I blink and stay in silence for fifteen seconds. I think I'm even holding my breath but I just can't believe what he told me. He dared to pretend on a date he asked for, with a girlfriend he requested. If he wanted to pretend why did he even bother? Seriously, what's wrong with him?

Disappointed? Oh no, that's not the right feeling. I'm pissed! He made me believe for even a second that he could be nice and that we could have a good time. How stupid of me. Of course this prick can't be nice and considerate in real life. It had to be a charade and I can't believe I bought it. I fucking bought it!

My rage raises and boils inside of me, making me clench my fists so tight that my nails are burying in my flesh but I don't care.

Acting! He was acting!

I snort and unbuckle my seatbelt before opening the door and storming out. I slam it close channelling all my frustration in that action.

Stupid prick!

"Oi! What was that for?!" he shouts from the car, not even bothering to get down, just pulling his window down.

"You're insufferable!" is all I say before stomping inside the building where my home is. I don't care what else he says, I don't care I even left the books in his car. I don't even want the books anymore. I don't want anything from him. I was naïve for letting myself believe him for a second. Of course someone who just demanded for a girlfriend because he was just too lazy and abnormal to find one himself can't be considerate and nice. What was I thinking?!

Ugh, I'm such a fool!

I don't know whom I'm the angriest at, Liam or myself.

This is a job, I can’t lose sight of that, I’m just doing this for my father. To help him. To give him a chance. Yes, I decided to teach Liam some manners so my time doing this wouldn’t be so horrid, but that doesn’t mean I have to enjoy or try to enjoy it. That isn’t part of the deal. I don’t have to like him, I just have to tolerate him and this will be over before I notice. All I have to do is make sure the media buys this charade. I have to be the perfect girlfriend for them and that’s why my father suggested me for this job, because he knows I can handle people. I don’t have friends not because I don’t know how to make friends or because I’m asocial, I just don’t care about people and having meaningless and depthless relationships. But I know how to deal with people, how to be polite and charming and that’s what I’m going to be. I’ll be the one pretending. I’ll be the perfect girlfriend. Me. Because I was the one hired to act, not Liam. He has no reason to pretend because he chose this, he wasn’t pushed into this fake relationship.

Who does he think he is? Uh?

Stupid prick.

•••

The make up artist makes my chair turn after she finishes with my makeup and I can see my reflection on the mirror. I look natural and sophisticated and at the same time I look important, I look beautiful and I smile at the girl in the mirror because I approve of what the makeup artist did with me. I know that anyone can be beautiful with the right makeup, I just never had the right makeup on me. Appearance is for the rest, caring about how others see you is just a desperate need for acceptance and I don’t need that, hence I never cared much about how I looked, I just cared about how comfortable I felt with certain clothes and makeup.

“Thank you very much,” I say to the woman who did this with my hair and makeup. I totally forgot her name and I’m too ashamed to ask her again.

“It was my pleasure, Belle. Opposite to the lads, you stay still and it’s so easy to work with you. I wish they would behave a little bit,” she complains and I chuckle.

This woman is One Direction’s makeup artist, Havi managed to get her doing my hair and makeup for today’s premiere. Oh yeah, today is the day when I’m finally introduced as Liam Payne’s girlfriend.

Oh joy!

I see on the mirror Havi approaching us with a big smile.

“Belle, you look amazing!” she chirps and I smile at her through the mirror. In her arms she has the dress we bought together. “Now let’s put this on and you’ll be ready to go. The lads are waiting outside so you can meet them all before we leave to the red carpet.”

Havi is ready to go, with a black dress she looks professional and elegant, the only bright thing in her are her shiny eyes and red lipstick… and my white dress in her arms.

I stand up, the makeup artist and Havi help me to get rid of the shorts and tee I was wearing so my dress wouldn’t wrinkle or get stained. Together we work on putting on the dress without ruining my hair or makeup. After a few minutes I’m all done and I take one last look in the mirror. I look like a Greek goddess and I can’t fight the smile on my lips. My hair pulled up makes the dress stand out even more in all its glory and elegance. I imagined this but I never thought it would end up so well. I’m fascinated and impressed.

“If I were the protagonist of the film, I would be totally worried you outshine me,” Havi comments and we laugh.

I’m nothing but Liam’s girlfriend and maybe it’s stupid to work so hard on looking great when I have no part in the film, but Liam wants attention, he wants the media to see him and his girlfriend. This is because he looks for acceptance, even for the people he chooses to be with.

Speaking of whom, I haven’t talked to him since our date. I haven’t answered his calls or texts. Unless it is something work related, I have no interest in talking to him.

“Okay, it’s time to go,” Havi says and I smile at her. I grab the purse I’ve chosen to match the outfit. It’s a red envelope to match my lips, but all the other accesories are golden.

