Chapter 2

Chapter 2

When the five minutes finally ended, Zach and Brianna pulled apart reluctantly.

The surrounding classmates cheered and whistled again.

"Damn, looks like Brianna didn't want it to end!"

"Right? They are already this clingy on day one. How are they going to survive when the month is over?"

"Brianna is a legend for picking a guy to date on a dare. Man, why didn't she pick me?"

"Wait, how do we know if you guys are actually dating? You have to post a kissing selfie every single day on your feed!"

They chatted excitedly, completely ignoring me sitting in the corner.

I grabbed my purse, ready to slip away unnoticed.

Just as I reached the door, Brianna's sharp eyes caught me.

She rushed over with an exaggerated look of guilt on her face.

"Hadley, are you leaving already?"

"I am so sorry. You are supposed to be the birthday girl tonight, but everyone was revolving around me. Did I make you upset? I apologize."

Zach walked over and gently ruffled Brianna's hair.

"Hadley isn't that petty."

"The fact that she came to the party proves she trusts that we are just close friends."

"So stop stressing over our past arguments."

Hearing those words, the blood in my veins turned to ice.

So that was why.

No wonder Zach suddenly offered to make up for my birthday weeks after the date had passed.

It was all just to ease Brianna's guilt.

I bit my lower lip, looking up into Brianna's eyes, which were brimming with triumph.

Seeing that I remained silent, Zach looked down at me with a searching gaze.

"I am right, aren't I, Hadley?"

I met Zach's eyes. He had handsome, captivating eyes that always held a lazy charm when he smiled.

I used to love staring into them, but now I could only feel an urge to look away.

Those eyes were now filled with pressure, demanding my submission for the sake of another girl.

I parted my pale lips and spoke softly.

"Yes. I understand that you two are just friends."

Zach let out a visible sigh of relief.

"Don't worry. Brianna and I are only doing this dating game for a month. Once it is over, I will come back to you."

"We promised to go to the same college, remember? I haven't forgotten that promise."

Brianna linked her arm through Zach's and nodded eagerly.

"Exactly! I am just borrowing Zach for a little while, Hadley. I won't keep him forever, I promise."

"Ouch, that hurts."

Brianna suddenly touched her lower lip and lightly punched Zach's chest.

"You really are a wild puppy! You bit my lip until it bled. I don't care, you have to let me bite you back!"

The two of them leaned into each other, flirting without a care in the world.

The room erupted into another round of loud hooting.

Taking advantage of the chaos, I turned and walked out the door with my bag.

I walked onto the sidewalk outside.

Since it was past midnight, the street was almost empty.

I opened a rideshare app, only to find several people ahead of me in line.

A text popped up from Preston: "Is the party over? Did you make it home yet?"

I typed back: "Not yet. Still waiting for a ride."

My phone rang almost instantly.

I answered it, and a clean, gentle voice came through the speaker.

"I arranged a car to pick you up. Just wait two more minutes."

"It is my fault for letting my girlfriend wait on the curb."

Hearing his soothing tone, the suffocating weight on my chest lifted slightly.

Just as I was about to thank Preston, a red sports car pulled up to the curb.

The window rolled down.

It was Zach and Brianna.

Brianna gave me a sweet smile from the passenger seat.

"It is too bad Zach is driving a coupe today, or else we could have given you a lift."

Then she gasped dramatically.

"Oh wait, I completely forgot! Today is technically our first day of dating. Having a third wheel along wouldn't be very romantic, would it?"

I pulled my coat tighter around myself and remained silent.

Zach sat behind the wheel without even glancing in my direction.

He reached over, pulled Brianna back, and clicked her seatbelt into place.

"You forgot again. Safety first."

Only then did he finally look at me.

"I will call a driver to pick you up in a bit. Brianna and I have a late-night date to get to..."

Before Zach could finish his sentence, a sleek black Bentley pulled up directly in front of me.

A man in a sharp suit stepped out and opened the rear door.

"Miss Ross? The young master sent me to pick you up. Thank you for your patience."

Ignoring Zach's stunned stare, I slid into the back seat, and the car smoothly sped away.

Within seconds, Zach's furious texts flooded my screen.

"Who was that driver? What did he mean by young master?"

"Hadley, don't you dare forget that I am your boyfriend."

I didn't reply and simply powered off my phone.