Kissing the Devil: My Fake Bad Boy

I point a shaking finger at the most dangerous man on campus and scream, I want to get into his pants!

It was supposed to be a lie. A desperate, panic-induced shield to save my shred of dignity because my crush is currently sucking face with my best friend.

But now, Axelthe washed-up rockstar with a rap sheet longer than my GPAis staring right at me. He isn't angry. He isn't confused. Hes smirking.

And just like that, I know I haven't just dug my own grave. Ive jumped in and handed the devil the shovel.

Chapter 1

Preston and I had known each other since we were in diapers. He had always seen me as his "bro," the kind of friend you could share a pair of jeans with. The problem was, I wanted to take those jeans off him.

So, I did what any sane person would do. I created a fake account and started an online relationship with him. When things got intense, I decided it was time to come clean. On his birthday, I dressed to kill, ready to rock his world.

"Don't turn on the lights!"

I burst into the private room, hit the switch, and plunged us into darkness. Taking a deep breath, I started.

"I've liked you for a long time. Since the beginning, you've always treated me like one of the guys. But that feeling changed for me. Sometimes I really just want to get into your pants"

"Can I be your girlfriend, Pres"

I didn't finish. Click. The lights blinded me.

And there, in the center of the room, Preston had his arms wrapped around my best friend, Lexi. They were making out so hard it looked like they were trying to merge souls.

My mind went blank. Static noise filled my ears.

Preston shielded Lexi's eyes from the sudden brightness with a gentle hand. "Who did you say you wanted to get naked with?"

Laughter erupted. A wave of humiliation crashed over me as I realized the room was full of his friends. Shit. Why are there so many people? My brain spun, grasping for any lifeline.

"Your roommate."

"Which one? We're all here."

Oh god. The ground needed to open up and swallow me whole. Right now. Just as I was about to combust from embarrassment, someone piped up.

"Wait, Axel isn't here."

"Yes! Yes, him. Exactly him." I latched onto the name like a drowning woman. "Since he's not here, I'm just gonna go."

I spun around and sprinted all the way back to my dorm. I collapsed onto my bed and sobbed into my pillow until it was soaked. When did it start? Preston and Lexi? How did I miss the signs?

I was still spiraling when Lexi walked in later, arms full of snacks. "My boyfriend bought them," she announced, practically glowing.

"Who is it?" a roommate asked.

"Preston. The CS genius."

Hearing his name was like a physical blow to the chest. My heart seized.

Then someone dropped the bomb. "Wait, doesn't Isla like Preston?"

Silence. Every eye in the room turned to me.

"Huh? I had no idea," Lexi said, looking straight at me. "Isla follows him around every day. Bringing him boba, breakfast we all thought you two were a thing"

"Oh, you guys got it wrong," Lexi laughed, waving a hand. "Isla goes over there all the time because she likes Preston's roommate."

Realization dawned on everyone's faces. So that's why I was always around Preston. To get to his roommate. It all made sense now. But I couldn't let it go.

I forced a smile, though it felt like cracking glass. "When did you guys start dating?"

Lexi blushed. "Actually, you're kind of our matchmaker."

I stared at her, confused. "Matchmaker?"

"Remember that time you wanted to prank Preston? You made me add him and ask if he liked anyone."

I searched my memory. Yeah, that had happened. At the time, Preston and my fake account had been hot and heavy online. He had told me he was crazy about "me." Insecure, I asked Lexi to test him, to see if he was loyal.

She asked. He said there was someone.

I didn't sleep a wink that night, buzzing with excitement. Who else could it be but me? I felt so loved. So secure. So how how did it end up like this?

Chapter 2

"Wait," I said, my voice barely a whisper. "He said there was someone?"

"He did," Lexi gushed, twirling a strand of hair. "I was too shy to tell you then but he said it was me."

And just like that, my heart didn't just break. It shattered. Pulverized into dust.

So, while I was falling for him, he was flirting with my best friend. And I had served her to him on a silver platter.

