08

THERE'S A LOOMING cloud in the sky this morning.

As I pull into Lila's driveway I get the sense that it's probably going to rain soon.

I didn't tell Lila that I would be picking her up this morning. I was planning to, but then I realized I don't even have her number. I think that goes to show we need a little more planning.

I put the car into park and hop out, absentmindedly running a hand through my hair. The air is thick as I walk up her driveway, trying to figure out what to say.

Instead of coming up with something like a normal person, I ring the doorbell. Might as well just get this over with.

The door opens almost instantly, Mrs. Matthews looks slightly confused but then she smiles when she sees me.

"Chase!" She exclaims. "Are you here for Lila?"

I nod sheepishly, "I hope she hasn't left yet."

Mrs. Matthews shakes her head, "Nope! She was just about to, though. You caught her right on time." She grins at me and opens the door further. "Come in, honey."

I think about declining, but decide against it. Boyfriends do everything to make their girlfriends mom like them, right?

"Thank you, Mrs. Matthews," I say, and she simply smiles.

"Lila!" She hollers, looking up to the stairs. "Hurry, honey!"

"Mom, hold on, will you?" I hold back my laughter at Lila's groan of frustration.

"I take it she's not a morning person?" Mrs. Matthews laughs at my words.

"More of a not any time of day person," she corrects, and I have to agree with her.

The sound of footsteps makes its way through the house and Lila emerges seconds later, alarmed when she sees me.

I grin.

"What are you doing here?" She hisses, slipping past her mom.

"I'm here to pick you up, remember? We talked about this." We did not, in fact, talk about this. I raise my brow though, warning her not to decline my offer. It would raise a ton of suspicion, and she knows that.

"Right," she grits out. "Well, we better be on our way, see you, mom!" She grabs my arm and begins to drag me to the door. Thankfully, all things considered, I am much larger than her so she doesn't get very far.

"Wait, honey? You're not hungry?" Mrs. Matthews asks, a slight frown on her face.

I grin down at Lila, "Actually—" I begin, but she cuts me off quickly.

"Nope! We're good. Bye, mom. Love you." She digs her nails into my arm and hauls me out the door, slamming it shut behind her.

"Jesus, Matthews," I say, taking my arm out of her hold. "You've got claws."

She glares at me, clearly unamused. "What are you doing here, Chase?"

Her brows are dipped sternly and I fight off a smile from her serious demeanor.

"I'm picking you up for school, you Grinch," I say, swinging my keys around my fingers as I walk down the front steps.

"Yeah, I got that part—but why?"

Why? I honestly don't know. All I do know is that I got in my car this morning and somehow found my way here.

I don't say that though. Instead I turn to her and shrug. "Because, that's what you do when you're in a committed relationship."

She gives me a flat look. "I feel the need to point that we aren't in a committed relationship."

"No," I smirk. "But other people don't know that."

She narrows her eyes, "So this is our public appearance? This is how people will find out The Chase Rhodes is dating Lila Matthews?"

I open the car door for her and wait for her to get inside. Much to my surprise, she doesn't fight me on it. "One of the ways," I inform her.

I shut the door and get into the drivers' seat. Turning the car back on, I see Lila turn to me. "One of the ways?"

I begin to drive when she pokes my arm. "Are you always so violent?" I ask.

She ignores that and says, "What do you mean one of the ways, Rhodes?"

I sigh, I had planned to tell her the entire plan later today, but I should have known she would have gotten it out of me sooner. She often has that effect.

"My friend Jack Hyde—I'm sure you know him, you know, the one you rejected? Yeah, well, he's having a party on Saturday—in celebration for winning our first game, and I think it's the best way to subtly make our...situation public."

Jack is pretty known for holding the biggest parties. I've only attended two: his Halloween party last year, and his birthday party a couple months ago. They were...chaotic, to say the least.

Lila throws her head back into the seat. She's silent for a moment, her face completely neutral, making me wonder what she's thinking.

Is it too much? I mean, I thought it would be a good way, considering we wouldn't have to do anything except exist next to each other.

Maybe I was wrong.

"Let me get this straight," she finally says. intertwining her fingers together. "You want us to announce our situation at a party the boy I rejected is hosting?"

