Playing Fake With Kade Black

~Sora I’ve been staring at my best friend, Cameron, since the second he walked into the cafeteria. “If you keep gawking like that,” Sandy mutters beside me, “a fly’s going to move into your mouth and start paying rent.” I snap my gaping mouth shut and throw a fry at her. “Shut up.” Sandy shamelessly picks the fry off the table and pops it into her mouth. “So,” she says around the bite, “when are you going to tell him about your feelings?” Yeah… my secret. Except it’s not really a secret when everyone on campus seems to know about it. Everyone except—ding ding ding—Cameron. I can’t even remember when it happened. When I stopped seeing him as my gross best friend and started feeling… whatever this is. All I know is that it’s been wringing around my throat for years, choking me to the point of no return. “There’s nothing to tell,” I mumble. “He has a girlfriend. Remember?” As if summoned by the universe itself, Cameron walks over. He pulls out a chair for his ever-elegant girlfriend, Daisy, before dragging another one beside me and dropping into it like he owns the place. “Who has a girlfriend?” he asks, already stealing a sip of my smoothie. I wrinkle my nose in disgust, like my heart isn’t currently doing Olympic-level gymnastics over our accidental indirect kiss. “I asked a question.” He snaps his fingers in front of us. Sandy and I exchange a look. Unfortunately, my brain has chosen this exact moment to stop producing lies. “I was trying to set Sora up with Chris from Marketing,” Sandy lies smoothly. “But he has a girlfriend.” Queen Daisy chooses that exact moment to chirp into our conversation. “Chris? As in Chris Donovan?” she says, barely looking up from her phone. “You think Chris would want to date Sora? Puh-lease.” She giggles to herself and goes right back to staring at her screen. I shoot Cameron a glare. It’s no secret that I hate her. It’s even less of a secret that Daisy made my life miserable all through high school. Christ, I wouldn’t even be mad if he dated another girl. Any girl. Just not her. “What makes you think he wouldn’t date me, Daisy?” I ask, deliberately poking the bear. I want her to show that side of herself again. The one Cameron swears she’s changed. Daisy finally looks up at me, her expression bored. “No offense,” she says, which obviously means offense intended, “but you’re kind of… boring. Your idea of fun is eating Cheetos and playing video games.” She shrugs lightly. “No guy wants to date their bro. Even if the girl happens to be pretty.” A low laugh sounds beside me. For a second, I hope I’m losing my mind and Cameron isn’t actually laughing. But he is. “Daisy’s not wrong,” he says with a grin, leaning back in his chair. “You basically are one of the guys.” My chest starts pounding so loudly I can hear it in my ears. All these years, and that’s what he sees me as? One of the guys. A guy with t**s. I want to smack him across the face, but I force out a scoff like it doesn’t bother me. “Wow,” I mutter. “Love the support, Cam.” Daisy giggles softly beside him, clearly pleased with both his response and herself. Cameron just nudges my shoulder like he didn’t casually puncture my ego. “Relax, Ro,” he says, my smoothie still in his hand. “You know we’re just joking.” Yeah... Joking at my expense. Real bestfriend-y. “Actually,” Cameron says suddenly, “I don’t think Sora’s ready to date. She’s got a lot to take care of. Men should be the last thing on her mind.” My jaw drops onto the table. What? Daisy’s venom is clearly dripping into him with every kiss and other bodily fluids I'd rather not think about, they share. I don’t have “a lot” to take care of. Sure, I’m not the richest girl on the block, but I’m not broke either. I’ve saved a lot since I started working part-time as a manager. Living with Cameron helps me cut down on expenses, like rent. I freaking pay for our groceries. He’s being a jerk, and I can’t bear to sit here any longer. I grab my bag before my face gives away the anger bubbling inside and mutter something embarrassing. “Where are you going?” Cameron asks. I exchange a look with Sandy, who’s somehow stayed silent through the whole disaster. She stands too. “We have work at the studio,” I lie. “Yeah… won’t take long though,” Sandy adds smoothly. “You handled that… well, as well as anyone could,” Sandy notes the second we’re out of the cafeteria. I groan. “You call that handled? I wanted to shove that smoothie down his throat.” She crosses her arms over my shoulders, patting them lightly. “There, there. Your little crush thinks you’re a guy. Big deal. Maybe change your style a little?” I brush her hands off and shoot her a death glare as we weave through the crowd. “Not happening. I’m not changing myself for anyone.” Sandy claps dramatically, her face twisting into fake glee as we step out of the school building. “Well said. But, uh… remember? Cam only thinks you’re cool because he’s not attracted to you. So maybe, before closing off the dating pool, give other men a chance?” “You know I’ve tried already. They all feel so shallow compared to Cam.” I did try dating as soon as we got into college. It was messy. The guy was clingy and needy, couldn’t tell when to give me space and when to smother me. Twenty disastrous dates later—not actual relationships—I accepted the truth: my soulmate is Cameron. My phone buzzes in my back pocket. I dig it out, holding up a finger to excuse myself. “Hello?” The line on the other end stays silent, forcing me to call out again. “Is this Sora Raine?” A deep, groggy voice. I’m usually not one to swoon over voices, but when he says my name, my knees nearly buckle. I pull the phone away from my ear, squinting at the screen. Just my luck, work phone. My voice hardens. “Yes, it is. How may I help you?” “Great,” he says. “I was told we’d be working together once I’m back in town.” I clear my throat, keeping my tone neutral. “Yes, that’s correct. As the manager on this end, I’ll need details about your schedule and any brands you'd love to work with, all before tomorrow's meeting.” A pause. “Tomorrow’s meeting,” he echoes. “I’ll send over the files tonight so you can review before then.” “Understood,” I reply smoothly, jotting down a mental note to check my inbox. “Is there anything else I should prepare in advance?” “Not at this time. I’ll touch base once I land.” I nod, even though he can’t see it. “Very well. I’ll be ready.” We hang up, and I stare at the phone for a moment, heart still racing. There’s something unnervingly familiar about that voice… but I can’t put my finger on it. Like Cam says, this isn't the time to focus on men. I shake my head and slide the phone back into my pocket. “Who was that?” Sandy nudges me. I’d forgotten we even left the cafeteria together. “A new client,” I reply, keeping my voice steady. “Can you handle his paperwork for me once he emails over the documents?” The last thing I need is to put a face to the voice that’s still ringing in my head. “Sure thing. But are you okay? You seem a bit… shaken up.” Do I? I chuckle, waving off her concern. “I’m fine. Can we head over to the studio now? Apparently, we have actual work to do.” We step into the studio. Sandy keeps chattering about finding a new space, but I tune her out, as usual. My phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull it out automatically. A new text. From Cameron. I drop everything on the table before even reading it. Cameron: Soy, this is Code Grey. I repeat, Code Grey! I blink at the screen, heart thudding. We have codes for everything. Instead of the usual Code Red for danger, we use Code Grey. I glance at Sandy, my eyes apologetic. She raises an eyebrow, already smirking. “Go on,” she nudges. “Save your baby boy from the clutches of that witch.” I smile at her, muttering a quick thanks, and dash out the door, fingers flying over the keyboard. What’s wrong?