"Isla, which one of Preston's roommates do you like?"

"She likes Axel."

"Is the guy you were online dating Axel?"

"Mmhmm." I nodded, desperate to end this conversation before I threw up.

"Ugh, isn't Axel that washed-up singer who ditched thousands of fans at his concert just to chase after his ex?" A roommate scoffed. "Why would you like him?"

"I heard he broke his leg drag racing for her. Karma if you ask me."

"He still hasn't refunded my ticket money. I'll hate him forever."

Their disdain was palpable, but I barely heard it. My chest felt hollowed out, bleeding internally. I never imagined one lie would spiral so out of control. Now the entire campus knew I wanted to get into Axel's pants.

And I didn't even know what the guy looked like.

In math class, the whispers followed me.

"No way."

"She's not that shallow. She wouldn't go for a guy like Axel."

Preston laughed, loud and jarring. "It's true. She cried all night in her dorm. Shook the whole bed."

Lexi slapped his arm playfully. "Hey, be nice. Axel is your roommate, isn't he? Help Isla out. She's my best friend."

Preston laughed harder, practically choking on his own amusement. Finally, he turned to me, wiping a tear from his eye. "You really cried last night? For me?"

"No."

"Liar. Think about it. You don't have any other guys around you besides me. The person you wanted to confess to it was me, wasn't it?"

My heart skipped a beat. Does he know? Does he know I like him?

My voice trembled. "And?"

"And I treat you like a bro, but you actually like me? Dude, I'm gonna laugh about this for the rest of my life." He threw his head back, howling.

Psycho. I was fuming. I clamped my mouth shut.

"Even funnier," he continued, gesturing to Lexi, "she just told me you like Axel."

"Yeah. So?" I shot back.

Preston tried to stifle a snort. "No way. Doesn't she know you hate tattoos? Axel's leg is covered in so much ink the doctors can't even find a vein."

"It's artistic. So?"

Preston paused, blinking. "You hate smokers. He smokes a pack a day."

"It's kinda sexy. So?"

"He drinks too. Comes back to the dorm wasted every night."

"Deep, tortured souls are rare these days."

Preston was getting agitated now. "Isla, are you sick in the head?"

"He's a toxic, washed-up celebrity with a broken leg. Can he even move? How can you be in love with that?"

I didn't get it. He clearly didn't like me. Why was he arguing with me over a rumor? My patience snapped.

"So what if he broke a leg? Does he have to move? Can't I do all the work myself?"

Preston stared at me, jaw on the floor. He was speechless. Finally.

Chapter 3

Seeing Preston speechless felt good. For exactly one second.

Then, the guy sleeping under a jacket next to me whipped it off, revealing a mop of bright blond hair. "Seriously? Can I get some sleep? I don't like you."

Me: Freeze. Preston: Smirk.

"Axel? When did you get here? Thought you were out drinking and hooking up all night?"

Preston looked at the guy, then at me, his grin widening like a shark sensing blood.

Axel. Goosebumps erupted all over my skin. He was Axel? And he just heard me say that. About his leg. About me doing all the work. I wanted to dissolve into atoms.

I shrank into my seat, wishing for invisibility. Preston, of course, wasn't done.

"Yo, bro, this girl next to you says she wants to get into your pants."

I swear, Preston was enjoying this way too much. He knew I was lying, and he was loving every second of my torture. My face burned, heat radiating off my cheeks like a furnace.

Axel finally looked up, annoyed. His gaze flicked over me, cool and dismissive. "Yeah? She's not taking yours off. You jealous?"

Preston blinked, thrown off. "Jealous? Who's jealous?"

Awkward silence stretched. Then Lexi bounced back from the bathroom, oblivious to the tension.

"Axel! You actually came to class?"

Her eyes lit up, and then, as if remembering a script, she added, "Isla cried all night over you. Can't you just make up with her?"

