You're Nothing Like I Expected
972 Words
Kaden's POV
She was supposed to be terrified. Instead, she glared at me like she wanted to throw me out of the window.
Interesting. I looked at the girl standing in front of me. She wasn't dressed like the girls who usually chased me around campus. No designer clothes. No expensive jewelry. Just a pair of faded jeans, white sneakers, and a hoodie that looked like it had seen better days.
She looked exhausted. But her eyes were full of fire.
Most girls reacted differently when they met me. Some smiled too much. Some tried to impress me. Others acted nervous because of my family name.
This girl did none of that. If anything, she looked like she wanted to punch me.
For some reason, I respected that.
Mrs. Carter cleared her throat. "Kaden, this is Elyana Steve."
"I figured."
Elyana folded her arms tighter. "I don't care who you are. I'm not pretending to be your girlfriend."
I almost smiled. "You don't have much of a choice."
She shot me a murderous look.
"You think you're funny?"
"No. I think you're stubborn."
"And I think you're arrogant."
Mrs. Carter stepped between us. "Let's all calm down."
Elyana ignored her. "I came here to study, not to become part of your public image."
I shrugged. "I didn't ask for this either."
She blinked. "What?"
"You think I wanted a fake girlfriend? I don't even know you."
"Good. Let's keep it that way."
For a second, neither of us spoke. Mrs. Carter looked like she regretted putting us in the same room.
"Kaden, perhaps you should explain the situation."
I sighed. "My reputation took a hit. I need to repair it. So the academy decided a relationship would help."
Elyana stared at me.
"That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard."
"I agree."
Her eyebrows rose. "You agree?"
"I think it's ridiculous."
"Then cancel it."
"I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because if I do, I lose my captaincy."
She frowned. "Captain of what?"
"The hockey team."
"I don't care about hockey."
"I figured."
She let out a frustrated laugh. "So, basically, you don't want this. I don't want this. But we're both trapped."
"Exactly."
She rubbed her forehead. "I should've read that stupid contract."
"You definitely should have."
Her eyes narrowed. "You know what? I don't like you."
"That's fine. I don't need you to like me. I just need you to cooperate."
She pointed a finger at my chest. "I won't lie to you."
"I'm not asking you to."
"You literally are."
The truth was, she had every reason to blame me.
If my scandal had never happened, she wouldn’t have been standing here.
Before I could answer, someone burst through the office door.
"Kaden!"
It was Noah, one of my teammates. He looked completely panicked.
"The reporters are here."
I cursed under my breath. "Already?"
"They're outside the administration building."
I looked toward the window. Even from here I could hear shouting outside. Word traveled fast.
Mrs. Carter looked at me.
"Perfect."
I frowned. "Perfect?"
"This is your opportunity."
"No."
"Yes."
She turned to Elyana. "Miss Steve, come with us."
Elyana took a step backward. "I'm not going anywhere."
Mrs. Carter's expression hardened. "If you walk away now…" She didn't finish the sentence. She didn't have to.
The scholarship. Elyana knew exactly what she meant.
I watched the fight leave her eyes. Slowly, she followed us outside.
The moment the front doors opened, camera flashes exploded.
"There they are! Kaden! Who's the girl? Is this your new girlfriend?"
Dozens of microphones were shoved toward us. Elyana froze. She looked terrified.
For the first time since we'd met, she actually looked her age. Nineteen. Completely overwhelmed.
One reporter shouted, "Is this the girl you've been hiding?"
Another yelled, "Are the dating rumors true?"
Elyana looked at me. Her eyes silently screamed, Do something.
Without thinking, I reached for her hand. She looked down at our joined hands in shock.
I leaned closer so only she could hear.
"I'm sorry."
Before she could respond, I gently pulled her beside me. The cameras went wild.
Flash. Flash. Flash.
Questions came from every direction.
"Kaden, how long have you two been together?"
"Miss Steve, when did you meet?"
"Did your relationship begin before or after the scandal?"
Elyana looked completely lost. She opened her mouth. Nothing came out.
I answered instead. "We've been together for a while."
More flashes. Someone shouted, "Then why keep her a secret?"
I glanced at Elyana. "Because she never wanted the attention."
The crowd immediately softened. Several reporters smiled.
Exactly what the academy wanted. A love story.
I hated how easily people believed it.
One reporter looked at Elyana.
“Miss Steve, are you happy with him?”
She looked ready to scream.
Instead, she forced the smallest smile.
“I…” She stopped.
I answered before she had to. “We’re still getting used to all this attention.”
That seemed to satisfy them. Security finally pushed the reporters back, giving us enough space to leave.
The moment we reached the empty courtyard, Elyana yanked her hand away from mine.
"Don't ever do that again."
"I know."
She looked at me for several long seconds. Then she surprised me.
"I almost feel sorry for you."
I frowned.
"…Why?"
"Because everyone in your life keeps making choices for you."
Those words hit harder than they should have. Before I could answer, she picked up her suitcase and walked away.
I watched her disappear across campus. No fear. No attempt to impress me. No flirting. No pretending.
Just anger. A small smile tugged at the corner of my mouth.
She was nothing like I expected.
Behind me, my phone buzzed. It was a news notification.
BREAKING: BLACKMORE HOCKEY CAPTAIN KADEN NORM CONFIRMS SECRET ROMANCE WITH NEW TRANSFER STUDENT.
The story had officially begun.
- Writer
