chapter two
fake
anya rose steinburg
-
silence, and the occasional cough. it's all that consumes the empty business class. shawn hasn't even bothered to make any sort of connection with me. what happening to practicing pda?

"hey anya right?" christina stands next to mine and shawns aisle, leaning on the seat of the aisle next to us.

"yeah, christina right?" i smile, as she nods.

"call me chris." she says. "how are you? i saw what happened at the airport."

shrugging, i look at the floor. "i didn't even want this job, im desperate for money though and i rebelled against my parents and decided not to go to college."

"oh my god, i'm sorry." i shrug again, sighing.

"it's okay." i answer. "does he like, you know, do it on purpose?" i whisper, looking at an asleep shawn.

"honey, he will be fine in a few days, i promise." chris placed her hand on my shoulder, squeezing it. "don't be scared."

"i don't want to be here." i mumble.

"tell you what, come sit with me." she starts getting my things together, as i nod, unbuckling myself and taking my water. i'm about to leave but a large hand pulls me back down.

"don't." he opens his eyes and directs them to a guy with a hat on, who clearly has a camera hiding in it.

"i'll leave you two be." chris walks back to her seat, but before hands me all my stuff.

"anya." shawn mumbles.

"hmm." i say back, looking at him.

"pda, come here." he holds out his arms and i nervously wriggle into them. his hands rest firmly over my waist, as i rest my head upon his chest, hearing his heartbeat. "just stay calm, this is uncomfortable for me as it is for you."

"okay." i nod, my eyes suddenly feeling heavy. shawn drops his head on mine, so i know he has fallen asleep again. and then i do, following him into a sleep coma.
***
"lovebirds, wake up." geoff obnoxiously coos from next to us. i groan, untangling myself from shawn and gathering my things together.

"babe..." he moans, opening his eyes and stirring. i scrunch my face up in confusion, but then i realise the
man with the camera is still onboard the plane.

"come on shawn." i giggle, pulling him up. "the faster you get up the faster you can get to your hotel room." he stands up almost immediately, taking his backpack and guitar from the hold-all.

"anya, wait." shawn says, as i stop, waiting for him to catch up. he laces his hand with mine, as we walk off the plane, the camera following our every move.

we check into the country, and collect our luggage, slowly getting to the area where all his fans are waiting. the glass doors open and instantly, screams are heard, blocking out any other sounds in the lounge area.

"shawn is this your girlfriend?" someone shouts. he smiles and nods, pulling me to them.

"this is anya, be nice to her!" he shouts back, kissing my cheek.

i stand around like the rest of his crew do, waiting for shawn to finish with the never ending pictures. he does in about half an hour, and comes back, linking his hand with mine and walking us out of the airport.

"okay hotel rooms." andrew says, taking out a piece of paper.

"shawn and anya are sharing a suite, don't worry there are two bedrooms, and everyone else is round abouts on the same floor." shawn and i nod, leaning back onto a metal railing, the cool silver sending chills up my back.

"i know we are sharing a room, but no talking." shawn whispers to me lowly.

"yeah i know." i sigh, standing up and walking away from the group, sitting on a wooden bench as we wait for our car. he doesn't even bother to look at me, let alone not talk to anyone. this is the point where he laughs, and actually acts like a human to the rest of his crew.

he is gorgeous though. a smile any girl would die for, perfect caramel pools in his eyes, and fluffy brown hair. an outstanding figure: the perfect height and perfect body, everything is so perfect, and his voice wraps up the present.

"anya, come on the cars here." geoff calls me over, i hop up off the bench and follow them into the car, taking the very back seat. i plug in my headphones and watch the busy scenery roll past me, wanting to escape and go home. i hate this job already.
***
"-she's so annoying, like her presence just annoys me." shawn says.

"shawn don't say that, you don't know her." andrew replies.

"she's actually really nice, and she's gone through a hard time so that's why she's probably annoying you." chris says.

they all think i'm asleep, and listening to music, well, i'm far from it.

"and who does she think she is to just storm into my life?" shawn groans. "i don't like her, couldn't you have employed someone prettier, older and intelligent? you know i like older women."

"shawn it's not like that." andrew finally sighs. "you just turned 18, and people think this older woman thing is just a phase. by you having a girlfriend the same as you, it will sort everything out."

"so you expect me to marry her too?" shawn bursts, everyone stays quiet. "oh my god this is stupid. now i can't even choose who i marry?"

"shawn calm down."

"no!" he screams, making me jump. i pretend to wake up.

"i heard everything, let me out of here." i snap, unbuckling myself from my seat, picking up my handbag.

"anya don't." geoff says, pushing the seat against me getting out.

"i need some air." i mumble, opening up the boot and jumping out of the car, walking across the street to a starbucks.

"anya!" shawn screams. "come back here!"

"no!" i shout back. "just stay away
from me shawn!"

he drops his shoulders, crossing the road and walking next to me. wind knocks us both, making him grasp more firmly onto his hoodie.

"i didn't mean anything, it's just it's so hard, please come back." he begs. "ill shut up i promise."

"shawn i'll see you at the hotel, i really need some air." he nods and runs back to the sleek black car, getting in and them driving off.

quickly deciding what i want, i place my order, contently waiting in queue waiting for my name to be called.

"anya!" the barista calls, holding up a tall pumpkin spice latte. smiling, i take the beverage from her sweaty hands, sipping on the sweet drink almost immediately. i take out my phone, seeing a text from andrew.

from andrew: 8:03am
hey anya sorry about shawn, he's really annoyed at this whole lark. anyway i wanted to say we won't be in the hotel, shawn has some press to do, however make yourself at home in the suite, we are going to be here for a week. make sure that you eat too, as we are all going out in the evening to a fancy do in soho, so change into something smart. shawn will escort you there, so no need to worry about timings. - andrew

frowning, i slide the metal touchscreen into my skirt pocket, taking my drink and handbag, and beginning a walk to the hotel. google maps says it is a half an hour walk away from me, so i might as well walk it.

"hey i think a party checked in an hour ago? i'm anya, anya steinburg." i introduce myself to the receptionist.

"ah yes, the tall one told me about you. here's your key and if you need anything, dial 4213 for your personal butler." warmly she smiles, handing me a white card. "have a nice stay miss steinburg." my lips turn upwards as i walk to the elevators, taking the lift up to floor eight, where the suite is located.

anxiousness consumes my body as i unlock the door. is shawn still here? has he gone? did he purposely forget my luggage?

no, yes, no. i see my suitcases piled perfectly next to a set of double doors, and next to my suitcases is a glass corner table, holding a white porcelain plate with tiny rose coloured macaroons, and gold wispy flakes scattered over them.

i'm sorry
- shawn

i roll my eyes, taking the plate in one hand, and opening up the double doors, revealing a room with a king sized bed, covered with gold and white cushions, and a snowy white blanket draped over the foot of the bed. a black leather headboard lines the wall, connecting to the bed, and two chestnut tables are placed next to the bed, on either side, each with complimentary mints on them.

i sigh, placing my bag and empty coffee cup down.

this is going to be a long week.