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As she tried to walk away from him in the most of everyone in the hallway, he grabs her wrist, his finger wrapping around it like a vice as he pulled her close to his body. "I don't know if this is real or fake," he said, his piercing blue aquamarine blue eyes peering down at her small lips. "But I think I'm really in love with you." Lily Hales, a driven and ambitious high school student, enlists the help of charismatic outsider, Killian Henderson, to pretend to be her boyfriend. As they navigate the complexities of fake dating, they must confront their own insecurities, rivalries, and budding feelings amidst the drama-filled halls of their high school. But when their ruse is threatened with exposure, they must decide whether to confess their true emotions or risk losing everything they've built together.
Lily trudged through the crowded hallway, her eyes fixed on the floor to avoid the curious glances of her classmates. It was only the second week of senior year, and already the questions had started.
"Hey, Lil, who's your date for the Fall Fling?" her friend Emily asked, nudging her playfully.
Lily shrugged, feeling a familiar knot of anxiety in her stomach. She had no idea who she was going to take to the dance, or if anyone would even ask her despite being the daughter of a wealthy family or maybe was it because of her nerdiness to everyone. Her glittering silky short gown hung below her knees, each stride she took, with elegance and eludes wealth.
That's when she spotted him - Killian, the calm unknown guy who works his ass off to get money for feeding himself and his single mom, facing the counter with a glass cup of plum wine. They had never really talked before, but Lily had heard rumors about his charm and good looks.
On a whim, she approached him. "Hey, Killian? Can I talk to you for a minute?"
He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sure thing, Lil. What's up?"
Lily took a deep breath. "I need a favor. I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend for the rest of the school year."
Killian's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. "What? Why?." Deep down he wanted to scream out of excitement. The hottest wealthy girl in school wants to hire him as a boyfriend? Luck do comes with him.
Lily hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Killian's warm eyes put her at ease. "I just need someone to make my life easier, okay? And I'll make it worth your while."
Killian's grin returned, and he held out his hand. "Till the end of this year then?"
She looked down at his veiny hands. "Deal?." She shook his hands.
"Deal." He smiled. "I'm Killian Henderson." He introduced.
Lily Hales smiled ear to ear as she shook hands with Killian. The handshake lasted longer than expected until Emily interrupted with a fake cough, and they withdrew their hands.
"What's happening here?" Emily asked, eyeing Killian, who looked nervous and unable to find the right words.
"Emily, you're interrupting a moment with my boyfriend," Lily said, her hands quickly grasping Killian's as she dragged him onto the dance floor.
As they reached the dancefloor, rented by the hip-hop music, Lily asked, "Why aren't you dancing?."
"Because I can't dance to hip-hop Killian admitted.
"What can you dance to?"
"A slow music."
Just then, Lily excused herself and left the dancefloor, leaving her fake boyfriend stand alone. Abruptly, the hip-hop music changed to "Dandelions" by Ruth B.
Killian was surprised. She went to change the music just to fit his taste of dance? How nice. She isn't that bad. He thought.
As his eyes sets on the elegant lady approaching him in a silky gown that hung below her knees, a smile played on his lips.
"You don't have to do that, you know." Amidst his smile, he muttered.
With a smirk, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing her face closer to his and feeling his warm breath wash over her face. "Well, I did."
He chuckled softly. His hands snaked around her slender waist. She locked eyes with his, peering at his bottom lips wanting to feel how it taste on hers. The music fading into a trance like state as both faces grew closer and closer but then, his phone buzzed, stopping his lips inches away from hers. Inches away from having her having her first kiss and everything returned to normal.
"Sorry," he said, pulling his phone out from his black pants. It was his mom boldly written on the caller ID. "It's my mom..." he began.
"No, no. It's fine. Go answer it." She lets out a small air through her nosestrills. A hint of how nervous she was.
He forced a small smile before immediately walking past her. She spun around and watch the dude exit the entrance door.
Emily got everything that was happening on camera and was happy about it. She approached her immediately.
"Hey baby girl, you finally got yourself a boyfriend." Emily squeaked, drawing her out of her thoughtful evaluation. "How did it happen?." she continued. What she saw between them piqued her interest.
"It's a long story." Says Lily. Her divided attention not allowing her digest what it was that Emily was excited about.
"Hey mom," He said almost immediately. He stood outside the lake house. The howling wind washing over him. The dry rustling leaves traveling in the direction of the wind.
Instead of getting a reply, he was pulled to the brink of fear by his mom's cough.
"Mom? Mom? Are you okay?" he rushed all at once but it wasn't just a cough, she was choking.
"I can't... I-i I can't... Can't breath." The phone call hung up immediately and he cursed.