Okay, so it sounds a lot worse saying it like that.

I tilt my head. "Yes?"

"This is a horrible idea, you know?" She interprets my silence to say, "But I guess it's better than you announcing your unrequited love for me in front of everyone."

"I don't know which universe you thought that might happen, but I can confirm it won't," I insist, watching as she grins lazily at me.

She quickly turns away though, and it takes everything in me not to turn her face around. There's something very unfamiliar about her smile that makes me want her to smile all the time.

She's got one of those good smiles. One she doesn't have to try for it look genuine. Its just too bad she doesn't use it often enough.

It's definitely a mean contrast to her harsh scowls.

I shake my thoughts away as we turn into the school parking lot. It's still pretty crowded from how early it is. So there's a guarantee people will see us.

"This is your chance to back out if you want to," Lila informs me and I turn to face her.

"Why would I want to?" I counter, and she shrugs. "I'm not backing out Lila. You owe me a month of tutoring sessions," I remind her. I hope out of my car before she can answer me, throwing my backpack over my shoulder.

She slowly slips out herself, and suddenly we're standing side by side. Her frame is visibly tense, and before I can think about it I place my hand in hers.

She jumps a little, and I wonder if I should take it back, but then she relaxes and I lean toward her ear, ignoring the way my entire arm burns from her touch. "Relax," I whisper, watching the way she shivers a little.

I hold her hand all the way until we've reached the front doors. I know people are watching. I can feel their eyes. But I pay them no mind. I keep my focus on the weight of Lila's hand.

I run my thumb over her knuckles, the cool air of the hallway greeting us. I'm about to tell her that we had nothing to worry about, but the. Lucas and Blake are making their way toward us and I'm tensing at their presence.

"Well, well, at least now we know where he's been running off to," Lucas laughs. I muster up a grin in return. He turns to Lila. "I'm Lucas Sato—and before you ask, I am the funniest one of this trio we've got going on."

Lila takes his outstretched hand and shakes it. "I wasn't going to ask, but thank you for the information."

I bite my lip to hold back my laughter.

"I like her," Lucas nods his head in approval.

"Ignore him, he doesn't know when to shut up half the time," Blake says, grinning at Lila. Lila smiles tentatively back.

"So, wait. If you guys are—well, you know," Lucas mashes his hands together, leaving all of us confused. "Together. When did this happen?"

My brows shoot up, and I feel Lila tense further. "Not too long ago," I offer, and it seems to please him enough.

"Oh, and Chase," Blake suddenly says. I look toward him and he jerks his head to the side.

"I'll be right back," I whisper in Lila's ear and she nods.

Following Blake off to the side of the hallway, I raise a brow at him. "Look," he begins. "I don't think I can pick up Grace today, Coach has me on schedule for practice after school and I don't think I can get out of it."

I curse under my breath. Then I shake my head. "It's alright, Blake. Thanks for telling me—I'll figure something out, don't worry."

He nods, looking sincere, and that's one reason why I can't be mad at him. He's been helping me out for so long, I can't put my burdens on him anymore.

I smile assuredly, and it's enough for him. I find myself standing next to Lila again when the bell rings.

"Well, this has been fun, but I've gotta hot teacher to see," Lucas raises his hand in mock salute and spins around.

"I should probably follow him, shouldn't I?" Blake grimaces. I nod and he waves us goodbye before taking off after Lucas.

I spin around and place my hands on Lila's shoulders, guiding her through the mass of students in the hall. It's only when we've reached her locker that she says, "What was that all about?"

I look at her, "What was what all about?" I know exactly what that what is but I decide not to admit that.

"Don't play dumb, Rhodes." She raises a brow, grabbing her books and slamming her locked shut.

I shrug, "Football stuff." She opens her mouth to argue but I cut her off. "Anyway, what time should I pick you up on Saturday?"

I know it's a huge topic change, and judging by the way she narrows her eyes, she knows it too. But she goes along with it, "What time is the party again?"

"Nine I'm pretty sure, I'll ask Jack to confirm later," I assure her and she nods.

When she doesn't fully answer, I look towards her and see her brows are furrowed, obviously

still nervous for this whole thing. "Hey," I say softly. "We've got this." She nods, and I try to convince myself of my own words.