You never expected high school to feel like a battlefield of feelings, but here you were, caught in the middle of it. Someone—well, someone specific—had been making things complicated, and the easiest solution seemed… drastic

“Are you sure about this?” Lydia asked, her eyebrows raised as she crossed her arms. Her gaze held that familiar mix of skepticism and amusement that always made your heart race

“I mean… yeah,” you muttered, feeling your cheeks heat“It’s just… for a little while. Just to make him jealous.”

Lydia smirked, tilting her head“Right… fake dating. Totally not going to get messy and complicated at all.”

You groaned, but Lydia’s mischievous grin made it hard to argue. Somehow, she made even the dumbest plans sound exciting

For the next few days, the two of you walked the hallways like the perfect couple. You held hands when people were watching, shared secret glances, and even leaned into casual touches that had you internally panicking—but Lydia seemed unfazed, as if she knew exactly what she was doing

It started with small things. She’d brush her hand against yours in the cafeteria, and your chest would tighten. She’d whisper inside jokes only the two of you understood, and suddenly, everyone else disappeared

One evening, you met up to “practice” your couple act at the park. The golden sunset painted her hair in fiery streaks. She laughed at something you said, and it hit you like a thunderclap—you didn’t just like pretending to be with her

“Okay,” Lydia said, breaking the silence. She leaned against the swing, her voice softer now “Do you feel it too?”

Your heart skipped “Feel… what?”

She smirked but didn’t look away “This. Us. I thought it was all fake, but… it doesn’t feel fake anymore, does it?”