I needed the help of one of my good friends, Trina Varis. Trina knew a lot of people and had a lot of people's numbers. (I once went to her to retrieve Elijah's number.)

But this time, I needed to get Steve Wiley's number.

I composed a quick text to her. trinny, i need your help. x

She texted back.
what do you need, merissa? i'll help, whatever it is. x

I smiled at how helpful she was. Trina was really one of my best friends, and she has been through a lot for me.

i need steve wiley's number.

um.. i'm not complaining, but why his? x

I wasn't sure what to say. Should I tell her about my plan? I know she would help me the best way she can, so I decided to inform her of the plan.

i confessed to elijah, trinny. and it did not go well.

oh im so sorry, merissa... is steve a rebound or something? x

i'm going to "date" steve so elijah will get jealous and realize his feelings towards me.

that sounds like a good plan.. but here's his number. xxx-xxx-xxxx

thank you, trinny! talk to you later :) x

yeah, no problem.. i'll always be there to help you.

I then went to go enter Steve's number into my contacts and sent him a quick text.

steve, this is me, merissa. i wanted to ask you something.

um, hi, merissa. ask away, but where did you get my number?

a friend.

I had decided that Steve would be in on the plan too. I didn't want to hurt him in the long run.

i need you to fake date me.

WHAT

i want to make the guy i like jealous. will you help me?

sure, i guess... can we call and discuss this though?

sure.

Call from: Steve Wiley

Accept?

Call accepted.

....

Call ended. [Call Duration: 1:03]
....

Steve and I finally agreed on all our terms and conditions for the fake-dating. Of course, we had to be open at school, but other than that there will be nothing. (We won't be a couple at school until next week. Elijah might get suspicious if I go out with Steve immediately after he rejected me.)

I text Trina that the plan will happen. I feel like I'm obligated to. She did help this happen.

She gives a generic response ("Ok, cool."). This shocks me a little. Trina doesn't give short responses, like at all. I was half expecting to get an essay of words from her after I told her the plan was offically happening.

I assumed it was just nothing, and brushed it off.