Emily's PoV:

I couldn't believe this was happening. I mean, what was he thinking? Here I was, standing in front of the entire school, a spotlight on me, and Aiden Anderson—Mr. Perfect, the guy who never had a care in the world—had just made an absolute scene by not only refusing to dance with his queen but also pulling me onto the dance floor without any warning.

And me? I didn't even know how to dance. Public attention? It was the last thing I wanted. I was so out of my element, I might as well have been on another planet. If he had at least given me a heads-up, something along the lines of, "Hey, just so you know, if you don't win the queen vote, I'll drag you to the dance floor anyway," that would've been a little more considerate. But no. Now I was here, thrown into the spotlight, with everyone's eyes on me.

I felt a mix of anxiety, nervousness, and something I couldn't quite place—maybe it was excitement or the flutter of my heart, but it all seemed to swirl together inside me, making me feel dizzy. I took a deep breath, and before I could completely lose my cool, I leaned in slightly, trying to make my voice low enough so no one could hear us over the chatter of the crowd.

"What has gone into you?" I whispered, my voice shaky despite my attempt to sound calm.

Aiden looked at me, completely unfazed by the chaos around us, tilting his head with a small grin. "What?" he asked, genuinely confused, before pulling me gently into a bow. The music had already started, and I realized—just like that—he was initiating the dance. "Can't I dance with you, Emily?"

I wanted to roll my eyes. "You weren't supposed to!" I muttered, my voice rising slightly with frustration. He shrugged as though it didn't matter and took a step closer to me, his hand wrapping delicately around mine as he placed the other on my hip.

"Why?" he asked, as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

"Because I'm not the queen, you need to dance with the queen" I said, explaining things to him like he was a child.

Aiden merely raised an eyebrow, as if my logic was irrelevant. "But I decided I wanted to dance with you," he said matter-of-factly.

I couldn't believe this. "This wasn't part of the plan," I shot back, almost exasperated, but before I could protest further, he led me through the first awkward step. And just like that, we were dancing—dancing, in front of everyone, like it was nothing.

"Now it is" he said with a grin, as though he'd just solved the problem.

I felt my face flush. I didn't dance well at all. "I don't dance well" I admitted, honesty spilling from me as I fumbled slightly with my steps.

"It's fine, just follow my lead" he said, as if it was the most obvious thing to do.

"But, God, everyone is looking at us!" I exclaimed, the pressure mounting as I scanned the room full of expectant eyes.

"They're not," Aiden said with an air of calm that seemed to seep into me. He stopped, gently pulling me into his arms as if we were the only two people in the room. "They're looking at you."

My heart skipped a beat, and I couldn't help but gulp, feeling the weight of his words. His voice had softened, taking on a more intimate tone. For a brief moment, I forgot we were surrounded by hundreds of people.

But then, just as quickly, my mind snapped back to reality. I frowned. Since when has he turned into some kind of romantic charmer? Aiden Anderson—the guy who never even seemed to understand the concept of love—was making it seem like he cared... like this was special. But it wasn't. He didn't do romance. I knew that much.

"You're frowning," Aiden observed, his voice breaking through my thoughts.

"Yes, what about it?" I replied, trying to brush off the weird sensation in my chest.

"You're thinking, so you're not focusing on dancing," he pointed out, his voice more direct now. Before I could even process his words, I felt my foot stumble slightly. I stepped on his shoe with a soft crunch, and I immediately saw his face wince in pain.

"I'm so sorry!" I blurted out, panic rising in my chest.

Aiden gave a light laugh, though he still looked a little pained. "I told you," he said teasingly. "You're thinking about something else."

"I didn't mean to!" I exclaimed, my heart pounding. "Are you okay?" I asked, looking down at his feet, but he gently took my chin, guiding my gaze back to his eyes.

"I'm fine. Just focus on this, okay?" he said with an easy smile.

"But I don't know how to—"

"Then just look at me," he said simply, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

For some reason, that calmed me. As I followed his lead, the chaos of the room faded into the background, and I started to feel the rhythm in my body. With each step, my nerves slowly began to ease, and the swirling feeling in my chest turned into something different: a strange connection.

Aiden guided me effortlessly, his steps light and confident as he led me through the dance. My focus shifted entirely onto him, my feet moving in time with his. And soon enough, the music came to an end, and the crowd broke into applause. The cheering seemed so far away, and I almost didn't want to let go of him. It felt like a moment that couldn't be real, but it was.

