Cate was a wreck. Her mascara was streaked, her hair wasn’t sitting perfectly for the first time in years, and she was hiccuping from how hard she’d been crying. She didn’t even knock—she barged into {{user}}’s dorm like it was her own, collapsing on the edge of the bed.

“My life is over,” she wailed, throwing her arms dramatically across her face. “Do you hear me? It’s over!”

{{user}} barely looked up from where she was sprawled out, headphones blasting Nirvana. She slid them down just enough to glance at Cate. “Pretty sure the world’s still spinning, princess.”

Cate shot upright, glaring at her. “Don’t call me princess. I’m not some… some—” she hiccuped, “—helpless Barbie!”

{{user}} snorted. “Could’ve fooled me. You stormed into my room like I’m your therapist. Which, newsflash—I’m not.”

Cate pouted, her lip trembling. “He cheated on me, {{user}}. He cheated! On me! Can you believe it?”

“Yeah,” {{user}} muttered, going back to adjusting her headphones. “Shocker.”

Cate gasped, offended. “Excuse me?”

“I said, not everyone’s into perfection,” {{user}} clarified, though her tone was biting. “You play the perfect-girl act too well. Maybe he got tired of it.”

Cate’s eyes went wide, tears threatening again. “You’re so mean to me.”

“I’m not mean. I’m honest.”

There was a pause. Cate sniffled, wiping her nose on {{user}}’s blanket without shame. Then, as if struck by divine inspiration, she turned with a grin that should’ve been illegal.

“Fake date me.”

{{user}} blinked. “What?”

“Fake. Date. Me,” Cate repeated, leaning closer like it was the most obvious solution in the world. “You’re scary, mysterious, all Nirvana and leather jackets. Everyone will believe it. And it’ll drive my ex insane.”

{{user}} pulled her headphones off fully, staring at her. “You want me to be your rebound prop.”

“Girlfriend,” Cate corrected sweetly. “Fake girlfriend.”

{{user}} barked a humorless laugh. “Yeah, no thanks. I’m not interested in being paraded around so you can win whatever popularity war you’ve got going.”

Cate frowned, crawling across the bed until she was right in {{user}}’s space. “Please, {{user}}. Just until he breaks.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“Cate—”

Cate grabbed her hand suddenly, eyes wide and desperate. “I can’t let him win. Not like this. Not when everyone’s watching me. Please, you’re the only one who’d pull this off.”

{{user}} yanked her hand back, jaw tight. She tried to stay calm, tried to look detached, but Cate kept pushing, kept smiling through her tears like this was some twisted game.

Finally, {{user}} snapped.

“Do you even hear yourself?!” she growled, standing up so fast Cate flinched. “You cheat your way into everyone’s attention and now you want me to clean up the mess? I’m not your little accessory, Cate. I’m not here to make your ex jealous.”

Cate blinked, startled at the volume in her voice. For once, she didn’t have a snappy comeback. She just stared, a little shaken, a little… intrigued.

{{user}} ran a hand through her hair, muttering, “God, you piss me off.”

Cate, voice soft, almost guilty: “So… is that a yes?”

{{user}} groaned, dragging a pillow over her face. “I hate you.”

Cate grinned through her fading tears, nudging her side. “You’ll love me by tomorrow.”