FAKE BOYFRIEND

Lily trudged through the crowded hallway, her eyes fixed on the floor to avoid the curious glances of her classmates. It was only the second week of senior year, and already the questions had started.

"Hey, Lil, who's your date for the Fall Fling?" her friend Emily asked, nudging her playfully.

Lily shrugged, feeling a familiar knot of anxiety in her stomach. She had no idea who she was going to take to the dance, or if anyone would even ask her despite being the daughter of a wealthy family or maybe was it because of her nerdiness to everyone. Her glittering silky short gown hung below her knees, each stride she took, with elegance and eludes wealth.

That's when she spotted him - Killian, the calm unknown guy who works his ass off to get money for feeding himself and his single mom, facing the counter with a glass cup of plum wine. They had never really talked before, but Lily had heard rumors about his charm and good looks.

On a whim, she approached him. "Hey, Killian? Can I talk to you for a minute?"

He raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Sure thing, Lil. What's up?"

Lily took a deep breath. "I need a favor. I want you to pretend to be my boyfriend for the rest of the school year."

Killian's smirk faltered, replaced by a look of surprise. "What? Why?." Deep down he wanted to scream out of excitement. The hottest wealthy girl in school wants to hire him as a boyfriend? Luck do comes with him.

Lily hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But something about Killian's warm eyes put her at ease. "I just need someone to make my life easier, okay? And I'll make it worth your while."

Killian's grin returned, and he held out his hand. "Till the end of this year then?"

She looked down at his veiny hands. "Deal?." She shook his hands.

"Deal." He smiled. "I'm Killian Henderson." He introduced.

Lily Hales smiled ear to ear as she shook hands with Killian. The handshake lasted longer than expected until Emily interrupted with a fake cough, and they withdrew their hands.

"What's happening here?" Emily asked, eyeing Killian, who looked nervous and unable to find the right words.

"Emily, you're interrupting a moment with my boyfriend," Lily said, her hands quickly grasping Killian's as she dragged him onto the dance floor.

As they reached the dancefloor, rented by the hip-hop music, Lily asked, "Why aren't you dancing?."

"Because I can't dance to hip-hop Killian admitted.

"What can you dance to?"

"A slow music."

Just then, Lily excused herself and left the dancefloor, leaving her fake boyfriend stand alone. Abruptly, the hip-hop music changed to "Dandelions" by Ruth B.

Killian was surprised. She went to change the music just to fit his taste of dance? How nice. She isn't that bad. He thought.

As his eyes sets on the elegant lady approaching him in a silky gown that hung below her knees, a smile played on his lips.

"You don't have to do that, you know." Amidst his smile, he muttered.

With a smirk, she wrapped her arms around his neck, bringing her face closer to his and feeling his warm breath wash over her face. "Well, I did."

He chuckled softly. His hands snaked around her slender waist. She locked eyes with his, peering at his bottom lips wanting to feel how it taste on hers. The music fading into a trance like state as both faces grew closer and closer but then, his phone buzzed, stopping his lips inches away from hers. Inches away from having her having her first kiss and everything returned to normal.

"Sorry," he said, pulling his phone out from his black pants. It was his mom boldly written on the caller ID. "It's my mom..." he began.

"No, no. It's fine. Go answer it." She lets out a small air through her nosestrills. A hint of how nervous she was.

He forced a small smile before immediately walking past her. She spun around and watch the dude exit the entrance door.

Emily got everything that was happening on camera and was happy about it. She approached her immediately.

"Hey baby girl, you finally got yourself a boyfriend." Emily squeaked, drawing her out of her thoughtful evaluation. "How did it happen?." she continued. What she saw between them piqued her interest.

"It's a long story." Says Lily. Her divided attention not allowing her digest what it was that Emily was excited about.

"Hey mom," He said almost immediately. He stood outside the lake house. The howling wind washing over him. The dry rustling leaves traveling in the direction of the wind.

Instead of getting a reply, he was pulled to the brink of fear by his mom's cough.

"Mom? Mom? Are you okay?" he rushed all at once but it wasn't just a cough, she was choking.

"I can't... I-i I can't... Can't breath." The phone call hung up immediately and he cursed.

"Shit!"

He dialed her line again but it was unable to connect. Not waisting any second, he left the lake house in search of a taxi that drove him home immediately.

Pulling to a stop, he paid the driver even extra before hurriedly rushing into his apartment.

"Mom?!" Mom?!" he called from outside before he could even get inside. He rushed to her room but didn't find here in there. "Mom?! Where are you?" he broke out In tears when he found her body shaking uncontrollably on the floor.

Rushing down to her, he held her hands. "Stay with me, mom! Stay with me please?" he was yelling in tears as he pulled out his phone and dialed 911.

Phone beeps. "911. State your..." the voice on the speaker began, but he didn't let it finish.

"I need an ambulance now! My mom's dieing!" He half yelled and ended the call immediately, trying to hold his mom's hands and stopping her from shaking.