CAMPUS HEARTS

CHAPTER 5

"Dad, meet my girlfriend, Katherine Jones."

The hallway fell silent. Like completely silent, I could hear my heartbeat, and I wondered if they could all hear it too.

His dad looked shocked. I looked shocked. It was a very shocking moment. Why did I always end up eavesdropping on things I wasn't supposed to hear? Like, why was I here again ?

"Your girlfriend?" his dad asked unbelievably, he even added a little chuckle.

"Yes," Charles replied confidently. "she is my girlfriend."

His father looked between us before smiling slightly. "Alright. Katherine, I hope my son isn't forcing you into this or paying you to pretend to be his girlfriend. I hope it is real."

"It's real, Dad," Charles said immediately.

"Let the girl speak, Charles." his dad retorted with a little frown.

I swallowed nervously, my heart was so loud. "Y-Yeah," I said. "It's real." The lie tasted strange coming out of my mouth. But first a reason unknown zone me, I couldn't bring myself to say the truth.

His dad nodded. "Well then, it's nice to finally meet you. I'm Diego Martinez." He held out his hand, and I shook it nervously. "I'd like to invite both of you to dinner on Monday night. It would be a Family dinner."

"We'll be there," Charles answered before I could say anything.

Diego smiled. "Good. I'll see you both then." He looked at us for a moment again, then he walked away, leaving Charles and me alone.

The second he was gone, I stepped away from Charles and crossed my arms. "Are you crazy?" I demanded. "I already told you I'm not going to be your fake girlfriend." The word spilled out of my mouth in venom.

His expression barely changed. "I heard you before."

"Then why did you just tell your dad that I'm your girlfriend?" Was this guy okay ?

"Because you still haven't given me a real reason for saying no." he stated with that same smug look.

I stared at him. "Seriously?"

"Seriously."

I threw my hands up. You've got to be kidding me. "There are hundreds of girls on this campus. Half of them would probably say yes before you even finished asking. Why me?"

For a moment, he said nothing. Then he shrugged. "Because this arrangement benefits both of us. What's your deal ?"

"My deal is that I don't want to be your fake girlfriend." I yelled at him and then pointed at him. "And besides, Professor Shane already gave me an opportunity involving Rachel Forbes, so I don't need your help."

For the first time, he laughed. A deep laugh. Unfortunately, it sounded way too good. It was hot. Which was exactly why I wanted nothing to do with him.

"I guess Professor Shane didn't explain everything, or her friend didn't tell her everything." he stated still laughing and shaking his head.

I frowned. "What does that mean?"

His smirk returned. "Rachel Forbes is hosting a design 'competition'."

My stomach dropped. "What?"

"The winner gets to design the dress. You weren't 'chosen' to make the dress" he shaked his head again.

I blinked. "What?"

"What you did yesterday was register for the competition." My excitement from the previous day instantly deflated. He just ruined it under minutes. I had thought Rachel Forbes personally wanted me. Apparently not.

Charles shoved his hands into his pockets. "And there's no guarantee you'll even win."

I glared at him. "Thank you for crushing my dreams."

"But..." he continued.

I narrowed my eyes at him. "But what?"

His grin widened. "Rachel Forbes is my cousin."

I stared at him unbelievably. "Your cousin?"

He nodded. "You can look it up if you don't believe me." he rolled his eyes.

I stared at him before I immediately pulled out my phone. A quick search later, I wished I hadn't. He was telling the truth. Rachel Forbes was actually his cousin. When I looked back up, he wore the most annoying expression of victory I'd ever seen.

"And if my dad believes we're dating," he continued, "I can also show him your designs. He owns one of the biggest fashion companies in the country. You can get an internship from there."

I hated how tempting the offer sounded. I needed opportunities. I needed connections. And most importantly, I needed money.

Still...

I also needed to protect myself and, Charles Martinez looked exactly like the type of guy capable of breaking hearts without even trying. The guy practically came with a warning label. I folded my arms. "If I agree, this is completely fake."

"Sure."

"No feelings."

"Fine."

"No funny business."

His lips twitched. "Alright."

"And you are absolutely not allowed to make me fall for you." That was the most important rule to me, and I had to make sure that I got it across to him.

Charles looked amused. "Of course."

I studied him carefully. Maybe this could work. Maybe. After all, it was fake. There was no reason for anyone to catch feelings. Especially not me. Finally, I sighed. "Fine I guess."

His eyebrows rose. "Fine?"

"Yah maybe ? But you must, I repeat again, must not do anything to charm me."

A slow smile spread across his face, then a grin spread across his face replacing the smile. "That sounds more like a challenge than a rule."

"It's not."

"Whatever you say, darling." My stomach did something stupid at the nickname.

I hated that. I hated him. Okay, maybe not hated, But close enough.

He took a step toward me. I should have moved back. I didn't. He too didn't stop until he was completely close to me. He wrapped his hands around my waist.

His eyes dropped briefly to my lips before returning back to mine. "Those gray eyes," he murmured.

My breath caught, What was he doing ? "Charles—"

"And those lips."

My heart immediately started betraying me. "Charles."

"They look dangerously kissable." Heat rushed to my cheeks. He smiled. A slow, confident smile. The kind that should honestly be illegal. "Good thing this relationship is fake," he said softly and calmly.

I swallowed. "Why?" Right now my heart was no longer in my chest again.

"Because otherwise I'd be in serious trouble." His voice had dropped lower. Very low.

My pulse was pounding. His hand brushed against my waist. Barely touching. Yet somehow I felt it everywhere. My body was on fire. His touch mixed with his hot breath fanning my face made it impossible for me to concentrate. I was in a daze.

But still, I should have walked away. I should have told him he was impossible. I should have reminded myself that this was a business arrangement. Instead, I stared into his eyes. And made a terrible decision.

I kissed him.