The Fake Boyfriend Experiment

by Stephanie Rowe

  She studied me carefully. “What if he didn’t?”

  I felt my heart thud and I lifted my chin. “He does, so there’s no point, right? It doesn’t matter what I think.”

  She immediately grinned and clapped her hand on her guitar. “You like him!”

  Ack! This could not be getting out! I grabbed her arm. “No, I don’t! That would be completely stupid and—”

  “Hi, Rafe,” she interrupted, looking over my shoulder, her eyes still twinkling.

  I smacked my lips shut and felt my face heat up. I was not going to turn around.

  But I did, of course. How could I not?

  Rafe smiled at me, his eyes going all dark and sweeping over my outfit. “You look hot tonight. Not like a boring pianist.”

  I couldn’t help but beam at him. I had spent all day working on my outfit. I was wearing these awesome dangly earrings and a fake diamond in my belly button ring. And yeah, I’d bought another new bra from Victoria Secret. This one was red with lace, and you could see it through my tank just a little bit.

  Would Rafe notice that I was dressed for fire, not for being boring? Would he finally realize I was the girl of his dreams?

  Argh! Not that I cared. He had a girlfriend. I. Didn’t. Care.

  Angel snickered at him. “If you’d stop gawking at her, maybe we could start to play?”

  Rafe immediately turned pink and he turned away from me, toward the rest of the band. “You guys ready?”

  I shot a look at Angel. “He was gawking at me?” I whispered.

  She grinned, and nodded. “Totally. He was checking you out big time.”

  I smiled to myself as she took her place on the stage. Everyone shouted they were ready to rock, so Rafe went to his drums and started a beat. Nash and Angel came in, then I started playing, closing my eyes and wiggling my hips the way some of the piano players had at the bar.

  Then Chris started singing and the place went nuts.

  I snapped my eyes open, shocked to suddenly see tons of middle schoolers screaming and dancing and going crazy. All because of us.

  It was freaking awesome. I grinned at Rafe and he winked at me.

  This was so different from a recital, where everyone just sat around in silence then applauded politely. This was awesome!

  * * *

  The dance ended way too soon, and we all high fived each other when we were done playing. Even Angel hugged me. Then, when she let go, Rafe came over and hugged me, too.

  It wasn’t a quick hug, like Angel’s. It was long and warm, and he squeezed me hard, like he wasn’t planning to ever let go. “You did great,” he said.

  He was so warm and smelled so good. I buried my face against his chest. Was this really simply a friend hug? Because it felt like so much more. “I had the best time,” I said. “It was so much fun!”

  “Imagine that?” He pulled back slightly so he could look at me, keeping his hand on my hip. “Music is fun. What a concept.” He touched my cheek, and my heart started to pound.

  “Thanks to you,” I said. “You showed me how to enjoy it. I owe you.”

  “Nah, it was my pleasure.” He tangled his fingers in my hair as Chris bumped into me, but neither of us looked away from each other. Rafe kept his gaze fastened on my face. “I promised myself I wasn’t going to say anything, but...” He paused.

  “But, what?” What was he going to say? Was Angel right? Was he going to tell me he liked me? Ask me if I’d dump my boyfriend for him? Um yeah, the answer to that question would be yes!

  Rafe rubbed the back of my neck. “I think you should do the audition.”

  I blinked. “What?” Audition? He wanted to talk about the audition? But what about the hug? What about the way he looked at me? What about the fact Angel said he was crushing on me?

  “The NESM audition,” he said, as if I hadn’t already grasped the topic. “Don’t go in there and play Mozart or Bach. Play music from the band. Play tunes that make you come alive. You don’t have to play classical to be great.”

  “Why are you talking about the audition?” We’d just finished the most incredible performance I’d ever experienced in my life, the chemistry between us was sizzling, and he wanted to talk about the audition?

  He tightened his grip on my waist, and his eyes became fierce with an intensity that leapt through me. “Because you’re amazingly talented, Lily, and you deserve to be recognized. But do it on your own terms. Play what you like.”

  I felt the sudden burn of hope in my chest at the thought of going to the audition on my own terms. I would never have thought of it before, but tonight had been amazing. Tonight, I had loved music. Was he right? “I don’t want the pressure...”