Axel's expression remained flat. Bored. "Who's Isla?"

Preston slammed his hand on the desk, exploding with laughter. I wanted to die. I was digging a hole to the center of the earth with my toes.

Lexi pressed on, her voice sweet but probing. "If you don't like her, just tell her clearly. Be nice about it, okay?"

Axel raised an eyebrow. "You the beach patrol?"

"What?"

"Since you like managing things so much, go manage traffic."

Lexi gasped. Her face flushed a deep crimson, tears welling up instantly. She wasn't used to people not buying her act.

Preston jumped in, playing the hero. "Bro, take it easy. You're scaring my girlfriend."

"Oh. Girlfriend." Axel looked at me, then back at Preston. A slow, mocking smile curled his lips. "Then why are you pressing me?"

Preston quickly changed the subject. "Bro, class is over. Smoke break?"

"Been smoking too much. Forgot to smoke you."

Axel pushed himself up, transferring his weight to a wheelchair with practiced, fluid strength.

Preston moved to help.

"Fuck off."

"Alright."

I scrambled out of the way, practically lifting my desk to clear a path for his wheelchair. He paused, glancing at the desk I was holding mid-air like it weighed nothing. Maybe he was surprised by my sheer panic strength.

"Wasn't talking to you."

I barely heard him over the pounding of my heart. "Sorry! It's all a misunderstanding."

He stopped. Turned his head slightly. "Which part?"

"The the pants part"

"Oh."

He lost interest immediately and wheeled himself out without another word.

Chapter 4

He left me staring at his cold, retreating back.

After class, I headed to the bathroom. Of course, I ran straight into Preston. Because the universe hates me. He blocked my path, grinning like a Cheshire cat.

"Hahaha, how's that face feeling? Slapped hard enough? He doesn't even know you, let alone like you."

"Preston, do you need medication? Or are you just naturally this annoying?"

"You're the one who needs help. Of all the guys, you pick trash like him?"

"None of your business."

"It is my business. You're my bro. Seeing you chase after garbage like that? Lowers my value by association."

Bro. Again with the "bro." Rage boiled in my chest.

"Lowers nothing. You're not even worth his pinky toe."

I pushed past him and bolted down the hallway. Too fast. I turned the corner and plowed straight into a wall of smoke and testosterone.

The impact knocked the breath out of me, and a low grunt of pain escaped the person I hit. I looked up. Axel.

My heart skipped a beat, then plummeted into my stomach. "I'm so sorry!"

He didn't say a word. Just leaned against the wall, his cast-heavy leg hovering slightly, staring at me. The cigarette he had been holding lay on the floor.

Panic overriding common sense, I snatched it up and tried to hand it back to him.

His gaze darkened. Lethal. "Was the cigarette in my hand?"

"No wait, wasn't it?" I was trembling so hard I could barely hold it.

"Put it in my mouth."

"Okay."

I obeyed, practically shoving the filter between his lips, then turned and ran for my life.

Laughter erupted behind me.

"Fuck, she's obedient."

"Boss, I think she's obsessed with you."

"Jealous, man. How do you get them throwing themselves at you everywhere you go?"

"If you were a tenth as hot as Axel, you'd know."

Laughter exploded. I froze mid-step. Oh god. They heard everything. There was no coming back from this. I was officially the crazy stalker girl.

The rest of the lectures were a blur. How do I explain to Axel that this is all a gigantic, humiliating misunderstanding?

I spent the entire class stealing glances at him. Blond hair spiked perfectly. Lip ring catching the light. Tattoos covering every inch of visible skin on his legs. He looked like the kind of guy who would punch a puppy just for looking at him wrong.

He slept through the whole thing. In the end, I chickened out. I couldn't ask him for his number. So, after school, I cornered Preston.

"Hey, wait up."

He was walking with his crew, hand-in-hand with Lexi. When he saw me, a smug grin plastered onto his face. "What's up? Can't grab dinner with you today, bro. Wouldn't be right. Gotta take care of the girlfriend."

