Love In Strange Places

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.

Leaning back, I studied her for a moment. Straight- A student, never seen at parties, always focused on her next academic milestone. The total opposite of me.

"You're actually serious," I said.

"Completely."

"Tell me what you think this involves."

Her lips pressed together, like she had rehearsed this in her head a dozen times. "We spend time together in public. Hold hands. Maybe sit together at games or study in the library. People need to see us together."

"You left out the fun parts," I teased.

Her expression remained unimpressed. "It's not that kind of arrangement."

That only made me smirk. "Sure, sure. No fun allowed."

Someone at the table coughed out a laugh. Natalie didn't flinch.

"Are you in or not?" she asked.

The smart move would be to say no. My reputation was already a mess, and agreeing to something like this could turn it into an even bigger spectacle. But that also meant controlling the narrative. Coach had been on my case about the team's image, and my bad-boy hockey star reputation wasn't helping.

This could work in my favor. I dragged it out for a few more seconds, enjoying the way she tried not to look impatient. Then I shrugged. "Alright. Let's do it."

A flicker of surprise crossed her face before she nodded. "Good."

"But there are rules," I added.

Her arms crossed tighter. "I figured."

I lifted a finger. "One: No one can know it's fake."

"That's obvious."

"Two: We have to make it believable. That means acting like a real couple, even when we're not in front of an audience."

She hesitated slightly, but nodded.

"Three." I let the moment stretch. "No catching real feelings."

She rolled her eyes. "That won't be a problem."

That was a challenge if I'd ever heard one.

I grinned, reaching for my coffee. "Alright, girlfriend. When do we start?"

"Tomorrow."

Straight to business. No hesitation. Damn. She turned to leave, but I wasn't quite ready to let her go just yet. "Wait."

Natalie paused, glancing back. "What?"

"You're really willing to be seen with me?"

The smallest smirk touched her lips. "That's my line, Carter."

She walked away, leaving me watching her go.

Natalie

The idea had seemed logical last night-straightforward, even. Walk up to Jason Carter, propose a fake relationship, get what I needed, and move on. Simple. Now, standing outside the campus arena, waiting for him, doubt crept in like an unwelcome guest.

Hockey wasn't my thing. I had never attended a game, never followed the team's endless string of victories, and definitely never associated with the players. But if we were doing this, I had to play the part.

The cold seeped through my jacket, but I ignored it, focusing on the buzzing excitement around me. Students filed into the arena, some decked out in school colors, others already chanting Jason's name. He had a fanbase, a loud one.

A group of girls passed by, laughing about something he had posted on his Instagram story earlier. I had never checked his socials before, but maybe I should start. If we were pretending to be together, I needed to know what the rest of the world saw.

A familiar voice pulled me from my thoughts. "Didn't think I'd actually see you here."

Jason's grin was as effortless as always, his hockey bag slung over his shoulder like he had just stepped out of a sports ad.

"You told me to show up," I reminded him.

His eyes swept over me, taking in my very non-sports-related outfit. "Right. But you don't look like someone who enjoys watching people slam into each other on ice."

"That's because I don't."

He chuckled, shifting his bag to his other shoulder. "Guess I should've expected that."

I glanced at the crowd moving past us. "So, how does this work? Do I sit somewhere specific?"

"You sit in the section for players' girlfriends."

The words sent an uncomfortable jolt through me. "Isn't that a little... fast?"

Jason shrugged. "People will expect it. If we're doing this, we do it properly."

He had a point, but the thought of sitting with girls who actually were dating players made my stomach twist.

Before I could argue, Jason reached for my hand, his grip warm and confident. "Come on. I'll introduce you."

The gesture sent a spark of awareness through me. It was one thing to say we were fake dating. It was another to act like it.

We wove through the crowd, his hand never leaving mine. Some people noticed. A few even whispered.

He leaned in slightly. "Relax, Pierce. You're doing great."

Easy for him to say. He was used to attention. I wasn't.

