Daniela crossed her arms outside the school gates, looking him up and down like he was a math problem she didn’t want to solve. “Say that again,” she said. Mason leaned against the wall, way too relaxed for someone asking for something this weird. “I need a fake girlfriend.” Daniela blinked. “No.” “Did you even let me finish?” “I don’t need to. The answer is still no.” Mason sighed like she was the difficult one. “Three months. That’s it. We go on a few dates, show up places together, my parents think I’m suddenly responsible, and then we break up dramatically or peacefully or whatever girls like.” “I don’t like anything you just said.” He pushed off the wall. “I’ll pay you.” That made her pause. “…Of course you will,” she muttered. “I’m serious.” Daniela tilted her head. “You always sound serious when you’re buying things.” Mason smirked a little. “This is different.” “How?” “I’m buying my reputation, not shoes.” She laughed once, sharp. “That’s worse.” A beat passed. Then she said, “No.” Mason exhaled slowly. “It’s enough money to cover your skating stuff. Competitions. Travel. Whatever your manager was stressing about last week.” Her expression flickered for half a second before she hid it again. “I didn’t ask you to eavesdrop,” she said. “You didn’t have to. You were loud.” Daniela stepped closer now, voice lower. “And you think I’m just gonna pretend to date you because you overheard my problems?” “I think you’re going to do it because it helps both of us.” She scoffed. “There is no ‘both of us.’ There’s you fixing your rich-boy image and me trying not to fail because everything in this sport costs money.” Mason nodded once. “Exactly.” Daniela stared at him. “You’re unbelievable.” “I get that a lot.” Silence. Then— “Three months,” she repeated slowly. “No weird stuff. No kissing. No whatever you think this is.”