Page 241 of Shy Girls Can't Fake Date

“Even if it’s with her?”

I nod. “Even if it’s with her. Geez, I can’t imagine walking into school and seeing them together.”

“Okay, this is a bit out there,” Lewis says, shifting in his seat. “But, it could help save face.”

“What do you mean?”

“Well, if you’re worried about school on Monday, I could walk in with you.”

“Why would you do that?”

“If we walk in together, and I have my arm around you, they might think we got together.”

I push back in my seat. “Like, faking we’re together?”

Lewis smirks. “I know, it sounds ridiculous. But it might give us some confidence to go back to school.”

My nerves ease and I sit forward. “You’re nervous about it?”

“Ah, yeah,” he says, folding his arms. “I left for spring break with Yvette Anderson on my arm. Now I’m going back single. It’s not exactly a boost to my ego.”

“No one would think badly of you. Everyone knows Yvie jumps from guy to guy.”

“Yeah, but it would help shift focus if I had a new girl by my side.”

“I’ll walk into school with you, but I’m not faking that we’re together.”

Lewis mumbles a laugh. “Yeah, that’s fair. It’s probably not something that’s easy to make believable.”

I avert my eyes. “Ha, yeah.”

“Are you cool to hang by my side, anyways?”

I look back at him and there’s pleading in his eyes. “I’m so sorry you got hurt.”

He sits back in surprise. “It’s not your fault.”

Those words hit me like a semi-truck.

I rub the space over my heart and say, “I see no reason we can’t walk into school together. We’re neighbors after all.”

Lewis pulls a fist toward himself in triumph. “Yes!”

I give him a guilty smile. “Can I be honest with you about something?”

His eyebrows lift. “Sure.”

“I hate the Wasteland Gang movies. I watched them so I’d have something to talk to you about, but I think they’re really dumb.”

Lewis laughs, clasping a hand over his chest. “Ouch. Kick a guy when he’s down.”

“I’m sorry. I just felt like I needed to confess.” I giggle behind a cupped hand. “I also got into Frontier Leaders because I thought you liked him.”

“Oof. Now, I’m sorry.” Lewis smirks. “Does Parker know?”

I nod. “He didn’t tell me you didn’t like them.”

“Because then you’d really know they weren’t a cool band.”

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