In love with a strange man

Natalie

The letter trembled slightly in my grip, but I refused to let frustration get the best of me. It wasn't rejection, not exactly. More like a do better warning disguised as constructive feedback.

"To remain a competitive applicant for the internship, consider elevating your social presence to reflect a well-rounded student experience."

Great. My grades, my dedication, my carefully planned future- none of it was enough. Apparently, I needed to be seen outside the library, maybe even smile in public once in a while.

The coffee shop bustled with activity, the hum of conversation blending with the occasional clatter of mugs. My laptop sat open in front of me, half a page of my research paper blinking back at me, but my mind had been hijacked by this ridiculous requirement. "What am I going to do... Where do I really start from... How's this really necessary." These were the yet unanswerable questions running through my mind.

A few tables away, a loud burst of laughter caught my attention. Jason Carter. Of course. He was surrounded by his usual entourage, effortlessly commanding attention like it was his birthright.

Campus heartthrob. Star hockey player. The kind of guy whose name alone could open doors, while people like me had to prove themselves over and over again.

The unfairness of it all gnawed at me. Then an idea took shape. If the internship committee wanted social presence, why not give them exactly that? Not through meaningless small talk or networking events, but by aligning myself with someone who already had the kind of influence they valued. Jason could be the answer.

Doubt crept in, whispering that this was a terrible idea. He'd probably laugh in my face. Or worse, say yes just to make a game out of it.

My legs carried me toward his table before my brain could fully catch up. The group of guys around him noticed me first, their amusement barely concealed. Jason leaned back in his chair, a slow grin curving his lips.

"Well, this is unexpected." His tone dripped with curiosity.

Nerves threatened to ruin my confidence, but I squared my shoulders and met his gaze head-on. "I need your help."

His brows lifted slightly. "Help?"

"A deal, actually."

Jason exchanged a glance with one of his teammates before turning his attention back to me. "You want me to help you?"

"Yes," I said firmly. "A fake relationship. We pretend to date, and it benefits us both."

Someone at the table let out a low whistle. Another muttered, "Damn, that's bold."

Jason tilted his head, amusement flickering across his face. "You think pretending to be my girlfriend is going to help you?"

"I know it will," I countered. "I need a stronger social presence for an internship. You need to-" I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "Appear more... stable."

That got his attention.

Jason leaned forward, elbows resting on the table. "Stable?"

"Your reputation is all over the place. A serious relationship-even a fake one-could change how people see you."

Silence stretched between us. A slow, thoughtful smile replaced his usual cocky expression. "So let me get this straight. You want to use me to boost your social standing, and in return, I get to look like the kind of guy who can commit?"

I nodded. Jason tapped his fingers against the table, pretending to consider it. "What's stopping me from saying no?"

"If I thought you would, I wouldn't have asked."

The corners of his mouth twitched, like he was fighting back a grin. "Interesting."

Jason

Natalie Pierce just asked me to fake date her. That wasn't something I had on my bingo card today. The whole thing should've been ridiculous, but she stood there, arms crossed, completely serious. No hesitation. No awkward fidgeting. She wasn't like the girls who usually threw themselves at me, and maybe that's what made this even more intriguing.