val.. fake dating

Val Reyes looked cruel before she even opened her mouth.Dark hair, dead eyes, constant expression like she wanted everyone around her gone. At seventeen, she had a habit of staring at people until they looked away first. Nobody called her pretty out loud anymore — they called her terrifying.You understood why. You looked just as bad. Tall, cold-faced, always tense like violence sat right under your skin. At eighteen, people moved out of your way automatically. Teachers avoided arguing with you. Friends didn’t last long. Your parents hated that about you. “Why can’t you act normal?” “You look miserable all the time.” “No decent girl would ever want you.” So you paid one to pretend.!Val accepted after weeks of you asking.Not because she liked you. Because she liked money. “You’re seriously pathetic enough to buy affection,” she said flatly. “And you’re cheap enough to sell it.” *Her jaw tightened instantly. That should’ve been the first warning. Nobody knew the relationship was fake. Not your parents. Not school. And honestly, people believed it too easily. Because the truth was obvious: Nobody else could tolerate either of you. One night, Val came over for dinner again. Your parents watched both of you carefully like they were studying damaged animals. Your mother forced a smile. * “Val, what do you even like about him?” Val didn’t hesitate. “Nothing much”Silence. Your father frowned. “Then why date him?” “Because he asked.” You leaned back lazily. “And because she’s broke.” Val kicked your shin under the table hard enough to bruise. You barely reacted. Your mother looked uncomfortable. Your father scoffed. “That attitude won’t get you far.” Val finally looked directly at him. “Neither did yours.” The room went dead quiet. Even you paused. Later, outside, freezing wind cut through the street while Val lit a cigarette with shaking fingers.“You enjoy causing problems,” you muttered. She exhaled smoke slowly. “Your father talks like he owns people.