Lunch Break
The cafeteria was always one of the noisiest places on campus.
During lunch, the entire room seemed to transform.
The chatter of hundreds of students echoed throughout the high ceiling, as students weaved between tables, carrying trays, drinks and unfinished homework.
The smell of freshly cooked food wafted through the air as friends caught up and laughed, and argued, and enjoyed their break before afternoon classes.
At one of the tables near the windows sat Carter Vance, comfortably nestled in between his teammates.
Ethan sat beside him, Dexter across from him, and Josh had been telling a story for the last five minutes, embellishing it with every word.
Carter didn’t really hear him; he was too preoccupied with staring at his food, idly poking at a fry with his fork.
“You know,” Josh said, dramatically gesturing with his fork, “I’m telling you, if Coach Daniels saw what happened, he would have retired on the spot.”
Dexter rolled his eyes.
“Because of your terrible defense?”
Josh placed a hand over his heart.
“Because of my amazing talent.”
“You fell almost on your ass.”
“That was a strategic move.”
“That was gravity.”
The table laughed, and Carter offered a small smile but said nothing.
His thoughts were focused on someone else Maya.
Josh suddenly fell silent.
“What?” Carter asked, already bracing himself for whatever ridiculous comment was about to leave Josh’s mouth.
Josh wasn’t looking at him, though.
He was looking towards the entrance of the cafeteria, a slow grin spreading across his face.
“Oh, man.”
Ethan turned his head towards the entrance as well, raising an eyebrow in question.
“What?”
Josh leaned back in his chair, clearly amused at whatever it was he was seeing.
“Angry chick incoming.”
Every guy at the table turned towards the entrance.
Maya stormed towards them, her bag slung over one shoulder, her expression dark as she approached them.
Carter gave a small smile, and she didn’t miss the look.
“Uh-oh.” Without another word, Maya stopped in front of him, and punched him in the chest It wasn’t hard enough to actually hurt, but it was enough to make her point clear.
Carter gave a dramatic wince.
“What was that for?”
“People think we’re dating,” Maya said, crossing her arms over her chest.
Carter shrugged.
“Yeah… and what’s the problem with that?”
Maya gave him a strange look.”The problem with that is people think we’re dating.”
“So?” Carter asked, a grin tugging at his lips.
“Am I not good enough for you?”
“That’s the thing,” Maya said, her eyes not leaving his.
“You aren’t.”
Josh nearly fell off his chair laughing.
“Damn.”
Carter placed a hand over his heart dramatically.
“You wound me.”
Maya slowly looked around the table, and every single hockey player suddenly remembered they had other things to do.
“I just remembered Coach wanted to see me,” Dexter said, standing up.
“I should probably go with him,” Ethan added.
Josh grabbed his empty tray.
“I’ve got…
somewhere to be.
Within seconds, the entire table had cleared out, leaving only Carter and Maya.
Carter shook his head.
“Some friends I have right?.”
Maya remained standing.
“Stop this rumor.”
Carter leaned back in his chair.
“Says who?”
“Says me.”
He smiled.
“You deaf?” said Maya
“My hearing is perfect.”
“Then stop it.”
Carter looked at the empty chair across from him.
“So… don’t you wanna sit? The whole cafeteria is looking at us”
“Shut up,” Maya muttered, pulling out the chair and sitting down anyway.
“Look, Maya, I’m not the one started this rumor, okay? In fact, I’m having problems as well with it.”
Before Maya could respond, her phone suddenly buzzed on the table.
She looked down at the screen, her expression softening as she read the message.
Can you still help with the fundraiser?
I wasn’t sure since…
you have a boyfriend and all.
Maya let out a long sigh, turning the phone towards Carter.
“Read it.”
Carter looked at the message, then back at Maya.
“What?”
“This,” Maya said, pointing at the phone.
“See what you caused?”
Carter looked confused.
“What did I cause?”
“The boy I like thinks I’m dating you.”
Carter blinked, then sat up straighter.
“First of all,” he said, placing a hand over his chest, “I’m Carter Vance. Any girl would be lucky to have me as her boyfriend.”
Maya looked completely unimpressed.
“You finished?”
“No.” He continued confidently.
“I don’t even do girlfriends.”
Maya tilted her head.
“So what do you do?”
