Fake It

by Mia Ford

  It’s then I really look at her and I see the posh black dress she has on and the delicate waves in her blonde hair. I spot the professional looking make up dusted over her eyes and across her face, the glossy look of someone who has just stepped off the red carpet.

  “Where have you been?” I have to ask. “I mean, you look really nice.”

  “I’ve actually just been on a date with the co star in my movie.”

  A lump of bile rises in my throat, all of a sudden I have a feeling that this conversation is going to go a very different way to what I want. I guess despite everything I hoped it would be a loving conversation where she told me that she liked me, but now it’s starting to seem like it might be a ‘thank you for teaching me how to be sexy, I’ve landed the man of my dreams because of it’ instead.

  “You… you have?” I ask cautiously, trying to keep my emotional response locked away. I don’t want Avril to know how I’m feeling, how embarrassing! “And how did that go? Was it fun?”

  “It wasn’t fun at all. In fact, on his behalf I think it was nothing more than a publicity stunt.” I feel a sick sense of satisfaction as she says this. “You might see some pictures of us together tomorrow but trust me, it was nothing like it appears. Buzz is dull and awful. Not for me at all.”

  “Right…” I don’t want to jump ahead of myself, but I do want to know why she’s saying this.

  “Being with him just made me realize how much I like you. I really like you, and I know it hasn’t been a long time but we have a connection, don’t we? I think we’re good together.”

  “Certainly, in bed!” I try to make a joke out of it, in case it isn’t what I think.

  “Yeah, definitely that, but other things too, I think we have a good bond too. I think we get on well. I think…” She pauses for a second and glances downwards. “I think we could be a couple.”

  The magic words, the ones that I so desperately want, but that I’ve been dreading at the same time. Yes, I want to be hers, I want to see what it’ll be like for her to be mine, but all the reasons why it’s complicated still stand. I can’t have a girlfriend and my job, that’s why it hasn’t happened before. I don’t even think someone as awesome as Avril will understand, and I wouldn’t want to either.

  I stare into her eyes, willing her to understand why I’m going to have to reject her. I really don’t want Avril to take it to heart, this isn’t her fault at all, it really is me not her. Her eyes plead with me, I can see her begging me to open up, to give her a try, but there’s a block.

  I part my lips, finally forcing the word up my throat, and finally it bursts free.

  “Yes,” I gasp, surprising even myself. “Yes, let’s do this. Avril, I want to give me and you a try.”

  Chapter Eleven – Avril

  As he says the words that I’ve been longing to hear my heart explodes with glee. I throw myself at him and fling my arms around him, holding him close to me. It feels right, being with him in this way. I couldn’t imagine ending this crazy night in any other way, Owen is definitely who I want.

  “This is a bit heavy, isn’t it?” he says thickly while we pull apart. “We’re what? Three days… and it feels like we’re diving in with both feet. Is this what normal people do?”

  “Definitely not,” I agree with a chuckle. I’m so overcome I could weep with joy. “But I don’t think we’re normal so it’s okay. We met in a strange way and we’ve been weird ever since. I suppose all that we have left is to carry on like that. Being the oddest people that either of us know.”

  Owen grabs me and he pulls me close to him. Our lips crash together and the magnet keeps us there, locked in together, our mouths moving in unison. The passion that flows between us hasn’t lessened, if anything now that we’re more sealed together it’s better. I can feel it much deeper, right down into my core. The butterflies are back with a vengeance and I love feeling them.

  “I don’t want to have a serious talk,” Owen mutters against my mouth, his breath tickling me all over. “I’d much rather kiss you some more, but I think we need to, don’t you?”

  “Like what?” I reply with my eyes slid closed. Desire has me now, I don’t want to speak.

  “Like my job…” Okay, fair enough. My eyes snap open and reality grips me. “That’s something I think we really need to talk about, don’t you? It’s potentially a big issue.”

