The bell rang, signaling the beginning of the next class, and I hurriedly ran away from all the chaos. I entered the classroom, my heart still pounding from the chaotic scene in the hallway. The curious eyes of my classmates followed me, and I could feel their judgment. They didn't need to say anything. Ms. Anderson, my Economics teacher, was writing on the board.

'PRISONER'S DILEMMA AND GAME THEORY'

I took my seat, in the front this time, trying to focus on the lesson ahead. But my mind was wandering off to danger zones; ones in which I was planning Kyran Drake's apparent murder.

"Prisoner's Dilemma. Does anyone know why it's important?"

No one said a word, and my usual hand that was up in the air stayed down today as my mind was thinking of more important consequences that didn't involve the Prisoner's Dilemma.

Ms. Anderson folded her arms, and everyone's gaze turned to me. I was usually the one contributing in class to keep Ms. Anderson's temperament in check. Now, that I was not doing it, Ms. Anderson was getting irritated.

"Ahh, she only sucks up to guys of course. She probably is fucking the calculus teacher!" someone whispered with a giggle. My fingernails dug into my palms and I felt it sting, probably drawing blood.

Then, another voice whispered near her. "Nah, she's dating Kyran Drake. Apparently, they have a deal going on!"

My hand shot up in the air, and Ms. Anderson who was on the other side of the room, and was oblivious to their comments, beamed.

"Yes, Avery?"

"Prisoner's Dilemma is a paradox in decision making in which two people acting in their own self-interests don't produce the optimal outcome. It basically explains how strategic thinking between people leads to better outcomes for both players instead of acting on what benefits them only."

Satisfied with my response, she turned back to the board when I glared behind me, mouthing a 'fuck off' to everyone who saw me. Some were bewildered and some were downright angry. There were no more whispers for the rest of the class though.

What else could I do?

Ms. Anderson's voice droned on, the sound becoming a distant murmur as my mind replayed the events from earlier. Kyran's unexpected confirmation of a non-existent relationship still baffled me. I couldn't understand why he would willingly satisfy Gemma's ego, especially when he knew the consequences it would have on the reputation I'd worked so hard to build.

Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered anything else that happened in class afterward. The room seemed to blur, and the words on the board seemed meaningless. The accusations, the stares, and Kyran's cryptic apology replayed in my mind like a broken record.

The bell rang, mercifully ending the class. I gathered my things, avoiding eye contact with anyone until e gentle touch on my shoulder snapped me out of my thoughts. I turned to find Ms. Anderson looking at me with concern. "Avery, is everything alright? You seem a bit off today."

I forced a weak smile. "Yeah, just a rough morning Ms. Anderson."

She nodded understandingly. "If you need to talk or if there's anything on your mind, make sure you let someone know, okay?"

I appreciated her concern, but I couldn't bring myself to confide in her about the tangled mess that had become my life. "Thanks, Ms. Anderson. I'll be fine."

From being half-invisible in school to becoming the most gossip-worthy piece of news, today was a treat day for Oakland gossip. Navigating through the crowded hallways, I felt a sudden pull on my arm. It was Kyran, looking dangerously more serious than I'd ever seen him. He guided me to a quiet corner, where we could talk away from the prying eyes.

"What. The. Actual. Fuck is wrong with you?" I screamed, frustration bubbling all over. I punched him in the chest, and he was pushed back against the wall. I ignored the pain in my fist. "Explain. Now. I have a list of ways I can kill you," I demanded, my patience worn thin.

Kyran sighed, running a hand through his dark hair. "I didn't expect Gemma to do that. Look, I was trying to deflect attention from you."

I scoffed, and a maniacal laugh escaped my lips. I was unable to comprehend the twisted logic he was presenting. "Deflect attention? You literally lied to the entire school body that we're dating. Now, everyone thinks that we're trading sex for grades."

"Would you rather people think you were with your math teacher?" he asked and I raised an eyebrow, utterly perplexed by his logic.

"No, I would rather people not think anything at all because of some ridiculous rumors!" I groaned, clutching my head in my hands. "You've just made things worse."

He looked genuinely regretful. "I know. That wasn't my intention," he looked up at me. "Would it be that bad to act like you're dating me?"

My jaw dropped. "Wait, what are you implying?"

"We could pretend to be together until the rumors about you die down," he said, and I laughed.

"Yeah, tell that to Michaela!"

