Page 22 of The Fake Script
We stare at each other for a moment, and my heart swells until I’m afraid it might burst out of my chest. “Still. You could have denied it! Why did you tell them we were dating? Just because we were having a conversation and went to high school together doesn’t mean we’re a couple.”
His eyes widen. “I didn’t! I told my mom to keep quiet.”
I scoff. “Well, I guess she didn’t, because ‘your team’ confirmed the rumor.”
“What!” he coughs out, clearly in shock. Grabbing his phone from the coffee table, he types furiously on the screen. Then, his expression changes at least three times before his eyes snap back to me. “Emma, I have nothing to do with this, I swear. And I don’t think my mom does either. Sure, she’s a little extra sometimes, but she knows how to take things seriously. And look here. It just says ‘a source close to the couple.’”
I lift my eyebrows. “Then who is it?”
He releases a frustrated sigh, sitting down on the couch. “This has Madison’s name written all over it. She’s probably hoping I’ll deny it so we can announce we’re back together.”
“Oh.” Ilook down at my shoes. That girl is far from the sweetheart everyone thinks she is. She’s taking things way too far, not to mention she has a serious case of stalker syndrome, and not in the hot, morally-grey hero way.
“What if . . . what if I don’t deny it?” he says after a while, glancing at me with a note of desperation in his eyes.
“What do you mean?”
He gives me an insistent look.
Then, it hits me, and I have to hold onto the TV stand for support. “What? You’re saying you actually want to date me?”
He rubs his hands over his thighs. “Well, maybe we could pretend? It’s just, I told you how tired I am of this thing between Madison and me. It’ll keep her at a distance, finally. She’d have nowhere to hide, and it would also teach her a lesson about spreading rumors about my personal life.”
“Why can’t you find yourself arealgirlfriend? I’m pretty sure you could get one with the snap of your fingers. Aren’t you the hottest man alive or whatever?” I say, glancing at the framed magazine covers.
“Sexiest.”
I cross my arms. “Exactly.”
He shuffles his feet. “Well, I could, but chances are, I’d end up with someone who’s only interested in my fame again. Plus, the cat’s already outof the bag when it comes to you and me, so that makes things easier.”
“Right.” So, him being there for me when I needed him the most wasn’t on his priority list, but now I’m supposed to help him? He’s got some nerve.
“So, will you consider it? Just until the movie is done. Seeing me with someone else will finally shut Madison up, and quell any rumors. Plus, having the fans stop badgering Madison and me to get married would be a nice change of pace,” he says, rubbing the back of his neck.
I shake my head a little. “Wait, the fans actually want you two together?”
“Yeah. It’s the old fantasy of on-screen to real life, you know? We’ve done so many movies together, fans can’t see us with anybody else. You wouldn’t believe the number of Audisson shippers out there.” He rolls his eyes, and that almost makes me smile. What a bad ship name.
“And you want to start a fake relationship to go against what your fans want? I know you don’t read books, but fake dating is a pretty popular movie trope as well. Usually, the fake relationship is established to rally public opiniononyour side, not to counter it.”
The edge of his mouth lifts in a smirk. “Well, what can I say? I’ve always loved a good plot twist.”
I bite my lip.
He looks at me for a second, thenglances away. Shaking his head, he lets out a throaty laugh. “Never mind. It’s crazy. I’m crazy.My lifeis crazy. Gosh, I can’t believe I even suggested that.” Standing up, he jams his hands in his pockets. “I’ll just deal with Madison on my own. Sorry I dragged you into this.”
My heart clenches when I glimpse the defeat in his eyes. And here I thought he was living the dream. Callmecrazy, but it has always been a small consolation to know that, at the very least, he didn’t break my heart for nothing. My dreams were crushed when I was sixteen, but his were all coming true. Looking at him now, I see a reflection of how I feel inside—frustrated, sad, empty. And I hate it. Auston was always so bright and cheerful in high school, and I thought living his dream would amplify his joy, not crush it.
“I’ll do it,” I blurt out.
His eyes widen like two saucers. “Seriously? Why?”
I smirk. “‘Cause I’m a plot twist junkie too.” And I also might be a little unhinged. But I’m already spending time with Auston for this movie. What difference will it make? We were friends once, after all.
“Really? That’s all. You don’t want anything in return?”
“No. As long as you keep your end of the bargain and do this movie justice, I’m solid. Oh, and don’t forget about introducing me to Melissa Fortner.”