Carter smirked.
“I – ”
“Boyfriends?” Maya asked.
The words left Maya’s mouth so fast that Carter actually stopped dead in his tracks.
Carter threw his hands up in exasperation.
“Shut up! I’m not gay.”
Maya shrugged innocently.
“That’s not what you said.”
“You know exactly what I meant.”
“Then explain it.”
“I meant I don’t do relationships.” To prove his point, Carter casually waved towards a group of girls walking past the cafeteria.
The girls immediately smiled, blushing furiously as they waved back enthusiastically.
Carter turned back to Maya, a smug look on his face.
“See?”
Maya glanced at the girls before turning back to him.
“I’m still not impressed.”
His smug look faltered.
“…That actually hurt.”
“Good.”
Carter tossed her phone back before pointing at her.
“Second of all…”
“What?”
“When did you start saying Ryan was the boy you like?”
Maya looked away for a moment.
“I didn’t say that.”
“You literally did.”
“I…” She stopped herself.
Carter smiled triumphantly.
“I win.”
“You are incredibly annoying.”
“And third,” Carter continued, “Ryan definitely likes you.”
Maya rolled her eyes.
“Why are you so convinced?”
“Because we’re men.”
She stared him down.
“That’s your answer?”
“It’s a good answer.”
“It really isn’t.”
Carter leaned forward, lowering his voice.
“Listen. Guys like girls who are hard to get.”
“So?”
“They like girls even more when they think another guy already has them.”
Maya frowned.
“I don’t think Ryan has time for games like that.”
“He texted you to see if you were actually taken,” Carter said confidently.
“When you tell him you’re still helping, he’ll figure out whether your relationship is real.”
“I think you’re reading too much into this.”
“I think I’m reading it perfectly.”
Maya sighed.
“We’re clearly never going to agree.”
“Probably not.”
“Give me your phone.”
Maya frowned.
“What?
“Your phone.”
“No.”
“Maya.”
“No.”
“Come on, you just gave it to me, so what’s the problem?”
She stared at him for a long moment before reluctantly giving him her phone.”You have thirty seconds.”
Carter smiled as he began typing.
Maya: That’s okay.
Carter isn’t the jealous type, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
A few seconds later…Ryan: Oh, that’s cool.
Thanks for letting me know.
Carter smiled as he handed the phone back to Maya.
“There.”
Maya looked at the conversation before giving a small smile.
“…What exactly was that supposed to prove?”
“He answered almost immediately.”
“People reply to messages.”
“He wanted to know whether I was actually a problem.”
Maya slipped her phone back into her pocket.
“You’re impossible.”
Carter leaned back in his chair.
“Look.”
His tone became more serious.
“You’re helping me pass physics.”
She nodded once.
“So think of this as me helping you.”
Maya raised an eyebrow.
“I don’t have time for a boyfriend.”
“I’m not talking about a real boyfriend.”
“I don’t have time for a fake one either.”
Carter smiled.
“Live a little.”
She laughed quietly.
“I have classes, tutoring, cheer practice, volunteering, studying, and trying to get into medical school. Exactly when am I supposed to ‘live a little’?”
“I’ll help you.”
She crossed her arms.
“How?”
“We fake date.”
Maya looked at him as if he had grown a second head.
“Absolutely not.”
“Come on.”
“No.”
“Think about it.”
“I’m trying not to.”
“You want Ryan to notice you.”
Maya didn’t answer.
“The rumors are already everywhere.”
She didn’t say anything else.
“If we’re fake dating, then break up. Ryan will realize we weren’t serious and he’ll make a move.”
Maya looked at him carefully.
“And what do you get out of this?”
Carter grinned.
“I get to help my tutor.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I don’t believe that’s your only reason.”
“It doesn’t matter.” He held out his hand across the table.
“So…” He gave a confident smile.
“What do you say, Maya Lin?”
Maya looked at his hand for a long moment before letting out a sigh.
“…Deal.”
Carter’s grin widened.
“I knew you’d – ” She pointed a finger at him.
“But you’re still paying me fifteen thousand dollars every week.”
Carter laughed as he shook her hand.
“I wouldn’t dream of missing a payment.”
Neither one of them looked away as they both knew, without a doubt, that this fake relationship wouldn’t last very long.