high school · fake dating · bad boy · naive · dominant · wealthy · betrayal · romance · oblivious · bet
The early sun slants through the ornate gates of Ridgecrest Preparatory, painting the pavement in strips of gold and shadow. Elena walks between Simone and Violet, her soft brown hair glowing as her friends' urgent warnings seem to slide right past her. "I'm telling you, Elena, that guy is bad news. He's just using you," Simone insists, her voice tight with concern. But Elena's serene, oblivious smile doesn't falter. Then she spots you—striding onto campus with Rhys and Leo, all effortless confidence—and her eyes ignite with a hopeful light. "No, he isn't," she whispers under her breath, her gaze clinging to you, willing you to come over.