Chapter 1
After starting college, our club held a welcome dinner. The campus heartthrob, Julian Cole, asked for my number.
His childhood best friend, Selene Hart, gave me a nudge and a wink.
"Hey gorgeous, just give him your number. Don't worry, he's single."
The rest of the table started chiming in.
"Ooh, single, huh?"
"Then why are those two always joined at the hip?"
Selene pretended to be annoyed.
"Oh, stop it! Julian and I are just bros!"
I was about to turn him down when a wall of comments suddenly appeared before my eyes.
A: [Here it comes! The iconic scene! Once the second lead gets the guy's number, the main girl gets drunk from heartbreak, and the guy force-kisses her!]
B: [They're literally one confession away from dating. This homewrecker is disgusting. She deserves getting stabbed to death!]
C: [She'll get what's coming to her anyway. What matters now is getting those two to kiss!]
I swallowed my refusal.
"Sure, go ahead and add me."
I caught the flash of jealousy and resentment in Selene's eyes, and I smiled.
They wanted me to play my part in their little love story?
Let's see who's really playing who.
*******
"Hello, may I have your contact info?"
A shadow fell in front of me. I looked up and saw a handsome, boyish guy, his face slightly red, holding up his phone as he stood before me.
My friend shook my arm and screamed silently.
"Ahhhh, it’s Julian Cole, the campus heartthrob!"
I did know that. I’d heard there was a really good-looking guy among the freshmen who outshone all the upperclassmen and was named the campus crush.
My friend, Emily Shaw, tightened her grip on my hand and whispered hesitantly, "But I heard he’s always with a girl, inseparable. I wonder if she’s his girlfriend..."
Just as she finished, a girl at the next table stood up and gave me a nudge and a wink.
"Hey gorgeous, just give him your number. Don't worry, he's single."
The rest of the table started chiming in.
"Ooh, single, huh?"
"Then why are those two always joined at the hip?"
"Right, right, she's not his girlfriend—she's his little childhood sweetheart."
Selene's face went red. She pretended to be annoyed.
"Oh, stop! Julian and I have known each other since we were kids. We're practically brothers!"
She stood up, walked over, and casually looped her arm through Julian's. She peered at me from behind his shoulder, sizing me up with a sweet smile plastered on her face.
"Julian lost a dare, so this is his punishment. Don't take it personally! Why don't you come join our table? The more the merrier."
Her little display with Julian set off another round of teasing.
"Still saying you're not a couple? You're literally hanging off his arm!"
"So when's the wedding? We're waiting."
"Julian's not even denying it!"
Selene stole a glance at Julian, then turned back with a mock scolding tone.
"Enough, you guys! This is exactly why Julian can never keep a girl around."
Emily tugged at my sleeve and made a gagging face.
She was typing furiously on her phone under the table.
Emily: God, these two are nauseating. All touchy-feely and then "oh we're not dating." What is this? They might as well make out right here. "Not a couple" my ass. Just out here ruining everyone's night.
I was pretty grossed out myself and was about to turn him down.
Then a flood of comments exploded across my vision.
A: [Oh my God, are they finally going to kiss?!]
B: [Bookmark this scene! Next up: the second lead shamelessly gets the guy's number, the main girl gets drunk from heartbreak, the guy confesses, and then—wall slam kiss!]
C: [Can this second lead just die already? Can't she see they're meant to be? Homewrecking little parasite.]
D: [Relax. The second lead's the reason they'll finally get together. Besides, she gets stabbed to death in the end. Serves her right.]
E: [What is the second lead doing? Hurry up and go after him! We need the main couple to kiss already!]
I froze.
