Rose Tinted Cheeks

Pumkpin carving

Before I could even process my not-so-brilliant plan, the bell struck midnight and it was officially October first. Classes had been postponed in lieu of registration for hallow-month, and the whole school practically buzzed with excitement as students rolled into the gymnasium and formed lines. I, on the other hand, was currently regretting every decision I had ever made in my entire life as I waited for Jake to crawl out of whatever hidey-hole he was in and come get in line with me. I hadn't so much as seen him since that last evening with the group, so I've had zero time to talk to him about how we are going to play this. It's a dangerous game, pretending that we are dating, that is. Jewel is too smart for her own good, so fooling her into believing in some sort of unlikely last-minute romance is going to be extremely hard, if not impossible. But dammit I'm going to try... anything to get her off my back for the rest of the year.

    A tap on my shoulder brings me out of my spiraling thoughts, and I whip around to see that, oh thank God he's finally here.

    "Where the fuck were you huh?" I hiss at him. "People are already lining up, plus we haven't talked about a game plan yet either, are you just deft?

    Jake simply shrugs, oozing nonchalance. "You must think me a fool?" He practically purrs, interlacing his hand with mine and tugging us towards the quickly forming lines. "I know how to treat a woman, all you have to do is play along and no one will question our act, yeah?"

    All confidence I had in this plan evaporates into thin air. His hand is still icy cold, but it feels like his skin is searing into my own. I try to play it cool, letting my gaze fall along the silhouette of his body. He's wearing matching black distressed jeans and a jean jacket, coupled with a black graphic tee tucked in under a studded belt. His black hair is parted in the middle, and stray curls frame his face from where the rest has been styled back. He looks annoyingly good. It's always annoyed me how good he looks without trying, it's like his presence itself taunts me.

    Despite his words, I can see in his eyes that he's not as confident as he talks. I'm almost positive that if he had a heartbeat, it wouldn't be at an average pace. His eyes dart around the room nervously, and I catch him shifting his weight from foot to foot quite often. We finally get in line, much to my relief, and Mrs Song, the economics teacher, sits in a cushioned office chair in front of us.

    "Sign here, and here." She drones, shoving a piece of paper in our faces. "Once you sign you have agreed to be partners for the entirety of the month, and must participate in all school activities, am I clear?"

    It's obvious she has said this same line to hundreds of students, but I nod along anyway, signing my name in pen at the bottom of the page. Jake does too, and it suddenly feels like we are getting married, so much for not signing my soul away this year. Mrs Song shoos us away and we leave the line and make our way out into the foyer. Jake snakes his hand into mine again and I feel an overwhelming urge to curl up on the floor and die. But the show must go on, unfortunately.

    Knowing that someone from the posse will see us eventually, I am somewhat prepared when I hear Riki scream from across the hallway.

    "WHAT!?" He screeches, tugging on Jungwon's sleeve and flailing his arms to signal the rest of the group, who have already lined up and registered. Here we go, I think, steeling my nerves and putting on my most casual face.

    "Gin, what is this?" Jewel says, walking up to us and motioning towards our interlocked hands.

    "Uh, we are dating?" I give her a smile, hoping it seems genuine. Jake gives her a somewhat shaky grin as well, I nudge his foot with my own, demanding he say something as well.
    He clears his throat. "Yeah... we wanted it to be a secret until Hallow-month... so, uh, yeah." He finishes, and I want to punch him across the face.