This page is the “who’s who” version. If you want the full story breakdown by arc, go here: Plot (Full Story Breakdown). If you just want to binge in order, use: Full Episodes (1–62). Spoilers-heavy ending talk is here: Ending Explained.
Main Characters (Quick Table)
| Character | Actor | Photo | What they do in the story | Connected to | Jump |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tessa Sinclair | Meg Bush |
| Returns to North Lake High, turns one messy mistake into a fake-dating deal… and then has to survive catching real feelings. | Ronan (fake → real), the ex-drama crew, the school gossip machine | Read |
| Ronan Beaumont | Ben Armstrong |
| The “Beaumont heir” / childhood nemesis. Acts confident, but the pressure + reputation stuff is basically his whole cage. | Tessa (deal partner → partner), Beaumont family pressure, exes trying to expose them | Read |
| Daphne Remiah | Bar Daniel |
| Classic chaos energy. When the couple is already unstable, a character like this makes everything louder. | Tessa + Ronan (caught in their orbit), the social battlefield at school | Read |
| Jessie | Stacey Marie Keba |
| One of the ex-drama “we will NOT let this couple breathe” people. Exists to test fake vs real in public. | Beckett (the other ex), Tessa/Ronan (targets), the rumor chain | Read |
MEET THE CAST
Supporting Cast (Quick Table)
| Character | Actor | Photo | Why they matter | Jump |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Beaumont | Kalinda Gray |
| “Beaumont” family orbit character. When the story leans into reputation + control, she fits right into that pressure lane. | Read |
| Principal Martinez | Jeremy Miller |
| The school authority figure. In a show built on rumors + public performance, the principal becomes part of the “consequences” vibe. | Read |
| Lynne | Ashley Park |
| Side-character fuel: reactions, pressure, and social consequences (aka the stuff that makes fake dating harder). | Read |
| Amy Singh | Evelyn Case |
| Another “school world” character — helps show how fast things spread and how messy it gets when everyone has opinions. | Read |
| Young Tessa Sinclair | Lily Grace Cox |
| Flashback version. Mostly here to explain why adult Tessa runs when love starts looking real. | Read |
Minor / “Story Function” Characters
These names come up in the story breakdown on this site, even if cast listings don’t always show them clearly everywhere:
| Character | Actor | Photo | What they do | Jump |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beckett | Joss Gyorkos |
| One of the exes / troublemakers. Exists to push the couple into choosing “real” in public instead of performing. | Read |
| Milo | Friend-energy character people mention a lot — the one who nudges Ronan toward the right choice when he starts hesitating. | Read |
How the story flows (so the character arcs make sense)
This mini-series runs like a clean five-part escalation:
Arc 1: the setup — old enemies collide, the “one-night mistake” happens, and the fake-dating deal kicks off. (Episodes 1–10)
Arc 2: complications — ex drama, jealousy, and the pretend feelings turning real. (Episodes 11–22)
Arc 3: messy feelings — boundaries blur, trust becomes the problem, and the rivalry stops being fun. (Episodes 23–35)
Arc 4: secrets + fallout — public pressure spikes, motives get questioned, and choices start having consequences. (Episodes 36–48)
Arc 5: final run — no more looping, just the turning points and the “pick the truth” ending. (Episodes 49–62)
If you want the full, longer version with details, the best “map” is: Plot (Full Story Breakdown).
Tessa Sinclair
Who she is (spoiler-light): Tessa comes back to North Lake High with that sharp, defensive energy that basically screams “don’t get close.” She’s not trying to fall in love. She’s trying to keep control of her life and her reputation.
Her role in the plot: she’s the engine of the entire fake-dating deal. The story works because she’s brave enough to perform confidence in public… and terrified of being real in private. That push-pull is her whole arc.
Connections: Ronan is the childhood nemesis + the deal partner + the person she understands way too well. Jessie/Beckett-type characters exist to bait her into reacting publicly, so she looks “weak” first.
How she changes: by the final stretch, her “rejection phase” hits hard (she pushes away what she wants). The payoff is when she finally stops running and chooses trust instead of pride.
Where to follow her arc fast: 1–10 (setup), 23–35 (feelings get messy), 49–62 (the big choice).
