Kehlani

Mom and Dad were driving to this place I don't know of.

“Are we there yet?” I asked curiously.

“A little bit.” Mom replied. “I'm going to see an ex classmate of mine. She wants us to have dinner at her home and I didn't want you to miss it.”

“Hmm, alright then.”

Suddenly, the car pulled up into this long winding driveway. It looked beautiful. I watched the enormous mansions come into view.

“Wow.”

The car stopped and we all came out. A beautiful woman welcomed us in and stepped into the large mansion.

“How are you Emily?” She hugged my mom. “Dinner's ready. Right in time.”

“Oh, I'm fine.” My mom replied back. A man was sitting on the sofa and my dad conversed with him.

“This is your daughter? Oh she's so pretty.” The rich lady held my cheeks and I blushed.

“Thank you ma'am.”

We all sat over the table and they were gisting together while I couldn't help but dig into the delicious food. From the stairs, I saw someone cascading putting on black on black.

“Oh. My son's here.” The rich lady says..

He walked towards the table and I almost choked.

No way. Trevor.

“Hi ma'am. Sir?” He greeted my parents with his brow and they greeted back.

“You?” Trevor's eyes met mine.

“You?” I repeated after him.

“Do you two know each other?” My dad asked.

“We attend the same school. Same class.” Trevor pulled his chair out and sat. What a coincidence. We meet again and to everyone's surprise, we know each other from school.

“Oh wow that's very great.” His mom smiled.

The adults kept on talking and ranting while Trevor and I ate in silence. Dinner was over. They were still deep in their conversation and Trevor stood up.

“Trevor, why don't you show Kehlani around. Take her upstairs. Both of you are familiar.”

I gave my mom side eyes and she smiled, telling me to go ahead. Trevor didn't say anything but walked away and I followed suit. He had this possessive Aura. Annoyingly charming.

“Are we going to your room?” I asked while I climbed.

“Are you scared?”

I scoffed. “You should be the scared one.”

“I love your confidence.” He laughed and passed through the hallway. It was beautiful. We got to a door and he opened it and we both stepped in. Damn. It was wide and elegant.

“I don't tour visitors around shit. Unless you wanna stay in my bed.”

The door shut behind and I shuddered.

“Huh? What do you mean?”

He steps closer, eyes on me and I gulped. Why was he coming closer?

“You're in my way. Excuse me.”

“Ohh.”

I moved and he walked freely to the direction of his closet. So this is Trevor's room. My room was ugly compared to this. Almost all items were in black with a little touch of white. It made the room perfect.

“Make yourself comfortable.”

He emerged from his closet with a silver lighter in his hands. A thin trail of smoke curled from his lips as he took a long drag.

“Huh? How do I do that with a smoker?” I frowned. “So you smoke?”

He leaned against the wall and damn…ethereal. I've got to stop thinking this way.

“That's bad for your health.”

“So is heartbreak.”

That shut me up for a second.. I became sad.

“So, you were there…. gosh, you're even using it against me. Everyone laughs at me.”

He sat upright and blew a breath of smoke..

“Except me. I never found it funny.”

“Why?”

“Because you don't deserve that. No girl should be treated that way.”

“I was. I'm just a nobody.” I sighed. I wanted to start crying.

“I remembered I watched you from the benches. You looked so happy and pretty.” His voice was low.

“Ohh.”

“You were so passionate about recording Elliot.”

“Photography is everything to me. I love the aesthetic of capturing people, animals or objects and places. It makes me feel alive.”

“That's why you're in the photography/ journalism club?”

“Exactly.” I smiled happily. “The issue is…I got rejected while I decided to apply for this Golden lens youth award scholarship program, since then, stacked with heartbreak, I've totally given up on photography.”

“So you're giving up?”

“Exactly.”

“Too bad. I could help you get accepted and more, I could help you win.”

“That's not possible.” I rolled my eyes.

“Kehlani Cole, the reason you got rejected and disqualified was because you failed to place your final portfolio.”

“Huh? What do you mean? And how do you know that?”

“Because my family's the one sponsoring the scholarship program.” He puffed and blew a breath of smoke.

“You're joking.” I opened my mouth.

“No, I'm not.”

“You mean the Golden lens youth award scholarship with $10,000 grant, full summer internship and spotlight at the skyport media!”

I screamed. One of the reasons I applied was because I knew my parents were financially unstable.

“Exactly.” He stands up and brings a flier of the scholarship program.

“I can help you get qualified.”

“How…I thought the application was closed.”

“Like I said, my parents are the hosters. I can do whatever I want. I can change the system and do anything. I can help you.”

“Wait. Are you for real?”

“Of course. I would even make sure you win.”

“Why are you trying to help me? And what do you want in return?”

“I want you in return.” He winked and I gasped.

“Excuse me?”

He cleared his throat. “I mean, I want us to fake-date in exchange. I'll make sure you win this scholarship program. And when we start dating, both of us have to be back on the school's ice ring because I play hockey. We make your ex jealous for humiliating you. We become the latest couples and that includes you recording me while I play against Elliot's team. You make the talk of the school, me. Everyone knows I'm the bad criminal goalie transferred. I need to give them a redemption arc. I also want my parents to think I've changed and become a lover boy. Don't worry, I'll teach you how to be a professional photographer to win the scholarship.”

He finally stopped and my jaw dropped. “Seriously? You're saying we date?”

“Yes.”

“What would people say? I'm dating the criminal guy.”

“Yes. A hot one at that.” He smiled and his smile almost made me melt.

“It doesn't matter. They didn't see me involved in criminal activities. They just heard and spread the rumour so who cares? Date me and let's benefit from ourselves.”

“This is very very awkward. I mean I don't look like your type of girl.”

“It's a fake relationship. Kel.”

Oh, wow. He shortened my name and it sounds sexy.

“I promised never to date a hockey player.” I sighed.

“I said fake relationship. It ain't real so it doesn't matter.” He shrugged.

“If I'm going to be your girlfriend, does that include us……”

“Kissing and touching and the rest?”

“Yeah?” I became nervous.

“That's your decision. I'm not totally after that. I just want our deal activated. You, be my girlfriend and I'll help you. I promise you this.”

I sighed, thinking about the offer. What do I tell Olive? I'm dating already. The whole school would start talking. .

“I use you and you use me. Fair.” He says.

I started thinking hard. The idea was crazy and dangerous. I stole glances at Trevor. No doubt, he was crazily handsome. School's most handsome kid. As of recently.

I sighed. “I wanna think about it.”