Fake dating Rory smile (maybe add koalaing for the heck of it because thats my brand now)
Looking at setups for this, it seemed like weddings made a lot of sense, so I went with that!
Your eyes caught Rory’s from across a table draped with white linen and a gold overlay. He immediately looked away and focused on the small orchestra playing for cocktail hour while the bride and groom were away for photos. He made no move to come to your side. The whole day so far felt like a game of cat and mouse with him. Even sitting together during the ceremony, you two probably looked more like complete strangers rather than a couple in the throes of a new romance. Oh well. There was still time left to make a show of your ‘boyfriend.’
You marched across the lawn, the grass barely holding on to the last bit of green before fall truly took over, and you closed the distance between you and Rory. He sensed you coming and whipped around, backing up a few steps. You reached out for his suit sleeve and gave it a tug.
“Stop following me,” he barked.
“Does standing apart like there’s an invisible forcefield between us seem like a coupley thing to do to you?”
Rory stepped back further and your fingers slipped from his sleeve. “Just because I’m pretending to be your boyfriend for a night, doesn’t mean I have to stay freaking glued to you 24/7.”
“Actually, it does. You said you’d help me.”
“I sat with you for the ceremony. I’m here. What else do you want??”
You cocked your hip and folded your arms. “Maybe hold my hand? Look at me like you don’t loathe my entire existence?”
“I’m looking at you now, okay! I didn’t realize I’d have to give you googly eyes the whole time. All you said was-”
“A lover’s quarrel? Oh dear.” The voice of your Aunt rang between the two of you. The nosy woman with her coiled dyed hair and gaudy purple dress made a ‘tsk’ sound before setting her sights on your supposed date. “Oh…darling, your new boyfriend is adorable. But wearing a frown like that won’t due for a celebration of love. We are at a wedding, young man.”
“I-” Rory stammered before your Aunt pinched and lifted his cheeks with her stubby fingers.
“That’s better. Much more handsome with a smile. Besides, if you want a chance with the parents, you’ll need to make a good impression. Otherwise, they’re going to ship your beloved off to that neighbor boy. Never liked him.”
It took all you could to not laugh at Rory’s horrified expression.
Your Aunt finally let go of his cheeks. “You can settle your little fight later. Now, let’s kiss and make up.”
Rory’s panicked eyes darted to your face. You hesitated.
“Ah, we haven’t been together for long, aunty.”
“A kiss on the cheek will do. I’m not asking for anything scandalous, just enough so I know you two won’t cause a scene.”
Might as well put on a show. Rory side-stepped as you moved towards him. You put your hands on top of his shoulder to keep him from falling away and leaned in. Your heartbeat unexpectedly picked up as your lips landed on his cheek.
“Good. Your parents were watching, dear. Perhaps that’ll help them move on from that other boy.” Your Aunt gave you a quick wink. “I’ll be off for the mini hot dogs. Treat this one well, redhead.”
Your Aunt disappeared. You slowly looked to Rory, certain he would be pissed. You found him half faced away from you, and to your surprise, what you could see of his face was bright red.
“Your face is really red."
He turned completely away from you. “Your Aunt put my face in a death grip, of course it’s red.”
You giggled. You’d known Rory from being in the same friend group, and you knew how to push each other’s buttons, but you had never seen him react like this before. A smirk twitched onto your lips and you looped your arms around his, hugging in close. He immediately tried to shake you off like you were a bug. You laughed freely and refused to let go, which seemed to make his blush run deeper. In the back of your mind, the thought popped up that his arm was much more muscular than you expected.
“What’re you trying to do?!”
“You’re just so cute when you’re blushing, how can I resist?”
“But you’re my boyfriend. You don’t want another kissy kiss?” You pursed your lips, and he grimaced in disgust, although his cheeks continued to flush almost purple by now.
“Hey…” There was another familiar voice, although this time it wasn’t your Aunt’s. It belonged to your neighbor, the boy who your parents had been trying to set you up with for ages because according to them, he was ‘perfect.’ You liked him enough, and he had made it clear he wanted to date you, but you just didn’t have feelings for him in that way.
He looked you up and down now koala clinging to a seemingly random man. Rory stopped trying to fling you away and focused on the new arrival.
“Hey,” you responded and glanced down at the usual black crocks he wore. “Uh…this is my boyfriend…Rory.”
Your neighbor gave a quick nod, keeping his eyes on you. “Boyfriend. That must be new.”
“Yep.” You laughed awkwardly, a tension forming between you three.
“Except…it doesn’t really seem like he wants to be your boyfriend? And it looked like he was yelling at you?”
You glanced at Rory to find him staring into the distance. His body stiffened.
“If you want,” your neighbor continued, “I’d love to take you to the photobooth. You might have a better time.”
Rory slipped his arm away from you, and you felt a slight twinge in your stomach. He had an out, and he was going to use it. Even worse, he was going to hand you off to the person you were trying to avoid.
“Actually, we were just going to the photobooth,” Rory said coolly. His arm snaked around your waist and he pulled you close to him. “Right?” You quickly nodded.
“I see. Well, you know I’m always around.” Your neighbor bore a hard look to Rory.
“Sorry,” you said and waved goodbye to your neighbor as you were led away by the man at your side to the photobooth.
“That’s the guy you were talking about?” Rory said.
“So you don’t want to marry a guy who wears crocs to a wedding? Because I can see you being a cute couple, bet he’ll get you a new pair of crocs every anniversary.”
“Rory!” He shrugged, and you became distinctly aware that his arm was still around your waist. “I’m not attracted to him at all, even if he wasn’t wearing crocs.”
“I already told you. It’s my parents who’re basically trying to set up an arranged marriage.” You laughed a bit, but there was truth to your words.
“Pretending to date me for a day is really going to get them off your back?”
“…Not entirely. But at the very least, it’ll help them figure out that I’m not going to listen to them.”
“What about the guy back there?”
“You want him to know you’re for sure taken, right?” Rory paused walking and dropped his arm from your side. He proceeded to shrug off his suit jacket and place it around your shoulders, avoiding eye contact. “Seemed like you were cold, anyways.” The air had started to cool. He continued walking towards the photobooth, but you lingered behind.
“Are you coming?” he said.
“We don’t have to actually…if you don’t want to.”
Rory sighed. “Just get in.”
You sat next to him in the tightly enclosed space and pulled the jacket close around your shoulders. He pushed a button for the photo countdown.
“Thank you,” you said quietly.
You placed a hand on one side of his cheek and kissed the other. The flash went off. That would be one picture you’d have to keep…
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