"We need to have a serious talk." My grandmother said, taking a seat at the kitchen table. She looked angry. But then again, she did most days. Her gray hair was pulled back in a high, tight bun. This is why she had come to dinner, not to eat. Or to socialize, she wanted to talk. As always, something was wrong in her book. She wore a dress covered in flowers and lace. Her glasses, thin and wiry, perched on the end of her nose. She tapped her fingers on Mom's fancy tablecloth. I gulped, taking a seat. My mom rushes in with paint on her hands. "Oh, for goodness sake, Gloria, must you always be fussing about with that useless stuff?" My grandmother asked her. "Well, it's not useless, and we're not here to talk about me." She said.                  

        "Fine." My grandmother conceded. "Hazel Grace what is it you'd like to do now that you've graduated? I mean I know it's only been a week but we need to take this serious. I was thinking law school, or med school. Hm what are your thoughts?" She asked. I was angry. My grandmother KNEW I wanted to be a singer. She didn't like those types of jobs, said they were hard to get into and they were but I wasn't naïve to that. She always hated the fact that my mom became an artist. And what's worse my dad's a writer she was livid when my mother told her she was going to marry him. My grandmother growing up didn't work. She stayed at home with the kids because she shouldn't work. When she was a young adult it was unheard of women to work. So now she feels like she has to push me into some grand career that will take care of me. And who knows, maybe she was even a bit resentful she had to stay home and take care of the kids. And I know she blames herself for the way my mother "turned out."  I get it I do but she can't force me into something I don't want to do. And let me tell you right now.  I know what she's going to do next.                                                                                                                                                                 My grandmother is going to threaten to cut me off. Guess what? Good for her. With her, money comes with strings. I'll refuse her offer and the money. She'll think we're still going to be cool. But we're not. Not because I don't have her money, I don't want it. I need her support and that's all it really means. I want to know that she's proud of me. And that she thinks I can do it. But you know what, even if she doesn't my parents are one hundred percent on board with me moving to Nashville in a few weeks. They've even given me some money to help me get started.                                        
       "Um look don't take any offense to this. But I'm going to be a singer. And you already know this. But I love how you played it cool and all. Like this was our first conversation and you're just trying to feel me out." I said. She laughed. "Honey don't do this to yourself. You know you're not. I mean, let's be real. This is a big jump. One that we both know you shouldn't take. And your mother will back me up on this I'm sure." She said. 

            "Mom and dad already know about it and they are fine with it." My grandmother shot daggers at my mom. "Gloria tell me this isn't true, why would you let her have this crazy pipe dream?" She asked. "Mother it's not a crazy pipe dream. You've heard Hazel Grace sing she's got a lovely voice. She can do it if she wants. Besides it's her life she's going to be an adult we can't tell her what to do anymore. And you've met your grand daughter she's as head strong as me. She's gonna go for this even if we tell her not too." My mother said. Yay go mom. 

                   "And when she fails??" My grandmother asked. "First of all, I'm not gonna fail, but thanks for the support. I'm moving to Nashville whether you like it or not. I don't mean to be rude but moms right it is my life. If I never make it in the big time I'll survive. I'll still work in the music industry somehow. And guess what if i fail it won't be because i didn't try. And I don't remember needing to approval." I said.  My grandmother gasped audibly covering her mouth with her hand. "How dare you speak to me that way! If you fail...." "Don't worry you won't have to be here to pick up the pieces."             

                          "Well fine." She huffed. "I won't give you a penny." She said. "Keep it I don't want your stupid money. I've got some saved up from working anyways. Plus some from graduation and then mom and dad gave me some. "Gloria." She shuddered. "Please tell me you didn't give her any of your...money." It was as if this was too disgusting to even say out loud. "Well you know, we're good parents like that." My mom shrugged. "Good parents, please." She turned to me. "You like the idea of living on the streets!?"

        "And why would I do that? You're being just a bit dramatic. The money will get me a few months rent while I find places to sing. I'm going to book a studio and record a single so I have demos to pass out." I said to her hoping that if she knew I had a plan she'd chill out. She stood up from the table abruptly. "You are so rude child. Go on then. But don't come crawling back to me." She said. "You're the one who's rude. Some grandma you are. Why can't you be nice and bake cookies? Go fart on a log." I said and stormed out of the room.             

          My mom checked on me later. "Look I wasn't trying to be rude to her, and I know I kind of was. But she is unrelenting." I said. "I know honey, look you're gonna make it big.  I just feel it in my bones. And even if you don't as long as you are surviving that's all that matters. You know and doing what you love and what makes you happy. Even if it means you won't be around as much." My mom said. I gave her a hug. "Your support means the world to me." I said. She laughed. "Oh baby girl. I love you so much. My mother has always been a tough nut to crack. You should have seen her the day I told I was going to be an artist, or the day I told her I was gonna marry your dad....she's never been pleased with me." "I'm sorry, what did you say to her?" I asked. "Nothing. But you. You told her to go fart on a log." Then I started laughing. "Well I was mad." I said. I could never really be mean. It wasn't in my nature. But even so, I wouldn't be walked over or forced into doing something I didn't wanna do.

                                                                             FIVE YEARS LATER

                    "Hazel Grace, just the lady I was looking for." Said my manager pulling me into his office. I took a seat in the chair. "What's up?" I asked. "Well your last album did good. I want this one to be great." He said. "Okay so do I sir." I said. "Excellent. Do you know why your album isn't great?" He asked. "No?" I asked confused. "Because of your image. You are too nice." He said. "So being nice has gotten me some fans? I don't want to be fake sir." I said. "Not fake, here take a look at this." He showed me some stats on the computer "Chart tops. Jaylen Harrison is on top, know why? Cause she's sexy and she keeps people guessing as to what's she's going to do next."                        

