There's something about walking into the cafeteria holding hands with someone you just agreed to fake date that makes time slow down… and speed up all at once.
Rae felt it — that collective shift in energy, the pause in conversations, the subtle gasps, and the unmistakable buzz of everyone noticing.
She and Milo walked side by side, not touching at first. But then, right before they stepped fully into the center of it all, she looped her hand through his arm like she'd done it a hundred times. Her pulse spiked, but she smiled like she wasn't even aware.
Milo? He played it cooler than a December breeze. Slight nods. Blank expression. But Rae saw it — the twitch of his mouth, like he was trying not to smirk.
They walked toward the usual lunch crowd. And the whispers started.
"Is that—?"
"Wait, Rae Morgan and him?"
"Did she lose a bet?"
"No, I heard they've been talking secretly for weeks."
"She dumped that college guy?"
"He's so not her type."
Rae pretended not to hear. She'd done this for years — turned off the noise. But high school noise was different. It was personal. It was sharp in ways scripts never prepared her for.
They sat at her usual table. Or well, she sat. Milo stood for a second too long, unsure if this was allowed. Rae tugged him down beside her.
That was when Jade Monroe strutted by, swinging her high ponytail like a weapon.
"Well, this is a plot twist," she said sweetly, eyes flicking between Rae and Milo. "Didn't know you were into the quiet type, Rae."
Rae blinked slowly. "Didn't know you were still talking to me, Jade."
"Oh honey," Jade grinned. "I always talk. It's what people do when they have a voice."
Rae was about to snap back when Lena slid into the seat across from her with a tray full of fries and suspicion.
"You're gonna have to explain everything," Lena said, pointing a fry at her. "Now."
Milo glanced at Rae. "Should I go?"
"No," Rae said quickly. "You stay. This is your show too."
"Oh," Milo muttered. "Yay."
Lena raised an eyebrow. "Wait. Are you two—?"
"We're trying something," Rae said vaguely, like she was half-joking, even though she was fully serious. Sort of.
Milo stayed quiet, but his fingers were fidgeting with the sleeve of his hoodie — a nervous habit Rae was already starting to pick up on.
Lena leaned in. "Girl. What are you doing?"
"I needed… a change. Something real. And Milo's cool." Rae shrugged. "So we're trying."
Lena looked at Milo. "You're cool?"
"I guess," he said flatly.
Rae kicked him lightly under the table. "He's very cool."
"Wow," Lena said, narrowing her eyes. "This feels like one of your monologues."
"Would I lie to you?" Rae asked.
"Only if you were contractually obligated."
Rae rolled her eyes, but Lena wasn't totally wrong. The truth was, even Rae wasn't sure where the act ended and her actual feelings began. It wasn't like she liked Milo… right? She just liked how easy it was to be around him. The way he didn't try too hard. The way he actually listened.
She glanced at him. He was doodling on a napkin, tuning everything out.
She leaned closer. "What are you drawing?"
"Nothing," he said quickly, folding it and shoving it into his hoodie pocket.
Rae smirked. "Secrets already?"
Milo looked up, finally meeting her eyes. "Just trying to stay mysterious."
Across the cafeteria, Jade leaned against the soda machine like she was posing for a magazine cover. She had her phone out and was clearly texting — Rae was willing to bet it was about them.
Milo finally spoke up. "So… I guess we're officially unofficial."
"Basically," Rae said.
The lunch bell rang too soon, slicing the moment in half.
As they stood to leave, Rae grabbed Milo's arm again. "Walk me to class?"
"Sure," he said, adjusting the strap of his backpack.
As they moved through the crowd, Rae heard someone say, "This is so fake."
And maybe it was.
But the way Milo held the door open for her, and the way their eyes met for just a beat too long — it made her wonder if maybe… just maybe… it could become something else.
They stepped into the hallway, the noise from the cafeteria fading behind them. Milo kept his gaze forward, but Rae noticed the small smile tugging at his lips.
"You okay?" she asked.
"I've just never had this many people look at me," he said.
"Welcome to my world," she replied softly.
He glanced at her. "How do you deal with it?"
"Sometimes I don't," she admitted. "Sometimes I pretend I'm playing a part. Sometimes I wish I could disappear."
They walked in silence for a few beats before Milo said, "You're a better actor than I thought."
"Flattery?" she teased.
"Observation," he said. "You smile like you mean it. Even when you don't."
Rae stopped at her locker and turned to face him. "That's either really sweet or really depressing."
"I meant it as a compliment."
"Then… thank you."
He hesitated, then pulled the napkin from his pocket and handed it to her. "For real this time."
She opened it — a simple, clean sketch of two figures walking side by side through a storm of camera flashes and scribbled rumors. One had a high ponytail. The other had a hoodie and his head down.
"Is this us?" she asked, her voice softer.
Milo shrugged. "Guess I was inspired."
Rae folded it carefully and slipped it into her notebook. "Keep drawing me like this, and I might start to believe I'm cool."
"You already are," he said before walking away.
Rae stood there a moment longer, heart doing that weird fluttery thing again.
Fake dating. Totally fake.
So why did her cheeks feel warm?