Trouble

Tyla's eyes widened as she stared at her best friend, her expression a mix of surprise and excitement.

"I can't believe this, Harp!" she exclaimed, and Harper exhaled. "So, how are y'all gonna start this thing? How are you gonna let the whole campus know that you and the Logan Hayes are dating?" Tyla asked curiously.

"I don't know, Ty, I just don't," Harper said quietly. Her mind was a jumbled mess. Now that she had sealed the deal with Logan, she hadn't thought about how they were going to let everyone on campus know they were in a relationship.

How was she even going to behave around him?

She hadn't been in a relationship before!

Tyla sighed, thinking.

"I don't know what you're going to do, Harper, but congratulations! First step in saving your reputation is completed!" Tyla cheered, and Harper forced a smile, but it didn't quite reach her eyes.

Harper wasn't fully safe. If she was going to fake-date Logan Hayes, then she had to prepare for full-blown haters, Tyla thought.

And the worst of them all—Hazel Freeman.

Hazel still hadn't gotten over Logan. Everyone knew it. And if she found out Harper was now dating him, even if it was fake, she wasn't going to let her off easily.

Tyla turned to Harper.

Tyla turned to Harper, a knowing glint in her eyes. "You know some things come with sacrifices, right?" she said, a sly smile on her lips.

"What do you mean?" Harper asked.

"I mean, since you'd be dating Logan Hayes, you should prepare for haters—especially Hazel Freeman," Tyla nudged Harper.

A lump formed in Harper's throat. She could already picture Hazel's icy glare, the whispers in the hallways. Fake-dating Logan Hayes was going to be more than just a performance—it was a battlefield.

Then—

They turned to see Hazel practically clenching her phone. Her brown eyes bore into Harper's amber.

She was fuming.

Harper gulped.

***

Harper cradled the novels in her hands as she headed to the library. She was stressed out and just wanted to read something—to get drowned in a novel, into a new world.

She often found the library as a place to rest, to run away from all the drama. And now that her trouble had doubled because of her viral scandal, all she needed was to get into the library and immerse herself in another world altogether.

With her gaze fixed on the books she held, she bumped into something really hard, sending her novels spilling onto the floor.

She placed a hand on her head and frowned before looking up.

"You should watch where you're going, princess."

Harper's stomach dropped.

Logan Hayes again?

She rolled her eyes, bending down to gather her books. Logan crouched beside her, reaching for one at the same time.

Their fingers brushed when Harper reached for a book, and she felt her heart race. She looked up and met his unwavering gaze.

His grassland-green eyes locked onto hers like a predator that had spotted its prey. And she stared back, unable to break eye contact.

The noise around them faded into the background as they continued to stare at each other.

Then—

Logan cleared his throat before standing up.

With her cheeks burning, Harper swiftly stood up, tucking a strand of her dark hair behind her ear.

Logan smirked, handing her a book.

Harper snatched it from him.

"So," he began, his voice heavy, "how are we doing this fake-dating thing?" he asked.

Harper averted her gaze. "I don't know, you tell me," she said, her voice barely audible.

Logan chuckled. "It was all your idea, princess."

Harper rolled her eyes.

"There should be rules, though," Logan continued. "I mean, we should have rules governing this thing."

Harper nodded"The rules should be simple: no complications, no feelings—"

"No falling for each other," Logan finished for her.

She nodded in agreement.

Logan moved closer to Harper until they were an inch away from each other.

"I'm easily fallen for," he whispered, his breath warm against her skin. "Don't fall for me, princess."

Her pulse quickened. Heat climbed up her neck. She refused to look away.

"I don't fall for trouble, Logan."

He grinned. "That's one of my attributes. So it's a win-win for us, right?" he said, his hands sliding into his pockets as he moved another step closer.

Under Harper's bold and confident exterior was a girl who could not breathe. His closeness was affecting her; her amber eyes taking in the sharp angles of his jaw, the way his lips curled with amusement. He was dangerous.

Too dangerous.

"You... you can count on me, Trouble," she said finally.

Logan scoffed at the nickname, and she couldn't help but smile.

"I'll take it, princess."

"You better do," she said.

Logan nodded. "Aight, catch you around."

Logan Hayes walked away, leaving Harper standing there.

Not letting her smile fade.