  The idea of him continuing on even going on dates with other women, let alone sleeping with them is too much. It sends a nasty snake of jealousy shuddering up and down my spine. I really don’t want to be the girl who tells Owen to change, especially when we’re minutes into this thing, but I might have to. I don’t think my mental health can take anything else.

  “Erm, yeah, you’re right.” I gulp and take a step backwards. “Do you have to keep doing it?”

  He shrugs and gives me a helpless look. “I’m only doing it to help me get to the end of my college course, after which I’ll get a job and fund myself. I don’t have too much longer left but I’m not sure I can complete it without the injection of cash every so often.”

  No, I don’t like this, it’s too much. I run my eyes up and down his body, instantly forming another plan, one that I hope will work for us both. I don’t want him to struggle for me.

  “Have you ever considered doing any extra work? That can pay quite well and you’ll be able to fit it around your studies? I know they’re always looking for bodies to fill the background on the movie I’m working on now. They’re all like that, and I have the connections. I can hook you up.”

  “Really?” He ponders this curiously for a moment. “It isn’t anything that I’ve ever considered before but I suppose I could. I wouldn’t need to do much, would I?”

  “Mostly it’s just standing in the background. I don’t know how the pay would compare to what you’re getting now, but it’s better than waiting tables.” I chew on the inside of my mouth while I consider what I’m saying. I hate that I sound so controlling. “But it’s up to you, whatever you want…”

  “I don’t want to carry on doing my job if that’s what you mean,” he insists rapidly. “It’s only a temporary thing anyway, not something I love and can’t live without.” He links his fingers through mine sending sparks of electricity racing all through my system. “I always told myself I wouldn’t get into a relationship while doing this job, I’ve done everything that I can to avoid any sort of romantic link… but then you came along and changed absolutely everything. I didn’t expect it, but now I’m glad that you have. I’m willing to struggle and middle through with you. I want to try, to see what we could be to one another. And being some extra sounds fun anyway. I’d love to give it a go.”

  “Do you think we’ll last?” I can’t help but ask. “Do you really think we have a chance?”

  “Who knows?” Owen replies. “But I think we’ve got as good a chance as any.”

  With that we’re kissing once more, no longer worrying about what the future may or may not hold. This is a passion worth sacrificing everything for, Owen is a man that I cannot wait to get to know better, I could so easily properly fall for him given half the chance.

  I hook my arms possessively around his neck and claim him as my own with my kiss. He belongs to me now, at least while we see if we’re as compatible as I think we are. His tongue explores my mouth as we fall backwards, crashing through my apartment until we fall onto my bed.

  Clothes fly off our bodies in an instant, it’s like a blur I can barely keep up. One moment I’m touching the buttery soft material of his tee shirt and the next his rock-hard muscles. My pulse quickens, the need in my underwear intensifies, the butterflies become giant eagles, flapping wildly in my belly.

  “Oh, Avril,” Owen groans as my eager hand wraps around his thick cock. “You have no idea how good that feels.” I move, slowly at first, but gain speed as his moans intensify. “Oh, my God.”

  My own breaths fall raggedly out of my mouth as I become desperate for his body. Owe
n responds by slipping two fingers inside of me and driving me absolutely wild. His skin is smooth, his touch is expert, it’s almost like he knows my body better than I do myself.

  “Does that feel good, baby?” he murmurs into my ear, seemingly needing reassurance now that he’s not working with me. It’s nice to have him be vulnerable with me. “Do you like that?”

  “Oh fuck, so much,” I gasp right back at him. “It feels fucking incredible. Don’t stop.”

  But he doesn’t listen, he instantly removes his fingers, but before I can complain, he’s inside me, thrusting hard and fast, sending me to Heaven. I can feel him everywhere, he’s filling me up, hitting all the right spots, yet I still want more. I need to feel him differently.

  “Stop,” I gasp while pushing him off of me. “Not like this.”