He swung their joined hands in my face. His friends snickered. Everyone knew Preston and I used to be inseparable. We ate every meal together.

Lexi slapped his arm lightly. "Stop it. Isla just got her heart broken."

She reached out to grab my arm. "Isla, come with us. The three of us can go."

"I'm not here for dinner. Preston, do you have Axel's number? Send it to me."

Preston's expression shifted instantly. Darkened. "Why do you want his number?"

"Isla, you're still not over him?" Lexi chimed in, turning to Preston. "Just give it to her."

"Not over him? Isla, are you addicted to acting now?"

"Just give me the number. Why are you so pressed?"

Chapter 5

I didn't have the energy to argue with him. All I wanted was to clear the air with Axel. The guy was too cool, too edgy. I had a phobia of people like him.

"You're rushing into what? He's bad news, Isla. Your brain isn't exactly built for strategy. I'm telling you this as a friend who's known you for years: don't get played for a fool."

"Are you saying all this because you have feelings for me?"

Otherwise, his behavior made zero sense.

Preston's face contorted. "Are you joking? I don't give a damn about you. Let's see if anyone even notices you."

Then, he turned and shouted at the top of his lungs. "Axel! Isla wants your number!"

Fuck. Every head in the vicinity snapped toward me. I regretted everything. I could never win against him. Loving Preston meant I was destined to lose every single battle.

The crowd parted, revealing a wheelchair in the center. Axel sat there, looking bored. His gaze cut through the sea of people, locking onto me. Preston had just thrown me onto a burning pyre.

I forced my legs to move, walking toward him like I was marching to my execution. As I got closer, I realized the man standing next to Axel looked familiar. Dean Thorne. Dean Thorne!

And next to him stood several men in sharp suits, radiating an aura of power that sucked the air out of my lungs. I stood there, phone clutched in a sweaty hand, frozen a meter away. The silence was deafening.

One of the suited men, a middle-aged figure of authority, leaned toward the Dean. "Who is she?"

Dean Thorne glanced at me, clearly uncomfortable. "I have no idea."

From behind me, Lexi piped up, her voice sickeningly sweet. "She says she's Axel's girlfriend!"

I'm dead. When did I ever say that? The middle-aged man's gaze sharpened, piercing right through me. I felt like a clown in a circus of nightmares. My face burned hotter than the sun.

I have this terrible habit: when I blush this hard, I get an urge to cry. Just as I was about to turn and bolt, Axel spoke.

"310"

"555"

"1208."

Huh?

He sighed, the sound heavy with impatience. "You want my number, ask me."

"He doesn't have it. He doesn't deserve it."

"Oh. Oh!"

I fumbled with my phone, pretending to type it in, ready to flee.

Axel turned back to the middle-aged man, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "Afraid I can't go back with you. As you can see, I have a dinner date with my girlfriend."

The man's face darkened instantly. "You ungrateful brat. Your father flew ten hours just to spend your birthday with you!"

His father. Victor. Oh god, it was his dad!

"Next time. I'm busy."

"I sent you to this school to heal, not to chase skirts every day. You're going to die at the hands of a woman one day, mark my words."

Axel ignored him. His gaze shifted to me, cold and commanding. "Coming, Girlfriend?"

I suspected a threat in his tone, but I had no proof. Swallowing my fear, I walked over, grabbed the handles of his wheelchair, and pushed him away from the scene.

Chapter 6

I figured I'd survive this one meal, apologize, and we'd go our separate ways. Axel's crew tagged along. The vibe was excruciatingly awkward.

"So, Axel, when did this start?"

"Yeah, why didn't you tell the boys?"

Axel turned to me, eyes glinting. "When did this start?"

I choked on air, face flaming. Start? It never started. How the hell would I know?

"Hey, what's the new Boss Lady's name?"

Axel looked at me again. "What's your name?"

His friends' jaws dropped.

"Isla."

