C H A P T E R F O U R

R I L E Y A D A M S

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DESPERATELY TRYING TO keep my cool, I weaved in and out of the seas of bodies that flooded the school corridors, trying to reach the front doors of the school as fast as possible.

Groaning in annoyance, my head snapped to the menace that followed behind me, hot on my heels as he tried to keep up.

"For the last time, I've already said yes. What more could you possibly want?" I exclaimed, my feet glued to the ground as my hands were flapping about in the air as if I were some kind of mad woman.

'Well.' I thought as I couldn't help but agree with myself that sometimes I could indeed be a mad woman.

"I'm well aware. But I can't just randomly start dating you! I'm Caden King for gods sake, I don't just drop my heartbreaker habits like that, it takes time. It's a delicate situation that needs my full attention." He uttered triumphantly as he nodded in approval at his own words.

Rolling my eyes, I bit back a sarcastic remark and simply smiled. It was fake though, just keep that in mind.

I hated to admit it, but he was right. Ugh, how annoying, but it really was a 'delicate situation' but him giving his full attention to the situation really was the cherry on top.

Mumbling a reply, my gaze shifted to anywhere but that stupid smirk of his. "I suppose so." I managed to speak out through my gritted teeth.

"Great." Sarcasm practically dripping as Caden pulled onto my arm, dragging me out the front doors of the school.

"Wha- where are you taking me? Let go. Caden, Caden. Ca-." Groaning with annoyance, Caden peered down at me, his lips pulled into a thin line as he raised his eyebrow. "Do me a favour and keep quiet for just 2 seconds."

Holding up my hand, I put up 2 fingers one after the other as I gestured 'one' and 'two' silently.

"There, it's been 2 seconds. Now where in the world are you taking me?" Ignoring my multiple questions, he remained silent and continued to drag me further and further away from the school.

After many necessary curses and verbal abuse directed solely to the 'King' himself, Caden finally stopped dragging me like a rag doll and stopped, causing me to walk straight into his back, my nose buzzing with pain as I muttered a sour 'Ouch'.

After the pain had reduced, I took a step back to examine the building before me.

'Danny's Diner' was labelled on the front in big neon lettering, which was the first thing my eyes had laid themselves upon.

"A diner?" I asked in confusion as Caden turned to face me, a smile present on his lips as he spoke. "Yeah, you're going to meet my friends." Completely speechless, I simply stared at him for what felt like forever as I comprehended his casual words.

"Sorry, come again." I asked as he shook his head in amusement.

"Well princess, I've never introduced a girl to my friends before, so this will immediately have them rule out the fact that you're 'just another fling', when we do this whole fake dating thing, we have to make it as believable as possible, meaning that no one can know that this is fake besides you and me. Got it."

"Not really, I mean- I thought this was just to make your family believe we were dating, so I don't see why your friends can't know that this is fake." I questioned, pointing between the two of us as he took my concern into account.

"I just think it's better if they didn't know, alright. It gives us an opportunity to be more of a believable couple and when my friends start to question what's going on between us, so will the whole school and next thing you know, the whole of town will know and believe that Riley Adams had helped the heartbreaker. So now do you see where I'm coming from?" He asked without waiting for my reply, he snaked his arm around my waist and pushed the door open, dragging me along with him into the busy diner.

It was true though, this town was small, which had its advantages and disadvantages. An advantage being that everyone practically knew everyone- which immediately linked to the disadvantage since the second you do something wrong or find out some shocking scandal- the whole town knows and everyone can openly judge you, regardless if it's their place or not.

"Stop being so nervous, my friends will be able to practically smell the fear off of you." Caden joked as he leaned down and whispered into my ear.

Looking at him shocked, I glared harshly, taking in his sheepish smile as he shook his head in recovery from his laughter. "Lighten up princess, I'm just joking with you. Just relax, they'll love you, just you watch." He assured me as I shook my head.

"Well I certainly didn't find it very funny and I guess we'll just have to see." I snapped as not a second later we stood in front of table that consisted of a group of 2 guys and 2 girls- Caden's arm no longer wrapped firmly around my waist.

Awkwardly smiling, I waited silently as each boy and girl eyed me up and down from head to toe, not a word uttered from either of their mouths as their conversation had immediately died down.

"Uh, hi." I finally spoke up as a friendly wave was followed shortly after my greeting.

"She doesn't seem to like the girls you're usually seen around with." Raising my eyebrows, I narrowed my eyes at the oh so rude boy that sat in his seat all smug looking.

"Well for one I'm not letting him into my pants." I shot back, arms crossed over my chest as his smug expression had now fled from his face.

"I like her." He chuckled, my eyes retracted from their narrowed state as I looked up at Caden and back down to the boy in surprise.

"Oh- thanks, I guess." I replied as Caden chuckled next to me, his arm resting lazily around my shoulder as he pointed at me.

"This is Riley. Riley Adams. She's a- a friend." He introduced me as a chorus of 'heys' erupted from all around the table.

"I'm Jake." The smug boy started, his bright blue eyes glimmering with mischief as he ran a hand through his beach blond hair.

"Lola." A girl with frizzy black hair and dark brown eyes, spoke up.

Hearing the other boy tell me his name- Will- I shifted my gaze to him taking in his green eyes and light brown hair as he uttered his name, a smile lingering on his lips as he pushed his glasses further up his nose.

And finally, the remaining girl perkily smiled, her hand sticking out as she waited for me to shake it. "I'm Joanna but you can just call me Jo."

Smiling back, I nodded, slipping into the booth next to her and comfortably peering round at each of them, examining them all once again.

Caden took a seat in front of me, his smirk not going unnoticed as he showed off his pearly white teeth.

"So, you must be pretty special if Caden brought you here." Lola smiled, her eyes shifting between Caden and I as he glanced at me, winking my way as heat suddenly crept up my neck, my cheeks now turning into a deep red colour.

"She is." He smiled as I returned the look, feeling he stares from the others as I refrained from squirming in my seat.

God he was a good actor, he almost seemed genuine. I guess this was going to be easier than I had first initially expected.

"Hot too." Jake piped in, his eyebrows wiggling up and down in a flirtatious way as Caden reached over and slapped the back of his head, causing him to hunch forward as he rubbed his sore head.

"Back off." Caden jokingly glared as Jake lifted his hands up in surrender, a series of laughter escaping from all of us as we dove into conversation, my eyes lingering back to Caden as he too did the same.

"So where did you two meet?" Jo asked, a curious look floating about in her eyes as she grinned at the way I looked down at my hands.

"It was quite cliché if I do say so myself, but we kind of crashed into each other. Literally." Caden smirked as I rolled my eyes as the memory had replayed itself in my mind.

"More like, you crashed into me." I pointed out, sending him a side glance.

"Mhm, sure princess, whatever helps you sleep at night." He winked causing Jo and Lola to gush in awe.

"Awh, you two are so cute!" Lola smiled, her hands clasped together as Jake and Will simply watched the way Jo and Lola momentarily fangirled.

"Don't let this one get away, I like her. We like her." Jo strictly told Caden, her finger pointing at him as her eyes practically said the words 'Don't screw it up' instead of literally uttering a word.

Sending me a smirk that said it all, and by all, I meant 'I told you so' I rolled my eyes, sticking my tongue out at Caden as he simply smiled.

'Hm, guess this wasn't going to be too bad.' I thought to myself as I smiled and answered questions that came in all directions, a satisfied smile plastered to my face.

'Not bad at all.'

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