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But it was the last place I wanted to be. I found it more than difficult to keep my focus as my thoughts drifted to Scarlett and all the things I’d shared with her the other night. I thought of how soft her hair looked when she wore it down. The deep chocolate brown of her eyes. The shape of her lips and the way they felt when she kissed me.
Then I groaned and scrubbed my hands over my face.Not helping . . .
I should prepare for this interview. I should think about the things Trainer and I discussed and the way I should respond to any probing questions.
Instead, I idly wondered what she wore to school this morning.
“I watched last night.” Caroline, my assistant, bustled into the room, and I grunted in response.
“She’s gorgeous,” she said, eyeing me above her clipboard.
My foot shook harder.Like I needed to be told.
“Of course she is,” I said.
“Are you going to see her today?”
If I ever get out of this blasted chair, I thought. I could be seeing her right now, but instead, I had to answer questions for a bunch of people looking to puncture holes in them.
“Probably,” I said, tight-lipped. Though Caroline didn’t deserve my attitude, I couldn’t help but direct it toward her.
“Well,” she shifted the clipboard, “you two looked great together. Everyone’s talking about it, so I hope for your sake, this one sticks.”
She patted me on the arm at the same time someone knocked on the door, and one of the crew members popped their head in. “You’re on in ten. All good?”
“Yep. Ready to go,” I said as the makeup artist appeared out of nowhere, touching up my face with a brush and some powder.
“Try not to get shiny,” she said and left.
My gaze returned to Caroline. “Try not to get shiny?” I scoffed.
“Well, aren’t you in a whole mood.” Caroline smirked while she waved her hand at me.
I rolled my eyes before shifting my gaze to the green room door. In a few minutes, I’d exit and go on live television where they’d likely question me about the new film, our hiatus, maybe even my past behavior, and after Saturday’s appearance, Scarlett. Though they’d given me the questions in advance, I knew as well as anyone else that when it comes to live TV, anything goes.
“Out with it.” Caroline curled her fingers. “Talk to me.”
Sadly enough, Caroline was probably the closest thing I had to a friend, which wasn’t saying much, considering she was on my payroll. But I couldn’t exactly confide in her, not about this. Besides, what was I supposed to say? That I was fake-dating Scarlett as a publicity stunt, and now I might be falling for her?
How’s that for irony?
I doubted if I told her I’d get a lot of sympathy. Like all of my other choices, the idea to deceive the world was mine, and so were the consequences.
With that in mind, I sighed and said, “Nothing. I’m fine. I just don’t want to screw this up, that’s all.”
SCARLETT
I walked into the cafeteria with my lunch in hand, headed toward my usual spot next to Penelope when Gabby, waving like a lunatic from her perch on the sofa in the lounge, called my name.
Ducking, I trained my eyes away from her and made a beeline toward my usual table where Penelope and Topher already waited. Without Thorne as a buffer, I’d spent the better part of the morning dodging Royal attention, and it was exhausting. If it wasn’t JT flirting with me in the hall (cringe) or Mikey asking me for help in Trig, it was Gabby sidling up to me in chemistry.
The attention I’d received had been unlike anything I’d ever experienced. Teachers stopped me in the halls to tell me they’d seen me at the awards show. Classmates I’d never spoken to before asked me questions and complimented my dress. Even the janitor wanted to know what celebrities I’d seen and who I’d spoken with.
In short, my morning had been insane, and I was well aware that was only a fraction of what Thorne dealt with every day. Only he was used to it by now, while I was not. So it was with bated breath, I slid in beside P. All I wanted was a reprieve, a moment away from the spotlight and probing questions from my classmates.
I opened my lunch bag and pulled out a yogurt, ignoring the eyes hot on my back from the nearby tables.
“What’s that all about?” P asked, her gaze directed toward the lounge.
