Chapter 4
The next morning at school was… different. I felt it the second I stepped out of Jess’s car. People were looking. Not just glancing—looking. Whispering. Pointing. Some even smiled at me, like I was part of some inside joke I didn’t understand.
I froze at the front doors.
“What did you do?” I turned to Jess, who just smirked proudly and adjusted her oversized sunglasses like she was a celebrity arriving at a movie premiere.
“Oh, I don’t know,” she said innocently. “Maybe word got out that a certain someone made out with Logan Saunders last night.”
I groaned, burying my face in my hands. “You told people?!”
She held up her hands defensively. “I didn’t have to! Half the school saw it. It’s like the biggest news since that time Coach Ramsey passed out during a fire drill.”
As we walked in, the hallway buzzed like a beehive. People moved aside. I didn’t get body-checked once. Someone actually said “Hi” to me. Me. Alicia-who’s-she-again Davis.
And then, there he was—Logan—leaning against his locker like he was posing for a movie poster. Black hoodie, one headphone in, looking like he didn’t have a care in the world. Until he saw me.
Then he smiled.
I stopped breathing for a second.
He pushed off the locker and walked over like this was totally normal. “Morning.”
“Hi,” I muttered, feeling very aware of every set of eyes on us.
Jess practically squealed beside me and whispered, “Oh my God, you guys are so convincing.”
Logan slid his arm casually around my shoulder. “Walk you to class?”
I couldn’t speak. I just nodded, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks as we walked down the hallway together. His hand rested lightly on my shoulder, but it felt heavy somehow—like everyone was watching. Because they were.
As we turned the corner, Logan leaned down and whispered, “You’re doing great, by the way.”
“Oh, thanks,” I said awkwardly. “So glad I’m crushing this fake girlfriend thing.”
“You really are,” he chuckled. “Sarah almost choked on her latte this morning. Totally worth it.”
I glanced up at him. “You know this is insane, right?”
“Definitely. But hey, you’re the one who kissed me back.”
“I didn’t—” I stopped. “Okay, maybe a little.”
He laughed, and I hated how much I liked the sound of it.
When we reached my classroom, he pulled me gently aside so we weren’t in the middle of the crowd. “Look, I know this is probably weird for you, and I swear I’m not trying to make your life harder.”
“Just… more public,” I muttered.
He grinned. “Only for a while. You’re doing me a huge favor, Alicia. I owe you.”
I stared at him for a second, trying to figure him out. This boy, who had always seemed like this untouchable star, was suddenly right in front of me, treating me like I mattered.
“Why me?” I asked quietly. “Out of everyone… why pick me to fake date?”
Something flickered in his eyes. He didn’t answer right away. “Because I see you,” he said finally. “I have for a while. You just didn’t notice.”
And just like that, he turned and walked off, leaving me standing there completely stunned.
I barely heard the bell ring. I barely heard anything.
Because Logan Saunders had just said the one thing I never thought I’d hear in my entire high school life.
“I see you.”