The Truth About Faking

the refrigerator and hands him a bottle of water. I smile. My future husband is always so polite.
    “You want something, Harley?” Ricky asks as if it’s his house or something.
    “No,” I say, and quickly add, “Thanks.” Trent continues to stand by Ricky, and I start to wonder if I should suggest we leave when Ms. Jackson returns.
    “Harley, that’s the prettiest dress!” she says.
    Trent looks up and smiles at me. “Yeah, it is.”
    “Thanks,” I smile.
    Ms. Jackson continues. “You can tell your mom her replacement is working out fabulously.”
    “Sure,” I say. “She’ll be happy you’re happy.”
    “This one does amazing things with his hands,” she purrs, running a finger up Ricky’s toned arm.
    Ew! I look at Ricky, dressed in black pants and a tank top that puts his hairless, muscular bod on full display. I feel bad for Trent. I know that kind of stuff embarrasses me, but he doesn’t seem to mind. Maybe he feels like Ricky’d be okay to have around or something, like a big-brother type.
    “You ready to go?” I ask.
    He glances at Ricky’s face and then turns to me.
    “Yep,” he says, and I’m glad he’s finally moving in my direction.
     “See ya, Ricky,” I say, feeling a little more generous toward my mom’s former stalker. I can deal with Ricky if he helps Trent out. Maybe keeps Ms. Jackson from searching his room all the time.
    He smiles after us. “Have fun.”
    We walk out to the Denali, but suddenly Trent jumps back.
    “I forgot my phone,” he says. “Get in—I’ll be right back.”
    I close my door and wait. I’m not even sure where we’re going tonight, and despite it all, I can’t keep my mind from drifting over to Jason. He always seems to have everything planned out when we’re together. I smile, but then I stop and shake my head. That’s not right. He just says a bunch of stuff, and then I have to make the final decision. Still… I wonder what he’s doing right now.
    Oh, right. Watching Shelly cheer at the game in her short cheerleader skirt and non-boy-cut sport briefs. I bite my lip. Will that tempt my fake ex-boyfriend? Ugh! I do not care! Jason can do what he wants.
    Just then Trent opens the door and gets in. He seems unusually excited, and I’m encouraged. Maybe tonight will be special.
    “I got us tickets to Brown Bagging It !” he announces.
    Brown Bagging It ? What? “Another movie?”
    I can’t hide my disappointment. I was hoping for dinner or even a walk in the park. The Shadow Freeze would at least give us a chance to talk, gaze into each others’ eyes.
    “I remembered you said comedies were your favorite,” he says.
    “That was Shelly.”
    “It was?” he frowns.
    “I thought we might do something… where we could talk or something.”
    “But I already bought the tickets online.”
    “Oh,” I look down. “Well, that’s okay. I like movies, I guess.”
    I’m so frustrated. We arrive at the theater and Trent stops at the counter to purchase the biggest bucket of popcorn available. It is literally the size of an infant, and after we find our seats, he puts it right between us. No chance of us holding hands with the baby in the way.
    I look straight ahead and watch the dumb actors say their dumb lines. And the whole time I keep noticing a light flicker as Trent checks his phone on the other side of his leg. I guess he thinks he’s being slick hiding it down by his thigh like that, but it’s like a spotlight in here. Who is he texting on our date again?
    The movie finally ends and we walk outside. I don’t even bother trying to discuss the film, since he obviously didn’t watch any of it. We get in Mom’s car, and I’m ready to take him home.
     “Are you tired?” he asks.
    “I don’t know,” I say.
    “Well, maybe we should call it a night then. Don’t want to wear you out.”
    “But we haven’t really done anything.”
    “Well, and Mom might need me to drive her somewhere. Or something.”
    Seriously? I frown. Where is Ms. Jackson going at this time of night? Trent is majorly testing my understanding nature. How can he go from acting so into me at school to completely spacing out on our dates? We can actually do something now. It makes no sense.
    Am I more attractive under fluorescent lighting? Is it possible he thinks I’m still into Jason? That’s ridiculous. Right? Maybe being more open with my thoughts will encourage him, break the cycle-style. Like Shelly said.
    “I was really happy you asked me out