“This is all your fault!”

Groaning as I heard the muffled yell, I slowly started to crack my eyes open, the sight of Adam’s worried face greeted me instantly.

A hand flew up to cup my head, massaging it slowly, “What happened?”

“You fainted,” he answered simply, “It snapped both of your parents out of their argument for a while.”

“Get out of my house!” came my mother’s shrill voice before I heard dad reply something, a little lower but we could still hear it, even with the door shut close.

“They’ve been at it for a good half an hour now,” my best friend sighed, standing up from his chair next to my mother’s bed, “They just helped in laying you down before they started another fight on whose fault it is that you fainted.”

Sighing, I stretched my arms up, a gesture that I wanted to sit up. Adam grabbed my hands before slowly pulling me up, piling the pillows behind me to make a backrest for me.

Leaning back, I stared at the closed door, hearing my parents yell at each other with harsh comebacks and insults.

“Want something to drink,” he asked, reaching out to feel my forehead, “You’ve got all of us worried about you.”

“How long was I out?” hugging my legs closer to my chest, I rested my head on my knees, “My head still kind of hurt.”

“The same time they’ve been arguing,” he tried to chuckle lightheartedly, but my frown was a clear indication I was in no mood.

The door swung open to reveal both of my parents, they were both red in anger but when they caught the sight of me, they raced to the bed, shoving each other away in the process.

Honestly, they’re acting like kids right now, and I thought I was immature.

With a kick on my father’s shin, my mother successfully reached me first. She sat down on her bed, clutching my hand, stroking my hair gently, “You alright, Sophia?”

My mouth clamped shut, staring at her with a puzzled expression. My gaze switched to my father who was pushing himself up after my mom’s attack.

How can I be alright when I just witnessed my two divorced parents kiss like nothing has happened between them?

I’ll tell you something, it’s impossible.

Mom scrunched up her eyebrows when I didn’t reply, squeezing my hand tighter, her face morphing into concern.

I’m in no mood to talk to them after everything that just happened. I’m pinpointing at both of them, none of the two is innocent, they both contributed to this mess.

“I’ll see you two soon,” I finally let out, pushing myself to my feet. Adam raced to my side, helping me stand, testing if I was going to fall any time soon. Looking at him, I frowned, “Let’s go home.”

“Sophia, wait,” my dad stopped the both of us by standing in front of the doorway, “All of us need to talk as a family.”

I don’t know why, but I suddenly felt furious, glaring at him, I opened my mouth to say something I was surely going to regret, “We’re not a family anymore.”

Adam flinched beside me and I could imagine what my parents felt when I spat that out. Think about it, your only daughter was so resentful about the current situation of the thing you’re supposed to call your family.

It hurts, but it’s the truth. We’re not a family, we’re three people stuck in our own worlds. A family is something that showers every member with love and support. Yes, we’re related by blood, and my parents were still bounded by a marriage contract years ago, but it’s no longer the same.

“Sophia Heart Valentine,” my mother scolded, her expression slowly turning into an angry one, “I get that you’re upset but that’s not something you should say!”

“Why?” I questioned, my voice harsher that I meant it to be, “Because you still think that there’s this small possibility that dad still wants to rekindle your relationship with him and the both of you will try to mend this mess?”

Cue word, think and try.

My heart sank when I saw my own mother’s eyes turning teary, a frown was now etched on her face, looking absolutely heartbroken.

Me and my big mouth.

“Adam,” I turned to him, showing him a small sad smile, “Can you wait in the living room?”

Without a word, he nodded as he gave the three of us one more look before walking out, clicking the door closed behind him.

Dad opened his mouth to say something, but I lifted my hand to stop him, “Before you try to defend yourself, might I remind you two a few things?”

I didn’t wait for them to answer, but I pointed at the queen sized bed, telling them to sit on it as I started pacing around the room. Gesturing to my father, I took a deep breath, “You have a fiancé currently waiting for you in your hotel room and you’re inside your ex-wife’s house, not only that, you kissed her.”

Dad clamped his mouth shut as I was on the verge of going into hysterics. Closing my eyes, I sighed before staring at my mother, “And you,” I said softly, “Please stop.”

“I never wanted any of this,” she defended.

“But you admitted that you still love him,” I pointed out, “Love, present tense.”

She looked down, obviously finding my argument. That was when the room fell silent, a heavy awkward atmosphere enveloping us as we searched the words to say to each other.

