Rae spotted him the next day in the quad during lunch, sitting under that same tree he always sat beneath, headphones in, head down, sketchbook resting on his knee. He looked so focused—so annoyingly detached from everything around him—that for a second she almost chickened out.
But Rae Morgan didn't chicken out. Not on camera. And definitely not in real life.
She straightened her back, smoothed down the front of her cropped sweater, and strode over with the practiced confidence of someone who had been walking into auditions since she was five.
"Milo Reyes," she said, stopping just in front of him.
He didn't look up. "That's me."
"Can I sit?"
"No one's stopping you."
She sat anyway.
Milo finally lifted his head, pulling one earbud out. His brown eyes studied her like she was a puzzle. Or maybe a pop quiz he hadn't studied for.
"You're Rae Morgan."
"And you're observant."
He cracked a faint smile. "This is gonna be good."
Rae crossed her arms. "I have a proposition."
"I don't do homework trades. Or fan meet-and-greets."
"I'm serious," she said, trying not to roll her eyes. "I need your help… pretending to date me."
His smirk faltered. "What?"
"Just pretend. Publicly. For a while. Long enough to squash some rumors and give my agent a reason to stop sending me to image rehab PR brunches."
Milo blinked. "This isn't a joke?"
"Nope."
He scoffed. "You want me—me—to be your fake boyfriend? There's, like, a hundred guys in this school who'd volunteer before I finish this sentence."
"Exactly. But none of them would say no. That's why I picked you."
He stared at her for a beat too long. "That's kind of insulting."
She smiled. "I mean it in a good way."
"Uh-huh."
"I'll pay you. Not from my own pocket—my agent's. Vivienne. She's the one who wants this. Thinks a wholesome romance will 'humanize' me. Her words, not mine."
He raised an eyebrow. "So you're asking me to sell my soul for a check?"
"It's not your soul, Milo. Just your time. Appearances. A few posed photos. Maybe a fake promposal if things really pick up."
He hesitated, and for a moment, Rae wondered if she'd pushed it too far. But then he looked away, gaze tightening just slightly, jaw clenched.
"How much?"
"Vivienne's thinking around $1,000 a month," Rae said carefully. "If it goes longer, we can renegotiate."
Milo went quiet. His fingers twitched around his pencil. She couldn't read the expression on his face now—something like annoyance layered with surprise, maybe even… guilt?
"I'll think about it."
Rae tilted her head. "You're not tempted?"
He looked her dead in the eyes. "You don't know what I'm tempted by."
She didn't push it. Just stood, brushing imaginary lint off her jeans.
"Think fast," she said. "Vivienne moves fast when she smells opportunity."
As she walked away, Milo stared after her, his pencil still frozen on the page. He flipped it closed without finishing the sketch.
---
Lena caught up with Rae by her locker later, talking way too fast about a math quiz and how she knew Mrs. Jensen had it out for her.
"…so I just guessed B on all the last four questions and—why are you spacing out?"
Rae blinked. "What? I'm not."
Lena narrowed her eyes. "You're doing that thing where you go all method actress in your head."
"I'm not method acting. I'm… contemplating."
"That's worse."
Rae sighed. "I might've done something."
Lena leaned against the locker next to hers. "Did it involve Grayson? Or possibly keying Madison Clare's car? Because I've been waiting for someone to—"
"No. Worse. I asked Milo Reyes to be my fake boyfriend."
Lena's jaw dropped. "Milo? As in—sketches-people-from-a-distance Milo?"
Rae nodded, lips pursed.
"You okay? Blink twice if you're being blackmailed."
"I'm not! It's just… Vivienne thinks it's a good move. I'm sick of the rumors and the questions and—"
"And you think this'll help?"
"Don't start."
Lena raised both hands. "I'm just saying, this is either going to be genius… or a complete disaster."
"Or both," Rae muttered.
"Honestly? Both is kind of your brand."
Rae shot her a look. Lena grinned unapologetically and added, "Just don't fall for him. I've read this book."
"I'm not falling for him. It's fake."
"That's exactly what the girl always says."
---
Across the courtyard, Milo had just broken the news to Grayson, who was laughing like it was the best thing he'd heard all month.
"You? Fake dating Rae Morgan? That's hilarious."
Milo scowled. "I didn't say yes. Yet."
Grayson bumped his shoulder. "Dude. Say yes. She's gorgeous. You'll be famous. And rich."
"That's not why I'd do it."
Grayson raised an eyebrow. "Then why?"
Milo paused. Then said, low, "The money would help. For something."
Grayson didn't press, which Milo appreciated. Instead, he grinned. "You know what the real twist would be? If you actually fell for her."
Milo scoffed. "Not happening."
"Why not?"
Milo hesitated. "Because you like her."
Grayson blinked. Then laughed again. "Dude! Every guy likes her. I don't love her enough to date her."
"You'd date her if she asked."
Grayson shrugged. "Sure, but that's like saying I'd move to Paris if I could afford it. Doesn't mean I'm packing bags. And besides… if you like her, I'm not in your way."
"I don't like her."
"Yet."
Milo looked away, jaw tense. "She's not what I expected."
"That's the most dangerous kind."
---
By the end of the day, Rae was waiting near Milo's locker, twirling one of her rings nervously. She hated how antsy she felt—like she was waiting for a casting call.
He approached casually, as if this wasn't about to change both their lives for the next few months.
"So?" she asked.
"I'm in," he said.
She blinked. "You are?"
"You owe me a coffee for agreeing to this chaos, though."
"Deal."
They stood there for a moment, unsure what came next. It was weird how quiet the hallway felt. Like even the school itself was holding its breath.
Then Rae stuck out her hand.
"Partners?"
Milo smirked. "You're gonna regret this."
They shook hands.
And somewhere in the invisible space between them, the contract—unspoken but understood—began.