Music played softly in the background as you and Tori lounged in her room, talking about anything and everything.
After school, you both had decided to hang out, enjoying each other’s company.
Tori’s room felt cozy and inviting, with the dim light creating a relaxing atmosphere.
“So, you and Jade really like each other, huh?” Tori asked, a wide grin spreading across her face.
Your face turned a deep shade of red.
At this point, there was no need to lie about your feelings for Jade. In fact, you relished any opportunity to talk about how amazing she was.
“Yeah, I think so. I mean, I really, really like her.”
Tori nudged you gently, her grin widening.
“I can tell. You look at her like she’s your whole world.”
Oh god, if it was this obvious, did Jade know too?
You were pulled from your thoughts when Tori spoke again.
“At first, I thought Jade moved on weirdly fast, but I should’ve seen this coming. She would talk about you a lot.”
Your eyebrows shot up. “What do you mean?” you asked, curiosity piqued.
Tori looked at you nonchalantly.
“Yeah, every time it was just me and her, or even when we were with Cat, she’d start talking about you. Even if you had nothing to do with the conversation, she’d find a way to bring you up. But she was with Beck back then, so I didn’t think much of it.”
Your heart skipped a beat.
Could it be true that she actually liked you? Maybe you weren’t so delusional after all.
“Do you actually think she liked me back then? Wouldn’t that be so wrong since she was still with Beck? Especially since they were together for so long. She wouldn’t do that to him, right?” you asked, your mind racing with questions.
Tori giggled at your barrage of questions.
“You never know, it’s Jade we’re talking about,” she said with a shrug.
Your mouth fell open, slightly offended.
“What I’m saying is that I wouldn’t be surprised if she already liked you then,” Tori said, raising her hands defensively.
“Does she still talk about me to you or Cat?” you asked, trying to sound casual.
“Are you kidding me? Literally all the time.”
This was everything you had wanted to hear, but you still couldn’t quite believe it.
Maybe she was just trying to make the whole fake dating thing more believable. You had to know more.
“What does she say? Good things, I hope.”
Tori laughed. “Liv, of course, only good things. She can’t shut up about how pretty you are and how much she misses you when you’re not around. When we’re in class and she’s not sitting next to you, she keeps staring at you. She’s literally obsessed with you. I’ve never seen her like this,” she said honestly.
You couldn’t help but smile.
Maybe she actually liked you.
Maybe you had a small chance. But you couldn’t be sure yet.
Maybe this was all just her act.
You knew she was great at acting; she excelled at everything she did.
“She really likes you, Liv. I can see it in her eyes. I know you and her are dating, but I also know you. You’re always stressing about whether the person you’re dating actually likes you. You should stop stressing this time. I promise,” Tori said, pulling you in for a hug.
—
It was 11 p.m., and you were lying in bed, scrolling through Jade’s profile on The Slap.
You carefully analysed every photo she had posted with you in it and every caption she had written.
In some of the photos, she was looking at you, and you had to admit, there was a certain way she looked at you.
Lost in your thoughts, you were startled by an incoming call on your screen.
It was Jade.
You picked up and put the phone to your ear. “Hey.”
“Hey, baby,” she said.
“What’s up?” you asked, feeling butterflies flutter in your stomach.
“Where are you?”
You raised an eyebrow, even though she couldn’t see you.
“I’m in my room… why?” you asked suspiciously.
“Are you perhaps craving ice cream?”
When you had slept over at her house, you and she had talked about your love for ice cream and how you craved it all the time.
You couldn’t believe she had remembered.
“I am always craving ice cream, Jade. You know that.”
You heard her giggle softly.
“I know. Grab your stuff, I’m waiting for you outside,” she said, hanging up immediately, not giving you a chance to respond.
You ran downstairs, put on your shoes as quickly as you could, and opened the door.
You saw her car and made eye contact with her.
She waved at you, and you quickly walked up to the car and got in.
“Hey, babe,” you said while buckling your seatbelt.
“Hey, Liv,” she replied, grabbing your chin and placing a kiss on your cheek.
You looked at her, puzzled. “What was that for?”
She shrugged while turning her car back on. “I wanted to, so I did it.”
You couldn’t help but smile as you and her drove off into the night. This felt real.
And maybe, just maybe, it was.
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