Fake It 'Til You Break It

Never in a million years did I think my day would end like this.

When my mom told me Ms. Hammons called and asked us over for dinner, I was shocked and confused.

I had no clue what to expect or why the sudden invitation was extended since I had no knowledge of Alex’s mom and mine ever conversing outside of social events. I tried to refuse out of respect for Nico, I knew he wouldn’t like it, but she was persistent and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

I planned to tell him at school since he wasn’t answering calls, but then he no-showed again, and there was no way I was going to text him something like that.

The last thing I expected was to walk into Alex Hammons’ house and find my boyfriend’s dad standing there with a fake smile and condescending demeanor.

I would have turned and walked right out if I wasn’t so shocked. I don’t remember speaking a word until Nico’s voice rang through my ears, simultaneously soothing and irritating everything inside me.

It takes me a solid hour to get to Krista’s on foot, and I don’t even get a chance to knock before Carley is whipping the door open and tugging me inside.

Her eyes travel over me with sheer concern.

Krista and Macy come around the corner right then, both rushing over.

“What happened?” Macy tilts her head.

Krista grips my hand and pulls me toward the couch to sit, and the other two drop onto the coffee table in front of me.

My makeup must be all over my face at this point.

I went from being angry to downright sad and back again at least twenty times on the walk here.

I fall against the cushions. Closing my eyes.

“It was all fake,” I admit to them for the first time.

“What was fake?” Carley asks.

“Demi wait—” Krista starts, but I interrupt.

“Me and Nico.” Tears form behind my eyelids, so I don’t open my eyes right away, hoping they’ll disappear.

But when a familiar throat clears, they fly open, but I don’t bother sitting up.

The tears spill over, running down my cheeks as I look to him.

“Awesome,” I whisper.

“I was trying to tell you,” Krista says quietly.

Trent looks down and I manage an eye roll, but when I blink, it only makes more tears fall and I look to my lap.

There is no doubt in my mind Trent knew about Alex and never said a word.

Not that I’d expect him to give up his best friend, but I knew it was fake. He knew I knew it was fake. I just needed the heads up not to get too close.

I should have known this on my own.

He’s Nico Sykes, the star receiver, insatiable playboy, and mine?

Yeah, okay, Demi.

“She needs us right now.” Krista gets up and directs him toward the front door. “I’ll call you later,” she tells him before shutting it behind him and moving back beside me.

“You two are okay?” I ask her.

She gives a small smile, nodding. “Yeah, we are, but this is about you. Are you okay?”

“I’m fine.” I kick off my wedges, pulling my feet onto the cushion.

“Tell us what’s going on.” Carley leans forward.

I lick my lips and get right to it. “Nico and I, we weren’t really dating... it was all for show.”

“Whoa, hold on.” Macy lifts her hands. “What do you mean? Like you pretended to be together?”

“Exactly.”

“Why would you do that?” She shakes her head.

“Macy,” Krista hisses.

“What?” she snaps back. “I’m just trying to understand.”

“Well—”

“Krista, it’s fine,” I say, looking to Carley and then Macy. “Nico realized I had a thing for Alex, told me Alex was only interested in girls who were taken, and then suggested he and I pretend we were dating.”

Their eyes shoot wide.

“He said he had something to gain from it, too, but I didn’t really care what it was, so I went along with it.” I clear my throat. “Little did I know then, it was about so much more.” I look across to the girls.

“What was it about?” Carley asks.

“Alex.”

Confusion covers all three of their faces.

“The night of the Thursday game, in the locker room, I guess the team was talking about formal, who they wanted to ask, who they already asked.”

“No...” Carley trails off.

I nod. “Alex told the team he was going to ask me.”

“That’s the day before they both came to school with black eyes, right?” Carley remembers.

“I forgot about that...” I trail off.

What does that mean?

Does it even matter?

“Wait, that was also before Krista’s party.” Macy frowns. “He knew Alex wanted to ask you out before you two started pretending?”

“Yep, he played me.” I look to Krista. “You were right to question him when you told us Josie cheated on him with Alex. Nico knew all about my being interested in Alex.”

“Jesus,” she whispers, pity in her eyes.