  “I’ll drive you. We don’t even need to tell my aunt or your parents. We’ll just do it.” His gaze was locked onto mine, refusing to allow me to back down. “What time’s the audition?”

  “Ten.”

  “So, I’ll pick you up at eight thirty. Next Saturday.”

  I was so tempted to say yes, to leap into what he was offering, but then I thought of going back into that world, of being trapped in the torment of hating music again. I couldn’t go back there. I couldn’t do it again. I shook my head and pulled back from him. “No, I can’t. I don’t want to.”

  He let me go, and I saw him take a deep breath, like he was trying to pull himself together. “That’s fine. If you want to, I’ll go with you.” He shrugged and trailed his fingers through my hair again. “If you don’t, that’s cool too. I’ll still—” He cut himself off.

  I caught my breath. “You’ll still what?” Like me?

  “Lily!” Erin’s shout was a jolting intrusion that made us both jump.

  No! Not now! I ignored Erin’s voice and didn’t turn away from Rafe. “You’ll still what?” I urged, moving closer to him. “What were you going to say?”

  “Lily!” Erin yelled again.

  Rafe looked away toward Erin, and the moment was lost. Argh! I spun around to face Erin, then nearly died. She was standing there with not only Val and Delilah, but the guys from Inverness. Including Les. Who was watching Rafe intently.

  Oh, no! Two fake boyfriends in one place had bad, ugly mess written all over it.

  Rafe dropped his hand from my hair. “Are these your friends?”

  I grimaced, wondering how I was going to get out of this one. “Yeah.” I quickly turned away, hurrying over to my keyboard. “I think we should pack up our instruments, don’t you?”

  Erin hopped up on the stage, and Les came with her. Erin shrieked, charged over to me and hugged me. Yeah, so that quick ‘pack the instruments’ save hadn’t really worked. Crud!’

  “You are so cool, Lily!” Erin squealed. “I had no idea you had it in you! We told the chaperones we were with the band, and they let us in, raving about how great you guys were.”

  “Um, thanks.” I kept my eye on Les as I hugged Erin. He was grinning at me with just a little too much appreciation and smugness.

  The second Erin let go of me, Les grabbed my wrist and hauled me against him, giving me a hug. “You were great,” he whispered against my ear. “You look so hot.” He let go of me and raised his voice. “I can’t wait to see what you look like in the dress for the semi next week.”

  My cheeks heated up and I glanced at Rafe. He was scowling at Les.

  Les grinned at him. “You must be Rafe.”

  “You must be Les.” Rafe’s voice was cold and low, without the slightest hint of friendliness.

  Neither of them offered to shake hands, which was good because Rafe looked like he wanted to throw Les off the stage.

  “Rafe! Rafe!” We all turned around in time to see a familiar black-haired over-sexed keyboard player wearing rhinestone jeans and a black baby tee run up to the stage and hold out her arms for Rafe to pull her up.

  Paige. I felt sick.

  Rafe’s face lit up, and he grabbed her wrists and pulled her up onto the stage. Then she threw her arms around him and kissed him, a full
-on girlfriend-only sloppy attack.

  And Rafe kissed her back.

  Right there.

  In front of everyone.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  Erin was the first to react to the Paige/Rafe public tongue tango. “Hey!” She kicked Rafe in the shin while he was still kissing Paige.

  Oh, crap!

  “Ow!” He jerked his mouth off Paige and grabbed his shin, hopping around in pain. “What was that for?”

  “You’re cheating on Lily!” she shouted. “Right in front of her!”

  A look of total confusion swept over his face. “What are you talking about?” He glanced at me, even as I inched backwards, trying to disappear.

  “You!” Erin screeched at him. “Cheating on my best friend!”

  “What—” Rafe stared at me as sudden comprehension swept over his face. “You told them we’re dating?”

  I was almost to the edge of the stage. If I could just get off it and vanish into the crowd, I could get home in time to move to a new state before everyone figured everything out…

  Paige smacked Rafe in the chest and jerked out of his arms. “You’re dating Lily? You swore she was in the band because your aunt forced you to ask her to play! I asked you if you liked her, and you swore you didn’t! I knew you had something going on with her!”