Inside the arena, the energy was electric. The players' section wasn't hard to find-front row, close to the ice, filled with confident, polished girls who looked like they had stepped out of a campus fashion magazine.

Jason stopped in front of them, his grip on my hand tightening slightly before he let go. "Ladies, meet Natalie."

A few curious glances were exchanged before one of them, a blonde with sharp eyes, smirked. "Didn't know you had a girlfriend, Carter."

"Now you do," Jason replied smoothly.

I forced a smile, ignoring the scrutiny.

Blonde Girl- Ava, judging by the way someone said her name- tilted her head. "You don't seem like his type."

Jason slung an arm around my shoulder, pulling me in just enough to make my skin heat. "She's exactly my type."

Ava's eyes flicked between us, but she didn't push. Instead, she turned back to her friends, clearly deciding I wasn't worth more than a passing comment.

Jason's breath brushed my ear. "That went well."

I resisted the urge to elbow him. He straightened, flashing me a grin. "Enjoy the game, girlfriend."

Then he was gone, heading toward the locker rooms, leaving me surrounded by girls who clearly weren't convinced I belonged here. Fantastic.

Jason

The game should've had my full focus, but my mind kept circling back to the fact that Natalie Pierce was sitting in the girlfriend section, watching. It was weird. Not bad- just unexpected.

Coach barked orders from the bench, and I shook the thoughts away, locking back into game mode. The first period flew by in a blur of sharp turns, fast passes, and the satisfying crunch of bodies colliding against the boards.

Between plays, I stole quick glances at her. She wasn't cheering, wasn't completely relaxed, but she was watching. That had to count for something.

By the second period, we were up by two goals, and I was riding the adrenaline high when a hit from the opposing team sent me crashing into the boards. Pain jolted through my shoulder, but I pushed to my feet, shaking it off.

The referee blew the whistle, and the crowd erupted into boos. Someone yelled my name from the stands, and I caught sight of Natalie, leaning forward slightly, brows drawn together.

That reaction? Unexpected.

She actually cared. By the time the final buzzer rang, we had secured the win. The team skated off the ice, and I made a beeline for the exit, peeling off my gloves and helmet. The second I stepped into the hallway, Natalie was there, arms crossed.

Her gaze flicked to my shoulder. "That looked bad."

"Didn't feel great," I admitted.

She hesitated, then sighed. "Are you okay?"

The concern in her voice caught me off guard.

I leaned against the wall, studying her. "Didn't think you'd be the type to worry."

"I'm not." She huffed, then corrected herself. "I mean, not in general. But if we're dating, I'm supposed to, right?"

A slow grin spread across my face. "Right. Good job, girlfriend."

She rolled her eyes, but a hint of pink touched her cheeks.

The rest of the team spilled out of the locker room, and a few guys clapped me on the back, teasing me about my new relationship. Natalie handled it with a straight face, proving once again that she was fully committed to this act.

Once the crowd thinned, she shifted slightly, brushing hair behind her ear. "This isn't as easy as I thought."

"Backing out already?" I teased.

Her chin lifted. "Not a chance."

I laughed. "Alright, Pierce. Then I guess we keep playing the part."

She nodded once, determination in her gaze. This arrangement was supposed to be simple, but something told me it was about to get very complicated. And I wasn't sure that was a bad thing.

Natalie

Mornings were supposed to be quiet. Peaceful. A time to enjoy coffee without interruptions. Instead, my phone wouldn't stop buzzing. I groggily reached for it, squinting at the notifications lighting up my screen. A dozen messages. Several from numbers I didn't recognize. My stomach tightened as I tapped on the first one.

Emma: OMG, since when are you dating Jason Carter???

The next one wasn't much different.

Maya: Did I just see a post of you at the game last night? With Carter's arm around you?

My heart dropped. What post?

Throwing off the blankets, I sat up and opened Instagram. The answer hit me immediately.

A picture. Jason, grinning with his arm slung over my shoulder at the arena. Someone must have taken it right before the game.

The caption? "Carter's got a girl. Didn't see that coming."

Great... Scrolling through the comments only made it worse. Who is she?