I stared at them, watching as they slowly scooted away from one another. They found themselves at the different ends of the bed, placing as much distance as they can. I felt sorry for them, they thought they were in love, but in truth, somebody can possibly fall out of the emotion.

Or it never existed in the first place.

“You really adored each other when you got married,” I stated, pulling up the chair so I could sit down, “But something happened.”

They gulped audibly, implying there was something that they’re not telling me, “When did it go away?”

“What went away?” dad asked.

“That thing people call love.”

“We lost the spark,” he started to explain.

I had to laugh, lost the spark my ass.

It made me wonder if it was there in the first place. When they said those vows, they weren’t sure of what will happen. They just jumped into everything, they do that quite often. Just look at my dad, he’s marrying after barely a year of dating.

Switching my gaze from my mom to my father, I shook my head. I have nothing to say, maybe we could just picky this conversation up some other time.

“I have to go, Adam may have started to become impatient downstairs,” I tried to excuse.

They sent me off without another word, knowing how their temperamental daughter acts when she’s in a bad mood.

Right now, I don’t know if I’m angry, sad or confused. Maybe a combination of all three.

*

*

*

“It doesn’t make any sense,” Adam said to me as we walked down the corridors of the studio, finding our way to the main set, “Your father keeps implying that he loves Kate yet he kisses Aunt May the minute she tells him that she still loves him.”

“That’s the thing,” I groaned, “My father is a bastard.”

“Oh come on, not everything he had done is wrong.”

“Alright, tell me something he had done right,” I crossed my arms over my chest, tapping my foot.

He paused for a moment, before smiling in victory, “He made Aunt May happy.”

“Before he made her cry and regret she ever met him,” I scoffed, continuing my walk to the set, “Try again.”

“He was half of the reason why you’re alive right now,” he started to say, “And even though he was distraught that your mother left him, he still took care of you, he was there in every single step you took, he supported you, and I know that even though he had never visited you in California before, he still looked like a proud father whenever your name was mentioned.”

My smirk slipped, turning away from him so he wouldn’t see my face, and he still continued on with his little speech, “And did you know how down he was when you packed your things and left? Remember how you described your father the day when Aunt May left you two in England?”

“He looked like he just watched everything that he lived for walked away from him,” I managed to answer, my voice strained as I managed to hold myself up. I was young, but I knew what his expression told me. Even through the fights, he was still depressed that mom left him. I used to retell that story countless times to Adam, a word of admiration escaping me every time I did – he still took care of me.

“He still had you that day, but imagine the pain of having your only strength go away from you,” he told me, “Just think about it, he gave you his undivided attention, you were his whole world and the next thing he knew, you were telling him about this amazing opportunity of going to Hollywood, and with that look of enthusiasm on your face, he couldn’t say no.”

“I’m a bad daughter,” I concluded.

He softly chuckled at my short statement, pulling me to the hall that leads us to the main set, “Not true, you’re just preventing them from getting hurt again.”

People were rushing around, getting ready to start any moment now. George was talking animatedly with the director, and at the farthest corner, we could see Axel softly mouthing his lines as his eyes scanned the script in his hand.

“Up until now, I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that he likes me,” I mumbled.

Adam nodded in understanding before we heard George call all of us over. He gave my hand a light squeeze as a sign for good luck, sending me off to stand in front of the camera.

“Before I forget,” George halted all of us from our frantic preparation, “All the actors have been invited to the movie premiere of one of most anticipated films of the summer.”

Cheers roared from the cast, clapping as George smiles at the positive response he got, “See me before you leave at the end of the day so you could receive your invitation.”

He clapped his hands and all of us went to our positions. I smiled at Adam’s direction who was looking curious of what all of the fuss is about, giving him an assuring nod, he relaxed his body, knowing everything was alright.

Maybe he wouldn’t mind if I ask him to go with me again.

The last time I did though, he looked like he was going to faint anytime soon. It was quite cute if you ask me, it was a complete copy of what I was on my first red carpet event, I was mortified and my feet gave out. At least he kept on standing the whole time.

“Hey Valentine,” I heard Axel, cutting me off of my trance, “Another movie premiere.”

“I know,” I rolled my eyes, trying to act naturally, “But I’ve seen the trailer for this one, I think it’s going to be good.”

“Do you know the story?” he asked as he looked at the director who was preparing himself on his chair, leaning against the arm rest.

Nodding, I turned to the camera, flattening my hair a bit, “I heard it was a great thing to watch for a summer date.”

My mouth clamped shut the minute that escaped from my lips. Seriously, now it looked like I was hinting something.