  I paused. Paige thought he liked me? Really? Had she noticed something about the way he talked about me?

  “I’m not dating Lily.” Rafe tried to catch Paige’s hands as she pounded at his chest, ranting at him. “Lily! Tell her we’re not dating.”

  I wanted to die. Die. Right there.

  Les stepped up and swung his arm around my shoulder. “I’ll take care of you, Lily. You’re better off without him.”

  I was too numb to shrug him off. I just stood there, slowly dying.

  Rafe’s eyes flashed at me, anger raging on his face. And betrayal. Oh, God, I felt awful. “What game are you playing?” he demanded.

  “Rafe!” Paige shoved him so hard he tripped over one of the cords and crashed into his drums. They went flying, the cymbals spinning across the stage and his snare drum bouncing over the edge and rolling across the floor. Someone kicked it and it made the horrific sound of a dying instrument. Oh no, his beautiful drums…

  “I can’t believe you lied to me,” Paige shrieked at him.

  “I didn’t.” Rafe untangled himself from the carnage and jumped to his feet, stalking toward me “Tell her, Lily. Tell Paige the truth.” He glared at me, accusation deep in his eyes.

  I swallowed, everything inside me shriveling up at the look on Rafe’s face. I’d blown everything. I’d betrayed him in the worst way, as a friend, totally violating the trust we’d built. It would never be recovered. “We’re not dating,” I said quietly. “We never were.”

  Paige stopped ranting and stared at me. “You’re lying.”

  I didn’t look at Les or Erin. I just met Rafe’s angry gaze. “I’m sorry, Rafe. It was an accident, and then, well, I...”

  Les dropped his arm off my shoulder and stepped away from me, a look of pure disgust on his face. “He’s not your boyfriend? You lied about it? Why? To try to get me to take you to the semi? You’re that much of a loser?”

  Erin smacked Les in the shoulder. “She’s not a loser!” she shouted, unleashing a world of Lily-defense onto him.

  Rafe ignored them both to focus on me, and I couldn’t tear my gaze away from him. He still looked mad, but there was something else on his face. Something softer. Confusion? “He’s not your boyfriend?” he asked.

  I bit my lip and shook my head. Tears were burning in my eyes, and I fought to control them, to be strong.

  “Why’d you lie?” he asked.

  “I...”

  Everyone waited for me to come up with an explanation, but I had none. Nothing.

  So I turned and ran instead.

  * * *

  I didn’t get out of bed until Wednesday, when my mom finally realized I wasn’t actually sick and forced me to go back to school. All my friends had called repeatedly, but I wouldn’t take the calls, not even when my mom banged on my door. Even Angel had tried to reach me.

  But Rafe hadn’t.

  And Les hadn’t.

  It was horrible.

  And it was even worse when I walked into homeroom and saw Erin, Val and Delilah huddled in the corner. Whispering. All cozy, without me.

  I bit my lip and sat down at my desk, ignoring them.

  Then the chair beside me was pulled out. I looked up to see Erin sitting down next to me, then Val perched on my desk and Delilah plopped down in the chair on my other side. I raised my chin and glared at them, daring them to harass me. I was well aware of what a loser I was, and I really didn’t want to hear it.

  “So,” Erin said. “We’ve all talked about it, and we’ve come to a conclusion.”

  They were going to ditch me now. I knew it. “I don’t care.” I clenched my fists under the desk, digging my fingernails into my palms.

  “See, we watched you guys perform all night,” Val said. “And it’s pretty obvious that Rafe is in love with you.”

  I felt my throat tighten, and I stared at my desk. “That’s not funny.”

  “We’re serious,” Erin said.

  I glanced at her, and my gut caught at the look on her face. “You are?”

  “Yep.” Delilah tapped my arm. “He’s really dating that ugly dark-haired chick?”

  I nodded slowly, still trying to understand their unexpected response. Why weren’t they hating me?

  “Well, that’s why she kissed Rafe then, because she could tell he was mashing on you during the show,” Val said.

  I stared at her. “Really?”