"Who's Michaela?", he asked, and I gaped at him. I narrowed my eyes at him, and he looked confused. He didn't remember the name of the girl he was with.

"Michaela. The girl you're supposedly dating. Or was she another part of your 'deflecting attention' strategy?" I retorted, crossing my arms over my chest.

He scratched the back of his head. "Oh, her. Look, Avery, it's not like that. She knows it's just casual. Besides, I didn't expect Gemma to take it this far."

I rolled my eyes. "Well, congratulations idiot. You've successfully turned my life into a soap opera. Now what? We pretend to be head over heels in love with each other until everyone forgets about it?"

"Well, if you have a better plan genius, let me know. Otherwise, yep."

I had to date Kyran Drake. Has hell frozen over?

I stared at Kyran, my mind still grappling with the absurdity of the situation. Dating him, even if it was just an act, seemed like a wild and reckless idea. I glanced around and saw some people pointing at Kyran and I being together in such close proximity. The hushed whispers made it clear that the damage was already done. The only way to probably control the narrative was to play along.

Never in my life had I thought that I would agree with Kyran Drake.

"Fine," I said through gritted teeth. "We'll pretend to be together until this blows over. We need to figure out how to end this without causing more damage."

Kyran nodded. "Agreed."

We moved away from the hallway together, and I didn't if he was self-conscious about the eyes following us. The news of our supposed relationship had spread like wildfire across juniors and perhaps, the others as well. Soon, Yashna would come after me for lying. There was no escaping scrutiny.

As we walked, Kyran leaned in and whispered, "We should act like a couple. Hold hands, share glances, the whole nine yards. The more convincing the better."

"You're enjoying this a little too much." I kept walking, ignoring what he just said.

"Well, it is quite entertaining," he said, a mischievous grin playing on his lips.

"Great, asshole. I'm glad you find my pain amusing." I huffed and walked past as some people were startled by my comment to Kyran.

"They're gonna suspect something if you keep acting like you can't stand my guts!"

"But I can't stand your guts," I said smiling and he frowned. I didn't want to act like I was in love with Kyran Drake, but I understood the necessity. If we were going to play this game, we had to commit to the roles. "Fine, but no unnecessary touching. This is not a rom-com. And keep your flirtations to a minimum if you don't want me to gag in public."

He raised an eyebrow, the mischievous smile back on his lips again. "You sure about that? We have to make it believable."

I glared at him, not amused by his antics. "Believable, yes. Over-the-top, no. The goal is to end this mess, not to become the school's entertainment."

He looked disappointed but laughed as we continued down the hallway. It was lunchtime and we reached the courtyard, where Kyran took my hand in his, intertwining our fingers. I resisted the urge to pull away, reminding myself that this was all just a charade.

"I need to come up with a nickname for you." He whispered.

"Hell no. Call me Avery. Anything else and I'll punch you." I told him and he nodded reluctantly.

"As you say, Your Majesty. Did anyone tell you you're frightening when you're mad?"

"Did anyone tell you that you talk nonsense half the time?" I said.

"Do you have a soul?"

"Do you have a brain?"

"Children!" a familiar voice said, "That doesn't sound like a romantic conversation!"

Kyran groaned. "Yashna, go away." We came face to face with a beaming, but confused Yashna who was wagging her finger at my face.

"I heard the major news. Avery, you told me that you weren't dating Kyran."

I looked around her to see if any of her friends were around. I trusted Yashna to keep a secret but not her friends. "Yashna, you heard the conversation we were having and you're asking me that question?"

"Yeah, I was wondering if that was something you were into, Kyran. I know you're brainless but I didn't think you were turned on by that."

Yashna seemed to think that she was funny because she laughed and Kyran looked ready to attack her. "Ave, let's go grab something to eat."

Yashna grinned again. "What? You're going to take her past the Invisible Circle?"

I sighed. She wasn't wrong. I didn't belong anywhere near Kyran's friend group and if I did go, it wouldn't be a very pleasant experience.

"What's the Invisible Circle?" Kyran questioned us and I replied for Yashna. "The line around your lunch table that no one dares to cross."

"That exists?", he asked, and Yashna jabbed him in the stomach.

He deserved it.

"Anyways, I'm stealing your girlfriend for the rest of the hour. Now, leave." Yashna demanded and Kyran was bewildered.

"She's my girlfriend."

"She was my friend before she became your girlfriend."

"She was my tutor before you even met her."

I cleared my throat. "Do I have a say in how I spend my hour?"

