The atmosphere at the Alcott town fair was buzzing with excitement as booths and tents lined the area, each showcasing the unique offerings of the town's residents. Ellie stood amidst a cluster of students from Alcott Arts Academy, her friend Lila by her side. They were in charge of setting up the academy's booth, where paintings, sculptures, and various forms of artistic expression were proudly displayed.

As they arranged the pieces, Ellie couldn't help but feel a mixture of pride and nostalgia. The town fair was a chance for the community to come together, to share their passions and creations with one another. She adjusted a sculpture's placement with a critical eye, ensuring that it caught the right amount of sunlight.

"Looking good, Ellie," Lila commented, her eyes scanning the booth with approval.

"Thanks," Ellie replied, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It's always amazing to see everyone's  work on display."

Before she could say more, a voice interrupted their conversation. "Hey there."

Ellie turned to find a guy standing before them, a friendly smile on his lips. He had an air of easy confidence, his appearance effortlessly stylish. There was something familiar about him, a sense of recognition that sent a flutter through her chest.

She leaned against a table, her tone light and playful. "Well, hello there. Like what you see?"

The guy grinned, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Absolutely. Especially the artwork."

Ellie's brow arched, intrigued by his directness. "Flirting with the artist, huh?"

He chuckled, his gaze never leaving her. "Why not? I appreciate talent when I see it."

Ellie's heart raced a bit, her curiosity piqued. She decided to play along, letting the flirtatious banter flow. "So, are you an art connoisseur or just here for the eye candy?"

He winked, a glint of mischief in his eyes. "Little bit of both, to be honest."

The familiarity in his gaze and his playful manner were starting to make sense to Ellie. This guy must've thought he was Emma. The pieces of the puzzle were coming together, and she found herself unable to resist taking things a step further.

"Look, I want to talk about what happened the other night." he started. "I really thought that..."

He scratched the back of his neck, clearly nervous. What the hell had Emma been up to the past four weeks? Well, whatever it was, she was going to shut it down. Then it clicked. He was the guy from the cafe. Had he forgotten how she looked like or did he just want to go along with this charade and see if she'd let up? Because she knew herself and she was too darn beautiful to be forgotten.

In that moment, Ellie was fully committed to her playful charade. She stepped closer to him, her voice a sultry whisper. "Well, I'll be honest. The other night meant absolutely nothing to me."

The hurt that flickered across his features was hard to miss. Ellie felt a pang of guilt doing this to Emma, but c'mon. He was a member of the Thunder whatever brotherhood. So she pushed it aside, reminding herself that she was protecting her sister's feelings. She maintained her coy smile, fully immersed in the role she was playing.

His smile turned forced, and he nodded slowly. "I see."

Before the conversation could continue, a voice came from behind her. "Ellie, Lila, you guys need any help?"

Ellie turned to see her friend Danielle approaching, a friendly smile on her lips. She felt a mixture of relief and tension at the interruption, grateful for the chance to exit the uncomfortable situation.

"Hey, Dani," she greeted, her tone casual. "We're good here. Just getting everything set up."

Dani glanced at the guy and then back at Ellie, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Well, don't let us keep you from your admirer."

The guy offered Dani a friendly nod before turning back to Ellie. "Well, it was nice talking to you."

"You too," Ellie replied, her smile holding an air of mystery.

As he walked away, Ellie exhaled slowly, the weight of the encounter settling over her. She hadn't expected her little act to hit her this way, but the truth was, she couldn't deny the flutter in her chest.

Emily raised an eyebrow at Ellie. "Who was that?"

Ellie shrugged, her expression nonchalant. "Just someone I met."

As the fair continued around them, Ellie's thoughts were a whirlwind of emotions. She knew she had to stick to her plan, but the unexpected shyness she felt around Ryder was making things complicated.

Later, as the sun dipped below the horizon and the fair came to life with vibrant lights, Ellie found herself facing a dilemma. She knew that Ryder might pose a danger to her and her sister. But she also knew that the more dangerous thing was the flutter she was feeling every time she saw him.

So, with determination in her heart, Ellie decided to take matters into her own hands. She rummaged through a box of her old stuff, items she had intended to burn to erase her past. She emerged with a familiar leather jacket, a band t-shirt, and a streak of temporary hair color spray. It was time to embrace the role she had unwittingly taken on.

"Hey, Lila," Ellie said, her tone filled with determination. "You know how to work some magic with makeup and hair, right?"

Lila eyed her warily. "What are you planning, Ellie?"

Ellie grinned, her mind made up. "I'm going to step into my sister's shoes for the day. Let's make me look like Emma."

Lila's hesitation was evident. "You're trippin'."

"Not in these shoes." she lifted her foot revealing the new Gianvito Rossi Plexis her dad bought her earlier in the week.

"These though are a disaster," she lifted a pair of Emma's combat boots, pegging her nose with her other hand. "Why the hell are her boots so stinky?"

"Why do you even have a box of her clothes and shoes?" Lila asked.

"Emma's not exactly thorough when she's packing,"  she tossed the boots aside. "I was gonna burn this crap but looks like it might actually be useful to me."

Lila fidgeted, "Are you sure about this Elle? This could go wrong in so many ways."

Ellie's smile held a mix of defiance and determination. "Trust me, Lil. I've got this."

