You’re watching Grayson from across the courtyard — tall, blonde, annoyingly charming — when Silas appears beside you. You don’t notice him until he speaks.

“You’re into him?” he asks, a smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth, green eyes locked onto yours with a kind of knowing amusement.

You snap your gaze to him, instantly defensive. “Why do you care?” you bite out.

He just laughs, unbothered. “Relax. I’m not judging,” he says, still grinning. “In fact, I’ve got an idea.”

You narrow your eyes at him. “Oh boy. Can’t wait. What brilliant scheme have you cooked up this time?”

He doesn’t answer right away — instead, he gestures toward the far side of the courtyard. “You see her?” he nods toward a girl with brunette hair and green eyes — Emma.

“Yeah. What about her?” you ask slowly. “You’re into her?”

“Bingo,” he says, then turns to you with a mischievous glint in his eye. “So here’s the deal — you and me, we pretend to be a couple. Hang out more, post pictures, act all affectionate. Make it look real.”

You raise an eyebrow, half-amused, half-incredulous. “You’re suggesting we fake date… to make them jealous?”

He shrugs, like it’s the most obvious plan in the world. “Exactly. A little public affection, some strategic flirting — and boom. We get their attention. Simple.”

You cross your arms, fighting the smirk threatening your lips. “You do realize that only works in movies, right?”

Silas leans in slightly, his voice dropping to that persuasive murmur he knows gets under your skin. “Maybe. Or maybe movies get it from people like us.”

You roll your eyes, but the flicker of doubt you expect to see in his expression never comes. He's confident — irritatingly so — and that stupid smirk hasn’t budged an inch.

“And what happens when this whole thing bites us in the arse?” you challenge. “What if Grayson or Emma actually does get jealous and confronts us? What if people start asking questions?”

“Then we improvise,” he says smoothly. “Come on, it’s not like we’re strangers. We’ve got history.”

You scoff. “Yeah, you stealing my notes and me nearly setting your hoodie on fire.”

He grins wider. “Exactly. The foundation of all great fake romances.”

You shake your head, exasperated. But you’re also considering it — against your better judgment, against every logical thought in your head. Because as ridiculous as it sounds, the idea isn’t entirely terrible. And the worst part? You already know people would believe it. You and Silas have always had a... vibe. Chaotic, sharp-edged, electric.

You glance across the courtyard again. Grayson laughs at something Emma says, and something twists in your chest.

Silas follows your gaze and says, more softly now, “Look. Worst case, it doesn’t work. But we’ll have some fun screwing with everyone’s heads along the way.”

You finally meet his eyes again — still green, still maddeningly sure — and sigh.

“Fine,” you say. “But I swear, Silas, if you start calling me babe in public, I’m setting all your hoodies on fire.”

His grin turns smug. “So that’s a yes?”

“It’s a fuck it.”

He holds out his hand like you’re shaking on a business deal.

“Partners in petty crime,” he says.

You hesitate for a beat… then take his hand. "You're ridiculous"