The Truth About Faking

seat.
    “Come on! Come on! Come on!” she’s saying with each bounce. “We’ve got to get to school so I can see Jason!”
    Everyone’s bursting to see someone today, and I feel like I’m on a completely different planet. Shelly’s gushing in particular makes me second-guess myself, so I tighten my smile and force my brain to think lavender thoughts. I remember Trent’s perfect teeth, his pretty eyes. I imagine pressing my lips to his, his warm breath soft on my cheek… Yep. That helps.
    Thankfully, we beat Jason to school, but when I look around, it appears we’ve beaten everyone else as well.
    “Looks like we’re the first ones here,” I mutter.
    “No worries!” Shelly sings. “They’ll be here soon enough. We can wait.”
    I sit back in the passenger’s seat as she blares her music. It’s some dance song and she’s wiggling around to it.
    “Did you call Jason?”
    “Yep!”
    “And?”
    “And he is soo hot.”
    “You’ve said that like a million times. Can you find a new word?”
    “Harley.” She stops bouncing and turns to me, concern on her face. “Will it bother you if I go out with Jason?”
    “No,” I say firmly. To both of us.
    “Good!” she squeals, dancing again.
    “Not that it would matter anyway.”
    “Oh, that’s not true!” She pretend-pouts. “I’d feel bad every time I saw you.”
    I narrow my eyes at her but decide not to comment.
    The song ends, and I choose to tell her my big news instead. “I’m thinking about asking Trent out today.”
    “No. Way.”
    “Yep. I’ll give him one last chance after second period, and if he doesn’t do it, I will.”
    “That’s it! Assertiveness, Break the Cycle!” She smiles. “You’re such a good little student.”
    “I was starting to think you’d forgotten about that.”
    She grabs my arm. “Here he is!”
    I look up just in time to see Jason arriving in a newish-looking Passat. I knew it! Shelly takes a quick glance at herself in the mirror as I watch Jason park and get out of his super-nice car. In no time, she’s at his side. I move a little slower and then hang back, feeling irritated with him. Yes, irritation! That’s what I feel for Jason, I decide.
    “Hey, Jason,” I hear Shelly purr.
    “Hey, Shell,” he says. He glances in my direction. “H.D.”
    “Hey, Jas.” That tightness in my stomach is me being angry with him. That’s all it is.
    “So where’s that cute little monster mobile? Did you wash it?” Shelly teases.
    “Nope. Got it in the shop,” he says. “It’s getting a new coat of paint and some… adjustments.”
    I haven’t moved from beside Shelly’s car, where I’m focusing on being irritated. But despite my best efforts, the sight of my best friend pressing her body against my ex-boyfriend makes my chest hurt.
    Fake! Fake ex-boyfriend. Fake ex-date. We only went out twice and it was all for show. Gah!
    “Hey, Harley,” I hear a softer voice to my right and look around. I start to breathe again.
    “Hey, Trent.” I say, smiling. He smiles back, and even though his sweet smile doesn’t completely get rid of the sting I feel seeing Jason with Shelly, I do feel a little surge of anticipation. Once I’m Trent’s girlfriend, all of this Jason-confusion will be a distant memory, and nothing, not even my mom and silly Ricky will get me down. Cue the happily ever after music.
    “So you and Jason?” he starts.
    “Yeah,” I say.
    “Was it the thing from yesterday? Your argument?”
    I shrug. “I guess.”
    We start walking together toward the building again, and I notice he doesn’t seem as sad today. He actually seems a little happy. I was right! He wanted to ask me out, and the whole fake-dating thing worked! I’m a genius!
    We continue walking in silence, and I notice he’s humming a little tune. It sounds familiar, and I imagine us holding hands and smile. Soon I’ll be the one gazing up at him blissfully.
    “So I guess I’ll see you after algebra?” I hope knowing that we’ll see each other again so soon will give him plenty of time to start planning how he’ll ask me out.
    “Right!” he smiles. His lavender-blue eyes are so bright now. Hooray for love!
    “And I just… I don’t know what I’m doing this weekend.” Did I actually just say that?
    “This weekend.” Trent grins and looks away. “Well, I’d better get to class.”
    “OK. See you in a few hours!”
    “Yep.”
    Now I’m feeling a little bouncy, too. Everything is back on track. I’m