Warnings: fluff, mention of sex, fake dating, just overall the adorable loveliness that your heart deserves, I actually wrote over 1k this time yay, enjooyy
Previous parts: PART 1 PART 2
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Jonah ran as fast as his legs could manage. He needed to get there now. Before she heard about it herself. An explanation he really needed to give before all hell broke loose. He loved his best friend, more than he really should, but she really couldn’t keep a secret for the life of her, however he had insinuated something before his brain had caught up. Just down this hallway and to the left.
Once he got inside he first went over to the romance section, quickly scanning the shelves for his target. And there on the third highest shelf, almost entirely to the right it stood. Witcha gonna do.
He grabbed it and hurried over to his questionable but recent favorite spot, which is where he found her. Sitting on one the blue cushions nestled into the corner of the whale section she looked up from her phone. A slightly confused look on her face.
“What are you doing here? Don’t you finish early on wednesdays?”
“Yeah, well, I am going home. After this, that is. I don’t live that far away actually. It’s just like a twenty minute walk- and I’m rambling sorry. Here.” She laughed at his antics and he felt his heart beat ever so slightly faster, not that he was paying attention to it of course. He gave her the book and watched her eyes light up. A smile spreading across her face as she grabbed the book.
“Gosh, I’ve been looking for this for months! Wasn’t it rented out all month?” She asked, a certain warmth in her excitement only she possessed.
“Beats me.” He shrugged, deciding not to mention that he had placed a hold on it for this very specific purpose. She’d reacted just how he’d hoped. However, he reminded himself, he needed to talk to the redhead.
“Listen Mills, I need a favor.”
Her face changed into one of intrigue as she placed her book in her bag. “Who’d you kill?”
“Hah, you should’ve seen your face Joe! Priceless.” She laughed as she stood up. “But seriously, what do you need?” Jonah sighed as he thought of the best way to phrase things.
“Becky’s wondering why I go here all the time, which I suspect yours are too? Well, she might, maybe, perhaps think that i per chance might have a tiny crush on a secret girl in the library now and she won’t leave me alone about it.” He spilled. Emilia’s eyes widened.
“Gee, alright. Ehm. Is- Is it true?” She asked, her cheeks beginning to flush. “Because, look Joe, you’re a great guy and all but you know-”
“Oh, nonononono. I don’t like you. Not that there’s anything wrong with you of course, I-” He sighed. “What I’m trying to say is; do you maybe wanna fake date me so that she’ll leave me alone about it?”
She thought for a second.
“Your friends won’t wonder why you leave all the time, you get a free date, and no one will wonder if you like Leigh or not.” Jonah explained.
“Does people think I like them? I mean I do, how could I not, but that’s a secret.” Emilia felt her chest tighten and her breathing rush.
“No. Or, I don’t know. I thought so… But I’m not everyone else.” He rubbing his hand nervously on his neck.
“Also, fake dating? We’re not living in a romcom Joe. No one’s gonna believe that, and how do I know this is not just you wanting to somehow end up with us liking each other?”
“That’s some famous last words you got there Jonah McQuinton.” She deadpanned.
“Yeah, ok. Fair enough. But hey, what’s the worst thing that could happen if we actually started liking each other?” Jonah asked with hope in his eyes. He didn’t know what he’d do if she didn’t agree. Perhaps, he’d simply, just, tell Becky the truth.
“Even more heartbreaking one-sided pining? It’s already hard enough for me to be around Leigh all the time. I don’t want the library to be a similar warzone.”
“Look, let’s make a deal. If we do fall in love with one another, we have a code word. Let’s say… Whales. But if it’s one-sided, we have an agreement that the one with the broken heart has the claim of the whale section. The other can only come over if it’s strictly necessary, which to be frank we both know is close to impossible to happen. What do ya say Mills?”
Emilia thought about it for a few seconds. He did have a point, and the plan seemed pretty fail-proof, although…
“No miscommunication. I hate that trope.”
“Alright, I’m down, we need some ground rules though.”
“Of course, how do you feel about kissing?”
“I don’t want to kiss on the mouth unless it’s necessary, but the cheek and stuff is fine.”
“Noted. No sex, of course. I don’t think we should do more than hugging but cuddling can be ok at times?”
“Agreed on both. The basic, ‘no telling others it’s fake’ is also a must.”
Jonah nodded his head in agreement.
“Alright, give me your phone.” He reluctantly got his phone up. “C’mon Joe, I’m not dangerous.”
“That’s debatable, but sure.” He laughed as he unlocked his phone.
Emilia then proceeded to put her number in his phone before adding a cringy photo of herself that she air-dropped to him. She then went over to him and took a cute photo of them making faces to set as his background image.
“There ya go, do the same to mine.”
“Love muffin?” He asked as he checked his new contact.
“It’s adorable, boyfriend.” She smiled evilly towards him, clearly enjoying the teasing he’d endure from all of this. He then proceeded to do the same thing but he took a picture of him kissing her cheek for her background picture, effectively making her blush.
The bell rang just as they finished their shenanigans and she headed off to class. Blowing a quick kiss followed by sticking out her tongue at him as she left.
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