Fake Dating The Bad Boy

Chapter 5

LANDON’S POV

I’ve been standing here too long, pretending not to care about the scene unfolding in front of me. But it’s impossible to ignore the way they’re treating her. Clarissa is standing in the middle of the crowd while these bastards make fun of her. She looks small, vulnerable, and though I’d never admit it aloud, it’s tearing me apart.

I hate her. Or at least, I think I do. She’s been nothing but trouble since the moment we met—sharp tongue, stubborn eyes, and an attitude that drives me insane. But this? This is too much. I can’t stand to see her humiliated like this, even if she infuriates me. Nobody deserves this.

Without hesitation, I grab her arm and pull her against me.

The moment our bodies touch, my mind blanks. Her softness, the warmth of her against my chest—it’s more than I was prepared for. My heart pounds, blood rushing in my ears, and then my eyes lock on hers.

I don’t know what comes over me. One second, I’m glaring at the crowd; the next, I’m lowering my lips to hers. Our lips join together in a passionate kiss.

She tastes like honey and chaos, sweet and addictive, and I’m lost. The world fades away, the whispers, the stares, all of it gone. It’s just us. Her hands clutch at my shirt as she melts into me, and I’m gripping her waist like she’s the only thing keeping me to the ground. A low moan escapes me and I hate it. I didn’t even know when it came out of my lips.

Our tongues roll together as our mouths move against each other. It feels like we’ve done this a thousand times before. I wrap my hands around her waist, pulling her closer to me. For a moment, I forget that we’re not alone.

I pull back, breathing hard, and resting my forehead against hers. My sunglasses are still perched on my nose. I reach up, take them off, and look out at the stunned faces surrounding us.

There’s a collective gasp, and then the murmurs start.

“Isn’t that…?”

“Reo? The singer?”

“No way, what’s he doing here?”

Even the blonde, who’d been so eager to tear Clarissa down moments ago, looks like she’s swallowed a lemon. Her jaw drops as she looks at me.

I smirk, still holding Clarissa close.

“Yeah, it’s me,” I say in a casual tone “It’s nice to meet you all. I’m Clarissa’s boyfriend.”

The silence that follows is almost comical. No one knows what to say. I can feel Clarissa stiffen against me. Her eyes meet mine as the widen in surprise. The boy behind the blonde is gritting his teeth so hard that it feels like his jaw might come off. It takes everything inside me not to laugh.

What is he? Her ex?

“Now, if you’ll excuse us,” I add with a smile “We need to leave. Come on, babe”

My hand stays firm on her waist as we turn away from the crowd. I can feel their stares burning into my back. I don’t care. Let them talk. Let them wonder.

When we reach my bike, I hand her the helmet without a word. She hesitates, her lips parted as if she wants to say something, but I don’t give her the chance. I swing a leg over the seat, rev the engine, and glance back at her.

“Get on,” I say.

She does and her arms wrap around my waist, and the contact sends another spark through me. I grit my teeth, trying to ignore the way she fits against me like she was made to be here.

As we speed away, my mind races faster than the bike beneath us. What the hell just happened back there? What’s happening to me? I’ve kissed women before, plenty of them, but none of them tasted like her. None of them made me feel like my world was tilting on its axis.

My heart is still racing as I take the corner at a speed that’s probably illegal. Clarissa yells over the roar of the engine.

“Landon, stop! Pull over!” she says.

I hesitate but finally ease the bike to a stop. The air between us feels thick, electric, as she hops off and turns to me. I can practically see the fire blazing in her eyes.

“What the hell is your problem?” she snaps, crossing her arms. “What was that back there?”

“What was what?” I reply with a smirk, feigning ignorance.

“Don’t play dumb, Landon. That stunt you pulled, kissing me in front of everyone and calling yourself my boyfriend. Why? Just tell me why!”

Her voice rises with each word, and I can see the fury in her stance, the way her fingers dig into her arms. I shouldn’t be feeling this way but I fight off the urge to laugh. She looks cute when she’s mad. Like an angry bunny.

I swing off the bike, facing her head-on.

“They were treating you like crap,” I snap back. “I couldn’t just stand there and watch.”

“So, you decided to make things worse by pretending to be my boyfriend? What, you think I needed saving? I don’t need you to fight my battles, Landon! It’s none of your business”

Glaring at her, I step closer, “I didn’t do it for you.”

She blinks “Then why?”

I run a hand through my hair, frustrated, trying to find the words. “I don’t know. Maybe I hate seeing people like that get their way. Or maybe… maybe. It doesn’t f*****g matter, okay?.”

“Landon…”

I shake my head, cutting her off. “Let’s go home. I don’t have all f*****g day”

She doesn’t argue. She climbs back onto the bike, and the rest of the ride is silent. When we pull up to her place, two girls about her age are waiting on the porch. The moment they see us, their faces light up.

“Oh my God, is that…?” one of them squeals, grabbing the other’s arm.

“Reo! It’s really him!” the other gasps. They rush down the steps toward us.

“Jemma, Zaya, this is Landon,” Clarissa says flatly, dismounting the bike. “Landon, meet my best friends.”

Jemma and Zaya can barely contain their excitement. Their voices overlap as they introduce themselves. “We’re such big fans!” “Your music is amazing!”

I smile politely, giving them a nod. “Nice to meet you both.”

I like them. They seem like a good friends. Their energy is contagious and I can’t help but smile.

Clarissa doesn’t say another word. She marches up the steps and slams the door behind her, leaving the three of us standing there in awkward silence.

“Is she okay?” Jemma asks.

“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile. “She’s just… Clarissa, I guess.”

They exchange a look, clearly confused, but I don’t stick around to explain. I say my goodbyes and drive away from them.

The ride home feels longer than usual due to my thoughts. As I’m rounding a bend, I spot a car pulled over on the side of the road with its hood up and hazard lights flashing. A woman stands next to it, waving me down.

I slow to a stop, pulling over behind her. She’s dressed in a flowy skirt and a fitted top. Her hair is perfectly styled despite the apparent emergency.

“Thank you so much for stopping,” she says in a sweet tone “I don’t know what happened. It just… stopped working.”

I nod, climbing off the bike. “Let’s take a look.”

As I examine the engine, she chats away. Her questions come fast “What are you doing here? You’re Reo right?”

I take a look at her engine closely, trying to find the fault even though I know there isn’t any. I know exactly what’s going on here and I’m tired of it.

“Yeah” I say dryly.

“So, how’s your time in Casper? Are you staying long? Working on any new music?”

I glance up at her, tilting my head “You’re not very subtle, are you?”

She blinks “What do you mean?”

I reach into the engine, reconnecting a loose plug. “I know who you are, Pinky. And I know why you’re here.”

Her eyes widen, but I don’t let her interrupt. “You followed me here, hoping to dig up some dirt for your magazine. Next time you fake a breakdown, maybe try a little harder.”

She opens her mouth to protest, but I’ve already stepped back. “Car should start now. You’re welcome.”

Without waiting for a reply, I climb back onto my bike, rev the engine, and take off, leaving her standing there with her perfectly styled hair and her shocked expression. The wind whips past me as I move with speed. But as I ride, one thought lingers in my mind.

Her

In that moment I realize I have trouble on my hands, big trouble. And her name is Clarissa.