  “Swear. She wanted to claim him because she knew she was losing him.”

  “Losing him? To me?” I looked around at all of them. Why weren’t they harassing me for lying? But they weren’t. They were all serious and their eyes were bright with excitement. “You really...think he likes me?”

  “As much as you like him,” Erin said.

  I felt my cheeks heat up, and Erin grinned. “You’re so busted. Why weren’t you straight up with us from the start?”

  The truth tumbled out of me before I could stop it. “Because you all had these guys and I had no one and I felt like a loser and then I blurted it out and I didn’t know how to stop it and--” I took a deep breath. “It doesn’t matter. He has a girlfriend.”

  Erin sighed. “Yeah. There is that.”

  “And Les isn’t interested anymore,” I said.

  “Les is an idiot,” Val said. “I’m glad you’re not going with him. I didn’t want to tell you when you were liking him, but he made some really jerky comments about you after the pool party. He’s a cretin.”

  That didn’t surprise me. “So, I guess I’m not going to the semi,” I sighed. I was back to where I’d been on the first day of school. But at least my friends didn’t seem keen on dumping me. That was good. Not just good. It was amazing. They knew exactly what I was, and yet they were still my friends. In fact, they even thought I was so great that they were ready to declare Rafe’s undying love for me. Everything was okay—

  They exchanged meaningful looks, and I quickly sat up. “What now?”

  Val set her hand on my shoulder and squeezed firmly. “Here’s the deal, Lily. First rule of not being a loser is to not be defeated. You have to go to the semi with a guy to show up both Rafe and Les.”

  Hello? That was the situation that had created this mess in the first place! “Yeah, like who?” Another Inverness guy? Thanks so much, but I’d rather stay home and pluck my armpit hairs out one by one.

  “The singer in your band,” Erin said. “We all decided he’s completely cute.”

  “Chris?” I sat back and thought about it. Huh. “He is really nice. And his blue eyes are awesome.”

  “Do it,” Val said. “You can still quadruple date with us.”

  I eyed them, rolling around the idea of
Chris in my mind. It had potential, I supposed. “Maybe...”

  Mrs. Griffiths came in the room then, and everyone slid into their seats.

  Erin jotted a note and slid it over to me. You were really good Saturday night. Have you thought about finding a band to play with for real? You were cool.

  She’d underlined cool about six times and I grinned. I traced my finger over the words. It had been fun, that was for sure. But it had been fun mostly because of Rafe.

  Hadn’t it?

  * * *

  I decided to do it. To take control. To own my life. Or at least get a date for the semi that didn’t involve any lies or fake boyfriends or anything like that. Just me.

  I called Chris on Thursday night. I hung up the first three times I dialed. Then I called Erin, got a pep talk, and then called him again.

  He answered almost right away. “S’up?”

  I cleared my throat. “Um, Chris?”

  “Yeah. Who’s this?”

  I almost hung up again, but made myself answer. “It’s Lily. From the band.”

  “Hey, Lil.” His voice warmed up immediately. “I thought I recognized your voice. Great job Saturday night. You bailed before I could tell you.”

  “Yeah, um, curfew.” I rushed on before he could bring up the incident with Rafe. “So anyway, I’ve got this semi-formal dance at my school Friday night and I was wondering if you wanted to go with me.” I rushed through the invite so fast I wasn’t even sure he’d understand what I’d said.

  “This Friday?”

  “Yeah. It was the only time we could get the location we wanted. I mean, usually it’s a Saturday, but we picked Friday so we could have it at the Red Pines Country Club. It’s owned by the dad of this girl in my class and the food will be so good and they have this great dance floor and—”

  “Relax, Lily,” he interrupted. “You don’t need to convince me to hang out with you. I’m there.”

  I caught my breath. “Really? Just like that?”

  He chuckled. “Yeah, just like that. Rafe’s an idiot. I’m not. I’m all over it.”

  “Oh.” I leaned back in my pillows and uncurled my fingers from the phone. Relief eased through me, and my lungs started working again. That wasn’t so bad, right? Asking a guy to go with me? “Well. That’s great.” This was good. The start of my new life sans fake boyfriends.