Chilumi TATBILB AU: In This Together
Lumine’s ribs ached. She was doubled over. Tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t breathe.
Ajax Kovalenko had just asked her to be his girlfriend. He had to be kidding.
Lumine’s laughter subsided as she swiped the tears from her lashes. Ajax’s expression remained sober and serious.
“You’re serious.” It was both a statement and a question.
“As a heart attack.” He said.
She scoffed. “What in the history of ever would make you think that I’d say yes to this?”
“Hear me out. You know I broke up with Rosalyne.”
“And I want her back, but she’s basically ignoring me.”
“If she were to find out that I was dating her former best friend turned arch nemesis, that would get her attention. Don’t you think?”
He smiled broadly, as if he were some kind of diabolical genius who’d just cooked up the scheme of the century.
“And you obviously kissed me on the track for some reason.” He added, “Considering we haven’t spoken more than a handful of words to one another since we were both 13, I’d say that’s only mildly suspicious.”
Lumine averted her gaze, choosing to focus on anything but the blue-eyed boy sitting in front of her. The fact remained that even though she liked to think of Ajax as some brainless Neanderthal, he was anything but a brainless Neanderthal. Actually, he was kind of smart considering his placement in several AP courses along with her.
He was bound to question her kiss-ambush eventually. It took her a minute to realize that Ajax was still talking.
“… been thinking about reasons why, and I was coming up empty.” He scratched his head, “Why did you kiss me, Reisender? Did it have something to do with your friend’s boyfriend? Kreideprinz?”
Lumine reacted quickly, eyes wide and hand flying out to cover his mouth. “Shh! Lower your voice, please!”
Ajax only chuckled, pushing her hand away. “That’s it! I figured it out, didn’t I? You’re in love with your best friend’s boyfriend and you don’t want either of them to know, so you pretended to be interested in me to throw them both off. Am I right?”
The blonde scowled. “Maybe. Doesn’t mean I think that your idea is a good one.”
He frowned. “But this way we both get what we want. I get to make Rosalyne insanely jealous to the point where she’s dying to get back with me. And you get to keep convincing your best friend that you’re not in love with her boyfriend. It’s a win-win.”
Lumine couldn’t believe what Ajax was saying. He’d asked her to be his fake girlfriend. They were going to be fake dating. Even worse, Lumine was actually considering it! Not only would it serve Ajax well, but Lumine would convince everyone she wasn’t in love with Albedo and have the added bonus of making Rosalyne Lohefalter insanely jealous.
“What do you say, Reisender?” Ajax flashed his most confident smile, looking like a car salesman who’d just pitched a fantastic offer. One she couldn’t refuse.
Lumine’s hand came out and she nodded firmly, brows set in a straight line. Ajax raised a brow.
This was either the best decision she’d make, or the worst. Only time would tell.
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