Chapter Text
1.
– – – –
It had started quite innocently.
– – – –
„I need your help.”
“Yes, sure. I’m actually in the middle of a conversation, though, right now, so- wait… what are you doing?!- stop- Shu-”
“Here we go.”
“What the hell was that?!”
“I told you; I need your help.”
„I gathered, but you didn’t have to drag me away from McFee like that.”
“You always complain how annoying he is.”
“Yes, but for once he was actually telling me something case-related, so-“
“I need a girlfriend.”
“What??”
“James wants to set me up with a friend of his, and-“
“Wait, why would James care about your love life?!”
“He- no, not James–James. James. You know, my friend from college?”
“Oh, that James. Right.”
“Anyway, so I told him that I already have a girlfriend. But now-“
“I’m sorry, you made up a girlfriend just to avoid going on a date? How old are you, five?”
“I just- It just plopped up in my head and I said it.”
“So? Just tell him it was a prank and you simply don’t care for set-ups.”
“But that would be awkward.”
“Well, so would be pretending to be dating someone? And I’m not going to give you Natsuko’s number. You have to think of something else.”
“… Why would I need Natsuko’s number?”
“To ask her to pretend to be your girlfriend? You said you needed my help.”
“Yes, as in you pretending to be my girlfriend for an evening.”
“What?! Me?”
“Yes, you.”
“I’m not going to play your girlfriend, Shu, that’s ridiculous. Why for an evening, anyway?”
“He invited us to dinner. With his fiancée.”
“So it’s a double date? Haha, I’m sure you’ll have a great evening.”
“Don’t laugh at me, Jodie. I’d pretend to be your boyfriend if you needed me to.”
“Perhaps, but I would never be in a situation where I needed a fake-boyfriend.”
“… Right, but we’re friends, and friends help each other, don’t they?”
“…”
“And it’s not like you’ve got anything better to do; the dinner is on Saturday, after all.”
“Excuse you, I’m very busy on Saturdays.”
“Playing video games.”
“See? Busy.”
“… Come on. Please, Jodie?”
“Oh for heaven’s sake, stop looking at me like that!”
“Like what?”
“Like that. I’m not going to play your stupid girlfriend.”
“Actually, you’d be playing my highly intelligent, super-clever, mega-ingenious and absolutely brilliant girlfriend.”
“…”
“Please. I’ll buy you that new video game you’ve been going on about yesterday.”
“…”
“Please?”
“… Alright, fine.”
“Yes! Thank you!”
“But listen; I’m doing this once, okay? It will not happen again.”
“Of course.”