Carter sat down comfortably and placed his notebook on the desk.”Making the relationship believable.”
Maya stared at him.
“You don’t sit here.”
“I know.”
“Then why are you sitting here?”
Carter leaned slightly closer, lowering his voice.”Because couples sit together.”
Maya looked around the classroom.
Several students were already beginning to notice.
One girl whispered something to her friend.
Another student glanced over before quickly looking away.
Maya sighed.
“You are enjoying this.”
Carter smiled.
“Maybe a little.”
“You shouldn’t.”
“But I am.”
Maya shook her head before turning toward the front.
“Fine.”
Carter smiled and opened his notebook.
A few minutes later, Ethan entered the classroom with two other hockey players.
They were talking loudly about something that had happened during practice before Ethan suddenly noticed Carter sitting beside Maya.
He stopped his eyes moved from Carter to Maya then back to Carter.
A slow grin appeared across his face.
Carter immediately noticed.
“Don’t.”
Ethan raised his hands.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You were about to.”
“I was just surprised.”
Carter pointed toward the empty seats behind them.
“Go sit down.”
Ethan laughed before taking his usual seat with the other players.
A few moments later, Olivia entered the classroom.
She walked through the doorway while looking at her phone, completely unaware of what was happening until she reached her normal seat.
Her eyes landed on Carter, then Maya then the chair beside Maya that Carter had stolen.
Olivia slowly raised an eyebrow; Carter immediately looked at her.
“Hey.”
Olivia smiled.
“Hi.”
“I kind of took your seat.”
She looked at the chair then at Maya.
“Sorry.”
Olivia’s expression softened immediately.
“It’s fine.”
She walked toward the seats behind them and sat beside Ethan.
“I can survive one class without my usual seat.”
Maya nodded.
“Thank you.”
Olivia leaned slightly forward.
“I’m happy for you.”
Maya immediately frowned.
“There is nothing to be happy about.”
Olivia smiled.
“Sure.”
Before Maya could answer, Carter suddenly looked toward the classroom entrance Ryan had just walked inside.
His eyes remained on Ryan for a moment before he glanced toward Maya.
Maya noticed the change in his expression.
“What?”
Carter didn’t answer; instead, he casually placed one arm around Maya’s shoulders.
Maya’s eyes widened slightly.
“Carter…”
He leaned closer.
“Rule one.”
Maya immediately understood she looked toward the doorway Ryan was walking down the aisle the moment he passed their row; his eyes moved toward Carter’s arm around Maya.
His expression changed slightly.
He slowed for just a moment, then he continued toward his seat before sitting down, Ryan turned around his eyes met Maya’s.
He smiled.
“Morning, Maya.”
Maya smiled back.
“Good morning, Ryan.”
Ryan gave her a small wave before turning around and taking his seat.
Carter watched him for a moment before looking toward Maya.
She slowly turned her head toward him.
“You didn’t have to hold me that tightly.”
Carter looked down at his arm before loosening it slightly.
“I was making it believable.”
“You nearly pulled me against you.”
“That would’ve been believable too.”
Maya narrowed her eyes.
“You are enjoying this way too much.”
Carter smiled.
“Maybe.”
From behind them, Ethan quietly leaned toward Olivia.
Olivia covered her mouth as she tried to hide her laughter.
“They’re actually kind of cute.”
Maya immediately turned around.
“I can hear both of you.”
Ethan looked down at his notebook.
“I didn’t say anything.”
Olivia smiled innocently.
“Neither did I.”
Maya shook her head before turning back toward the front.
At that moment, the classroom doors opened again.
Professor Hale entered carrying several textbooks and a folder filled with papers.
The room gradually fell silent as students settled into their seats.
Professor Hale placed his materials on the desk before adjusting his glasses.
“Good morning, everyone.”
The class responded together.
“Good morning, Professor Hale.”
Professor Hale smiled faintly before turning toward the whiteboard.
“Today, we’re continuing our discussion of momentum and impulse, and I strongly recommend that everyone pay attention because the material covered today will be included in your next assessment.”
Maya immediately picked up her pen.
Carter opened his notebook beside her.
For once, he didn’t complain.
He didn’t make a joke.
He didn’t try to distract her.
He simply sat beside her while Professor Hale began writing equations across the whiteboard.
Maya glanced toward him briefly.
Carter was actually taking notes.
She raised an eyebrow.
He noticed.
“What?”
“You remembered your notebook.”
Carter smiled.
“I’m learning.”
Maya shook her head before returning her attention to the board.
“Miracles do happen.”
Carter quietly laughed.
Neither of them noticed the students around them watching.
Neither of them noticed how naturally they had begun sitting together.
And neither of them noticed Ryan glancing back toward them once more before turning toward the front of the classroom.
The fake relationship was only supposed to be a plan.
A temporary solution.
Something they could use to control the rumors until Ryan finally understood the situation.
But the more they played the part…
The harder it was becoming for everyone else to tell where the acting ended and reality began.