by Sarah Pointe
He was texting again. Hey, what are you doing tomorrow?
Nothing. I followed with a couple emojis. At least I had texting game. A little.
Party at Nick’s. I’ll come pick you up.
Awesome! Followed by a couple partying gifs.
I turned to my best friend. “There’s a party at Nick’s?” That comment seemed to stop Sasha mid-sentence in her conversation with Nick.
“Gotta go, call you right back.”
The expression she sent my way was apologetic, which did nothing to calm my suspicion that she was going to try and go without me. Or not tell me? “Was I not invited?”
“You were totally invited, Ava. Wherever I go, you’re invited of course. Nick knows that.”
I narrowed my eyes. “But you haven’t told me anything about it.”
“I just hadn’t gotten around to it. You have to admit, your viral date post has been pretty consuming.”
She had a point. “True.”
“How did you hear about the party?”
My smile grew. I’d been wanting to tell her all day. “Oh girl, I have tea!”
Her phone dinged. “Oh, I’m sorry. Tell me later. Hey, I’ll pick you up for the party.”
“I have a ride.”
“Oh okay, great.” Her face was back in her phone and she was walking out the door. Once it closed again, I lifted my hand. “Bye.”
Back in my room, I plopped face first onto my bed. This. Was. A lot. I was losing my best friend. That was the number one concern looming around in my head. After today I could see where this was headed, and it wasn’t anywhere good for me. Also. There was a picture of me in my bikini on my Instagram, not even my story, my actual permanent account, that was getting more and more likes by the minute. That actively asked guys to be my fake boyfriend. I squinted my eyes tight. That sounded even crazier than it felt living the experience. Then third. I was getting DMs from crazies, and from admittedly some pretty awesome guys. Fourth. My old eighth grade crush reached out and wanted to hang, and not even as my fake boyfriend. He wanted to hang out for real. And all this was happening on the same day that my long-time high school crush Cal was finally talking to me. I rolled over, hugging a pillow to my chest.
I pulled up the messages again, determined to just go through and read every one.
“Love this idea.”
“I’m game.”
“Great idea count me in.”
“I’m so in.”
“I have a thing this weekend. You game?”
And on and on. And every guy seemed normal. They lived around here. Some went to my school. It was like, Sasha had stumbled across the one need of all teenage guys and made me the experimental offering.
Should I be mad at her for doing this? She’d hacked into my account. Yes, I should. I sighed. But I wasn’t. I switched to my profile. But I was going to change my log in.
The real question here was, did I want to go through with it? As I looked at the messages over and over, I knew that I did.
Another one showed up. “Tonight. Parents’ work party. Come with me…please?”
I smiled. Major points for being as desperate sounding as I was.
“Would it help if I told you I love your smile and this has nothing to do with the fact that you look smoking in a bikini?” He added several winky face emojis.
Then I laughed. “I’m in. For tonight. What do I need to know?”
His celebration memes cracked me up, everything from Disney princesses to Marvel heroes to The Office. “It’s kind of nicer dress….Please still come…and I can pick you up at seven.”
I hesitated. Work party. That was nice. Like black dress nice. I thought of my homecoming dress last year. It was very plain and simple. Sasha had thought it too plain, but for me, it was just right. “No problem. Little black dress it is.”
“Ooooh, how little?” He made a face palm emoji. “I’m literally joking. I’m so sorry. I’ll wait until you meet me before I come off as a total moron.”
“Great. See you at seven.” I left my address. And then I screamed.
“I just totally gave my home address to a stranger.”
I stalked his account. Then breathed out in relief. I didn’t have to call the police, or tell my mom, or whatever you did to keep yourself internet safe. I knew this guy, or at least I had seen him around. He was legit. And actually, probably a pretty great guy. Not my type. In most of his pictures he was wearing a sweater, but that could be remedied if need be. I nodded. All in all, this would be a good safe experiment. If tonight was a bust, I’d never do this again.
Purposefully leaving my phone upstairs, I went down to see Mom. Enough with social media for one day. “Mom!”
She peeked her head out of the kitchen. “Hey, Ava. I’m making your favorite tonight.”
“Oh shoot. Mom. Save me a huge plate. I just made plans.”
“Plans on Friday night? Doing what?”
“Do you know the Collins?”
“I do. Good people. Aren’t they having their holiday dinner tonight?”
“I guess so. That’s where I’m going.”
She stopped everything and leaned her hip up against the counter. “Are you interested in their son, what’s his name?” Her excitement about this was gonna have to be squelched and now.
“No, Mom. Jackson reached out. He’s desperate for a date. And he asked me to go.” I held up a hand. “Seriously. I hardly know him.”
“But now you’ll get to know him. He comes from the nicest family.” She started stirring something in her bowl. “I didn’t realize that you two were the same age, I don’t think. I was invited too. But you know I don’t go to these types of things any more. Please do express my wish that I could have attended. Especially now that you’re going. Do you think it odd that I am not? Maybe I should go?”