                    I looked down at my girl next door look. "Sir with all due respect I don't feel comfortable..." He put his hand up to stop me. "I have the perfect idea. I have another person in my studio who has a rep as a bad guy, a player if you will. He needs somebody who's nice. You need an edgier look. The paparazzi will believe anything you tell them. So if we stage a fake relationship while the two of you work on albums once they drop boom a month later you break up and it'll do wonders for both of you. What do you say?" He asked.                  

              "I don't know sir." I said. He picked up the phone. "It's fine people do it all the time in the Bizz. Cindy send in Kendall." He said hanging up the phone. The door opened a few seconds later and Kendall James walked in. Of course I knew who he was, everyone knew who he was. He was the first person I met when i got to this record label in fact. "Sir I don't understand, you just said that Jaylen gets sales because...and well he's..." I put my hand out. "Yes he is, but he's too much. It's rubbing people the wrong way. Kendall take a seat. You know Hazel Grace." He said. "Sure thing, what's this about sir?" He asked. "You have to change, your behavior is turning people off. Your album is coming out soon. Sales will suffer." "Right, so what does this have to do with Hazel Grace?" Kendall asked. "She's going to improve your image. And you are going to help her by having her "date the bad boy." Albums both drop around the same time then you can break up. Understand?" He asked. "Sure thing sir." He said standing up to shake his hand. "I'll let you two discuss the details." Our manager said walking out of office.                    
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     I took a seat on the couch. "Look no offense Kendall but I don't want to do this." I said. He smirked "Why not?" He asked. "Because it's lying, it's wrong on so many levels. What if people find out we are fake dating?" I asked. "They won't. And even if some people do most will go with whatever you tell them." He said. "But it feels wrong." I said. "What's the first thing you said to me when I first met you?" He asked. I shrugged. "I don't remember." I said. "I asked you why you were here. You said you wanted to make it. Not just make it but make it big. This is holding you back." He motioned at my cute dress and ballet flats. "If you want to make it big you have to play the game. It's not forever it's just for a few months." He said.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     "I don't want to get hurt." I said finally saying the truth out loud. If word got out that we were fake dating I would be humiliated. He released a breath. "And you think this is going to hurt you." He said realizing. He brushed his blonde hair out of his green eyes assessing me. I looked at the tattoos skating his arm. "Yea, no offense you have a player reputation." I said. "So you're worried I'll be with a girl and get caught "cheating" on you? That only makes you look better babe." He said coming over to pat my arm. "This image you have...it's a lot." He said grinning.

                               I rolled my eyes. ""My image?" This is literally who I am. I'm not putting on some fake act. This isn't Hollywood but yet here I am supposed to be acting." "It's fake dating and it's only for a few months. You'll survive." He said nonchalantly. "Well yea, But you're not the kind of guy I'd ever date in a million years!" I said.

                            "Ouch, and no offense neither are you." He took a seat next to me on the couch.  "Fine, okay? Fine. I'm not saying I agree to do this. But if I do, why did we break up?" I asked looking at my shoes. "I  realized you were to good for me." He said tucking a strand of my hair behind my ear, his hand grazing my cheek.

                       "What if this turns out badly." I said quietly. "It wont." He said looking at me with half a smile playing at his lips. "It'd better not or I'll kick your butt." I said. "Actually I'd like to see that." he said. I stood up. "You wanna go?" I asked. "You want me to take you...right here?" He asked laughing. "Yep come on hot shot." I said. He laughed even harder. "Stop playing, I'm not about to hit a girl." "Please I'm a black belt." I said. "Awe you went shopping at the mall, that's so cute." He said patronizing me with baby talk. "What's cute is this." I lunged at him and with one easy move had him laying on his back. "Ow what the heck Hazel Grace?" He asked not moving. "I warned you." I said. I stepped over him and out the door.                      

                     "Wait." he called out getting up and scrambling after me. "We should set up our first fake date." He said. "I never agreed to this." I called out. "But we have to you heard what Drake said. He said this is what's going to help us. He knows his stuff." I sighed. "Look there is no way in heck this is going to work out. It's going to blow up in our faces and we're gonna look stupid and lose fans." I said. "Fine, how about this. I'll be the fall guy. I'm the jerk who dumped you it was all my idea." He said. "You'd really do that?" I asked. "Sure or if you'd rather you dumped me because I broke your heart, I don't care." I hesitated. "And if they find out before the allotted time is up?" I asked. "I'll tell them all it was my idea. You have my word. I'll say I forced you into it and you felt backed against the wall." He said. "Wow, you really wanna do this don't you?" I asked.

                "Look I'm not as bad as everyone thinks and clearly you're not as nice as you seem, I mean you just laid me out back there." He said. I giggled. "Well you were asking for it." I said. "Alright." He conceded. "Maybe i was. But wouldn't it be nice for people to not look at you and go "Nice." Or "Girl next door." "Innocent."?" He asked. Maybe I did, maybe I didn't. I didn't know yet. This whole time I just thought I was being myself. But I could see how his labels could really hurt him. So when he asked "You wanna go on a fake date with me?" I stupidly said "Where to?" "Something out doors....just so the pap have no reason not to get shots of us. Oh i know Le petite. It's fancy, it's expensive, it's exclusive and they have outdoor seating. You free tomorrow at six?" He asked. "Yep i have a late night talk show so that's fine." I said. "Okay I'll have somebody make a call." He said. "Okay see ya." I said waving and leaving the studio. I got a text later confirming the date.