Ronan Beaumont
Who he is (spoiler-light): Ronan is the Beaumont heir — the guy everyone sees as a label first and a person second. He wears confidence like armor, but the story keeps hinting that he’s exhausted by the “perfect rich boy” expectations.
His role in the plot: he turns the fake-dating plan into something that can actually become real… because once he’s in, he’s consistent. The tension is whether he’ll stay “safe” (private, half-measures) or choose Tessa in a way that costs him something.
Connections: Tessa is his rival-turned-partner. The Beaumont family pressure is the background villain. The ex-drama characters try to force him into public humiliation or public denial.
How he changes: his big payoff is drawing a line: he stops performing “Beaumont heir” and starts choosing who he is, out loud, in public, with consequences.
Where to follow his arc fast: 11–22 (public pressure begins), 36–48 (fallout), 49–62 (the stand).
Daphne Remiah
Who she is (spoiler-light): Daphne is the kind of character that makes everything louder. Even when she’s not “evil,” she’s still a problem… because she adds chaos at the exact moments the couple needs calm.
Her role in the plot: she helps turn the romance from “cute prank” into “real consequences.” When the story shifts into jealousy, pride, and reputation, characters like Daphne are how the show keeps poking those bruises.
Connections: she’s tied into the social battlefield at North Lake High — the public setting where fake dating is either convincing… or humiliating.
Where she hits hardest: 11–22 (complications), 23–35 (messy feelings), 36–48 (fallout season).
Jessie
Who she is (spoiler-light): Jessie is one of the ex-drama anchors. If Tessa and Ronan try to “act normal,” Jessie’s job is basically: nope, not allowed.
Her role in the plot: she’s a stress test. Fake dating only works while it’s a performance. Jessie pushes until the couple has to answer the real question: is this still a prank, or is it real?
Connections: Jessie connects to the “exes + troublemakers” lane (with Beckett), and she targets the couple through public pressure, rumors, and “expose them” energy.
How she fits the ending vibe: by the end, the chaos loses power when Tessa and Ronan stop feeding it. The show basically says: drama can’t control you if you choose honesty.
Where to follow her arc fast: 11–22, 36–48, 49–62.
Helen Beaumont
Who she is (spoiler-light): Helen is in the Beaumont family orbit, which automatically means she’s part of the “reputation + control” pressure around Ronan.
Story function: characters like Helen make the romance feel risky. It’s easy to fall in love in private. It’s harder when a family name is involved and everyone expects Ronan to behave “correctly.”
Where she matters most: the heavier arcs where consequences land: 36–48 and 49–62.
Principal Martinez
Who he is: the authority figure at North Lake High.
Story function: he’s the “real world” version of consequences. In a drama built on public performance, someone eventually has to say: okay, but rules exist. He represents the school’s reputation and the “you can’t just do anything” pushback.
Lynne
Who she is: a supporting “school world” character.
Story function: Lynne helps show how fast the social pressure spreads. Fake dating isn’t just about the couple. It’s about the audience around them (friends, classmates, people who judge first and ask questions never).
Amy Singh
Who she is: another supporting character in the school orbit.
Story function: she adds texture to the “everyone has an opinion” environment. When the couple’s relationship is half performance, characters like Amy are how the show keeps that pressure on.
Young Tessa Sinclair
Who she is: the flashback version of Tessa.
Story function: she exists to explain adult Tessa’s pattern: when love looks safe, she panics and runs. The past is basically the blueprint for why her growth has to be earned.
Beckett
Who he is (story lane): one of the exes / troublemakers.
Story function: Beckett is there to keep the “fake” relationship from staying cute. He forces public tests: humiliation, jealousy, exposure attempts — anything that makes the couple choose between performance and truth.
Track his impact: 11–22 and 36–48 are usually where ex-drama does the most damage.
Milo
Who he is: the friend-energy character people point to as “the nudge.”
Story function: when Ronan starts hesitating, characters like Milo keep the plot moving. They push the lead to stop hiding behind pride and make an actual decision.
Want the story in order? Start here: Full Episodes. If you want the detailed arc breakdown, go here: Plot. If you finished and want spoilers, go here: Ending Explained.
