Off-script: My Accidental Fake Boyfriend

Untitled Episode

Riley’s POV

Cold Cole is actually cold and annoying. He spoke about my pain and feelings like they were mere data he needed me to register. At this point, it was safe to call him a robot. When we got to the practice hall, I went over to Stacy, trying my best to forget the harshness in his tone moments ago.

“Cole Donovan, huh…” Stacy said in a low voice meant for only me to hear.

I shrugged, pretending not to care.

“A week ago, you were frantically trying to find out his name and department, and now you’re dating?”

Stacy annoyingly had good instincts, and more than ever, I wished she wouldn’t pry into this matter. It would be too easy for her to discover the truth.

“I did not frantically search for him,” I defended, stealing a glance at him before quickly looking away. “Let’s just say… after one kiss with him, I knew I didn’t want it to be the last.”

Stacy chuckled. “And let’s just say I believe you. But I must admit, you two make a beautiful couple.”

Of course we do. The fakest things usually had the flashiest covers.

“Anyways, you’ll be taking Lizzy’s spot in Real Love Hurts.”

I scrunched my nose at the title. Why did love always have to hurt? Shouldn’t it be sweet instead? The whole idea of associating love with pain made no sense to me.

“Why can’t Lizzy do it?” I asked, already unwilling to take the role.

“I love Lizzy, but sometimes I genuinely wonder if she accidentally wandered into theatre by mistake. Her acting is crazy.”

I blinked.

“Terribly crazy,” Stacy clarified.

I tried to stifle my laughter. Honestly, I had no idea how Lizzy managed to make it this far because being her co-star was exhausting. You practically had to compensate for both your emotions and hers.

Tyler had nearly lost his mind yesterday, missing and mixing up his lines because she simply couldn’t get him into character. Her tone, expressions, emotions—everything always felt misplaced.

Rumors once claimed her father had major investment ties to the university, so people just tolerated it. Even if it meant encouraging terrible acting.

“Tyler,” Stacy called.

He glanced at Cole briefly before walking over to us while Cole smirked faintly. I honestly wondered what they had been talking about to cause such a role reversal.

I gave Tyler a quick hug before Stacy explained the rehearsal adjustments to both of us. We started with the department’s favorite scene since almost everyone already had the lines memorized.

And honestly? We delivered it perfectly. Stacy grinned proudly afterward.

“I told you both your chemistry is ridiculous.”

“Say that loud enough and someone might rip my ears off from jealousy,” Tyler teased dramatically.

My eyes instinctively flickered toward Cole, who had found a seat near the back of the hall, looking entirely too comfortable for someone who claimed theatre was torture.

“You wish,” I scoffed.

Stacy shot me a look that I deliberately ignored. This was enough publicity for one day already, right? I could easily put him out of his misery and ask him to leave.

Or…

Maybe I’d let him suffer a little longer.

“So it’s settled,” Stacy announced, handing me a fresh script. “You two are officially doing the play together.”

“Cool, but when exactly are we performing it?” Tyler asked.

I nodded. Valid question.

“Oh right, they haven’t announced it yet.” Stacy paused, a mischievous smile slowly spreading across her face. “Actually… you’ll find out soon enough.”

Then she walked away before either of us could question her further.

Tyler and I exchanged identical looks. What the hell does that mean? I hopped off the stage and headed toward my bag, which now sat suspiciously close to where Cole was seated. I definitely didn’t remember leaving it there. Before I could reach it, Alexa stepped into my path.

“Well, well,” she drawled. “I didn’t know private rehearsals were the newest dating spot.”

“What’s your problem now, Alexa?”

“Were you always waiting to dump Matty before jumping trains?”

“What’s it to you?” I shot back. “At least I’m not sleeping with someone else’s boyfriend.”

Her jaw tightened instantly. Alexa had never been particularly good at hiding her emotions. But then she smiled.

“Actually…” she tilted her head slightly, amused now. “Can you even prove you weren’t the cheating girlfriend?”

Knots twisted painfully in my stomach.

“Because honestly, who gets into another serious relationship barely a week after ending a one-year relationship?”

I clenched my fists tightly, refusing to let her see any reaction. Not here. Not in front of everyone watching.

“What?” I forced out. “Are you upset because you finally realized you simply took trash off my hands?”

Even I winced slightly at my own words. Matty hurt me deeply, but that didn’t mean I genuinely wanted to reduce him to trash.

Alexa folded her arms. “Is that what you tell yourself? Does it help you sleep at night?”

“What exactly do you mean?”

“Come on, Riley.” Her smile sharpened. “Everyone knows you never introduced Matty to your mom. Yet somehow, your new boyfriend already met her within days. Maybe Matty was never actually important to you.”

My grip tightened around the hem of my shirt. Matty had said something similar before. Did he tell her that? Or maybe… maybe I really wasn’t the victim the way I convinced myself I was. I looked around the hall. Everyone was staring. Did they all think the same thing? I took a small step back, and Alexa immediately noticed the c***k in my confidence.

“Exactly,” she said softly. “Even now, you’re only with Cole Donovan because you crave attention. You’ve always been like that.”

My heartbeat pounded loudly against my chest until it became the only thing I could hear.

Then suddenly, a hand wrapped firmly around my waist, pulling me against a solid chest.

“Got a problem with my girlfriend?”

I looked up sharply. Cole. His expression was cold enough to freeze the entire room. Alexa visibly lost confidence under his stare.

“And just for clarification,” Cole continued, glancing around at everyone watching, “I chased after her. Not the other way around.” Then his gaze landed back on Alexa. “And just because you’re a cheat doesn’t mean everyone else has to be one.”

Silence. Absolute silence. Then, without another word, he guided me out of the hall, his hand still firmly around my waist. He didn’t look at me. Didn’t say anything either.

And somehow… That almost confused me more. Was this still part of the act? Or underneath that robotic personality… Was there actually a human being hiding there after all?