“I’m not sleeping on the couch!” Axel yelled, throwing the pillow I gave him on the floor.

“There’s your car, you can sleep there,” I smirked, crossing my arms over my chest, “You’re on the couch, take it or leave it.”

He glared at me with all his might before he walked around me. This jerk would be the end of me.

“And where in the hell are you going?” I screeched, following him as he marched up the stairs.

“One of your freaking guest rooms!”

My eye twitched in annoyance and I grabbed his hand, stopping him from his tracks, “Don’t you dare go inside one of those rooms without my permission.”

He jerked of my hand off and continued to walk further.

“Damn you Axel Brooks!” I screamed but he didn’t even flinched, he just kept going and opened one of the doors. Once he was sure it wasn’t occupied, he gave me the finger and got in, slamming the door.

Just as he disappeared from my sight, Adam’s door opened and he poked his head out. It was clear that he was sleeping and now, he’s rubbing his eyes as he stared at me with curiosity.

“Sorry if I woke you up,” I apologized sincerely.

He shook his head and waved it off, “You want to come in and talk?”

The idea of him and me in the same room doesn’t bother me anymore. Heck, we were sleeping in the same house up until these three intruders came in. I walked to the inside of his room and plopped down on his bed, letting out a frustrated sigh.

“I hate him!” I exclaimed, punching the pillow next to me.

“You don’t say,” he droned out sarcastically, “I’m curious though, why do you two despise each other so much?”

My eyes lingered to the slightly open door as if I was expecting that Axel would be there. I fell down on my back on the soft mattress and said, “He’s stiff competition and he does nothing but get on my nerves.”

He shook his head on my vague reply and sat down on the bed next to my laying figure, “I can see you in him, to be completely honest. He’s like the guy version of you.”

I scowled and turned my body away from him. Everybody was saying that I was the girl version of him. I don’t see why though, we were nothing of the same.

“I have an interview with him tomorrow, will you come with?”

“I’ll follow you till the ends of the earth!” he announced playfully, standing up on the bed with a full grin on his face.

Seeing his antics, I stood up on the bed as well and placed my hands on my hips, “Then let’s go, my knight.”

“As you wish, my princess,” he bowed down and I couldn’t help but laugh, my anger caused by Axel already disappearing into thin air.

*

*

*

“The eggs are overcooked, the bread is not toasted enough, and my coffee doesn’t have enough sugar…” Axel listed on and on about the flaws in the breakfast I prepared for him.

I was about to snap at him but Taylor gave me a warning look, seeing how my temper was already thinning. She wagged a finger to tell me to let it go as she sipped on her coffee, eyeing my every move.

“How about you prepare the food?” I challenged him, my anger was visible in my voice.

“Please, I can cook a gourmet dinner when you can’t even prepare simple eggs and toast,” he scoffed.

Sorry Taylor but this guy is too much.

“Then you do it god damnit!” I yelled, forking some eggs and flicking it to his direction. He glared at me and not so discreetly threw a piece of his toast to me.

“Stop acting like children!” Marcus scolded, pausing our growing food fight, “Seriously, you’re both nineteen already but you’re acting like kindergartens.”

Adam shrunk in his seat, being completely intimidated by the two adults in the room. The five of us were already dressed and ready to go to the interview. It was pretty early and Axel was continuously yawning while he demanded that I gave him some coffee.

If your patience didn’t run out while talking to him, I’m giving you a big round of applause.

When we arrived in the studio, this was when our professionalism kicked in. We both plastered a kind and happy smile while we were both furious with each other. The crew of the show greeted us merrily, offering their services to any word we say.

Sometimes being a celebrity has its perks.

The makeup crew did finishing touches on my makeup and added powder to Axel’s face to make sure it didn’t shine in the studio lights.

“Makeup?” Adam questioned, pointing at Axel.

“Do you really think he’s naturally good looking like the people say?” I said loud enough for him to hear.

He shot daggers to my direction causing me to smirk in victory. Though he didn’t allow me to have my moment of joy because he gave back a snotty retort, “At least it’s just powder and foundation. You need to cake your whole face with makeup in order to be good looking enough to stand next to me.”

My blood was boiling and I was a hair length away from walking up to him and strangling the life out of that stupid waste of oxygen.

“Mister Brooks and Miss Valentine, it’s show time,” the guy with the headphone said to us.

“Stay next to Taylor or Marcus and don’t talk to anyone if they’re not listening,” I instructed to Adam. Knowing the public, a person who was speculated to be my boyfriend would want to be questioned as much as possible. He nodded in understanding before saying a sweet good luck.

“Break a leg, I’ll be waiting here.”

Axel rolled his eyes at him and I slapped his arm. It may seem like playfulness to the observing eye but let’s just say that I hit him harder than what people would call flirting.

“Welcome, I’m Cynthia, your host for today,” the interviewer said, looking directly at the camera, plastering the typical fake Hollywood smile, “As you know, we have two lovely teenagers who are making big of themselves. Taking the titles of Hollywood’s royalty and being such a cute couple-to-be at that,” for extra effects, she winked at the live audience.

Somebody give me a plastic bag before I gag.

“May I welcome, Axel Brooks and Heart Valentine!”

“Don’t trip, Valentine,” Axel snickered as he started walk in front of me. I kicked his calf just as he was to step into stage and if looks could kill, I would have been six feet under.

