Fake It 'Til You Break It

“Don’t tease me, Neek, or I might tease back,” I caution, my fingertips slipping into the edge of his joggers. “But I won’t be so subtle.”

“Prove it. Grab me, D.”

A heavy throbbing pulses between my legs, and thinking he won when my move isn’t instant, he chuckles and pulls back, only to freeze when I’m suddenly cupping what I can fit of him in my palm over his boxers. I give a gentle squeeze, tugging the slightest bit.

He twitches in my grip, his fingers wrapping around my arms in a tight hold as he presses into my hand, only to yank away completely.

He glares, but it’s in warning, not anger. “Next time you touch my dick, be ready for it to be inside you, nice and slow. Got it?”

I inhale, nodding.

He starts to smirk, but groans instead when I ask, “Promise?”“Nic. I need to talk to you.”

I shake my head, stuffing my phone in my pocket. “Don’t, my man. I don’t want to hear it.”

“You need to.”

With a sigh, I turn to him. “I get it, you don’t like how this happened, but we’re good. Things have changed.” I don’t say it out loud, Thompson is by us, and nobody else needs to know we started off as a lie.

“I know things have changed, that’s why you need to hear me out.”

I shake my head and turn around, ready to walk and find the girls.

“Sophomore year, two times.”

Tension wraps around my shoulder blades, locking me in place as I replay Trent’s rushed words.

It takes several seconds, but slowly, I look behind me, my body shifting until I’m fully facing my best friend.

“What?”

Thompson falls a few feet back, rubbing at the nape of his neck, and my eyes dart back to Trent.

He hangs his head, taking in a deep breath before he stands tall to meet my glare. “I’ve been trying to tell you.”

My pulse hums in my ears, my steps like heavy lead as I force a foot forward. “You think this shit’s funny?”

“Trust me, Nic. I know it’s fucked up.”

I shake my head, denying what he’s saying. “What are you tryin’ to do? Why you fuckin’ with me?”

He holds my gaze, my best fucking friend. The only person who knows the truth about everything in my life. My dad, my mom, Alex. Demi.

Demi.

I lunge at his ass.“Get over to the truck, now, but don’t run or security will follow you.”

I look over my shoulder, my smile fading when I recognize the seriousness of Thompson’s face.

He glares. “Take your friends with you.”

I glance to Carley nodding my chin and walk as calmly as I can toward our area, the girls a few feet behind.

It’s dark, but I manage to see between the trucks as I grow closer, and I gasp.

Nico and Trent are fighting, their bodies slamming into the bumper of Trent’s truck and rolling off onto the small patch of grass in front of it.

Or more, Nico is fighting while Trent more or less allows him to toss him around.

“Oh my god! Nico, stop!” Krista hisses, her wide eyes flying to mine as she rushes forward. “Demi, what the hell?!” She glances back.

Oh my god... shit.

This isn’t happening, not tonight.

Not after we finally got to spend some alone time together as a real couple, away from all the fake.

Away from everyone.

Thompson is suddenly grabbing Krista by the sweater and tugging her back. “Nu-hu. You’re not gettin’ hurt, girl.”

“Then stop them!” She starts to cry.

Thompson glances past her, wincing when Nico lifts Trent from the ground, punching him square in the jaw, not the slightest attempt to block it.

Thompson looks to Krista. “He’s got it comin’ and he knows it. Leave them. I’ll step in if it gets nasty.”

Nico nails him in the gut and Trent groans, stumbling around and slamming into the side mirror a foot from where Thompson stands.

Krista screams again, gaining Trent’s attention.

Concern lines his eyes and he lifts his hands to Nico, stepping toward the fence to put some space between them.

“That’s enough. You’re scaring the girls—”

“Don’t,” Nico seethes, shoving at him again, his shoulder hitting the metal wiring. “Talk about her like she’s yours to worry about and I’ll break your fucking hand, quarterback.”

“Nico, what’s your problem?!” Krista fights to get past Thompson again, but he holds her still.

“Say it. Right now, to my fucking face, Trent.” Nico creeps closer to him.

Trent’s eyes fly my way before going back to Nico’s, pleading. “Come on, man.”

“You were man enough to do it, not man enough to say it out loud?”

Trent only shakes his head, leaning against the fence, blood dripping from his lip.

“Don’t act like you aren’t proud, asshole. Say it!” Nico’s jaw flexes repeatedly, but I can’t see his face. “Now, Trent.”

Trent’s eyes are solemn, regret slipping over him. “All right,” Trent relents. “Dem and—”

“Enough of the nickname! It’s one letter, motherfucker!”