Faking It For Real ✔

Ch 8

"What the hell are you talking about?!" Hannah exclaimed beside me and I shushed her, looking around the café as a few heads turned our way.

"That's... just... how it is, Han." I admitted awkwardly.

"That's your plan? Ava, I thought you were smart." Karen chirps from across me. 

"What do you mean, Karen?" Hannah asked with a frown.

Karen leaned forward, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "I mean, do you really think pretending to date this new dude is going to make Drake suddenly realize he's in love with you?"

I sighed, feeling a bit deflated. "Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

"Obviously, considering you were drunk." She shrugged.

I sighed, suddenly feeling stupid for doing any of this.

Hannah leaned back in her chair, "I think Ava should do this."

"What?!" Karen and I exclaimed in unison, looking at Hannah with disbelief.

Hannah raised her hands defensively. "Hear me out, okay?"

Karen and I exchanged glances before nodding.

"I think this is pretty solid plan." She shrugged, "Men love a challenge. Once Drake sees that Ava is taken. He'll totally realize what he's missing out on."

I half-smiled, "That's what Ethan said too."

"I just think this is ridiculous." Karen sipped her iced latte.

"But is it, though?" Hannah countered, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Think about it, Karen. How many times have we seen guys suddenly become interested the moment a girl is off the market? It's like they need that competition to realize what they had all along."

Karen pursed her lips, mulling over Hannah's words. "I suppose there's some truth to that," she reluctantly admitted.

"Exactly," Hannah said triumphantly. "And besides, it's not like Ava has to actually fall for this Ethan guy. It's all just for show, right?"

Hannah said before I could reply to that, "And even if she did fall for Ethan, wouldn't it be a good thing?"

I rolled my eyes. "We won't fall for each other." I declared.

"Well, if you're sure about this, Ava, then I'm with you," Hannah declared, giving my hand a reassuring squeeze.

Karen sighed, still looking unconvinced, but she nodded nonetheless. "Fine, I'm in too. But if things go south, don't say I didn't warn you."

I grinned, "Oh, I won't. Besides, I have a feeling that this plan will for sure work."

Hannah raised her coffee cup in a mock toast. "To Operation: Fake Dating."

Karen rolled her eyes but raised her cup as well.

I clinked my cup against theirs, a sense of excitement bubbling up inside me. "To Operation: Fake Dating." I giggled.

I sat in Mrs. Melanie's class, mulling over keyboard, trying to get done with the essays Jay assigned us. Melanie spoke something about media and the power of pictures in our work.

Yes, I was majoring in journalism.

It wasn't something I was passionate about or anything, but my mom made me take an aptitude test in my final year of high school.

The test results showed that I had a knack for writing and communication, so according to my mother, journalism seemed like a practical choice. I didn't mind it.