I quickly released his hand, embarrassed and flustered, and hurried toward my friends, desperate to escape the afterglow of that odd, intimate moment. Aiden stayed behind, lingering in the center of the dance floor as the crowd returned to their partying.

"That was so romantic!" Nate cheered, clapping his hands and grinning like he'd just witnessed a movie.

"I died of cuteness," Amy added, her voice filled with adoration.

"Wow, bro, didn't know you had it in you," Alyssa mocked

"Totally romantic" Luke teased twirling a toothpick between his fingers. Then his eyes shifted to Regina, and a smirk tugged at his lips. "And also, making Regina extremely jealous."

I paused at that, my stomach sinking a little. That's when it hit me—Aiden wasn't just playing the nice guy; he was using me. I was a pawn in some game like I have been honestly, and the whole thing was just a way to make Regina jealous.

"Well, I just wanted another partner to dance with," Aiden said casually, as if it was no big deal.

The words hit me harder than I expected. I felt a strange rush of emotions—none of them good. I know I was a pawn but at least he could've warned me that I was being used for it at that moment.

"Great choice. Regina is so pissed off," Jaden said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"SO, can we finally head to Mason's house?" Luke asked eagerly, his excitement barely contained.

"Let's just wait a bit; the music's still good," Cameron said, pulling Selena onto the dance floor with him.

"Fineee," Luke pouted dramatically. He looked around and then spotted Alyssa standing near Nate. "Where's my partner? Alilili!" He chanted, his voice a little too high-pitched for comfort.

Alyssa laughed and nodded. "Okay!"

Mason appeared suddenly. "She can't."

"Why?" Luke and Alyssa both asked in unison, their faces full of confusion.

"Because it's my turn," Mason said, pulling Alyssa toward the dance floor. Aiden and I exchanged brief glances as Mason's grip on Alyssa's hand tightened, and Aiden's lips curled into a half-smile.

"Better Mason than you," Aiden said, looking at Luke with a playful but pointed expression.

"Why, you think your sister can't handle my sexy wiggle?" Luke asked, clearly amused with himself.

Aiden's expression darkened. "Don't ever say that again."

"Okay," Luke muttered, like a deflated balloon.

"Oh, you guys stay here," Amy suddenly interrupted, rushing toward us. "I need to meet my man. It's almost time!"

"Someone should go with her," Nate suggested, a playful tone in his voice.

"Yeah, but not you," Jaden responded quickly, grabbing Nate's hand. "You have sick moves, bro."

Nate laughed, pulling his hand free. "You better not grab my hand again, or I'll fall in love with you."

I couldn't help but chuckle at that, but as the banter swirled around me, I felt a sudden sense of loneliness creeping in. Before I knew it, I was once again left alone with Aiden.

His expression shifted from playful to serious. He looked at me intently. "I'm sorry for taking you without any warning," he said quietly, his voice softer than before.

I sighed, already heading to the drinks table. I needed something to steady my nerves after this chaotic night.

"Yeah, it was a bit out of nowhere," I replied flatly, pouring myself a drink, hoping it would numb the whirlwind of thoughts running through my mind.

Aiden stood nearby, following me like a lost puppy. "I'm sorry," he repeated, his voice full of regret.

"You didn't have to do it, though," I said, my voice colder now. "I'm not some charity case you can dance with for pity."

"What do you mean?" he asked, genuinely confused.

"Didn't you dance with me just to apologize for your stupid comment earlier?" I shot back, raising an eyebrow.

Aiden shook his head. "No, I didn't." I was hoping he did, it was better then him saying he did it to make Regina jealous.

"Then why did you do it?" I asked, crossing my arms. "To make Regina jealous? Because it worked, but when you use me like some kind of bait in your little game, I would appreciate a heads-up next time."

"I didn't—"

I cut him off, staring him down. "By the way, if she falls for this and gets really jealous, this will be our last time doing this facade, right?"

Aiden paused, his expression unreadable for a moment. His lips parted, but he hesitated before finally answering. "Yes, I believe so."

"Great," I said, feeling a strange mix of relief and bitterness. I finished my drink in one swift motion and walked back toward my friends.

Finally, this night would end. I was done being played with. Sure, I agreed to be his fake girlfriend, but this whole situation was harder than I ever expected. It was time to get back to my real life—and, hopefully, to find a new crush as quickly as possible.