College au 2k words!! | Fake dating trope 𝜗ৎ inspired by “all the boys I’ve loved before” (malcom todd x reader) could potentially turn into a series if ppl enjoy - ⋆˚꩜ 𝄞⨾𓍢ִ໋
You honestly don’t know why you came out anyways.
A few months ago you ended things with your shitty boyfriend who never made time for you, after a year of him, going out partying and getting drunk and high doing whatever god knows what with other girls you’ve had enough with his nonsense and finally broke up with him.
You’ve felt quite free since. But still felt your heart splitting into two everytime your roommate deplete brough it up or talked about her new boyfriend.
It’s all just made you feel as if you were falling behind.
Tonight she convinced you to go out to a party with her, which you somehow agreed to and now are in a corner of the party rethinking your decision.
The party was loud enough to make your head hurt And your ears throbe.
Music shook through the floorboards, people packed shoulder-to-shoulder through the house, colored lights flashing across sweaty faces while someone screamed the lyrics to a song from the living room.
You were halfway through deciding to leave when your ex walked up to you.
“Well,” Will your ex boyfriend said, looking over at you. “didn’t expect to see you here.”
You already felt irritated by his presence and awfully strong cologne that reeked of old spice with a hint of alcohol.
He laughed once, like he thought you were joking, then stepped closer. “You still mad at me?”
Before you could answer, his eyes drifted past your shoulder.
“Wait,” he said slowly. Humor appearing in his voice. A smirk forming on his face “Did you come here alone?”
You turned automatically.
And immediately regretted it.
Because sitting on the kitchen counter a few feet away was, the guy in your minor music theory class holding a red cup in hand while he talked lazily with some guy beside him.
Your ex followed your stare.
Something defensive sparked in your chest before you could think.
“No,” you said quickly. “I’m here with my boyfriend.”
Your own words hit you like a double decker bus.
Will blinked a couple of times before responding . “Boyfriend?”
Too late now, mines well commit.
You swallowed hard. “Yeah. Malcolm.”
Across the kitchen, Malcolm looked up at the sound of his name.
Your ex turned fully now. “Malcolm Todd?”
You dragged Malcom’s arm roughly, slamming your elbow into his stomach lightly so he’d get the sign to go along with it.
Malcolm looked between the two of you, confusion flickering across his face for maybe half a second before something clicked.
Then — somehow — he played along.
He slid off the counter and walked over calmly, stopping beside you close enough that your shoulders brushed.
“Everything okay?” he asked casually.
Your ex stared. “You guys are dating?”
Malcolm glanced at you briefly awkwardness filling his soul.
Like he was checking the answer.
Then he nodded once. “Yeah.”
Your stomach flipped and your cheeks turned red.
“How long?” your ex asked.
“Around 2 months,” Malcolm answered smoothly.
You nearly choked on your own spit.
will looked weirdly bothered now, eyes narrowing slightly at the both of you.
“Well,” he muttered awkwardly, “that’s… surprising.”
Malcolm smiled politely putting his arm around your waist. Why?”
You could feel your heart pounding out of your chest.
You had to physically stop yourself from laughing.
After another painfully awkward minute, will finally disappeared back into the crowd.
The second he was gone, you whipped around.
Malcolm laughed immediately. “That bad?”
When you didn’t respond he blinked a few times before responding again.
“You looked like you needed commitment.”
“You looked like you needed support too.”
Unfortunately, he looked way too proud of himself.
By Monday morning, the entire campus somehow knew.
You realized that the second you walked into class Delphine immediately gasped dramatically.
“Oh my God,” she whispered. “You and Malcolm?”
She shoved her phone toward you.
A blurry picture from the party filled the screen — Malcolm leaning down toward you while his hand rested against your waist.
“Oh my God,” you muttered.
“Wait, it’s REAL? I was assuming it was some ai piece of shit prank”
After your classes, you rushed to your dorm immediately to call Malcom and ask to meet up in your dorm since delph was at her new boyfriend’s place.
“I need to transfer.” You said with agony in your voice when you heard malcom arrive.
Malcolm laughed quietly beside you.
“You think this is funny?”
You turned toward him fully. “People actually think we’re dating now.”
“Yeah? Malcolm, this was supposed to last one night.”
He shrugged. “Your ex talks a lot.”
For a second, Malcolm just watched you, amusement softening slightly around the edges.
“So,” he said quietly, “what’s the plan honey?
Your face immediately burned up from embarrassment.
“Don’t call me that we Hardly even know each other.”
Unfortunately, he looked way too happy about it.
A few nights later, Malcolm was sprawled across the floor of your dorm while you sat on your bed pretending to study.
Pretending being the key word.
Because every thirty seconds you looked up and found him already staring at you.
“This is getting out of hand,” you finally said.
Malcolm looked up from his phone. “What is?”
He hummed. “You mean our beautiful friendship”
You threw a pillow at him.
“I’m serious. This isn’t funny malcom”
He caught it easily, grinning. “Okay, okay. Continue.”
You sighed dramatically. “People fully believe we’re together now.”
“That’s usually how fake dating works.”
“We need rules or something..!” You bursted out.
Malcolm sat up slightly. “Rules?”
You grabbed your phone going into the notes app. “Rule one: no unnecessary flirting.”
“That already feels targeted.”
“You called me pretty yesterday.”
You rolled your eyes, trying not to laugh.
“Rule two,” you continued, “no kissing no physical touch.
Malcolm’s expression changed slightly at that.
You narrowed your eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
“How are people supposed to think we’re dating if we don’t even kiss?
“Tons of couples don’t kiss and do that nasty pda shit”
Malcom was about to speak but you decided it was better just to cut him off and keep going.
“Anyways, Rule three,” you continued quickly, “we stop this if things get weird.”
For once, Malcolm didn’t joke immediately.
Instead he looked at you for a second too long.
You suddenly became very aware of how close he was sitting.
“How do you think?” you said quietly.
The room went still for a second.
Then Malcolm smiled softly, almost like he was trying to save both of you from whatever that moment almost became.
“Okay,” he said lightly. “Deal.”
But somehow neither of you sounded very convincing anymore.
A/n - saur I hate this this is also lowkey not proof read tm butttt lmk how we like
