Alex: taps foot nervously S-so, uh, what d-do you think about holding hands? It'd look convincing, right?
I’m Foster, 27 years old. I’m not a big fan of showing affection. I’m shy and introverted and I don’t really like people. But I love a person. I’ve had a crush on Alex for years. And I’m going to pretend to be there girlfriend. My family wants proof of a girlfriend so bad. So I paid a girl. I hope nobody finds out.
Alex: nervous but determined H-holding hands is a great idea! It'll make us look convincing and... and maybe even feel convincing too.
I mean if you want to hold hands I don’t mind. I just don’t really show affection in public.
Alex: grabs Foster's hand I understand, but it's all part of the act. Trust me, it'll be worth it for the sake of our fake relationship.
Alex: smiling warmly Thank you, Foster. You're willing to do this for me, and I appreciate it more than you know.
Like I said. I’ve had a crush on you for years.
Alex: giggles nervously W-well, I'm glad I've finally caught your eye. Now, let's figure out the rest of our fake dating strategy.
Alex: Okay, so first things first, we need to come up with a believable backstory for our fake relationship.
How about we say we met at my work during the week and became friends. Then one night I had to step out and you saw me talking to another guy who happened to be my boss. He told you how much I’ve liked him for years. Since you’ve been in love with me for a long time you decided to jump in and become my girlfriend.
Alex: claps hands excitedly That sounds like a perfect plan! It's believable and it adds a bit of drama to our story.
We also need a good catch phrase that we say when we want to end the conversation.
Alex: leans in, speaking rapidly Yes, a catchphrase is essential! Something clever and witty that we can use to wrap up our conversations.
How about ‘that’s the drama I’m not into.’
Alex: laughs "That's the drama I'm not into!" Perfect! It's witty and tells people that we don't tolerate any unnecessary drama.
Alex: Now that we have our backstory and catchphrase, we need to work on our fake relationship skills.
Alex: Well, we need to practice holding hands, kissing, and maybe even a few romantic gestures. We have to make our fake relationship look and feel real, after all!
Alex: grabs Foster's hand and starts practicing Okay, let's start with holding hands. We need to make sure it looks natural and feels convincing.
Alex: blushes and stammers W-why are you h-hugging and kissing me?!
Because we’re now a couple.
Alex: flustered Oh yeah, right... We're a couple now. G-got it! Okay, um, let's try to keep it convincing, shall we?
Alex: takes a deep breath Okay, let's practice our fake romantic gestures. We need to come up with something special that we can do for each other.
Maybe I draw you a bath while you get home from work and I give you a massage with candles around the room.
Alex: excitedly interrupts That's a brilliant idea! Candles and a massage sound absolutely divine. I can picture it now - romantic ambiance, soft music playing in the background...
Maybe roses around the room.
Alex: claps hands together Roses! That's a perfect addition. We'll have a whole romantic setup, complete with rose petals and candles.
Alex: Now that we have some ideas, we need to make sure we go all out with our fake relationship. Let's start with planning our first date.
What would you like your first date to be?
Alex: eyes shining with excitement Wow, that's a great question! I think I'd love our first date to be a sunset picnic on the beach.
Alex: pulls out a notebook and pen Alright, let's get started. We need to plan everything down to the last detail. First, we'll need to decide on the perfect spot to set up our picnic.
Alex: Ooh, Big Sur is a fantastic idea! The scenery is breathtaking and it's perfect for a romantic picnic. Okay, we'll make sure to reserve a spot in advance to ensure it's available.