𝚃𝚑𝚎 𝚁𝚎𝚋𝚘𝚞𝚗𝚍 | (𝙴𝙽𝙷𝚈𝙿𝙴𝙽) [𝙹𝙰𝙺𝙴𝚡𝚈/𝙽]

𝙲𝚑𝚊𝚙𝚝𝚎𝚛 𝟸: 𝚁𝚊𝚜𝚑 𝙳𝚎𝚌𝚒𝚜𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚜

Y/N's POV

As soon as I walked back into the Gymnasium, my coach was already waiting for me, arms crossed, expecting the list of accepted cheerleaders. I handed it over, and she scanned the names, nodding in approval as she read my notes on each candidate.

"I see that you're still sharp even after all these years, Y/N. I applaud you for that," she praised, offering a small smile before glancing at the basketball court. Her expression shifted. "Jake is missing from practice. Can you go grab him? He's missing their routine."

"Y-yes, coach. I'll get him."

I hesitated, but I had no choice. Jake had already been through a lot today, and as much as I wanted to avoid this, I had to get him back on track. With a sigh, I made my way to the hallways, scanning the area for him. It didn't take long. There he was, lying on a bench, books scattered around him, one covering his face. He looked completely drained.

I picked up the books and stacked them beside him before pulling the one off his face. His eyes fluttered open, and he groaned, squinting up at me.

"Get up, will you? You look miserable enough," I muttered, rolling my eyes. "Give your girlfriend some time. I'm sure she just has a lot on her plate."

That was a lie. But I didn't have the patience for his pity party.

"Why do you care?" Jake grumbled, voice laced with exhaustion.

I hesitated, pacing back and forth, debating whether or not to tell him the real reason I was there. But the way he was looking at me—waiting, expecting something—I sighed. "Because this isn't you, Jake. We've known each other for a while now. What happened to you?"

"You don't know me, Y/N. My girlfriend knows me better than you do," he shot back, sitting up.

"Right," I scoffed. "But you don't even know yourself right now. Get up. Your coach is looking for you."

I reached out my hand, and he stared at it for a long moment before finally taking it. As I pulled him up, his expression shifted, and suddenly, his lips curled into a smirk.

Oh no.

*

*

I immediately groaned. "Don't even think about it, Jake. Whatever is running through that head of yours, stop it."

"But it'll work," he argued, grin widening. "You can be my girlfriend for a while. If my real girlfriend finds out and comes back to me, it's a win-win."