Chapter 5

LILA

It surprised me that he was still here. I thought that Ryder would vanish back into the night after what had happened upstairs—after seeing me almost naked.

But no, he was there when I walked into my room and I almost passed out in shock.

He was wearing the hoodie now and was leaning against the wall, just behind the door. His arms folded and his lips stretched into a stupid smirk, he blinked lazily as his eyes focused on me.

I swallowed hard as he shut the door himself.

"I would scream." I said.

He didn't even move from that position. "You won't."

God, his confident tone annoyed me.

"Look, let's just say it was something that just happened…."

"Like a mistake?" He completes and blinked.

God, he had long lashes.

"No… whatever but it won't happen ever again."

" It's unfortunate." He moved closer after pushing off the wall. "Because I really had a proposal when I came here. And who knows, it might happen again. If the moon goddess wills."

I blinked. "The moon what?" I stuttered in disbelief.

"I said I have a proposal."

I furrowed my brow.

"A proposal? What do you mean by that? Does it include kissing every girl you meet and then making offers to them?"

His laughter was loud and tickled my skin.

"Look at those lovely eyes, sending sparks when you are angry."

I rolled my eyes. "Ryder, go straight to the point and leave my room."

He wandered around my room as if he was bored, looking at my mirror, my books and even the small artificial plant by the window. Then he turned his playfulness gone. "A rumor is circulating," he stated. "Concerning us."

I felt uneasy. What sort of rumor?. My eyes met his.

He paused and said those words like they were the best thing that had happened since sliced bread.

"They said we are dating."

I blinked rapidly and almost choked on my words.

"What!."

"Yes. Apparently last week after school someone caught us talking. Then they saw us at 'The Kingmakers' birthday. Huge scandal." he stated sardonically.

What I was hearing was totally unbelievable.

"You told them that we kissed?" I asked in horror.

"I said a rumor."

Not wanting to freak out, I said slowly .

"So now girls hates me?"

Sharp and amused he laughed. "No, they are freaking mad at you. Some of the so-called Queen Bees are already discussing boycotting you. Basically social suicide."

I swallowed forcefully. "That's crazy."

I looked at him and frowned. It was all my fault, I shouldn't have gotten closer to

He shrugged . "Welcome to high school. . This is where things start to get interesting though."

I squinted my eyes. "There is more?"

He moved closer after nodding. "Madison and Caleb are still together."

At the sound of their names my throat became dry. I tried to sound unconcerned as I asked "And?"

"And, they don't seem to be breaking up soon. They even got a ship name #MadiLeb." Ryder said slowly and my cheeks turned to ash. " Everybody in the school is aware. He told everyone you are not his type."

My arms were crossed but I knew he was saying the truth.

"What's your point then?"

Ryder's eyes were bright. "Let's give them a topic of conversation."

I blinked. "What?"

He grinned. "Be my girlfriend!. Obviously it's a fake. We pretend to be a couple. Hold hands in the corridor, go for lunch together. Make sure Caleb goes completely crazy. Else, you won't have a peaceful high school year because everyone is starting to hate you."

I gazed at him stunned.

"This is unbelievable. You must be joking."

"Believes what your tiny mind says but I'm serious." He picked my diary and fortunately I was quick to snatch it from him. "It benefits both parties. I remove the envious girls from your life. You exact revenge on Caleb. And then I polish my appearance for the school board."

"Ah. There it is. Your reputation is the reason you're doing this." I stated bluntly.

"Well, I'm not exactly doing charity work." He remarked as he relaxed like a king, his feet still in his boots as he crossed his legs on my perfectly made bed.

"The thing is that I will be kicked off the hockey team if I get into another fight or am discovered breaking into another girls room and Coach told me I had to show up some maturity." He shrugged. "The MostHighs is in a month."

I frowned." What's that?"

"The biggest annual hockey competition. I don't want to be kicked out of the hockey team."

I raised an eyebrow and said .

"And acting like you're dating me helps with that."

He gave a cute smile. "You have the vibe of a nerdy good girl. Teachers adore you. You're loved by the principal. You're all so perfect."

I looked into his eyes. "You are annoying."

"And you will be my girlfriend."

I took a while to respond. But he was correct. There may have been a slightly insane part of me that wanted Caleb to see me with Ryder. I wanted him to writhe. And damn Madison, I want her lip gloss choked her.

"Oh I see."

But maybe, I wanted to stop moving through the corridors like a ghost while everyone was whispering behind my back.

"I don't trust you." I eventually said .

His gaze was fixed on mine as he leaned forward. "Perfect. That increases the vibes of it all."

I was hesitant. "And when is this all over?"

He gave a shrug in response.

"We resume acting as though we don't exist. No conditions. Keep things tidy."

As I thought about it, I bit my lip. I remembered when I was crying itwo weeks ago because my boyfriend had broken up with me and now the most popular—and dangerous—guy in school was now sitting on my bed wanting to assist him in upending the entire social hierarchy.

Ryder Black and fake dating? It sounded like a recipe for trouble. It sounded however like the start of something Madison and Caleb would never anticipate.

I started to say something in response but then someone came up the stairs and knocked on my door. Both of us froze.

Slowly Ryder got to his feet looking toward the door.

"You expecting someone?"

I shook my head slowly. There was another knock. Next came a voice.

" Are you in there Lila?"

That was Caleb's voice. It made my heart leap. Why in the world was he here? Ryder came to my window and his smirk reappeared.

It seems that the show is about to begin

"See you tomorrow at school, girlfriend." He winked.

Then he disappeared like a ghost sneaking out the window, leaving me with an unmade choice.

"I didn't say I was your girlfriend." I said moving

to the window but he was gone or it seems so because there on beside the tree were a peer of yellow eyes staring back at me then it ran off and then I heard a howl.