"Shit!"
He dialed her line again but it was unable to connect. Not waisting any second, he left the lake house in search of a taxi that drove him home immediately.
Pulling to a stop, he paid the driver even extra before hurriedly rushing into his apartment.
"Mom?!" Mom?!" he called from outside before he could even get inside. He rushed to her room but didn't find here in there. "Mom?! Where are you?" he broke out In tears when he found her body shaking uncontrollably on the floor.
Rushing down to her, he held her hands. "Stay with me, mom! Stay with me please?" he was yelling in tears as he pulled out his phone and dialed 911.
Phone beeps. "911. State your..." the voice on the speaker began, but he didn't let it finish.
"I need an ambulance now! My mom's dieing!" He half yelled and ended the call immediately, trying to hold his mom's hands and stopping her from shaking.
Eliana was framed by her best friend and her fiance into sleeping with a boy toy in the club and getting impregnated by him. Five years after she had given birth to twins, she returned home and worked under the Moran Group, where she met the CEO-- Maurice. Maurice was a brilliant businessman who did his job well. But in order to stay under the radar, he lived a double life. One as Maurice, and one as Preston. Fate brought the two together again, roping them in on an exciting love story. It all became more complicated when Eliana faced Preston, the man she had slept with before, once again. Now that she was being pursued by two men, how could she ever choose? When would Eliana uncover the secret of Maurice's identity? When was Maurice going to know that he already had two children of his own? How would Eliana face this man when the truth came to light one day? Come and find out.
Marriage was a bed of thorns for Stella. She lived like an overworked and unhappy slave for six years in her matrimonial home. One day, her uncaring husband, Waylon said to her, "Ayla will be back soon. You have to move out tomorrow." "I want a divorce," responded Stella. She left without shedding a tear or trying to change Waylon's stone-cold heart. Days after their divorce, they met again. Stella was in the arms of another man. Waylon's blood boiled at the sight of her looking so happy. "So, you couldn't even wait a while before jumping into another man's arms?" he queried distastefully. "And who are you to question my decision? It's my life, so I call the shots. Stay out of my business!" Stella fired at him before turning to look at her new man with shiny eyes. Waylon immediately lost it.
On the day of their wedding anniversary, Joshua's mistress drugged Alicia, and she ended up in a stranger's bed. In one night, Alicia lost her innocence, while Joshua's mistress carried his child in her womb. Heartbroken and humiliated, Alicia demanded a divorce, but Joshua saw it as yet another tantrum. When they finally parted ways, she went on to become a renowned artist, sought out and admired by everyone. Consumed by regret, Joshua darkened her doorstep in hopes of reconciliation, only to find her in the arms of a powerful tycoon. "Say hello to your sister-in-law."
There was only one man in Raegan's heart, and it was Mitchel. In the second year of her marriage to him, she got pregnant. Raegan's joy knew no bounds. But before she could break the news to her husband, he served her divorce papers because he wanted to marry his first love. After an accident, Raegan lay in the pool of her own blood and called out to Mitchel for help. Unfortunately, he left with his first love in his arms. Raegan escaped death by the whiskers. Afterward, she decided to get her life back on track. Her name was everywhere years later. Mitchel became very uncomfortable. For some reason, he began to miss her. His heart ached when he saw her all smiles with another man. He crashed her wedding and fell to his knees while she was at the altar. With bloodshot eyes, he queried, "I thought you said your love for me is unbreakable? How come you are getting married to someone else? Come back to me!"
Melanie married Ashton out of gratitude, but she quickly found herself entangled in a web of relentless challenges. Despite these struggles, she stayed true to her commitment to the marriage. In the hospital room, Ashton indifferently attempted to draw her blood, disregarding her discomfort. This callous act was a harsh revelation for Melanie, awakening her to the grim reality of their relationship. Resolved to prioritize her own welfare, she decided to sever ties. With newfound resolve, Melanie filed for divorce. In the process, she unveiled her concealed identities, leaving everyone in shock. Throughout these turbulent times, Melanie realized that Derek, Ashton’s uncle, had been discreetly protecting her all along.
The whispers said that out of bitter jealousy, Hadley shoved Eric's beloved down the stairs, robbing the unborn child of life. To avenge, Eric forced Hadley abroad and completely cut her off. Years later, she reemerged, and they felt like strangers. When they met again, she was the nightclub's star, with men ready to pay fortunes just to glimpse her elusive performance. Unable to contain himself, Eric blocked her path, asking, "Is this truly how you earn a living now? Why not come back to me?" Hadley's lips curved faintly. "If you’re eager to see me, you’d better join the queue, darling."