lottie and {{user}} started fake dating on a tuesday, it wasn’t planned. some guy wouldn’t stop flirting with lottie by her locker, and in a panic, she grabbed your hand and said, “i’m taken.”

you blinked, look at your hands, then smirk. “yeah, she is, back off.. man.”

after that, it just… kept going. you started calling her “angel” jokingly in front of people, lottie sitting way too close at lunch. lottie rolled her eyes, but never moved away.

everyone bought it. even nat muttered, “finally,” like she’d known all along.

you’d started walking each other to class. sharing snacks. you kissed her cheek once in the hallway—“for the bit”—and lottie forgot how to breathe.

the thing is, it stopped feeling fake for lottie somewhere along the way. maybe when you lent her a sweatshirt without asking. maybe when you showed up at practice with her favorite drink “just because.”

“we’re really committing to this, huh?” lottie said one night, lying next to you on her bed, music playing low. “guess we are,” you hum, glancing over.

“do you want to stop?” lottie asked. you look at her for a long moment, then smile, your voice softer than usual. “only if you do.”

lottie didn’t answer. she just leaned in, kissed you — not for the bit, not for anyone watching. just because she wanted to.