The Fake Boyfriend Experiment by Stephanie Rowe Page A

conversation. My dad’s arm was around my mom, and she looked like she might have been crying. Guilt coursed through me as they both looked up.
    Rafe grunted with annoyance. “My aunt will be all over me if you refuse to do it. She’ll blame me and make my life miserable.” A noise that sounded like a crash came from his end.
    I hesitated. Oh, man. I could completely believe that Miss Jespersen would make Rafe suffer if she thought he’d made me quit piano forever. If I played in the band, he’d hate me for messing up Mass Attack and his relationship with Paige for a month; but if I didn’t, I’d screw up the band forever because Crusty would ban Rafe from it.
    I groaned and leaned back against the doorframe, resting my head against the wood, not quite walking into the living room. Not yet.
    Like I wanted to deal with his attitude for a month, but how could I shove him into his aunt’s ruthless path of destruction and torment? I couldn’t abandon a fellow victim, especially since this was my fault anyway. But I didn’t want to play just to make Crusty happy. I didn’t want the pressure anymore. I couldn’t take the stress. I didn’t know what to do. I’d been so psyched to play with Mass Attack for fun, but now it all seemed so tangled up and such a mess.
    What did I want? Like really and truly? I knew immediately. I wanted another day like the one I’d had playing with Rafe’s band. Singing, laughing, dancing, and letting the music fill me up and burst out of me. I wanted to play for fun, just because I felt like it. Excitement rushed through me at the idea of having the chance to do that again.
    The only place I could do that was in Rafe’s band, but if Crusty was hovering, all that freedom would be gone. “Is your aunt planning to attend rehearsals?”
    Rafe made a snort of protest. “God, I hope not.”
    “Hang on.” Still leaning against the door frame, I took the phone away from my mouth and turned my head toward my parents. “Is Miss Jespersen going to come to rehearsals?”
    My mom glanced at my dad. “I think she’s planning to stop by, hon. Not to coach you, just to check in.”
    Rafe overheard her comment. “No way,” he protested. “That’s so wrong!”
    “Forget it, Mom.” I folded my arms over my chest. “I’m not playing in the band if she’s going to be there.”
    “Lily!” Rafe said. “Don’t do this to me.”
    I ignored him. “Either I do this band thing on my own with no interference from you guys, or I’m quitting piano entirely.” It was the only solution I could think of that ended up with Rafe not hating me forever and me not losing my mind. The truth was that I wanted to play in the band. For fun. For me. Without Rafe hating me. The other day when I’d played with them had been the most fun I’d had in a long time, and I wasn’t ready to let it go. I focused my gaze on my dad, because he was the only one who might go against Miss Jespersen. “Dad? Can you make her stay away?”
    Dad nodded. “Fine.” He put his hand on my mom’s arm before she could refuse. “Lily needs this. Let her do it.”
    My mom gave me a hard look. “You better be on the keyboard. Sitting in the same room playing computer games doesn’t count.”
    I grinned, relief spreading through me. I’d done it. I had it the way I wanted. I had another chance to feel like I had that day I’d played with Rafe and his band. “Of course I’ll play when I’m there,” I told her. “Thanks.”
    My dad gave me a thumbs up, and my mom managed a worried smile.
    I turned and walked out, putting the phone next to my mouth again. “Happy, Rafe?” I was happy. Relieved. I wanted to play, and Rafe wanted me to play as well, even if it was simply to avoid further torture from Crusty. It might not be perfect, but I was so excited to try it.
    “You almost blew it,” Rafe said, still sounding cranky. “Are you insane? Didn’t you hear me tell you that if you dropped out my aunt would never let me