"How do you spell it?"

"Like the island."

"Damn, Axel," one guy whistled. "You picked a girl who's basically paradise."

"Isla, paradise I see what you did there."

"The Boss Lady got game."

Oh my god. It was a coincidence. A stupid, accidental coincidence. How do I explain that without sounding insane?

"If you can't shut your mouths, I'll sew them shut." Axel's voice was low, lethal. The table fell silent instantly.

I buried my face in my food, terrified to breathe.

"Wasn't talking to you." He leaned closer. "Why are you so scared?"

Before I could answer, another friend piped up. "Boss Lady, how did you guys meet?"

Great question. Before I could fabricate a lie, Lexi and Preston appeared, trays in hand. Lexi bounced over, beaming at Axel. "Isla said you guys met online."

I wanted to dissolve. Right there. Into the floor tiles. If Axel found out I'd been telling people we had a year-long online romance, he'd probably kill me.

I cut Lexi off, panic rising in my throat. "Yes! Exactly! I've been a fan since I got internet access. Looked up all his stuff. Total fangirl."

Axel stared at me. Didn't say a word. Please don't suspect anything. Please.

Desperate to change the subject, I noticed Axel picking onions out of his dish. I immediately leaned over, practically wagging my tail. "Oh, you hate onions too? Me too! Here, let me help."

"Axel loves onions," Barnaby interjected.

Axel shot him a look that could freeze hell over. Barnaby corrected himself instantly. "But for you, he can change."

Preston, lurking nearby, scoffed loud enough for the whole cafeteria to hear. "His leg is broken, not his hands. When are you going to stop being such a simp?"

Rage spiked in my veins. "I like simping. Shut up."

Today was a disaster because of him. I was socially dead because of him. To spite Preston, I deliberately picked up a piece of meat and placed it on Axel's plate.

Axel looked at it, then at me. Cold as ice. "I don't like good girls."

"What a coincidence. I don't like good boys either."

He blinked, surprised. "Do you even know me? You just like me?"

"Of course I know you. That's why I like you."

Bullshit. I knew his name was Axel, he was male, and currently, sitting down, he was about four feet tall. That was the extent of my knowledge. But I'd changed my mind. Instead of explaining this was all a misunderstanding, I decided to double down.

So what if I liked him? Let's ride this train wreck until it crashes.

Chapter 7

He is a celebrity. He has women lining up for him. I am just background noise in his life. After this meal, he will delete 'Isla' from his memory. Why bother explaining? He does not care.

Axel stopped eating. He shoved his plate away, looking bored. Did my 'like' disgust him that much?

"Axel, bro, since the new Boss Lady is so into you, what about the Dean situation?" Barnaby asked, chewing with his mouth open.

Huh?

"What about the Dean?" I asked, sniffing gossip.

My brain flashed back to Dean Thorne standing next to Axel earlier. As long as the Dean wasn't standing behind him or on top of him, what was the issue?

"You didn't know?" Barnaby leaned in. "Victor forced Axel to meet the Dean's daughter today."

"Dean's daughter?"

"Your rival! Victor used his leverage to set them up. Axel finally caved today. If you hadn't shown up, he'd probably be calling her 'babe' by now."

The boys snickered. "But don't worry, we're Team Isla."

Me?!

"Barnaby, you live in the Sahara or something?" Axel snapped.

"Boss, I'm from New York, remember?"

"You talk too much."

Woah. He was scary. He really knew how to curse.

"My bad, Axel. My bad."

"Let's go."

Axel ignored them, spinning his wheelchair around and heading for the exit. I let out a breath. Finally. But Barnaby grabbed my arm.

"Boss Lady, where you going?"

"Huh?"

"It's Axel's birthday! Seize the opportunity! Don't be dumb."

"Birthday? Uh actually, my dad is going into labor."

I tried to construct a valid excuse. They didn't listen. They shoved me into the back of a taxi. Axel sat by the window, window down, smoking. I hated it. I stayed silent.