“No. Mom. No. It’s gonna be okay. There are other parties. I’ll remind them you’re busy.”
“Right, got it.” She sighed. “I just don’t want to go to things I used to do with Dad. And going without my own date? That feels weird. And lonely. Do you know how odd it is to sit at dinner without someone at your side?” She talked as though I wasn’t even there sometimes. Of course, I didn’t know what any of that felt like. I’d never been to a work dinner. But I felt for her.
“Do you think my black homecoming dress will be okay for this?”
“That would be perfect. Honey, I’m so happy you’re doing this. It’s great to get out more. You know?”
“I guess. Anyway, thanks, Mom. I’ll go start getting ready.”
“Let me know if you need any help?” She called out to me as I hurried out and up the stairs. What was that all about? Get out more? I thought I was out plenty. And didn’t she like it when I was home? What kind of mother wanted her daughter away more?
I couldn’t go there right now. First, I had to get ready for my first fake date. With my first potential fake boyfriend.
Chapter 5
“I’m here but stay put. I’ll come to the door.”
That was Jackson’s text to me when he got here. He definitely won some mom points with that one. Then he showed up at the door in a suit and tie—huge improvement over the sweaters. I thought my mom might have a heart attack right there from over-excitement about this guy at our door. As I walked out, she whispered, “He’s a keeper.”
“Thanks, Mom.” I wondered what she would think about my holiday plan of fake dates.
He held his car door open for me with a big smile. “You know, I’m liking your idea more and more.”
Once he got in the driver’s seat and turned back to me, I asked, “Why?”
“My parents were over the top excited that I was bringing someone. You’d think they assume I don’t socialize or have any friends.” He shook his head. “Well, maybe I don’t that often, but I’ve never been bothered by my social life before…” He shrugged. “And your mom seems happy, too.”
“Oh, she totally is. Turns out she
knows your parents.”
“No way. That’s crazy.” He pulled out. “Does she know about your post?”
“She’s not on Instagram so no, and I hope she never finds out.”
He nodded. “It’s not like it’s a bad thing or anything.”
“Oh, totally not. People go on casual dates all the time. I think.”
“Right.”
We sat in quiet for a minute more.
“So I may have told my parents that you’re someone I’m interested in getting to know better.”
Some alarm bells went off. He was a decent looking guy. And he really did look pretty great in a suit and tie, but he was not going to graduate into my fake boyfriend. I could already tell. He just didn’t have that…zing. Even fake boyfriends had to have zing, right? And there were too many others on the list. “I’m game to be friends.” I nodded, hoping he would understand.
“Even fake friends? Or fake, I’m trying to get to know you better, potential boyfriend status.”
This was getting really complicated. “How about real friends who hang out sometimes?”
He tapped his thumbs on the steering wheel. “Let’s talk about this again. I think maybe we can work something out.”
I already knew that I was leaving all my options open for now, but if he wanted to talk some more, that would be fine.
We pulled up in front of his house. It was huge. And they had a valet there helping to park cars. The guy flagged Jackson down.
He rolled down his window. “I live here.”
“I know, we blocked you in, and you might want to take her home after?” The guy held his hand out for the keys.
“Great. Thanks.”
The valet opened my door and then we walked in together. I don’t know what I expected from a parents’ holiday work dinner, but this wasn’t it. I was glad I’d worn a dress at least. Everyone looked super fancy, glittered up and with high heels and everything. “Wow.” I looked around.
“You happy you came?”
“Sure. This is great.”
We made what he called ‘the rounds,’ which from what I could tell meant he was introducing me to every person there.
And just as I should have expected, every person there assumed that Jackson and I were together—not just for tonight, but forever.
Dinner was more of the same.
And then in the middle of my chocolate cake, which honestly was good enough that the whole night was worth it, Jackson’s grandma, Julia, she told me to call her, called down from the end of the table. “Tell us how you met.”
Jackson and I shared a look, and I froze. Sometimes I can think of quick responses. But now was not one of those times. And besides, this was Jackson’s territory. Hopefully he would understand my silence and pleading expression to mean I had nothing. Zip, Zilch, nada.
He winked. “Oh, Grandma. It’s quite a story.”
All conversation stopped and turned to us.
What are you doing? Could he read minds? I sent all my warning thoughts in his direction.
But he sat back. “I mean. I don’t know if she even remembers. It was a long time ago.”
I studied his face. He seemed so sincere. Wow, he was cool as a convict, pulling out some lie.
“We had one of those shortened recesses in middle school, like an attempt to give the students more healthy air outside or something.”
“Mm hmm. That’s interesting son, but how did you meet Ava?” His mom looked like she wanted to pat him on the arm or something, but I was interested to see where this was going.
The other adults at the table laughed. I smiled and was all ears on the edge of my seat ready to hear what came next.
“Well, this particular day, there was a group of bullies running around. One by the name of Chad.”
Then suddenly, things were starting to click in place. Could I have actually met Jackson before tonight? I knew a bully named Chad.
The table erupted in conversations about how they hated bullies, and their children have to deal with bullies, and they remember this one terrible bully when they were in school.
