Rules For Falling

Chapter 23: That Question

The night air was cool, brushing against my skin like a reminder that I was standing on the edge of something I couldn't ignore anymore.

Carter was right there—so close I could see the faint freckles on his nose, the way his jaw tensed when he was holding back. The party noise faded into the background, a distant hum that didn't matter compared to the sound of my own heartbeat, loud and uneven in my chest.

I'd spent weeks dodging my feelings, hiding behind sarcasm and fake arguments. But right now, none of that mattered.

I had to know.

I took a deep breath, my fingers tightening around the porch railing like it could somehow anchor me. Then I looked up at him, straight into those stupid, beautiful brown eyes.

"Carter," I whispered, my voice shaky but steady enough to hold his attention.

He raised an eyebrow slightly, waiting.

"Why did you want to fake date me in the first place?"

The words hung in the air, heavier than I expected.

Carter blinked, caught off guard. He opened his mouth, then closed it, like he wasn't sure how to answer. His usual quick comebacks were nowhere to be found.

I swallowed hard, pushing through the nerves.
"Because it's been driving me crazy. This whole time, I thought it was just for show—just a deal. But it wasn't, was it?"

He exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair, his eyes dark with something I couldn't quite read.

"No," he said quietly. "It wasn't."

My chest tightened.
"Then why?"

Carter looked away for a second, staring out into the dark yard like the answer might be hiding somewhere out there. When he finally looked back at me, his eyes were softer, vulnerable in a way I'd never seen before.

"Because I liked you," he admitted, his voice low. "I didn't know how to just say it, so... the fake dating thing felt easier. Safer."

My breath caught.

"You liked me?" I whispered.

He gave a small, almost sad smile.
"I still do."

My heart felt like it skipped an entire beat.

We stood there, the silence between us filled with everything we hadn't said—weeks of pretending, of denying, of pushing each other away when all we really wanted was this.

I stepped closer, my voice barely a whisper.
"Why didn't you tell me?"

Carter's eyes searched mine, his expression raw.
"Because you're... you. You're smart, stubborn, funny, and completely impossible to read. I didn't want to ruin what we had by saying the wrong thing."

I let out a shaky breath, my heart racing.
"Maybe the only wrong thing was not saying it sooner."

And then—

I kissed him.

This time, it wasn't messy or rushed. It was slow, deliberate, like we were both finally allowing ourselves to feel everything we'd been hiding. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer, and I melted into him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

When we finally pulled apart, he rested his forehead against mine, both of us breathless.

"So," he whispered, his lips brushing against mine. "Does this mean we're not fake dating anymore?"

I laughed softly, my chest light for the first time in weeks.
"No. Definitely not fake."

Later That Night — The Car Ride Home

The party had thinned out, the buzz of music fading behind us as Carter drove me home. The car was filled with a comfortable silence, the kind that didn't need words to feel full. His hand was on the steering wheel, but every so often, his pinky would brush against mine on the center console, sending tiny sparks up my arm.

I stared out the window, my reflection blurry in the glass.
"This feels weird," I admitted softly.

Carter glanced over, his lips tugging into a crooked smile.
"Weird how?"

"Like... we've been pretending for so long, and now it's real. And I don't know what to do with that."

He chuckled under his breath.
"I think we just... keep being us."

"Us?" I repeated, the word feeling both foreign and perfect at the same time.

"Yeah. You know—me being annoyingly charming, you pretending you don't like it."

I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop the smile that crept onto my face.
"You're ridiculous."

"And you love it."

I didn't deny it.

The Next Day — Reality Hits

Walking into school the next morning felt different. Not because anything looked different—same hallways, same lockers, same people—but because we were different.

Carter met me by my locker, just like he always did, but this time his smile lingered a little longer, his shoulder brushed against mine with just a bit more intention.

"Morning," he said, his voice low enough for only me to hear.

"Hey," I replied, feeling that stupid flutter in my chest again.

But then—

"Wait a second," Mason's voice cut through the air like a record scratch. He stared at us, eyes narrowing suspiciously.
"Are you guys actually a thing now?"

I froze.

Carter didn't.

He shrugged casually, like it was no big deal.
"Yeah. Guess we are."

Mason's jaw dropped.
"You mean the fake dating wasn't fake? This whole time? I called it!"

People started to turn, whispers spreading like wildfire.

I felt my face flush, but Carter just laughed, reaching down to casually intertwine his fingers with mine.

It was the simplest thing, but it felt like everything.

And for once, I didn't feel like running.