Faking It (Fake boyfriend Duet 1)
|♠ 04: Phase One

"Gun's here?" I wrack my brains for any plans we made at school. But nothing. Well, maybe he wants to discuss our arrangement. "Um, can you send him up?"

Her eyes narrow. "Is there something you need to tell me?"

"What? No," I lie, shaking my head, briskly. "He's just helping me out with something." Now, that part is technically not a lie.

She gives me a suspicious look but thankfully drops it. "Fine. Just make sure to leave your door open."

I resist the urge to roll my eyes. What, does she expect us to make out or something in here?

A minute after she's gone, Gun walks into my room. "Huh, no pink?" He comments, his eyes taking in the whole interior.

I sit up on my bed. "Pink is not my style. Its your sister's."

Daph's room looks girly, mine is rather straightforward and somewhat minimalistic. Its washed in hues of purple and maroon. My queen-size bed, the bedside table next to it, and the study table in the corner are the only pieces of furniture in my bedroom. Everything else I own is in my walk-in closet and bathroom. I don't even have a couch— just a reading nook with built-in bookshelves on either side by the window. And hardly any pictures on the wall, well except for the posters of Crystal Stewart, Barbara Palvin. The other pictures I have in my room are the two ones on my bedside table— one with my family and the other with Daphine.

"Considering the two of you are practically attached to the hip, I wouldn't be surprised if you were." He pulls out the chair of my study table and plops down on it. "But colour me impressed, Red. Your room is actually neater and more impersonal than mine."

I smile sweetly. "Probably smells even better too."

That makes him scowl. "I'm not a slob, Baldwin."

Its true. I've been to his room countless times over the years— to help Daphine retrieve the things he stole from her. And every single time, I never see any laundry or boy stuff lying around the floor. Even his bed is always fully made up. At first I thought their mom, Belinda was the one cleaning his room. But then I caught him tidying it up himself.

His neatness shows in his appearance, too. Right now, his hair isn't styled by any gel but it doesn't look messy at all. And he looks really nice in a long sleeve gray tee and black jeans. But this is Gun we're talking about. He probably looks good in anything.

"Whatever," I let my hair loose from my messy ponytail suddenly feeling self-conscious— for some crazy, weird reason— in my faded oversized T-shirt and sweatpants. "What are you doing here, anyway?"

"You want me to be your fake boyfriend, right?"

"Um, yeah." I nod

"Then get up. We're going to Vicente's. Its time to make this fake relationship public."

I blink at him. "We are?"

He waggles his eyebrows. "Unless you already changed your mind." He smirks and takes out his phone. "Shame. I heard Maca and Lytton are there right now."

"Oh, we're definitely going." I'm already up from the bed and scurrying toward my closet. "And FYI, my mind is already set."

Gun's low chuckles trail after me.

Fifteen minutes later, we're walking into Vicente's. Its a pizza placed slash-cafe and a major hangout of students in Shelbourne Falls. Kids head over to this place to get together when school ends.

So when Gunther told me that he heard Zac and Lytton were there, I quickly slid out of bed and tugged on the prettiest let-my-ex-eat-his-heart-out dress I could find in my closet. Judging from the way Gunther whistled when I stepped back in my room, I made the right call.

I instantly spot my douchebag of an ex and his new girl trophy out in the back. They're sitting with some of Gun and Zac's teammates. And look. Gabriella Donovan, who happens to be Lytton's best friend, is there with them too.

Here's another thing about Gabriella: She has a huge-not so-secret crush on Gun.

This should be fun.

Rodney Jackson, Gun's best friend and basketball teammate, whistles when he sees us. "Oh, look, here comes the new 'IT Couple."

I snap my gaze to Gun. Did he tell Rodney of our arrangement?

"I texted him on our way here," Gun says out of the corner of his mouth.

"Does he know?" I demand.

"He's my best guy. He can be trusted."

What the hell? I can't believe this guy. But before I can chew him out for being a blabbermouth, we're already at their table.

Gun exchanges fist bumbs with the Guy's— with the exception of Zac— while I engage in a stare off with Gabriella and Lytton.

"What are you doing here?" Their eyes are telling me.

"To hang out, what else? But feel free to leave, if you like. No one's stopping you." I shoot back unperturbed.

I give them a sweet smile as Gun pulls up chairs for both of us. If these girls think they can intimidate me, they have another thing coming.

Zac's eyes are on me, but I pretend not to notice. I can tell he isn't happy to see me, much less Gun, which pleases me immensely.

He's probably seething inside.

Good.

"So, you guys are dating now?" Eric Johnson, the guy sitting next to Zac asks.

Here we go.

I smile and thread my fingers through Gun's on top of the table, noting how good his hand feels against mine. "I guess you can say that."

"Didn't Zac just dump you?" Gabriella says sweetly, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder, silencing everyone.

"Hey, don't mess with love" Rodney snickers.

I'm about to give a scathing response to her, but Gun beats me to it. "Actually Maca did me a favour. I've always wanted to ask Nikitta out. He just gave me an in." He winks at Zac. "Thanks, man."

"Don't mention it," Zac grits out, the muscles in his jaw ticking.

"And honestly, I've always had a huge crush on Gun," I giggle. Then give Zac a fake-sheepish glance. "No, offense, Zac."

He just nods, looking even more pissed.

Shooting her boyfriend a sideways frown, Lytton forces a smile. "Well, you guys look great together. I've never seen a better pairing."

"Should we start a ship name?" Gabriella mocks. "Okay, I'll start. How about Nikunther, or hey, Gunitta? Both cute, right?"

I have to bite my lip to keep from laughing. God, she's such a jealous hag.

Gun chuckles. "I think we're good with our respective names, Gabby."

She gives him a coy smile. "But if you want to change your mind, let me know. So we can discuss it further."

I mentally roll my eyes. Girl is flirting with my fake boyfriend right in front of me. Trying hard much?

I'm about to put her in her place when my eyes connect with Zac's accusing ones. Lytton is whispering something in his ear, but he isn't paying her any mind. He's only focused on me.

Good. Get pissed. Regret the day you dumped me. And get jealous of the fact that I'm with the "better" version of you now.

This revenge plan kicks ass...

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