"Then tell her we broke up."
"After one day? That'll make everything worse." I crossed my arms. "Look, you're the one who wanted this to be believable.
Meeting my family is what boyfriends do."
He was quiet for a long moment, jaw clenched.
"Fine," he finally said. "Saturday. But we're keeping it short. One hour, max."
"Deal."
We drove in silence for a few minutes. I watched the neighborhoods change as we got closer to Blackwood houses getting bigger, lawns more manicured, everything screaming old money and privilege.
"Question," I said.
"I thought we had a rule about that."
"This isn't about your mysterious life. It's about logistics." I turned to face him. "What's our story? How did we start dating? People are going to ask."
Kai considered this. "We'll keep it simple. Close to the truth. We've been talking for a few weeks, kept it quiet because we wanted to see where it went. Decided to make it official recently."
"And when did we start talking?"
"Library. Three weeks ago. You were studying for your chemistry test, I needed a book for English class. We got to talking."
I blinked. "That's… actually pretty believable."
"I know." He glanced at me. "I've been planning this for a while, Aria. Every detail. Every contingency."
That cold feeling crept back into my stomach. "Why? Why go through all this trouble?"
His expression closed off. "That's breaking rule number one."
"Right. No questions about your life." I looked out the window, frustrated. "This would be easier if I understood what I was caught up in."
"No, it wouldn't," he said quietly. "Trust me. The less you know, the safer you are."
"Safe from what?"
He didn't answer.
We pulled into the Blackwood parking lot, and immediately I saw the stares. Students were already watching us, phones out, ready to document every moment of Kai Thornton's relationship.
"Ready?" Kai asked.
"No."
"Too bad." He got out of the car and walked around to open my door. When I stepped out, he immediately took my hand, pulling me close. "Remember you're supposed to look happy to see me."
"I am happy," I said through gritted teeth, forcing a smile. "Thrilled, even."
"Better." His arm slid around my waist, and he leaned down to whisper in my ear.
"Someone's recording at three o'clock. Laugh like I just said something funny."
I laughed. It sounded fake even to my own ears.
Kai sighed. "We need to work on your acting skills."
"Maybe you should have blackmailed a theater student instead."
This time, his laugh was real a low, genuine sound that surprised me. Several students nearby turned to stare, clearly shocked that Kai Thornton was capable of laughter.
"There," he said, still smiling. "Now we look like an actual couple."
We walked toward the school entrance together, his arm still around my waist. I was hyperaware of every eye on us, every whispered conversation, every camera pointed in our direction.
Sophie was waiting by my locker, her expression a mixture of concern and curiosity.
"Morning," she said carefully, looking between Kai and me. "Aria, can we talk? Alone?"
Kai's arm tightened around me for just a second, then he released me. "I'll see you at lunch," he said, dropping a kiss on my forehead before walking away.
The second he was out of earshot, Sophie grabbed my arm.
"Okay, spill. And I mean everything." She pulled me toward an empty classroom. "Because I've been friends with you for three years, and you've never mentioned Kai Thornton. Not once. And now suddenly you're dating him?"
I sank into a chair, exhaustion already setting in. "It's complicated."
"You keep saying that." Sophie crossed her arms. "Aria, I'm your best friend. You can tell me the truth."
I wanted to. God, I wanted to tell her everything the blackmail, the fake relationship, the danger Marcus represented. But Kai's warning echoed in my head: the less people knew, the safer they were.
"We've been talking for a few weeks," I said, hating how easily the lie came. "Kept it quiet. But yesterday, everything just… happened."
Sophie studied me for a long moment. "You're lying."
My heart skipped. "What?"
"I don't know why, and I don't know about what, but you're lying." She sat down beside me. "Aria, you're my best friend. I know you. And this" she gestured vaguely " this doesn't make sense. You're terrified of him."
"I'm not"
"Yes, you are. I saw your face yesterday. You looked like you were about to run." Sophie took my hand. "If you're in trouble, you can tell me. Whatever it is, we'll figure it out together."
Tears stung my eyes. "I can't, Sophie. I'm sorry, but I can't."
"Why not?"
"Because" I stopped, swallowing hard. "Because if I tell you, you might get hurt. And I can't risk that."
Sophie's expression shifted from concern to alarm. "Aria, what the hell is going on?"
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed.
K: "You okay? You've been gone for ten minutes."
Me: "I'm fine. Just talking to Sophie."
K: "Remember no details. I'm serious."
I looked up at Sophie, torn between the truth and the lie.
"I'm dating Kai," I said firmly. "That's all you need to know. Everything else is… it's private. Between us."
Sophie looked hurt. "Since when do we have secrets?"
"Since now, apparently." I stood up, grabbing my backpack. "I have to get to class."
"Aria"
"Please, Sophie. Just trust me on this." I met her eyes. "I need you to trust me."
She was quiet for a long moment, then nodded slowly. "Okay. But if you need help, if anything happens, you come to me. Got it?"
"Got it."
I left the classroom, feeling like I'd just lost something important. Sophie had been my anchor at Blackwood, my one true friend. And now I was lying to her.
This was exactly what Kai had meant yesterday. Being his girlfriend meant cutting myself off from everything normal and safe.
The rest of the morning passed in a blur. I couldn't focus in class, couldn't shake the feeling that everyone was watching me, judging me, trying to figure out what Kai Thornton saw in the scholarship girl.
By lunch, I was exhausted.
I found Kai at his usual corner table, alone as always. But today, when I sat down across from him, the cafeteria didn't just stare they recorded. At least twenty phones were pointed at us.
"Ignore them," Kai said, pushing a tray toward me. "Eat."
I looked down at the tray. Grilled chicken salad, fruit, water. Exactly what I usually got for lunch.
"Let me guess," I said dryly. "You pay attention."
"Always." He took a bite of his own food, completely unbothered by the audience. "How was your morning?"
"Terrible. Sophie knows something's wrong."