Fake It 'Til You Break It

“Say what?” Macy slides up, ready for some gossip.

“Literally a ride, practically silent.”

“It’s happening!” she sing-songs, but I walk away, leaving them there laughing.

“Bye, assholes. See you at lunch.”

When I woke up this morning, having accidentally fallen asleep the night before, I expected a text from Alex to be waiting for me on my phone, but there wasn’t one.

Turned out, while I fell asleep, he changed his mind.

I walk into leadership expecting him to talk to me about last night, but we end up working on different projects, so the chance never comes, and the day quickly rolls on from there.

In chemistry, Mr. Brando passes out a quick, three question pop quiz the second we walk in. It only takes five minutes of class time and then we’re off for another ‘bonding session’, this time in the library.

Nico, of course, moves quicker than me and is around the corner before I’m even fully out of the classroom, which would have been perfect if Alex hung back, but he made it down the hall before me, too.

Now I’m left with no choice but to search for Nico and sit wherever he chose.

I walk through the double doors of the large, brick building, my footsteps slowing when I spot Sandra sitting on the edge of the check-out desk, Alex leaning against it right beside her.

Her eyes lift as I attempt to sneak by, and she smiles brightly. “Hey, Demi. Welcome.” She waves.

Alex glances over his shoulder smiling as well, so I give a tight grin back and I hurry past.

Does Alex know she’s fucking Nico?

Or wait, was fucking Nico if I correctly interpreted his quick and unexplained ‘I’m not’ last night.

And, really? All I get is a smile after he said he was coming over last night?

Whatever.

I shake off the irritation. It was last minute, so not really a big deal, but he should at least say something.

I make my way past the computers, and then the study group areas, and even the darker, more deserted parts of the library I’d expect him to be, but he’s nowhere to be found.

When I come back around the opposite side, Alex and Evan are getting seated and I have to walk straight past them.

Alex’s head lifts and he falters slightly, but then stands and turns to me.

“Hey.” He grins.

My eyes instantly snap to the black rim of his left one and narrow.

“Oh my god, what happened?”

He gives a light chuckle. “Name of the game.”

Except you didn’t play yesterday.

“Looks like it hurts.”

“It didn’t.” His response is quick and sharp, to the point where I’m almost positive he took it as an insult, but he quickly shakes it off.

“Hey, so sorry about last night,” he apologizes, though his tone doesn’t quite back up his words.

I don’t say anything right away, assuming an explanation will follow, but when he simply stands there, I shake my head. “Oh, you’re fine. I fell asleep as soon as I got home, so I’d have missed you anyway, but I better go. I need to find Nico.”

Alex laughs lightly, glancing behind him quickly. “How is it being Nico’s partner?”

“Pretty uneventful,” I say.

“Really?” He eyes me, almost unbelieving.

He expected a different answer?

“So you guys don’t get along, then?” he coaxes.

Is that what I’d call it? I don’t think so...

“He’s not much for talking is all, so it’s a little hard sometimes.”

Alex nods. “Yeah, that sucks. Well hey, the reason I called last night was to ask a question about our assignment, but I figured it out so...” He nods again.

I blanch a moment and consider reminding him we didn’t have an assignment, but I’m not about to make this more awkward than it already is.

“No worry,” I tell him, and I can’t get away quick enough.

Once I’m back in the middle of the study area, I pause, still not spotting my flyaway partner.

Right when I’m about to give up and take a damn seat, a flash of his unruly hair catches my eye.

Nico holds his fingers to his lips, a deep frown etched across his forehead, and tips his chin, calling me to him.

I glance back at the front desk.

Clearly Sandra is the TA this period and I don’t see anyone else around, so I slip into the long, empty hallway he’s hiding in.

Nico pushes open a custodial door, and motions for me to go, but when I glare, shaking my head, he grabs my hand and pulls me through with him, letting the door close behind us as he steps ahead.

“Where does this lead?” I whisper, climbing the stairs.

“Roof. Obviously.”

I roll my eyes at his back.

Obviously.

He opens the door at the top of the stairwell, grabbing a brick laying just outside, and uses it to help prop it open.

I step out, glancing around as I walk toward the edge, and lean over slightly to look down.