door. My train of thought breaks and I sit up, calling that it's open.

Damian peeks in and I feel my face heat up involuntarily. Oh gosh, why did he have to show up now? I have too many thoughts, particularly about him, that I need to shut down first.

"Hello." He greets. I force myself to relax, a small smile creeping onto my face.

"Hi. What's up?" I question. He looks nervous. Not in the typical sweating buckets, can't talk to save a life way some people look. But he's stiff as a board and he's looking just beside me instead of at my eyes.

"I've been considering our, arrangement." He hesitates. My heart rate spikes. This is it. He's gonna tell me he isn't actually comfortable with it and that he wants to 'break up'.

"It would be wise to present as a couple before the gala." He continues. It takes a second for his words to register and my heart rate to lower.

"Oh." I almost sigh in relief. "How do we do that?" I ask, feeling much more relaxed now. He seems to get even tenser, if that's possible.

"Would you, like to accompany me on a date?" He asks. His voice sounds strained and I find myself worrying over his vocal chords.

Once I get past that and my brain registers what he just said, it promptly short circuits. My thoughts are moving so quickly, my head starts to hurt. Not to mention how burning hot my face feels.

"I-um, yeah, yes." I speak quickly as soon as I get at least one coherent thought. I internally cringe over my stuttering. "Where to?" I try again.

"Where would you like to go?" He asks. At least he seems a little more relaxed now. Still very stiff, but he's looking at me now.

"I don't know. Where do people usually go on dates in this dimension?" I ask. Maybe going for hot chocolate, or the movies isn't normal for dates here.

"There's a ropes course in the city. It's not the most typical location, however I believe it would be, fun." He hesitates. I smile at him.

"That does sound fun. When do we leave?" I ask, feeling giddy at the prospect. The tiniest smile I've ever seen breaks onto Damian's face.

"Shortly. We have time to change clothes first." He says, relaxing just a tiny bit more.

"Okay. Do I need to bring anything?" I ask. He shakes his head.

"Just yourself and a sturdy pair of shoes." He says easily.

"Okie dokie. I'll change quick and meet you in the hall?" I offer. He nods silently and then leaves quickly.

I pull out some clothes and change just as a quickly as I said I would. I grab an old but comfortable pair of running shoes.

I hesitate while my hand is on the door knob. When we were at the mall, we held hands and he called me, 'Beloved'. Should we do the same stuff at the ropes course?