That girl doesn't look like Jason's type. This won't last. Is she serious?

The pressure settled in my chest, unfamiliar and suffocating. This was exactly what I wanted to avoid-attention, speculation, people prying into something that wasn't even real. A knock sounded at my door, making me nearly drop my phone.

"Open up, Pierce," Jason's voice called from the other side.

Of course, he wouldn't be bothered by this. Dragging myself out of bed, I unlocked the door and found him standing there, coffee in one hand, his ever-present smirk in place.

"Good morning, girlfriend," he teased, holding out the cup.

I took it without a word, narrowing my eyes. "Why are you here?"

"You didn't answer my texts," he said, pushing past me into the room. "Figured you were freaking out."

The fact that he knew made my jaw tighten. "I'm not freaking out."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "So you didn't see the post?"

My silence was answer enough. He sat on the edge of my desk, completely unbothered. "It's not a big deal."

"Maybe not to you," I shot back. "You like attention. I don't."

His smirk softened into something almost amused. "Then why agree to this?"

I hated that he had a point. Sighing, I dropped onto my bed, clutching the coffee like it was my only source of sanity. "I just... didn't expect people to care this much."

Jason tilted his head, studying me. "It'll blow over."

"That's easy for you to say," I muttered. "You're used to it."

He didn't argue. Instead, he pulled out his phone, scrolling casually before glancing at me again. "We need to make it look real."

I frowned. "Isn't that what last night was for?"

"Yeah, but now people are paying attention. We can't just disappear after one game."

The thought of having to actively maintain this illusion made my head ache. Jason, on the other hand, looked like he was having the time of his life.

"There's a party this weekend," he continued. "We should go."

My stomach clenched. "I don't do parties."

"You do now."

I gave him a flat look. "I hate you."

His grin widened. "No, you don't."

Jason

Convincing Natalie to go to the party wasn't easy, but eventually, she agreed. Begrudgingly.

She showed up looking like she didn't want to be there, arms crossed over a simple black dress, her expression one of pure discomfort.

"Try to look like you're not being held hostage," I said, handing her a drink.

She rolled her eyes, but some of the tension in her shoulders eased. "What exactly are we supposed to do here?"

"Look like a couple."

She sipped her drink, scanning the crowded room. "Do couples normally go to opposite sides of the party and pretend they don't know each other?"

I smirked. "Not usually."

Natalie wasn't the party type. That much was obvious. But she was here, and that was enough. People were already watching, whispering. More than a few girls shot her curious glances. Some of them looked surprised. Others? Not so much.

A few minutes later, I spotted Ava making her way over. She wasn't exactly subtle about it.

"Jason," she greeted, her eyes flicking to Natalie. "And... girlfriend."

Natalie's grip tightened on her cup, but she forced a polite smile. "It's Natalie."

Ava hummed, unimpressed. "Right."

The air between them turned sharp. I wrapped an arm around Natalie's waist, pulling her closer. "Something you need, Ava?"

She tilted her head. "Just making conversation. You're not usually the relationship type."

Natalie stiffened. "Maybe he just hadn't met the right person before."

Ava's lips curled in something between amusement and skepticism. "Maybe."

She didn't believe it... I didn't care.

"Let's go," I murmured to Natalie, steering her away before Ava could dig deeper.

The second we were out of earshot, Natalie exhaled sharply. "I don't like her."

I grinned. "Welcome to the club."

The night dragged on, but we did what we came to do-played the part, stayed in sight, made sure people saw us together. By the time we left, Natalie looked exhausted.

"You survived," I teased, holding the door open as we stepped into the cool night air.

She shot me a look. "Barely."

I chuckled, stuffing my hands in my pockets. "Could've been worse."

She huffed. "I hate that I have to do this."

A beat of silence stretched between us before she spoke again, softer this time. "But... thank you. For not making it harder than it already is."

That was unexpected. I glanced at her, watching the way the streetlights cast soft shadows across her face.

"You're welcome," I said.

For the first time since we started this, it didn't feel like a game. And that was dangerous.