Yashna grinned at both of us. "Nope. Come on Avery, let's go grab some food."

Although Yashna and Kyran weren't biologically related, the similarities between their personalities were jarring. Both were unbelievably stubborn, crazy sarcastic, and witty. The only difference I saw was their energy levels. Yashna seemed to constantly have high-glucose levels and Kyran always had an unbothered face.

Except when he's with me because he knows I'll scream at him.

I glanced at Kyran, who rolled his eyes and gestured for me to go with Yashna. As we walked away, I could feel the eyes of the entire courtyard on us. Everyone was curious about the supposed romance between Kyran Drake and me.

We walked into the cafeteria, and Yashna kept throwing glances at Kyran, her curiosity evident. "So, when did this happen? I thought you couldn't stand being in the same room as him."

"It didn't happen. It's all just a rumor," I replied, glancing at Kyran to emphasize the point. I dared him to contradict me, and he nodded, playing along.

"Hmm, interesting. So why are you acting like you're together?" Yashna asked, her eyes narrowed.

"Gemma accused me of sleeping with a teacher, and Kyran decided to play along and confirm that we're dating to 'deflect attention'," I said, making air quotes at the last bit, glaring at Kyran who shrugged. "It's a mess and I have no idea how to fix it."

"She accused you of what? What teacher?"

"That's irrelevant but anyways, this isn't a real relationship, just a temporary fix to get people off my back," I explained.

"That's the most interesting thing to happen in my entire school life!" she squealed and Kyran whispered, "If you tell anyone about this, I'll tell mom and dad on you."

She rolled her eyes. "I won't tell anyone but is that the best threat you've got?"

Kyran stayed silent as we reached the cafeteria, and Yashna dragged me across to her table. Kyran made his way to his one, and with a worried glance at me, he took his seat. I noticed the stares and whispers around us. I could already feel gossip swirling around, and it made me uncomfortable.

"You're the talk of the school bro," Yashna whispered, smirking.

"I'd rather not be, but it looks like I have no choice," I replied, glancing at Kyran who seemed rather unfazed by the attention.

"You can sit at our table. My friends are dying to meet you."

At Yashna's insistence, I approached their table with her, and the atmosphere changed. I could sense a mix of anticipation and judgment from their expressions. Yashna's friends eyed me up and down, exchanging glances making me uneasy.

Yashna seemed to not notice this.

"Guys, this is Avery. Avery, meet my friends. That's Nadia, Max, Jackie, Camila, and that's Jack," she said pointing out everyone as they waved or smiled at me.

Their reactions were varied. A couple of them smiled and gave polite nods. However, a girl at the back, Nadia and the guy sitting next to her, Jack exchanged a whisper and stifled a laugh, their eyes narrowing as they looked me over.

Nadia, a girl with sleek, dark hair and perfectly manicured nails that seemed somewhat sharp and scary, decided to voice her thoughts. "So, you're the one Kyran Drake is supposedly dating?" she asked, a smirk playing on her lips.

I braced myself for potential hostility. "Yeah, we are dating," I clarified.

Jack chimed in. "Right, because it's believable that he'd be interested in you."

Yashna glared at Jack, who just shrugged. I cleared my throat.

"That seems to be more of a question for Kyran than me. You may as well ask him, he's right there," I said, pointing out the Invisible Circle. Jack stiffened and looked away.

Yashna shot them a warning look, clearly unimpressed by their attitude. "Cut it out, guys. Avery's cool, and honestly, it's a miracle that she said yes to Kyran."

Nadia, however, wasn't ready to let the matter drop. She leaned in, her tone sharp, "So, how did you manage to capture Kyran in your web? We all know he's not the commitment type. Is it true that you have a deal with each other?"

I sighed inwardly, realizing that I needed to navigate these interactions carefully. Another girl, Maxine I believe her name was, decided to answer for me.

"Calm down, Nadia. It's none of our business."

Thank you for being one of the only high school kids to have common sense.

I suddenly felt oddly suffocated and decided to leave this conversation. "It was lovely meeting you guys. I'll catch you later Yashna!"

Yashna glanced at me apologetically, and I smiled warmly, letting her know that it wasn't her fault. I could tell that she was feeling guilty that her friends were being unbelievably hostile.

With that, I ran to the library where I could be myself again, but not before I caught Kyran's confused glance from across the cafeteria.

Why was this happening to me?

So much for staying invisible...