With Lila's help, Ellie transformed herself into a mirror image of her twin sister, right down to the tattoos and the attitude. As she gazed at her reflection, a sense of empowerment surged within her. She was prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead, even if it meant stepping into Emma's world for a little while.

As the night continued, Ellie's transformation was complete. The leather jacket, the band t-shirt, and the streak of vibrant hair color were all a testament to her commitment to her sister's happiness. She was ready to face Ryder once again, to ensure that everything went completely wrong between him and Emma.

With renewed determination, Ellie ventured out into the lively atmosphere of the town fair, ready to play her part.

***

As I crouched over a box, arranging some last-minute decorations for the town fair, the bustling energy around me kept me focused. The sun was casting a warm glow over the fairgrounds, and the laughter of children and the hum of excitement filled the air. I hadn't even noticed anyone approaching until a pair of arms wrapped around me from behind, a warmth pressing against my back.

"Hey, Gorgeous," Ryder greeted with that mischievous tone of his that never failed to make me smile.

I chuckled, straightening up and turning to face him. "Hey yourself."

He had that grin on his face, the one that made my heart skip a beat. "Just ran into Ellie over at the Alcott Arts Academy booth," he said, shaking his head in mock disbelief. "She's still as devious as I remember."

I raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Devious how?"

He leaned against a nearby railing, his gaze fixed on me. "Well, she pretended to be you for a second. Had me fooled, I tell you."

My eyes widened in surprise. Ellie pretended to be me? That was a new level of low, even for her. But then again, she had always been full of surprises. "Really?" I couldn't help but laugh. "I wish I could've seen that."

Ryder's eyes held a hint of something that I couldn't quite decipher, but before I could ask, he changed the subject. "So, how's the setup going?"

I shrugged, gesturing to the scattered boxes and decorations. "Getting there. Finn and the guys should be here any second though, so you might want to disappear before they show up."

He looked genuinely curious. "Why?"

I hesitated for a moment, then decided to be honest. "Look, I know you're part of the Thunderstrike Brotherhood or whatever, and I know Finn doesn't exactly have the best opinion of your crew."

Ryder's expression didn't change, but his gaze locked onto mine. "And you're okay with that?"

I met his gaze, my own unwavering. "I'm okay with you. You're not defined by your affiliation, Ryder."

He seemed taken aback for a moment, almost as if he hadn't expected that response. "Why?"

I shrugged, a small smile tugging at my lips. "Because you're growing on me."

Just then, the distant sound of Nina's voice carried over the fairgrounds. "Emma! Where are you? I need your help with something!"

Ryder smirked, pushing himself off the railing. "Well, looks like I better stay out of sight."

With a quick, fluid motion, he pulled up the hood of his hoodie, casting his face in shadow. It was like he blended into the surroundings, a master of disappearing when he wanted to. He shot me a flirty wink before retreating into the shadows.

I watched him go, a mixture of emotions swirling within me. Ryder was definitely something else—mysterious, charming, and with an air of danger that was hard to ignore. But he was also someone who seemed to understand me in a way I couldn't quite explain. As Nina's voice grew louder, I turned towards her direction, my heart still racing from Ryder's unexpected visit.

***

Nina, Liam, and I were managing the booth, offering tattoo-based services to the curious attendees. We had temporary tattoo sheets with various designs, from intricate mandalas to edgy tribal patterns. People could choose a design and have it applied by one of our talented artists for a fun, temporary ink experience. 

Alongside our temporary tattoos, we had a variety of cool activities to engage the crowd. There was the "Design Your Own Tattoo" station, where attendees could unleash their creativity and sketch out their dream ink. For the more adventurous souls, we had a "Try a Temporary Piercing" area, complete with stylish faux piercings that let you experiment without the commitment. And of course, the highlight was the "Tattoo Trivia Challenge," where people could test their ink-related knowledge and win some awesome Beast Ink swag. It was all about bringing the art of tattoos to life, even for those who hadn't taken the plunge yet.

Amidst the lively crowd, a figure caught my attention—a man dressed in a sharp suit, exuding an air of authority. Robert Delaney. My heart skipped a beat as he approached our booth, his eyes scanning our display. I exchanged a quick glance with Nina and Liam, my curiosity piqued.

"Emma, it's been a while," he said, his voice carrying a smooth confidence.

Yeah...a while.

I cleared my throat, trying to suppress the nervous flutter in my stomach. "Mr. Delaney."

His gaze swept over the temporary tattoo sheets, his eyebrows raising in mild interest. "I noticed you haven't gotten back to me about the offer."

I hesitated, choosing my words carefully. "My decision was final. I appreciate the opportunity, but I'm staying with Beast Ink."

Robert turned to Nina and Liam, a polite smile on his face. "Do you mind if I have a word with Emma? Just five minutes."

Liam exchanged a glance with me, then nodded. "Sure, but don't go too far. We need to keep an eye on the booth."

As we stepped away from the booth, Robert led me to a quieter corner of the fairgrounds. The sun cast a warm glow around us, contrasting with the serious expression on his face.

"I understand your loyalty to Beast Ink," he began, his tone measured. "But circumstances have changed. I would like to revisit our offer. And this time, I think you might have to reconsider..."