The Dating Project

Chapter 2

Aurora, predictably, had found it absolutely hilarious that I'd been paired with Finn for a fake dating project. I'd managed to get Mike to shut up about it by paying him £10, but it had accidentally slipped out the next morning when I was awoken before my alarm clock by a phone call from Becca. 

"Lilah, shut your damn phone off," Aurora groaned, pulling a pillow over her head. 

I ignored her and answered. "Becca, this better be important. I still have twenty minutes til my alarm goes off." 

"Well, learn to get up earlier," Becca responded. "I wanna know how Aurora took the news about you and Finn! She was always trying to sort you two out in junior school." 

"And this couldn't have waited until later?!" I was astounded. "Or even last night? Not at 6am!" 

"Well, I couldn't wait any longer, and I know you, Ly. You haven't told her yet." 

"What makes you think I haven't told her?" 

"Because she would be overly obsessed with it, more so than Mike. Speaking of, how come Mike hasn't said anything?" 

I glanced at my twin before answering. She had her eyes shut and a pillow still over her brunette waves, so I hoped she just wouldn't hear. "I paid Mike £10 not to mention anything to Aurora or my mum until I figure out a way to get out of this." 

"Get out of it?" Becca laughed. "Girl, you are stuck with Finn whether you like it or not. Tell her now, then let me know in the car how it went! If you don't, I'll text her myself." 

She hung up before I could respond. I groaned, knowing that Becca would absolutely make good on her threat, and that she was right I wouldn't be able to get out of this situation - not yet, anyway. 

"What did you pay Mike not to mention?" Aurora's voice made me jump. I looked over at her, and she was still laying under the covers with her eyes closed, but the pillow had fallen onto the floor. 

I paused, trying to find a decent way of wording it. Aurora opened one eye, and gently pushed her long hair out of her face. 

"We've got a method acting project," I decided to start with the easy bit. 

"Fun," Aurora yawned, closing her eyes again. 

I sighed with relief. She must be super tired to have let it go that easily. I smiled, and lay back down to try and get fifteen more minutes sleep. 

"Wait," she said, just as I'd shut my eyes. "Why would you need to pay Mike for that? What's the project?" 

I groaned. This wasn't going to be let go. "Fake dating," I said, my eyes still closed. I wanted to say as little as possible, and get whatever was left of my sleep time. But no, not today. Aurora jumped on my bed, narrowly missing my legs. 

"Lilah, tell me who you're dating, or I literally won't let you leave this house." Even without opening my eyes I could literally hear her grin. 

"Quite frankly, I would rather not go." 

"PLEASE!" 

Extremely frustrated, I sat up. Clearly I wasn't getting any more sleep this morning. "Finn Lewis." 

Becca would've killed to see the look on Aurora's face. It went slowly from her lips parting into a small 'o' shape, to a huge grin, and not the kind of grin I wanted to see. 

"Oh, this is everything," she said, still grinning. "Oh my god, this is everything. Shit, I wish I was still at school with you guys now. I would kill to see you together."