"Don't like the smoke?"

"No."

I didn't dare say 'I hate it'. He was the boss.

He took a drag, smirking at me through the haze. "Thought you liked me? Deal with it."

"Oh."

He smoked for a bit, then muttered, "Hate good girls. Boring." He flicked the lit cigarette out the window into a passing trash can.

My eyes bugged out.

"What?" he asked, catching my stare.

"Won't that start a fire?"

"You gonna put it out?"

"I don't have an extinguisher."

"You don't need an extinguisher." His gaze dropped to my lips, then back to my eyes. "You really speak without a brain."

What did I do now? They took me to a club. I was terrified. First time.

In twenty-one years, I had done exactly two wild things. One: Accidental click on a questionable site in Incognito mode. Two: Catfishing Preston. Now, number three: Grind on the dance floor with the school's resident Devil.

That last one only happened because I got wasted. I told them I'd only have one drink. I didn't know 'one drink' was a fishbowl the size of my head. 400ml of pure chaos.

I downed it. Axel and his crew watched in horror.

Chapter 8

"Easy there, that is alcohol. Not juice."

"I'm thirsty."

It was yellow. It was sweet. It tasted like orange juice. But the more I drank, the thirstier I got. My insides turned into a furnace.

Later, singing Happy Birthday. Cutting the cake. I was manic. I scooped up a handful of frosting and smeared it right onto Axel's face.

"Happy Birthday, Handsome!"

"Make a wish! I cast a spell on you. Everything comes true tonight."

I squished his cheeks, kneading his face like dough. "Your blond hair looks just like my Golden Retriever. So cute."

"Has anyone told you that you are really, really good-looking?"

"Like you walked out of a manga."

"This lip ring is so shiny. Makes me want to bite it."

Axel went dead silent. "Who gave her the drink?!"

He had a flaw. When he was stimulated, he got angry.

"Boss, she drank it herself."

"Who let her? Who is responsible? Get her off me." He closed his eyes, jaw clenching hard.

Finally, a girl dragged me to the bathroom to wash my face. The cold water sobered me up. A little. I stumbled out of the restroom and heard a voice that made my blood freeze.

Preston.

"Preston, man, we thought you'd be with your little simp tonight."

"But she's chasing Axel now. You mad?"

"You mean Isla? Why would I be mad? I don't even like her."

I held my breath. My lungs burned.

"If you don't like her, why keep her around?"

"If you have a dog, why not play with it?"

Laughter. Loud. Cruel. It echoed down the hallway. I felt something crack inside my chest. A physical snap. My stomach twisted into a knot of cold iron. I couldn't let them see me. Not like this. But there was nowhere to hide.

I turned the corner and ran straight into Axel. Panic and alcohol and humiliation mixed into a toxic cocktail in my brain.

"Can you be my boyfriend?" I blurted out.

"Hm? Still drunk?"

"Yeah. Dizzy."

Footsteps behind me. Preston. I couldn't explain. No time. I lowered my head and smashed my lips against his.

I wasn't thinking. I just needed a shield. I couldn't let Preston and his goons laugh at me again. I meant to just hug Axel. But the angle was wrong. He looked up. We connected.

"Isla?!"

"What the hell are you doing!"

Preston's voice was a mix of shock and rage.

"Holy shit!"

"Isla and Axel?"

"They're actually doing it?"

His friends started hooting.

"Isla! Get over here!" Preston barked, suppressing his anger.

I wanted to fight back. To yell at him. But I couldn't. Because the second my lips touched Axel's, my heart detonated.

Chapter 9

My legs turned to jelly. Axel didn't move. He seemed just as stunned, frozen in place.

"Isla! I said get over here! Are you deaf?"

Preston was shouting now, stepping forward to grab me. But Axel was faster. His hand clamped around my wrist, anchoring me.

"Touch her, and I'll end you."

"Why do you care? She's my bro. Who the hell are you