It wasn't until the day was done, that I got a chance to talk to Paul again.

The performance triggered a lot of speculation and our classmates wanted to separate fact from fiction, especially Josh.

"Can we grab a coffee some time?" I asked, having finally scraped up the courage to make an actual move.

"No," he answered plainly.

My face immediately fell.

"I'm kidding!" he said with a laugh. "But can my girlfriend come?"

"Huh?" I asked in surprise.

"Dude, still joking!" he said, checking his phone. "I have a dentist appointment but please DM my Insta, OK."

"Sure," I said, even though I wasn't.

Paul was just about to walk down the subway stairs, when he stopped and said, "There's a tiny coffee shop called 'March' next to Central Park. See you there at eight, before class?"

"Sure!" I said, this time I definitely was.

A hand grabbed my arm and I almost jumped out of my skin. I turned to find Vanessa grinning at me.

"Did it work?" she asked. "Did he finally ask you out?"

"What the fuck?! You knew!" I yelled, now standing still and staring daggers at her.

"Oh, c'mon. You've literally been fawning over him for weeks. I'm neither blind, nor stupid."

"But, how the hell did you know that he... what the actual fuck, Vanessa?!" I seethed.

"Paul had a little fling with Caspian's friend Allen awhile ago," she said with a shrug.

"So the game, the kiss, it was all a setup?"

How was I so naive?

"I think the words you're looking for are 'thank you, Vanessa.' It wasn't exactly easy to convince Paul to join our little soiree."

This entire situation was so utterly fucked up but admittedly, she'd managed to get me exactly where I wanted to be.

I was having coffee... with Paul!

"You batshit crazy bitch, I can't believe you did this! I absolutely adore you!" I said, air kissing her cheeks.

"Holy fuck! There actually is a sassy queen living inside you! I knew it!"