I have this lovely streak of opening my big fat mouth and uttering something I regret a second later.

Before he could even say something about it, the director told us to get ready. We did the usual routine, performing a scene, the director giving us more instruction, before re-filming it again.

This went on for five hour straight, and truth to be told, I was exhausted and it was only lunch time.

“So the movie,” Axel appeared next to me as I placed a sandwich on my plate as we lined up in the craft service, “Do you have plans on actually going?”

Well, might as well play nice. Valentine, we have to stop unintentionally leading him on.

“Of course,” I answered, grabbing an apple so I could finally go on my merry way, “I’ve been invited, it’s rude to turn it down.”

“Well, you’re rude ninety-nine percent of the time,” he snickered before realizing what he just said.

Oh well, old habits die hard.

“Might have gotten it from spending so much time with your stupid insults,” I scoffed, grabbing the nearest water bottle from the long table before turning away from him.

“Wait Valentine, I hadn’t meant to say that!” he called after.

“Oh I bet you did,” I called over my shoulder, exiting the room and making my way to my dressing room where Adam was already happily chewing on his lunch.

He noticed my foul mood the second I stepped inside the room and he slowly placed down his plate on the sofa next to him, “What did he do?”

I can’t believe that he already knew that Axel was the cause of this. Plopping on one of the chairs, I let out a huff, “The usual stuff, I guess.”

He clicked his tongue, shaking his head in disapproval, “I thought you two were past the bickering.”

“Me too,” I muttered, taking a big bite of my apple, “By the way, are you in any way not traumatized by the last movie premiere we went to?”

Before he could answer though, Axel came stumbling inside the room, the plate he was previously filling up at the craft service was already half empty and it looked like the food spilled out on his way here.

He pointed at Adam quickly, “Don’t answer that question!”

What the hell?

He then walked up to me, grabbing my wrist to pull me up, “Can I speak to you outside?”

“Absolutely not!” I twisted out of his hold of me, “I was enjoying my food and you just barged into a conversation between me and my best friend.”

Adam sighed as he stood up, “I don’t want to see any more damage so I’ll be going out to get more juice, and I expect you two to be still alive when I come back.”

Thanks Adam, what a reassuring wish.

“I’m not going to the movie premiere with you,” I stated firmly, sitting back down, grabbing my apple before I started to eat it once again.

He ran his hand through his hair, ruining the thing that the hairdressers had worked hard on, before kneeling in front of me so we were at least the same level.

“Look,” he took a deep breath, “I hadn’t meant it when I said the thing that I said, it was just a force of habit, and when I saw you asking that idiot, I got jealous.”

Staring down at him as I lifted a brow, I waited for him to continue. He just kept kneeling there in front of me, waiting for something I didn’t know what.

“I always see red when you’re with him.”

Well, if he’s going to ask me then I’ll give him an answer, if he doesn’t, then I won’t.

A full minute ticked by and I had to groan in frustration. Leaning forward, I tapped his cheek lightly, “Ask me then.”

I was hard to get to the point I don’t get myself most of the time.

“Please Valentine, go to the movie premiere with me as my date.”

See, now was that too hard to do? No need of insulting me.

“Okay,” I agreed, “You know that you didn’t have to kneel, right?”

“But I wanted to,” he grinned, standing up, “So it’s official, we’re going on our first date together.”

When I nodded, he looked like he was on top of the world, and I couldn’t help but smile. It was quite flattering to be with him, he showed that I was actually worth being liked by somebody of the opposite gender, and it’s not just because of my fame or anything.

But now, what am I going to do with Adam now that Axel is taking me? 

---------------------------

I'm here, don't worry, Trina's here! 

Alright then, let's just say that I've been extremely busy, I'm not going to go into detail anymore but let's just say that I barely had time for myslef this past month and next week are my exams so wish me luck.

Dedicated to @Luxsha for the cover on the side, thank you, it's really pretty.

Question: So what will we do with Adam while Sophia and Axel go on their movie premiere date? Please don't say anything too negative of Adam, their hilarious most of the time, but they're also hurtful, considering that I root for him as much as I root for Axel, and I'm the one writing them here!

I told you I'm going to try, and I did. I spent the whole day trying to write this, with occassional distractions, of course.

Please comment, vote and follow, if you still root for me. I've been horrible with updates, but take my word when I tell you that I'm going to be a lot busier next month. See you all next chapter, and I love you all so much, it gives me comfort when I see your supportive messages.