-Because we lie-
PART 3Â
Wordcount: 1027
Warnings: fluff, mention of sex, fake dating, just overall the adorable loveliness that your heart deserves, I actually wrote over 1k this time yay, enjooyyÂ
Previous parts: PART 1Â Â PART 2
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Jonah ran as fast as his legs could manage. He needed to get there now. Before she heard about it herself. An explanation he really needed to give before all hell broke loose. He loved his best friend, more than he really should, but she really couldnât keep a secret for the life of her, however he had insinuated something before his brain had caught up. Just down this hallway and to the left.Â
Once he got inside he first went over to the romance section, quickly scanning the shelves for his target. And there on the third highest shelf, almost entirely to the right it stood. Witcha gonna do.Â
He grabbed it and hurried over to his questionable but recent favorite spot, which is where he found her. Sitting on one the blue cushions nestled into the corner of the whale section she looked up from her phone. A slightly confused look on her face.Â
âWhat are you doing here? Donât you finish early on wednesdays?âÂ
âYeah, well, I am going home. After this, that is. I donât live that far away actually. Itâs just like a twenty minute walk- and Iâm rambling sorry. Here.â She laughed at his antics and he felt his heart beat ever so slightly faster, not that he was paying attention to it of course. He gave her the book and watched her eyes light up. A smile spreading across her face as she grabbed the book.Â
âGosh, Iâve been looking for this for months! Wasnât it rented out all month?â She asked, a certain warmth in her excitement only she possessed.Â
âBeats me.â He shrugged, deciding not to mention that he had placed a hold on it for this very specific purpose. Sheâd reacted just how heâd hoped. However, he reminded himself, he needed to talk to the redhead.Â
âListen Mills, I need a favor.âÂ
Her face changed into one of intrigue as she placed her book in her bag. âWhoâd you kill?âÂ
âNo one!âÂ
âHah, you shouldâve seen your face Joe! Priceless.â She laughed as she stood up. âBut seriously, what do you need?â Jonah sighed as he thought of the best way to phrase things.Â
âBeckyâs wondering why I go here all the time, which I suspect yours are too? Well, she might, maybe, perhaps think that i per chance might have a tiny crush on a secret girl in the library now and she wonât leave me alone about it.â He spilled. Emiliaâs eyes widened.Â
âGee, alright. Ehm. Is- Is it true?â She asked, her cheeks beginning to flush. âBecause, look Joe, youâre a great guy and all but you know-âÂ
âOh, nonononono. I donât like you. Not that thereâs anything wrong with you of course, I-â He sighed. âWhat Iâm trying to say is; do you maybe wanna fake date me so that sheâll leave me alone about it?âÂ
She thought for a second.Â
âWhatâs in it for me?âÂ
âYour friends wonât wonder why you leave all the time, you get a free date, and no one will wonder if you like Leigh or not.â Jonah explained.Â
âDoes people think I like them? I mean I do, how could I not, but thatâs a secret.â Emilia felt her chest tighten and her breathing rush.Â
âNo. Or, I donât know. I thought so⌠But Iâm not everyone else.â He rubbing his hand nervously on his neck.Â
âAlso, fake dating? Weâre not living in a romcom Joe. No oneâs gonna believe that, and how do I know this is not just you wanting to somehow end up with us liking each other?â Â
âWe wonât.âÂ
âThatâs some famous last words you got there Jonah McQuinton.â She deadpanned.Â
âYeah, ok. Fair enough. But hey, whatâs the worst thing that could happen if we actually started liking each other?â Jonah asked with hope in his eyes. He didnât know what heâd do if she didnât agree. Perhaps, heâd simply, just, tell Becky the truth.Â
âEven more heartbreaking one-sided pining? Itâs already hard enough for me to be around Leigh all the time. I donât want the library to be a similar warzone.âÂ
âLook, letâs make a deal. If we do fall in love with one another, we have a code word. Letâs say⌠Whales. But if itâs one-sided, we have an agreement that the one with the broken heart has the claim of the whale section. The other can only come over if itâs strictly necessary, which to be frank we both know is close to impossible to happen. What do ya say Mills?âÂ
Emilia thought about it for a few seconds. He did have a point, and the plan seemed pretty fail-proof, althoughâŚ
âNo miscommunication. I hate that trope.âÂ
âAs you wish.âÂ
âAlright, Iâm down, we need some ground rules though.âÂ
âOf course, how do you feel about kissing?âÂ
âI donât want to kiss on the mouth unless itâs necessary, but the cheek and stuff is fine.âÂ
âNoted. No sex, of course. I donât think we should do more than hugging but cuddling can be ok at times?âÂ
âAgreed on both. The basic, âno telling others itâs fakeâ is also a must.âÂ
Jonah nodded his head in agreement.Â
âAlright, give me your phone.â He reluctantly got his phone up. âCâmon Joe, Iâm not dangerous.âÂ
âThatâs debatable, but sure.â He laughed as he unlocked his phone.Â
Emilia then proceeded to put her number in his phone before adding a cringy photo of herself that she air-dropped to him. She then went over to him and took a cute photo of them making faces to set as his background image.Â
âThere ya go, do the same to mine.âÂ
âLove muffin?â He asked as he checked his new contact.Â
âItâs adorable, boyfriend.â She smiled evilly towards him, clearly enjoying the teasing heâd endure from all of this. He then proceeded to do the same thing but he took a picture of him kissing her cheek for her background picture, effectively making her blush.Â
The bell rang just as they finished their shenanigans and she headed off to class. Blowing a quick kiss followed by sticking out her tongue at him as she left.Â
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Later parts: PART 4













