Page 2 of My Fake Fiancé

“Yeah…” I trail off, looking down at my half-dressed body.

“Oh no, please don’t tell me you’re backing out. Come on. It’ll be fun! At any point in the night, if you want to leave, we can. Let’s just try!” Tatyana whines at me, wiggling my door in her hand. Her dramatics convince me and I roll my eyes, going to pull out outfit options.

“You are such a drama queen. But fine, no I’m not backing out. Let’s go out.” I sigh as Tatyana squeals happily.

“Although, I don't appreciate the ‘drama queen’ comment. Okay!” She claps excitedly and then comes into my room, looking at the options I set out on my bed. “I don’t hate all of these choices.”

“Gee, thanks. We literally just got this outfit today, for tonight.” I look down at the options laying on my bed next to her and put my hands on my hips. I point out the new outfit, trying to convince her. “And I like this one. It’s a cute, simple, comfortable outfit for my first time going out in a long time. And the heels are stunning.”

“Hm, true but I think we can live a little more dangerously than this. And yes I do realize we went shopping today and I like the outfit you bought but I’ve changed my mind. I have another idea. A better idea.” Tatyana flings the new jeans off of the bed. I make a face but she pushes forward. She goes into my closet and when she comes out, she is holding a black leather mini-skirt that I am shocked I still have. “See, this is better. You can wear the new outfit some other night.”

“Ugh, are you sure? I think I’d be more comfortable in the jeans.” I start to reach for my new jeans but she smacks the skirt into my outstretched hands. “Right. Alright, fine.”

I change into the skirt, making a face when it feels too tight. Tatyana nods approving it though so I press forward. She hands me the newly purchased top then hesitates and takes it back.

“Hmm, I think I’ll wear this tonight.” Tatyana holds onto it then grabs the other shirt off my bed and hands it to me. “This one will look better anyway.”

“Did you make me buy that shirt just so you could wear it?” I roll my eyes as she yanks the tag off the new shirt.

“No, definitely not but I do love it and I will be borrowing it from time to time. And that includes tonight.” Tatyana waves the shirt at me.

I look down at the shirt that she handed me. The shirt is an old, worn Metallica shirt. It looks familiar but I can’t quite remember where it’s from. I don’t think it was originally mine. Tatyana notices me staring at the shirt.

“I think you stole that from my brother when we were younger.” She lifts the material and looks at the tag before nodding. “Yup, see? Has his name on the tag. Very faded but you can still see.”

“Okay,” I nod. “Good.” For a second there I was worried it was my ex’s shirt. I like the shirt but it probably would have been a bad idea to wear it if it had belonged to my ex.

“Okay, I’m going to finish getting ready. Don’t let me take more than an hour.” Tatyana instructs me before darting out of my room.

I stay in my room to finish getting dressed then I go back to the bathroom to hang up my towels. To make sure everything is set for the night, I take both of our phones and plug them in. I set them on the table by the door so we won’t forget them. I run back to my room and dig around my closet for some cute heels. I find a pair that would look cute with the shirt Tatyana took so I bring the shoes to her room and toss them on her bed.

“Ooo, perfect, thank you!” Tatyana says, darting her eyes, looking at the shoes before going back to focusing on her makeup.

“No problem! We’re leaving in fifteen minutes!” I shout as I leave her room and go to sit down on the couch to wait for her.

“Perfect! Mike is expecting us in like half an hour so that should give us time to walk there. He’s meeting us there with his friend and his girlfriend. I think her name is Savannah.” Tatyana’s voice carries down the hallway to where I’m sitting.

“Sounds good.” I grab an apple out of the bowl on the coffee table and munch on it while I wait.

Tatyana appears eleven minutes later. She struts into the room and does a spin for me, showing off her outfit. She stops in front of me and gestures to her outfit.

“Amazing,” I applaud her outfit then stand up and make my way to the kitchen. I toss the apple core in the trash and then retrieve our phones from the door.

“You know they’ll have some food there right?” Tatyana comments as I hand Tatyana her phone and we both get our purses packed.

“Maybe but I am not feeling greasy bar food or nuts. No, thank you.” We head out the door right at the fifteen-minute mark. The night air is warm but there is enough of a breeze that the half-mile walk to the club will be pleasant.

“No, seriously. I heard they hired this famous chef from a fancy restaurant in Chicago. Why he decided to come live here and take a job as a cook at a nightclub, I have no idea.” She pauses her explanation as we continue walking to the club. “Okay, the story doesn’t entirely make sense so it’s quite possible that it isn’t true. But still, the point is that they actually serve good, real food. Not just typical bar food.”

“Right, sure.” I make a face at her. “I want to see this ‘real food’ menu as soon as we get there.”

“Alright, don’t worry about it. I got you, girl.” Tatyana links her arm through mine and she points out the club sign on the corner of the next street. The sign and entrance to the club look like an old-time movie theater. The places where the movie titles and times would go instead show different Happy Hour drinks and prices. “There it is!” Tatyana squeals as she picks up her pace.

“Ah, I forgot about this theater. Kind of sad it’s gone.” Tatyana tugs me along beside her, down the sidewalk, as I reminisce.

“Oh, yeah? Did you ever see a movie there? Mhm,” She says when I don’t respond right away. “That's what I thought.”

“Okay, maybe I hadn’t seen one here recently, obviously, since I didn’t even know it was sold off and turned into a club but I used to go there when I was younger. Once a month maybe. More during the summer. Especially if it was raining.” I continue talking, trying to get out all of my nervous energy before we enter the club.

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