  Instantly he panics, his entire expression changes to one of sheer horror. “Am I hurting you?” I want to hug him for his concern, it’s so lovely of him to care so much. “Does it not feel good?”

  I don’t give him an answer with words, instead I show him what I want by turning onto my front and propping myself up onto my hands and knees so I’m on all fours. Then I peek behind me and I give him a wink, indicating that I want him to take me that way. It’ll be new for us, something we haven’t yet experienced together and I cannot think of a better way for us to celebrate us.

  He smiles at me as if I’m the best thing to ever happen to him and he grabs out a condom. It’s pretty unbelievable that not so long ago I hadn’t had any real passion in my life, and now it seems to utterly consume it. My whole existence is all about pleasure and desire, and I freaking love it.

  Owen grabs onto my hips and he angles himself inside of me. He eases himself into me, slowly at first as if he fears he might hurt me, so I roll my hips back, pushing myself into him, forcing him to take me harder and faster. The way he’s screwing me now feels good, it’s wild and filled with passion, but because it’s Owen there’s a deeper feeling too, a romance that I think will be there no matter what.

  Eventually my head spins and I have to grip tightly onto the bed sheets just to stop myself from crumbling. As the pressure of pleasure builds through my body, I have to really focus to keep myself upright, but it isn’t enough. My arms give way, my face falls into the pillow, but my butt stays up in the air, held there by Owen’s strong hands as he hits the right spot over and over again.

  “Oh fuck, Owen,” I scream into the pillows as it all becomes too much.

  The way he makes me feel is off the scale, I don’t think I’d find it again if I spent my whole life searching. It isn’t just horny and excitable, it’s safe and cared for too. As the orgasm crashes over me like the waves of a tsunami, I hope desperately that Owen is right and that we can make this work. I don’t know how Ill feel forever, but as mental as it is, after only three days, I think he’s the one for me. If destiny is really a thing, then I think he’s mine. Maybe we were supposed to meet somehow.

  I crash onto my back panting breathlessly once we’re both finished and I cling tightly onto his hand. A giant smile spreads across my mouth as I’m absolutely flooded by happiness.

  “Are you staying tonight?” I ask while turning onto my side. “No more running away?”

  He leans over and kisses me lightly on the lips. It’s only a small, chaste brush of the lips but it feels amazing. Everything he does feels phenomenal to me, especially when the next words come out of his mouth: “Avril, I won’t ever run away from you again.”

  This is it, it seems like we’re in it for the long haul!

  Epilogue – Owen

  Pride fills my chest up completely as I see the credits roll, and the love of my life is the second name to pop up on the screen. This particular movie is of course very special to us since it led to us meeting, without us it might’ve taken a whole lot longer… or maybe it wouldn’t have happened at all.

  “Oh, my goodness, babe.” I squeeze her hand gently. “You were incredible in that.”

  “I found the sex scenes a bit awkward,” she admits quietly to me. “But the rest was okay.”

  “They were filmed over a year ago now, there’s no need to be embarrassed. And you were excellent anyway so I really wouldn’t worry. I’m sure everyone thinks so. You better get used to it anyway because you’ve got two more movies coming out later on in the year.”

  “Oh look, there’s your name,” she gushes, avoiding my compliments as always. Even after all this time together she still finds it hard to accept it when I say something nice to her. “Extra thirty six.”

  “My proudest moment.” I puff out my chest in a joking manner. “Well, aside from getting good grades in college and landing a job in a top advertising agency, of course.”

  Money is no longer an issue, for me or my family. Surprisingly I’ve landed on my feet and now I can help out everyone. I’ve learned my lessons, I watched my father make his mistakes and I saw where it led. That won’t ever be me, I know what I’m doing. I’ll do the same, but smarter. Now that I have my lovely town house, which I share with my wonderful girlfriend, it’s hard to recall a time where I lived in a grotty dorm room, escorting just to survive. I suppose I’m glad I went through all of that because it’s made me who I am today, but I would never ever go back there. Being older and having it all together suits me so much more. Now I’m actually geuninly happy.