Too bad he was as viscous as a kitten in my eyes.

“Apologize for that!” he sneered and I rolled my eyes.

“Grow a pair,” I stuck out my tongue childishly.

The producer walked to us and coughed rather loudly, “You two have been called.”

We looked at each other before straightening ourselves. I patted my hair down and he fixed his shirt, with one final glare at each other, we walked to the stage where Cynthia was standing rather awkwardly because we didn’t come out right away.

Each of us wanted to claim our own chair but we stopped midway through walking when instead of having individual cushioned chairs, there was one loveseat that was placed across from where Cynthia was planning to sit.

Oh you’ve got to be kidding me.

“Hello,” she greeted, still donning that creepy smile, “Please take a seat.”

During couple interviews, eye contact is the most important. You need to make eye contact with the person you’re being interviewed with and also the one who is interviewing you. When you’re hiding too many secrete, cooperation is needed from both parties.

“Aren’t you two adorable together?” she cooed. We said nothing except smile at her way, making sure nothing will slip, “Are you together now?”

“No,” both Axel and I automatically denied, “We’re just friends.”

That may be the biggest bullshit that may ever escape our mouths. Friends? More like mortal enemies.

Somehow, our rejection of the idea came across as denial for our dear Cynthia. The grin she was showing practically screamed that she didn’t get the hint.

Do we literally have to spell it out for the public?

“So how did you two meet?” she asked, going on with our non-existent relationship.

“At an awards show,” I responded.

Both of us agreed that short and simple answers were the way to go with this interview. We won’t reveal too much but we would be able to feed this woman’s hungry curiosity.

“Did everything click?” she grinned, urging us to finally confess about our status.

Oh girl, there’s nothing to fess up.

“We’re just friends, Cynthia,” Axel said with finality in his tone, pointing out that he didn’t want to venture anymore with this topic.

Cynthia lifted a drawn eyebrow before she coughed out, “Then, Heart, who’s this?”

The paparazzi shot of Adam and I hugging in the airport showed up on the huge screen behind out seats. All color drained from my face as I allowed my eyes to roam around to find any source of help in this situation.

With the crack that lead up to the backstage, Taylor was frantically flailing her arms while mouthing, “Cousin.”

Adam was standing in-between of Taylor and Marcus. His face was troubled, afraid of what will become of him on whatever I answer Cynthia’s question with.

I felt Axel kick my foot lightly, silently telling me to reply quickly before they speculate anything.

Lying became natural when I came to Hollywood. Everything was a lie and being an actress was considered being a professional liar. But Adam was something that reminded me of myself before all these dramas came. He was one thing that I can’t dare to lie or pretend about.

So taking a deep breath, I tried to sound chirpy as I answered Cynthia, “He’s my best friend.”

To my absolute surprise and horror, the pencil that Taylor was holding snapped into two. My eyes widened, Adam’s jaw dropped, Marcus proceeded to stare at me with disappointment. When I turned my head to my side, Axel didn’t dare to look at me, he kept staring at blank space ahead of him.

I’m dead.

Best friends falling in love with each other is a cliché thing. The thing was, I’m living in the city full of clichés.

Cynthia looked shock with this but remained her composure, “Well that’s a great revelation. We’ll take a short break and when we come back, learn more about this savvy foreign best friend.”

The producer cued the break and I stood up along with my two companions onstage.

“Wow,” Cynthia breathed out, “And I thought you two were solid.”

Neither of us responded, we just marched up backstage.

“Dressing room, now!” Taylor gritted out, stomping her way to the joint dressing room Axel and I shared as guests at the show. She slammed the door shut, locking it to make sure we weren’t interrupted.

“What the hell?!” she yelled, throwing down her clipboard that held my schedule, “Do you have any idea what you just caused there?”

“Taylor, calm down,” Marcus tried but his girlfriend only glared openly at him, effectively shutting him up.

 “I couldn’t do it,” I muttered lowly.

“You’ve been doing it for four years already!” she stomped, knowing that this may take a blow on my reputation, “What’s the difference this time?”

Taking my ground, I crossed my arms over my chest and answered her, “This is my best friend from England. The place I called home before all of this happened! I can’t act myself on this one.”

“Soph, I agree with her on this one,” Adam finally spoke up, “This might only cause problems.”

Here he is, the man that I was defending was actually against me. I would have said a snarky retort but Axel came in-between all of us and shook his head, “Allow Valentine and I to talk. Actor to actor, professional to professional,” he said, turning to the three, “Alone.”

The look he was giving me was saying that this was one time it was better that I don’t fight him. After a minute of contemplation, our two managers and Adam went out of the room. I was sure that they were pressing their ears against the table, praying that they hear specs of our conversation.

“If you’re going to scold me like what they did, don’t even bother,” I snarked, crossing my arms over my chest.

Gosh, I’ve been so moody lately.

“He’s the only thing that reminds you of home, isn’t he?” Axel took me in shock by actually sounding civil. His face claimed by seriousness, not a hint of teasing visible.

“Yeah,” I answered truthfully, using the same tone as he did.

“At least you still have him,” he breathed out, sounding a bit nostalgic, closing his eyes and throwing his head back as if he’s remembering a memory.

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Told you people that I'll do daily updates. Am I amazing or am I amazing? Ha, I'm just kidding.

Hope to hear a feedback from you guys, I'm still so unsure about this story that I seriously have no idea what to do.