Relieved, I started eating my chocolate cake, but Jackson watched me with a strangely intense expression.
“What?” I mouthed.
Then Grandma tapped her fork on her cup and everyone quieted. “I want to hear the rest of the story.”
“Oh, well, thank you, Grandma.” Jackson looked down at his plate for a minute, then he said. “This next part is kind of embarrassing for me, but here goes.”
He was either the best actor in the entire world or completely sincere right now.
“The bullies shoved the smallest guy in the grade, right in front of me, and I didn’t do or say anything about it, just sort of shrank back, hoping they wouldn’t see me next.” He lifted his gaze to mine, and I was spellbound. I was starting to remember, suspect, where he was going with this.
“Was that Paul?”
He nodded.
I swallowed. Oh boy. He was really gonna share this story with the room?
“And even though I was silent, they did turn on me next.”
A couple of the moms gasped.
“But what I didn’t know was that Ava was already on her way. And she was spitting mad.”
They laughed.
I waved my hand like it was no big deal. “It’s not like that.”
He nodded. “It was. You were an angel. To me, to Paul, to every kid that day, ‘cause you showed us how to stand up for ourselves.” He turned to everyone else. “So she stepped between them and me and shoved the biggest guy right in the chest as she said, ‘Back off.’”
They made fun of her a little bit, but she didn’t even seem to care. Then she yelled again. ‘I said, back off.’”
Jackson leaned back again and took a long drink of his water.
After a moment of silence, Grandma called down the table again, “What happened? Did they back off?”
Everyone was looking from me to him and back. He nodded at me to continue.
So I sighed and nodded. “They backed off.”
Jackson joined me again. “And she doesn’t know this either, but from that day, I have always stood up for others getting bullied.” His eyes said he was sincere. It was a great story if he wanted to marry me. Every person there was giving me doe eyes. And it looked like he really meant all this stuff. “You’re right. I had no idea.”
He nodded. “I didn’t think you remembered.”
“I remember that day, now, but I had no idea it made such a difference.”
“Oh, honey, acts like that always make a difference. You were so brave.” The nice hand that patted my arm made me smile a little. But mostly my mind was going a hundred miles an hour while I tried to figure out Jackson. We were a fake date, right? ‘Cause he was acting a lot like this had turned into a real date, and his family was involved, all his family’s close friends. Suddenly I needed to get some fresh air.
But I was trapped on all sides.
“Mom, may we be excused? Ava needs to make it an early night.”
I smiled. “Homework.”
“Oh certainly. We are so glad you could come.” Jackson’s mom stood and hugged me, real close, real tight. And I patted her arm in return.
Then we scurried from the room.
While we waited for the valet to bring his car, I started and stopped about ten conversations in my head.
But we remained in silence until we were finally back in his car. “Sorry about that in there.”
“It got a little intense.”
“I just didn’t know what to do. So I told the truth.”
“Is that the first time we met?”
“Yep. You reached down and helped me up. I think I was still in too much awe to even thank you.” He laughed. “And then I don’t think we have spoken again until tonight.”
“Wow, that’s an amazing story. Thank you for not lying. I think this was better.”
“I don’t know what I’m gonna sa
y if I don’t go out with you again.”
“We can go out again. Isn’t that what this is all about? Fake holiday dates when we need them?”
“What if it became a full-on fake holiday romance?”
I shook my head. “I don’t think we’re ready for that kind of commitment; I mean, we don’t even know each other yet. And there might be other people we want to fake date, you know?”
He nodded, slowly. “You make a good point. Understood. You’re not ready for this kind of commitment. We’ll just take it slowly before we fake date to the next level.”
“And we have to be careful for the real feelings involved.”
He choked. “Real feelings?”
“N-not between us. Like your family, your friends. That whole room full of people.”
He waved them away. “My parents yes, but the rest of them? No big.”
I wasn’t so sure. One thing I knew for certain was that the details of the party were definitely going to get back to my mom.
And I was not about to tell her the details of my fake dating life.
Chapter 6
My eyes jerked open the next morning, at an insanely early hour for a Saturday. Today I would be going to a party with Cal. With a laugh, I hopped in the shower. I could do parties. I had just been to one the night before.
But a party with Cal would be nothing like that party with Jackson.
Was that a good or a bad thing?
I had had fun with Jackson. I was beginning to think this whole fake date thing was going to be good after all. I’d had two more DMs during the night, and they were promising.
But I hadn’t heard anything else from Pete.
Sasha and I had talked about going shopping that day, but I was still feeling weird about her and Nick’s party. I guessed I would see her there. But we hadn’t talked about that either, or what I should wear, or any of the usual things we would have talked about by now if we were both going to the same party. We really hadn’t ever been to a party together. We were always just…us. Maybe she went to parties. I didn’t know. I never really thought much about the other stuff that Sasha did.
But I couldn’t think about any of that when I was trying to figure out my next fake date and work on my first real date with Cal, and watch my post going even more viral. My phone dinged.