  “Oh God, Buzz is coming over.” Avril grabs tightly onto my hand. “Stay with me.”

  For a while, everyone was obsessed with her and Buzz, wishing they would be a couple. The public would much prefer and up and coming actress to be with another famous person rather than a nobody like me, but I don’t care. It’ll undoutably spark up again now once people see their chemistry on screen, but still that doesn’t matter. I’m secure in what I have, I know it’s real.

  “Hi, Buzz,” Avril says through gritted teeth. “How’s it going?”

  “Yeah okay,” he replies with a shrug. “That was alright, wasn’t it? We should work together again sometime, maybe on another movie. What do you think?”

  I already know that Avril will politely agree, but won’t really do it. The more things she stars in, the pickier she can get with people she works with. Acting with Buzz was too hard for her, that’s why she struggled to find her mojo – well, until I came along anyway – I don’t think she’ll put herself through all of that again. She doesn’t need to anymore, so what’s the point?

  “Oh yeah, maybe.” She tugs me closer to her like I’m her barrier. “We’ll see. Erm, I have to go right now, but I’m sure I’ll see you at the after party in a while.”

  With that we move away from Buzz, giggling like school kids. This is one of the things I love most about Avril, we can just laugh and be silly with one another. Being in a relationship is fun. Of course, we can deal with all the serious stuff too, but I get to enjoy her.

  When we started this over a year ago after three very intense days, I wasn’t sure it could last. I thought we would start to grow weary of one another once we got to know each other better and that the magic would fade. I was willing to throw everything into it, because it felt powerful enough to be worthwhile for however long it lasted, but I didn’t know I would get this lucky.

  Now, I couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. We have gone from strength to strength since that day. With Avril, even the bad times don’t seem that bad because I go through them with her. Even when we fight it’s like we’re on the same side rather than against one another. It’s us against the world.

  “Oh, my goodness, get me out of here!” she squeals at me once we get outside. “This is nuts.” She pulls me in for a kiss, sending sparks all over my body. I still feel that intense connection and chemistry, even now after all this time. “I don’t even know if I want to go to the party.”

  I stare into her eyes for a moment, losing myself in them. As I do I recall the first time I saw her and how even then I instinctively knew that she was going to be different somehow. />
  “Avril,” I say in a pensive tone. “I’ve been wanting to speak to you about something for a while now.” I reach into my pocket and pull out the little box that’s been sitting there for weeks while I wait for the right moment. This isn’t it, it’s nowhere near romantic enough, yet somehow, it’s perfect. Nothing about us has been normal, so why should this be? This is very us.

  “Ooh, sounds serious. What is it?”

  I drop to one knee and peer up at Avril, which causes her to clap her hand across her mouth in sheer shock. I’m so glad that I’ve managed to keep this a surprise for so long, it hasn’t been easy.

  “I want to marry you,” I say with a light chuckle. “I think I might’ve wanted to marry you from the very first moment that I met you. I didn’t know it at the time, but I’m pretty sure I fell in love with you instantly.” I open up the box to reveal the princess cut diamond ring inside. Avril’s eyes bug out with happiness. “So, what do you say? Do you want to make me the happiest man alive and be my wife? If you want me to ask you in a better way, I will, I just want to know if…”

  “No,” she shoots me down with tears in her eyes. “I don’t want you to ask me in any other way, this is absolutely perfect. I would love to be your wife. Nothing would make me happier.”

  I slide the ring onto her finger and leap up to hug her. As I embrace Avril in my arms, I think about our journey. We’re a couple that shouldn’t have made it, they say instant spark doesn’t lead to everlasting love, but with us it has. With us it always will. We’ve been through enough together to know that much. I wouldn’t want to be with anyone else, ever!