Nina Carter.
My life had officially turned into a show by the time Friday arrived.
Though I knew the script, walking around the campus felt like negotiating a reality TV programme where I was the main character.
Eyes followed me over. Talk silenced the instant I passed. Those who had never talked to me before were quite interested in my romantic life.
And right at the core of it all?
Enzo Knight.
the head hockey captain. The monarch of the campus. The man who, until recently, never twice checked anybody.
I ought to have thought of myself as triumphant. I had precisely what I wanted here. To cause Jake to become red. To demonstrate my lack of any pitiful, devastated female frailty.
Then yesterday night's SMS came in.
Jake: We really need to discuss.
I had not addressed it. Allow it to settle there. Let him to stew in it.
But I was familiar with Jake.
And Jake never let go without struggle.
Alright, Carter, time for your next acting class.
Before Enzo slung his arm over my shoulders and deftly drew me into his space as we entered the cafeteria, I hardly had time to respond.
I tightened; my body resisted instinctively. Before you do that, could you warn me?
"Where's the fun in that?" he said, smearing.
I scowled him, but my stomach turned stupidly at how laid back yet protective he was with me. Like this was hardly phoney at all. Like I did really belong there.
The cafeteria silently fell dead.
Though I felt the weight of a hundred looks, I hid it.
I was Nina Carter, assigned to own this part.
I so leant in Enzo's side and wrapped an arm around his waist instead of turning away.
He didn't react, he didn't flinch; he let his fingertips slink gently over my arm, as if it were the most normal thing on Earth.
"You're getting better at this," he said, low enough only I could hear.
I started to smile under pressure. "Maybe I just enjoy causing envy in others."
"Good," he remarked with a smoothness. "Because Matthews seems to be driven towards murder."
I lacked the courage to look.
I knew that Jake was observing.
I couldn't afford to let him see anything but a girl who had gone on, however.
I thus let it happen when Enzo sat down and dragged me into his lap.
I also pretended I was not seconded away from losing control as his fingers made slow, languid circles across my thigh.
For the last week, I watched Nina engage in this ridiculous game with Enzo.
Seeing her smile at his jokes. Invest in his jacket. Let him run his hands over her.
Still, this is what we have.
Her seated on his lap, grinning as if she really enjoyed it?
That served as my breaking point.
Ignoring the advice of my buddies, I threw back my chair and stalked them.
When I got to their table, Nina glanced at me at last.
And damned it, I detested her differences.
Her eyes no longer held softness. They were razor sharp and illegible.
"You ignore my texts now?" I replied, voice low.
She shrugged and leant even further into Enzo's embrace. "Must have fallen off my mind."
In my jaw, a muscle jerked. "We should have a conversation. alone.
Enzo's quiet message was a slightly tighter hold around her waist.
He was not allowing her to pass go.
Nina, however, did not need him to guard her.
She only grinned and leant head-over-reach. Jake, we have nothing to speak about.
"The hell we never do," I said. "We both know Enzo is a joke. This is something."
She furrowed her brow. "F Funny." I am not in the mood for laughing.
At last Enzo spoke, a quiet, delighted murmur.
"She's happy, Matthews," he murmured languidly. "Something you quite obviously failed at."
The blackness of Jake's eyes grew.
My breath stopped.
Since this was no more merely banter now.
Two alphas set to clash were here.
"Don't act like you give her a damn about Knight," Jake added, voice low and menacing. We both know you have no relationship skills.
Enzo grinned, but there was nothing friendliness in it.
"I don't," he said. I do, however, make allowances for things I wish for.
a slow, tense pause with suspense.
Then Enzo turned my chin up and planted a kiss on me without looking away from Jake.
I hardly had time to reply before Enzo spoke.
There was no hurry about it.
It was not carelessness.
It was deliberate, slow designed to make a statement.
Designed to present to everyone, including Jake, proving I was his.
False or not, the world thought it.
I thought Jake stiffened next to us. Sensed the change in the air.
I was dead by the time Enzo turned around.
Jake let out a harsh breath. Nina, you are making a mistake.
Still learning to differentiate reality from the game, I blinked.
When I said, "No, Jake," however, I didn't have to act. I currently have one. You."
And he turned and hurried out of the café.
Heart still pounding, the instant we were alone I pushed Enzo back.
" What the hell was that?" I growled.
He grinned, not really disturbed at all. "Performance."
I tightened my jaw. "Next time, warn me before you stick your tongue down my throat.".
His smile become more subdued. "Didn't hear you grizzling."
I opened my lips to fight, then stopped.
As the truth?
I had not spoken grievances.
not once.
And it presented the actual challenge.
Since this was phoney.
It was meant to be phoney.
Why then did it seem as if we were engaged in a game neither of which we wanted to lose?
My phone vibrated that evening as I got into my vehicle.
an SMS from an unidentified number.
Unknown: Nina, please pay great attention. Certain games do not finish satisfactorily.
I stopped cold.
Something much more hazardous than high school drama crept up my spine in frigid coldness.
This is why.
Neither Jake nor this was what I expected.
And I suddenly had a whole other cause for fear.