We say goodbye to the makeup artist and Havi leads me outside this room. So far I’ve only met Harry and he’s a nice bloke, so charming and polite, nothing like Liam. I wonder if Liam’s other band mates are like Harry or more like him. I’ve only seen their pictures and listened to their songs, I didn’t even pay attention to them during the interviews and who knows, they might’ve changed, too.

We step inside another room with sofas, a telly connected to a game console—Xbox one—and a table with snacks. In the room there are five men and other three girls. I see Harry and Liam, the last one doesn’t even look in my direction, he’s too focused playing Call of Duty. The other boys turn and look at us.

“Belle!” Harry chirps and walks up to me, dragging one of the girls in the room with him. She’s not Ariel. “You look amazing. Wow!”

“Thank you,” I reply with a smile of my own. He looks amazing, too, in a dark suit with a dark shirt with a weird pattern. It’s not something I would like, but he pulls it off.

“This is my sister Gemma,” he introduces to me the girl by his side. She has features like Harry’s, but hers are softer, more feminine.

“Nice to meet you,” we say in unison. I’m about to ask him about Ariel when I remember their relationship is secret, none of them wants the media to find out they are together and they don’t want her career tied to his.

I look past Harry to see Liam finally looking at me, his expression blank and I can’t tell what he’s thinking. I stand taller and proud, just to show him I’m a professional. I’m not, but I’m doing this seriously so I might as well be one.

I didn’t notice the other band members approaching until Havi speaks. “Lads, this is Belle, Liam’s girlfriend,” she says and I chuckle because shouldn’t be the boyfriend doing the introductions? “Belle, these are Zayn, Louis and Niall.”

“Nice to meet you, Belle,” says Niall, the blond one with a very energetic smile. He’s the only one who’s alone.

“Hello,” says Louis, the other brunet in the band. He’s the shortest one and his features are sharp and a bit arrogant, but his smile is honest. By his side there’s a gorgeous girl, brunette as well with a precious smile. “This is my girlfriend Eleanor,” he introduces like Liam should do with me but oh well, it doesn’t matter because everyone here knows it’s all fake.

“Hi, how’re you doing? Nervous?” asks the other boy, Zayn, a black-haired boy with the most exquisite features I’ve seen, warm brown eyes and a killer smile. He is beautiful. Seriously, why couldn’t he be the one asking for a girlfriend? “This is my wife, Perrie,” he adds. Oh, that’s why. He’s totally taken.

Perrie is another celebrity, she’s in a girl group, for all what I know. Blonde and with a killer body. Zayn keeps her close, with his arm around her waist as if he were afraid she might get lost. I’m pretty sure they are newly wed, they look like that.

“Hello, Belle. It’s a pleasure to meet you,” she says and I reply with something similar.

“Are you nervous ‘cos of the premiere?” Zayn asks and I notice how the other band members step away, including Harry and his sister. Even Havi leaves to go and talk to Liam about I don’t know what. Only Zayn and Perrie stay with me.

“A bit,” I reply with a small smile. I’m trying to take everything in as calmly as I can, but still, who wouldn’t be nervous knowing that all eyes will be on them?

“Don’t worry, it’s faster than you think. A couple of questions, a few pictures and off you go ‘cos there’re too many others behind. What you gotta look forward is the after party. Those are cool,” explains Zayn and I smile. “I know Liam wants everyone to see you but if you’re uncomfortable you just have to say it, he can’t force you.”

“He kind of can,” I intervene. “I signed a contract.”

“He still can’t force you to do something you don’t want to, right?” Perrie inquires and it’s true, I made sure the contract stated he couldn't force me to do things against my will.

“Don’t worry, Belle. If you need anything we’ll be there as well,” Zayn reminds me and my smile is automatic, grateful and relieved.

Liam’s band mates are nice and caring, especially Zayn. Why is only him the one who became a jerk? Harry, Niall, Louis and Zayn all seem down to earth people, grateful and kind. I guess fame doesn’t affect everyone in the same way.

Havi is back and this time she brings Liam with her. “It’s time we go,” she reminds us all and everyone starts moving.

I look at Liam with my most dignified expression but he still looks blankly at me. I try to stand taller and he looks at me from head to toe. I remember he disapproved of the dress, probably he’s still pissed at that.

“You look great,” he says and I blink in surprise. Did he really say that? I was honestly expecting him to say I should’ve chosen another dress.

“Th-thanks,” I say, still dumbfounded.

He only nods before offering me his arm, which I take. “Don’t worry about today, leave it to me. Just make sure to smile and look pretty,” he reminds me and we start walking.

Smile and look pretty. That’s why he’s taking me with him, but I’ll teach him I can be the perfect girlfriend and I’ll handle it all better than him. I can pretend, too, and better than him.

Just you wait, Liam Payne. Just you wait.

-:-:-

*suddenly starts singing Just You Wait from MY Fair Lady* Okay, you got the 1K votes and I'm updating real quick 'cos I gotta go back to work. The dress is on the multimedia in case you forgot how it looked like.

Bel, xx