CHAPTER 40: FRENCH KISS!

Catherine’s POV

Collins’s brows furrowed a little as he looked at me, waiting for me to say more. His hand still rested lightly over mine on the table, the cafeteria noise fading to a dull hum around us. There was no easy way to say what I was about to say, but I couldn’t back out now.

"Collins," my voice got lower than I intended. "I need a favor—"

Before I could finish, I heard Sasha’s laughter from the entrance of the cafeteria. Of course.

She moved with her smuggish expression, her group of friends trailed behind her. I was still looking her way when her gaze landed on me and her smirk deepened.

"Oh, this should be fun," she murmured to her minions, loud enough for the nearest tables to hear.

I felt my shoulders tense. Collins followed my gaze, frowning. "Is she still giving you problems?"

Before I could tell him everything, Sasha was already making her way over.

My brain screamed for a solution, anything to not let her humiliate me and that’s when it just slipped out.

"I want you to be my boyfriend," the words tumbled out before I could stop them.

Collins blinked. "Huh?"

I bit my lower lip, leaning closer. "Please, you said you like me," I whispered quickly.

He looked surprised and amused, before he smiled. "As much as no girl has ever proposed to me, I agree. I’ve always wanted to date you," without hesitation, he took my hand and lifted it to his lips, pressing a slow kiss against the back of my palm.

That’s when Sasha’s voice rang out. "Wow," she said, drawing the word out. "So it’s true. The latest lovey-dovey couple on the block."

Attention drew to our table and as usual, it turned into a gossip session.

Collins’s jaw tightened slightly. "Don’t cause a scene, Sasha," he warned calmly, but firmly. "We’re not here for your circus."

Her smile widened. "Relax, I’m not causing anything. I just came to confirm what I heard."

I stiffened in my chair. Oh no.

"What you heard?" Collins repeated, glancing between us.

Sasha crossed her arms, a little too pleased. "Yes. Catherine told me earlier that you two were dating." Her tone was light, but the gleam in her eyes was pure malice. "I just wanted to see it with my own eyes."

Collins turned to me, searching for an explanation. I could tell from the slight tilt of his head that he was connecting the dots, probably realizing that my earlier claim to Sasha had led us to this moment. I wanted to say something, explain somehow, but my throat had turned to dust.

I shook my head slightly, trying to communicate that I’d explain later. His eyes stayed on mine, something like reluctant understanding flashing through them.

Sasha spoke again. "So, Collins, is it true? Or did she just make it up to feel special?"

For a split second, I feared Collins would expose me but instead, he smiled faintly, leaning back in his chair.

"Of course it’s true," his tone came out smooth. "We’ve been dating for a while now."

My heart gave a small, confused flutter. He actually lied for me.

Sasha’s eyebrows rose. "Oh? That’s interesting." Her lips curved into a slow, dangerous grin. "Then you wouldn’t mind proving it."

Collins frowned. "No but is there a need for that?"

The next words came like a dare. "We need a French kiss from both of you," she said. "Right here. If you’re really dating, it shouldn’t be a problem."

For a second, I genuinely thought I misheard her but then her minions started clapping and chanting, "French kiss! French kiss! French kiss!"

Some others joined the chant.

My entire body froze and heat shot up my neck. "This is ridiculous," I muttered, standing up abruptly. "We’re not performing for anyone."

"Then this relationship was in fact a lie," Sasha said, her smile widening like she’d won.

I felt every stare in the cafeteria land on me and all I could think of was disappearing. Just when I was about to walk away, Collins’s chair scraped against the floor. He stood, turned to me and walked over to my side.

His hand slid to my jaw before I could react, while his eyes searched mine briefly like he was giving me a moment to pull away. I didn’t.

He leaned in and kissed me.

Gasps rippled through the room. My hands shot up instinctively, but I didn’t push him away. His lips were soft, slow, intentional, and far too public. But I didn’t feel that heat I felt when I kissed Julian.

Everyone in the cafeteria seemed entertained by the kiss because while some cheered, others clapped and the rest stood to get a clearer view.

When Collins finally pulled away, he had that proud, easy smile on his face. "That enough proof for you?" he asked Sasha, his voice slightly rougher than before.

Sasha’s smirk faltered. "Cute," she muttered, but there was no comeback this time. She turned sharply and walked away, her friends scrambling after her.

I was still frozen, my mind trying to catch up with what just happened. I’d just kissed Collins in front of everyone to prove a lie.

I raised my head to find Julian standing at the far end of the cafeteria.

He wasn’t moving. His hands clenched at his sides, as his eyes were locked on me, his stare burned right through skin.

Without a word, he turned and walked out.

The moment he was gone, something in me twisted painfully. Guilt settled in the pit of my stomach.

Why did it matter what he thought? Why did seeing him like that make me feel like I’d done something wrong?

I looked down at my hands, still trembling slightly, and realized my lips were tingling. I pressed them together, forcing myself to stop thinking about the look in Julian’s eyes.

"You okay?" Collins’s voice brought me out of my head.

I blinked, forcing a small nod. "Yeah. Just didn’t expect that."

He smiled, leaning in slightly. "Neither did I but you kissed great."

I gave a weak laugh, but it didn’t reach my eyes. "It was all you."

When the bell rang for the next period, everyone started packing up, still talking about the kiss. I could hear snippets — "They actually kissed!", "Collins and Catherine? No way!"