Faking It For Real ✔

Ch 10

"My oh my, look at that." Karen held up her phone for all of us to look.

It was a picture of Ethan and I at the café.

I felt my cheeks heat up as Karen passed her phone around for everyone to see.

It was when Ethan and I were waiting for our order to arrive. His arm around me, our bodies close. There was one more picture. It was Ethan kissing my forehead.

How did Victoria get these pictures? She was right beside us at the café. I figured maybe she had her friend take our pictures.

"Are you sure this is a fake façade, Ava?" Karen winked at me.

Hannah chuckled, "Looks pretty real to me."

"It definitely looks real," I admitted with a forced laugh, trying to keep my composure. "Ethan is just a really good actor, I guess."

"Well, you two are certainly convincing," Hannah grinned, seemingly satisfied with herself.

"It's concerningly convincing, Ava." Karen said. "Are you two more?"

I shook my head gently, "We are friends. This is all an act."

Karen's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of skepticism in her gaze. "If you say so, dear."

Karen threw a glare towards Hunter and Derek who were engrossed in their own little conversation. 

She cleared her throat but they didn't give her any time of their day. I glanced at Jeremy beside me who was stuck to his phone.

"Babe." Karen plastered a smile on her face, "I have class soon." She said when Hunter turned to her.

He slightly frowned, freezing.

"Okay?" His voice came out all confused.

I glanced at Hannah as we tried not to laugh.

"Drop me off, dammit." She stood up, pulling onto his arm.

As Karen and Hunter left the café, the rest of us couldn't help but chuckle at her theatrics.

"Speaking of, will you be at the game this weekend?" He asked.

"What game?"

"Our basketball game."

I frowned, "Our? You guys play basketball too?"

"Hunter and I do, yes." He shrugged.

"You didn't know?" Jeremy asked in an accusatory tone.

I tried suppress the guilty smile, "I- no, I-"

Derek chuckled, easing the tension. "Don't worry about it, Ava. We know you've had a lot on your mind lately."

"Sorry, you guys. I don't know how I missed that." I made a sorry face.

"It's okay. So you gonna be there?" Derek asked.

I nodded, "Yeah. Ethan asked me to be there." I slightly chuckled, "More acting, I guess."

"Bella will be there too," Hannah informed, a slight edge to her tone.

My heart sank a little at the mention of Bella.

"I see," I replied, trying to keep my voice steady despite the wave of unease that washed over me.

The thought of sharing the same space with Bella and Drake was suddenly dauntingly uncomfortable, even when I knew it would be better if they saw our act with their own eyes.