Free Fake Boyfriend - Kate Brian by Kate Brian

with a laugh.

    "Um, no. But out of curiosity, why do you ask?" Curtis said.

    "What? It would just explain so much," Vivi explained. "Y willingness to come with us to scope guys, the fact that

    our

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    you've never had a girlfriend, the fact that you don't yet have a prom date," she said pointedly.

    Lane blushed and looked at the ground. Could Vivi be any less subtle?

    "One, I'm just helping you with your plan," Curtis said, holding up a finger. "Two, I've never had a girlfriend because I have very high standards, and three, I don't see either one of you guys rocking a prom date either."

    Vivi frowned quickly. "Hmm. True."

    They arrived at Vivi's Jetta, and Curtis jumped over the side into the backseat. "Ow. Damn. Could you keep any more crap back here, Vivi?"

    He pulled a bottle of gel out from under his butt and tossed it on the floor at his feet.

    "Back off, Mr. High Standards. I don't tell you how to keep your car," Vivi said, getting in behind the wheel and tossing her blond hair over her shoulder.

    "That's because I don't have a car. But if I did, you would," Curtis pointed out, taking a long swig from his water bottle.

    Lane laughed as she handed him the blank canvas she was bringing home for a new painting, and he placed it carefully next to him in the backseat.

    "So, what's the plan again?" Lane asked as she got in the car. Her chest felt tight, and her palms were already starting to sweat. She could hardly get up the guts to talk to the guys at her own school--guys she'd known since kindergarten-- let alone the thought of all the perfect Saint Paul's Prep boys and their perfection.

    "It'll take about twenty minutes to get there, so we should

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    catch a bunch of them on their way out of practices and club meetings," Vivi said, starting the car. "Grab the first cute guy you see, tell him you have an incredible proposition for him, and then just sell it."

    Lane nodded and took a deep breath. "Just sell it."

    "Y okay?" Vivi asked, looking over at Lane as she buckled her seat belt. "Y look a little pale."

    ou ou

    "I'm fine." Lane propped her elbow up on the top of the car door. "Let's just get this over with."

    "Y got it!"

    ou Vivi whipped her car out of its space. They sat in the bottleneck of traffic near the parking lot exit for a few minutes, and Curtis started drumming his hands on the backs of their seats. Lane saw Vivi's hands tightening on the steering wheel and knew her friend was about five seconds from totally flipping out on him.

    "So no basketball today?" Lane asked Curtis, turning around in her seat to look at him. She had to shade her eyes from the glare of the sun.

    "They're playing, but I'm sick of it. Jeff's way too competitive. Did you see that black eye Lewis Richards had today?" Curtis asked, sitting forward and propping his forearms on his knees.

    "Y eah. So nasty," Lane said.

    "That was all Jeff and his flagrant fouls," Curtis replied, leaning back suddenly as if exasperated. "I like my face the way it is, thank you very much."

    So do I, Lane thought, pulling her hair over her shoulder and facing front again so Curtis couldn't see her blush.

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    "So, Curtis, really. Why haven't you asked anyone to the prom yet?" Vivi asked out of nowhere.

    "God! TFP!" Curtis groaned.

    "Curtis!" Vivi scolded.

    "Sorry! The freaking prom!" Curtis amended. "It's all anyone's talking about. Like there's nothing else going on in the world. What I wouldn't give for one good conversation about global warming," he joked. He crossed his arms and looked out the side of the car. "Do either of you know who you want to go with?"

    "No," Lane said. Her heart was going to give up on her. It had to. It could not keep up this insane rhythm.

    "I'm thinking about going stag," Vivi said.

    "Really?" Lane asked, looking over at Vivi. That was news to her.

    "That's brave," Curtis added.

    "Y eah, well, our school is devoid of datable guys," Vivi said, turning onto Essex Road, the wide thoroughfare