The Art of Falling for You

Setting the Rules

I could hardly concentrate the next morning, knowing what awaited me. I replayed the decision over and over in my mind. Jake Lawson, fake boyfriend. The thought was so bizarre it was almost laughable. But there was no turning back now.

When I arrived at school, I found Jake waiting near my locker, his usual air of confidence tempered by a hint of uncertainty. He straightened up as I approached.

"Hey, Hayes," he said, his tone tentative.

"Morning, Lawson," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady. "I've thought about what you said. I'll help you."

His face lit up with a mix of relief and gratitude. "Thank you, Emma. You have no idea how much this means to me."

"Don't thank me yet," I warned. "We need to set some ground rules first."

"Absolutely," he agreed. "Where do you want to talk?"

"Library. Lunch period," I said. "We need some privacy."

Jake nodded. "I'll be there."

The morning classes dragged, and my mind kept drifting to our upcoming conversation. By the time lunch rolled around, my nerves were a tangled mess. I made my way to the library, clutching my lunch tray like a lifeline.

Jake was already there, sitting at a table in the back, away from prying eyes. I sat down across from him, and for a moment, we just looked at each other, the weight of our decision hanging in the air.

"Okay," I began, taking a deep breath. "Ground rules. First, no one can know about this. Not your friends, not mine, no one."

"Agreed," Jake said, nodding. "This stays between us."

"Second," I continued, "this is purely for show. No real dating, no real feelings. We're just putting on an act."

Jake smirked. "No problem. I think I can manage to fake being nice to you."

I rolled my eyes. "And you have to be convincing. If Melissa catches on that this is fake, it's all over."

"Got it," he said. "I'll be the perfect boyfriend. Just you watch."

"And lastly," I said, leaning forward, "if at any point this becomes too much or if you cross any lines, I call it off. No arguments."

Jake's expression turned serious. "I promise, Emma. I won't let you down."

For a moment, there was a silence as we both absorbed the gravity of what we were about to do. Then, Jake broke it with a grin. "So, how do we start this?"

I thought for a moment. "We need to be seen together, obviously. Lunch in the cafeteria tomorrow? Sitting together will be a big deal."

"Sounds good," Jake said. "And maybe we should do something after school too. You know, so people see us outside of class."

I nodded. "Alright. There's a café near school. We can go there."

Jake's grin widened. "Perfect. It'll be just like in the movies."

I couldn't help but smile back, despite the absurdity of the situation. "Don't get too comfortable, Lawson. This is strictly business."

"Sure, sure," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "But, you know, we should probably practice holding hands or something. Can't have our first public appearance look awkward."

I raised an eyebrow. "Practice holding hands? Really?"

He shrugged. "Hey, we need to make it believable, right?"

Reluctantly, I reached out my hand. Jake took it, his grip firm but surprisingly gentle. For a moment, we just sat there, hands clasped, an odd feeling of warmth spreading through me.

"See? Not so bad," Jake said, his eyes twinkling with mischief.

"Don't push it," I warned, pulling my hand back. "We'll start tomorrow."

"Can't wait," he said, his grin never faltering.

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The next day, I walked into the cafeteria with a mix of dread and determination. Jake was already there, sitting at a table near the center. I took a deep breath and walked over, feeling the eyes of half the student body on me.

"Hey," Jake said, standing up and pulling out a chair for me. "Glad you could join me."

I sat down, trying to ignore the stares and whispers around us. "Thanks."

Jake leaned in, his voice low. "Remember, we need to look like we're having a good time."

I forced a smile. "Got it."

We made small talk, which, to my surprise, was easier than I expected. Jake was actually pretty funny when he wasn't being a jerk. We laughed, we joked, and for a moment, it almost felt real.

Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Melissa watching us, her expression a mix of shock and disbelief. Jake noticed too and gave her a little wave, his arm slipping around my shoulders. I stiffened, but forced myself to relax, leaning into him slightly.

"You're doing great," he whispered.

"Thanks," I muttered through gritted teeth.

After lunch, we parted ways with a small, rehearsed kiss on the cheek that left my face burning. I walked to my next class feeling the weight of a hundred gazes on my back.

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That afternoon, Jake and I met at the café near school. It was a cozy little place, perfect for our purposes. We grabbed a table by the window, ordered drinks, and settled in.

"So, how was your day?" Jake asked, stirring his coffee.

"Eventful," I said, sipping my tea. "Yours?"

"Same. Melissa cornered me in the hallway, demanded to know if it was true."

"And you said...?"

"I told her we were dating," Jake said with a shrug. "She didn't look happy, but she seemed to buy it."

"Good," I said, relieved. "At least that's working."

We spent the next hour talking, planning, and fine-tuning our act. The more we talked, the more I realized that Jake wasn't as one-dimensional as I'd thought. He had depth, interests, and even a sense of humor that didn't always involve making fun of me.

By the time we left the café, I almost felt comfortable with our arrangement. Almost.

"Hey, Emma," Jake said as we walked back to school. "Thanks again for doing this. I know it's not easy."

"Don't mention it," I said. "Just remember our rules."

"Of course," he said, holding the door open for me. "See you tomorrow, girlfriend."

I rolled my eyes but couldn't help but smile. "See you tomorrow, boyfriend."

As I walked home, I couldn't help but feel a strange mix of emotions. Jake was still infuriating, but there were moments when he was genuinely sweet. Maybe, just maybe, this wouldn't be as terrible as I'd feared. But I kept my guard up, knowing that the Jake I saw now could easily slip back into the Jake I knew before.

Only time would tell if this crazy plan would actually work.

4o