5. Unraveling the Game

The school day dragged on, each class feeling like an eternity. Savannah could hardly focus. Her thoughts kept circling back to the kiss. It had been impossible to ignore, no matter how hard she tried. Cassian’s lips on hers had sent shockwaves through her entire body, and she could still feel the heat. Her heart still raced, her pulse still erratic. And it wasn’t even the most complicated part of the plan.

She was caught between the strange thrill of it all and the overwhelming confusion. The whole ‘fake dating’ thing had seemed so simple when Cassian had laid it out—‘be seen together, look like a couple, act like it’s real’. It sounded straightforward, right? Just two people pretending to be something they weren’t.

But now? Now, everything felt like it was spiraling.

Savannah was still reeling from the kiss as she sat down in her usual spot at lunch, trying to steady her nerves. Her eyes kept darting around, but the moment they met Cassian’s—across the cafeteria—her stomach flipped. He was leaning casually against the wall, talking to his usual group of friends, but his gaze was fixed on her. And he wasn’t the only one watching. Everyone around her seemed to be aware of their sudden shift in dynamic.

"You okay?" Zoe asked, her voice laced with concern as she slid into the seat across from Savannah. Her eyes were narrow, her focus sharp as she looked at her friend. “You’re acting weird.”

“I’m fine,” Savannah replied quickly, offering a tight smile. She tried to ignore the slight tremble in her hands as she picked up her tray. “Just tired, I guess.”

Zoe didn’t seem convinced. She raised an eyebrow but didn’t press. Instead, she turned to where Cassian was still watching Savannah, his expression unreadable. Savannah caught the way Zoe’s gaze flicked between them, and a knot formed in her stomach.

"Do you think this whole thing is actually going to work?" Zoe asked, her voice quieter now, more cautious.

Savannah hesitated before answering. "I don’t know," she admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. “It’s just... everything feels off.”

"Yeah, I get that," Zoe murmured, glancing over at Cassian again, who was now talking animatedly with one of his friends. His laughter carried over to their table, and it sent a chill through Savannah. The plan felt too real. And what made it worse was that Cassian seemed so comfortable in it.

“Don’t let him mess with your head, okay?” Zoe added. “If he starts playing games, you need to call it out.”

Savannah nodded but didn’t feel any less confused. Cassian had kissed her in front of half the school without hesitation, and it wasn’t just some casual thing. There was intention behind it. He wanted everyone to think they were a couple. But why? Why now? Why her?

As if sensing her doubts, Cassian suddenly stood up from his group and walked toward their table, his stride purposeful. Savannah’s stomach clenched at the sight of him, and she couldn’t help the sudden rush of anxiety. This was the moment. She had no choice but to follow the plan now.

Cassian sat down beside Savannah without so much as a word, his leg brushing against hers under the table. The contact was subtle, but it was enough to make her breath hitch. She quickly shifted in her seat, trying to ignore the growing tension in her chest.

"Hey," he greeted, glancing at Zoe with a quick smile. "Everything good?"

Zoe barely glanced at him, nodding before turning back to her food, clearly still processing everything. She didn’t seem entirely thrilled about Cassian’s presence. Savannah couldn’t blame her. If she were in Zoe’s shoes, she probably wouldn’t be thrilled either.

Savannah opened her mouth to say something, but Cassian cut her off, his voice low enough that only she could hear. "You’re looking tense," he said, his eyes narrowing in a way that made her heart race. "Don’t worry. You’re doing fine."

“I didn’t say anything,” she muttered, shifting uncomfortably.

Cassian chuckled softly, his eyes gleaming with a mixture of amusement and something else she couldn’t place. “You don’t have to. I can tell,” he said, his voice deliberately soft. He then turned his attention to Zoe. “So, what’s the plan for this weekend?”

Zoe looked at him suspiciously, but her response was polite enough. “No plans yet.”

“Good. Because Savannah and I have a ‘lot’ to do,” Cassian replied smoothly, glancing at Savannah with a pointed look. “Right?”

Savannah’s heart skipped a beat. “Yeah,” she replied, forcing a smile, even though she had no idea what he meant. “Lots to do.”

The rest of the lunch period passed in a haze. Cassian seemed to have no trouble maintaining the illusion that they were a couple, even as he subtly touched her arm or leaned in close to whisper things in her ear that made her skin tingle. By the time the bell rang, Savannah felt dizzy from the whirlwind of emotions, caught between what she was supposed to be doing and how it felt so different from what she expected.

As the students filed out of the cafeteria, Savannah lingered at her seat, trying to calm her racing thoughts. Cassian was already halfway across the room when she stood up, the weight of her decision settling on her shoulders. Was this really going to work? Or was she just setting herself up for something she couldn’t control?

She didn’t have much time to ponder before Cassian appeared at her side, his presence commanding, like he owned the space around him. He gave her a crooked smile, one that made her stomach flip.

“Ready for step two?” he asked.

Savannah’s breath hitched in her throat. Step two? She hadn’t even fully processed step one.

“Step two?” she echoed.

“Yep,” he said casually. “And trust me, it’s going to be even more fun than step one.”

Savannah could feel the unease creeping back into her chest. What had she gotten herself into?