Chapter 1: The Proposition

                                    

                                          
Jake POV:
Mia Lawson walked down the bustling halls of Pinewood High, clutching her books to her chest. She seemed oblivious to the chaos around her, perfectly content to remain invisible. I, on the other hand, was anything but invisible. My life was a whirlwind of attention, from the football field to the social scene. But today, all my attention was focused on Mia.
Jessica had broken up with me a few weeks ago, and nothing I did seemed to get through to her. She remained stubbornly unmoved by my attempts to win her back. Desperate times called for desperate measures, and that's how I found myself jogging to catch up with Mia.
"Mia, wait up," I called, quickening my pace. She looked up, startled, as I fell into step beside her.
"Jake? What do you want?" she asked, her voice tinged with suspicion.
"I need your help," I said, cutting straight to the point. "I want you to be my fake girlfriend."
Mia blinked, clearly taken aback. "What? Why me?"
"Because you're different. You're smart, and you don't care about all the high school drama. Plus, Jessica would never see it coming."
Mia hesitated, and I could see her mind racing. She was clearly skeptical, and I couldn't blame her. It was a crazy idea.
"I don't know, Jake. This sounds like a terrible idea," she said, shaking her head.
"Please, Mia. Just hear me out," I pleaded. "I promise it won't be as bad as you think."
She sighed, a mix of curiosity and apprehension in her eyes. "Alright, let's talk. But I make no promises."
We found an empty classroom, and I shut the door behind us. Mia sat down, eyeing me warily as I paced the room, trying to organize my thoughts.
"Okay, so here's the deal," I began, leaning against a desk. "Jessica broke up with me, and I've tried everything to get her back. But nothing's worked. I figured if she saw me with someone else—someone unexpected—it might make her realize what she's missing."
Mia frowned. "So, you want to use me to make her jealous? That's your big plan?"
I ran a hand through my hair, feeling frustrated. "I know it sounds bad, but it could work. You're different from the other girls here. You're genuine, and you don't care about popularity. That's what makes this believable."
She crossed her arms. "And what do I get out of this? Why should I help you?"
I looked at her earnestly. "I can help you too. I could, I don't know, tutor you in any subject you're struggling with or help you with social stuff. Whatever you need. Plus, it might be fun to see everyone's reactions."
Mia's mind was clearly racing, considering the proposal. The idea of being thrust into the spotlight terrified her, but I could see a spark of curiosity in her eyes.
"What if things get out of hand? What if people start talking?"
"We'll set some ground rules," I said quickly. "No real feelings, no physical intimacy beyond what's necessary for appearances, and we keep each other in the loop about everything."
She bit her lip, clearly weighing her options. "Fine," she said finally. "I'll do it. But remember, this is just pretend. If things get too crazy, we call it off."
A wave of relief and excitement washed over me. "Deal. Thanks, Mia. You won't regret this."
We shook hands to seal the agreement, and I couldn't shake the feeling that her life—and mine—was about to take a very unexpected turn.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The next few days were a whirlwind as Mia and I worked out the details of our fake relationship. We decided to make our "debut" at the upcoming pep rally. It was the perfect opportunity to show off our newfound "romance" to the entire school.
During lunch breaks, we met up in secluded corners of the school to discuss our plan. Each time, I could see Mia becoming more comfortable with the idea, though the initial skepticism never completely left her eyes.
"Are you sure about this?" she asked one afternoon as we sat on a bench near the football field.
"Absolutely," I replied. "Just think about it—this could be fun. Plus, it'll give both of us a chance to step out of our usual roles. You get to be seen in a new light, and I get to... well, hopefully win Jessica back."
Mia gave me a small, reluctant smile. "I guess when you put it that way, it doesn't sound so bad."
"That's the spirit," I said, giving her a playful nudge. "We'll just have to make it look convincing."
The day of the pep rally arrived faster than I expected. Mia looked nervous as hell when I met her in the parking lot. She was clutching her phone and muttering to herself, probably rehearsing her lines in her head.
"Ready for this?" I asked, offering her my hand.
She took a deep breath and nodded. "As ready as I'll ever be."
We walked into the gymnasium together, hand in hand. The reaction was immediate—whispers, stares, and even a few gasps. I could feel Mia's tension, but she kept her head held high, determined to see this through.
Jessica was there, of course, surrounded by her usual entourage. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw us together. She quickly masked her surprise with a cold, indifferent look, but I knew her well enough to see the gears turning in her mind.
Throughout the pep rally, I stayed close to Mia, my arm around her shoulders. We laughed and joked, putting on a convincing show for everyone watching. By the end of the event, I could tell Mia was exhausted but also exhilarated. It was strange, but I felt a thrill at seeing her step out of her comfort zone.
"How did I do?" Mia asked as we walked back to the parking lot.
I grinned. "You were perfect. Jessica definitely noticed."
Mia smiled, a sense of accomplishment lighting up her face. Maybe this plan wouldn't be so terrible after all.
As the days turned into weeks, Mia and I settled into our roles. We spent more time together, not just for appearances, but because we genuinely enjoyed each other's company. We discovered common interests, shared personal stories, and gradually, our fake relationship began to feel surprisingly real.
But beneath the surface, tensions were brewing. Jessica was not one to be outdone, and she had plans of her own to win me back. Little did Mia and I know, our carefully crafted scheme was about to face its biggest test yet.