Playing For Keeps

4

The next morning, I walked right into my science class, post-it note in hand. I had written it in the car on the way to school. It said a simple 'yes', but I figured that it was sufficient for the situation; or I got inspo from 'Sex and the City', but he doesn't need to know that.

As I handed him the note, I flashed him a quick smile before speed walking back to my desk. When I sat down, I tried to watch his face subtly. His eyes met mine, a quick look that meant thank you, and I averted my eyes back down to my desk.

"Hello. You there?" My lab partner, Mila, said. Waving her hand in my face obnoxiously. I swatted it away while giving her a glare. Did I like Mila? No, not really. But I was stuck with her. She's Maddie's cousin, if I were to tell her to get her dirty hand out of my face it probably wouldn't go over too well.

"Yeah. Sorry. Zoning." I replied blandly, staring up at the blank board.

"How was the party? I was gonna go but, ya know?" She was the only person I've ever met that has the ability to sound drunk while being completely sober. That's a God-given talent right there.

"It was good." I smiled softly, silently pleading with her to direct her attention elsewhere so I could divert mine to Cayden.

"Did you hear about Mads and Jonah? Oh my goodness, that is so fricked up! I was going to go in there and strangle him myself!" She yelled out, I wouldn't be surprised if everyone in here heard her, only making Maddie's humiliation worse.

"Ok, ok, let's keep it down a bit. I'm sure Maddie doesn't want everyone hearing about it." I whispered to her, trying to be as polite as possible.

"Why wouldn't she? Everyone loves a little pity." She shrugged. Her brown hair moving on top of her shoulders.

I didn't say anything.

Class was boring. I could barely keep my eyes peeled open, not only was I thinking of Cayden, I was now thinking about my poor friend and how her boyfriend, who said all of the 'I love yous', posted for every anniversary to the month, and bought her all the gifts, still decided to be unfaithful. With Olivia Swanson of all people. I would be lying if I said that the situation reaffirmed to me that 'fake dating' the guy I had a crush on was the best of both worlds; the love in public, but the ability to detach in private.

At lunch, Maddie was in tears again. I'm shocked her eyes could still produce fresh tears at this point. We moved her into the courtyard outside, less people there, and almost no chance that Stephen/Jonah would show up.

We all stood around her, just like we did hours before. Except this time we were no longer in the safe confines of her bedroom, instead we were navigating the jungle that is high school. It almost felt like we were concealing a secret weapon, huddling around her to make sure that nobody sees her or else she'll break.

"I have an idea to get your mind off of this." Mel interjected, her face thwarted into an awkward looking half smile with eyes still full of the shared sadness of the group.

"Yeah?" Maddie asked, sweeping her hair out of her face.

"I got invited to a party tonight. And I know how last nights halloween party went, so maybe this could be our do-over? No Jonah's, I checked." Her arm outstretched around Addie and I as we still stood around her.

"Are you joking?" Addie laughed unamused.

"No, I'm serious! It'll be fun!" She protested, "Not to mention it will help your name be fresh in people's minds for homecoming."

"Will you stop with the pleading if I say yes?" Maddie said.

"One-hundred percent."

"Ok. Let's go."

***

Later that evening, I stood in front of the floor length mirror in my bedroom as some christmas music played through my speakers. It is November now, it's a Christmas free-for-all at this point.

I wore some ripped jeans, a white longsleeve body bodysuit, and a small hair ribbon that styled my hair in a half-up half-down style. Much different than my usual Friday uniform, sitting at my computer playing the sims while watching whatever reality show happens to be on. 'Good enough' I smiled at myself as I walked down to my car.

The music at the party was blaring. For a day after a Halloween party, there sure were no other costumes in the room except for the clowns that were passing drinks and weed on their public Instagram's while we were applying for colleges.

"Funny seeing you here." A masculine voice said behind me, hands wrapping around my waist.

"Cayden? Isn't this a little too-"

"Shhhhhhhhhh. We're gonna go play a game upstairs, grab your friends." He slurred, clearly under the influence of something. Presumably beer based on the awful smell of his breath.

I laughed as I gave him a fake salute and went to round up the three girls. Maddie looked okay, more stoic than the guttural cries she had wept before. Mel was in a similar state to Cayden. Addie and I were sober, so fortunately for us, and unfortunately for them, we got to make fun of the stumbling drunks.

There were about thirty kids sitting in the circle as if it were a start of some low budget seance scene in a horror movie. Half of which I had no idea who they were. At least there weren't any of the standout obnoxious FFOA (future frat boys of America) members, we would have had to bolt if we even saw the back of Stephen/Jonah's head.

"Are we ready!" A drunken boy slurred. Cheers erupted through the room. For a few rounds, it was just a bunch of random people asking their friends stupid truths or daring them to do something that wouldn't even make a third grader flinch.

That's until I heard a high pitched baby voice swoon out, "Cayyyydeeeeeennnnnn," Olivia continued to speak after batting her eyelashes obnoxiously, "Kiss the girl that is the hottest in the room." She moved to her feet, obviously insinuating that he was going to sloppily make his way over to her.

As Cayden stood, he wobbly made his way over to me, a light grin on his face.

"Hi." He said as he grabbed my hips, pulling me closer to him.

"Hi?" I confusingly asked, looking into his eyes as if I were asking if he was seriously about to kiss me.

Not that I had much time to be anxious about it, as a second after the words had left my mouth his lips landed onto mine. My eyes felt pinned open to my eyelids in shock. Was I really having my first kiss with my fake boyfriend in front of everyone? Maybe this 'no feelings is the way to go ' was going to hurt more than I thought it would. But what's life if you don't just do it for the plot? And to see that jaw-open expression emitted from Olivia was already making this all worth it. Play with every man you see? You might just get burned.