Pretend

Chapter Two: Suffocating Tension

"Remember, if paparazzi happens to come to you with questions, both of you had been laying low on seeing each other. You two have been seeing each other for how long?" Mr. Davis asked. The three had managed to get back to Ace's place and to say that Skylar was amazed at how spacious the place is would have been an understatement. "Three, almost four." the two answered at the same time with flat voices. Ace was scrolling through his phone while Skylar looked at anything other than the two. 

"And you've known each other since..." Mr. Davis' second question came and Ace was first to answer this one. "Since high school." he replied with the same bored tone wrapped around his voice. This wasn't a lie but not the whole truth either. Ace and Skylar met somewhere around when they were both sophomores and the first time they met was not pleasant, nor was every other time they encountered each other. Ever since they they first met, they had just despised each other for some reason.

But for the public, they have to deliver the story that they had met at the start of their sophomore year and had always had an attraction towards each other but were so busy with school and club activities that they never got around to confessing to each other until recently. "Does it have to be such a cliche cover-up?" Skylar finally asked with an unconvinced tone. She crossed her legs and pulled her skirt lower.

"Just put a little trust on me, Miss Jones. I've been in the industry long enough to know how the public mind works. Now why don't you get a move on, the car should be outside by now." and with that, the two salty adults stood up. Skylar straightened her dress while Ace headed for the door. The red-haired girl followed behind him silently and headed towards the elevator. 

"Remember what you have to say," Mr. Davis reminded them as he stood outside of the elevator. "Also make sure you leave the tension here. Pick it back up when you both aren't under the eye of any cameras. Act like a real couple, please." 

Skylar stayed quiet and kept her eyes on the floor and Ace just stared at Mr. Davis.

The doors closed and went down to the ground floor. It didn't take long until they were out on the streets and the loud scattered chattering of passing people and the cars filled their hearing. Skylar stayed behind the tall Ace, and looked up to the back of his head. She wondered what could possibly going on behind those thick curls of his.

Ace looked around for a moment before spotting his driver. He didn't bother checking if Skylar was behind him and went towards the car. The driver had opened the backseat door and Ace moved aside to let Skylar get in first. This was by far, the most gentleman thing he had done ever since they had encountered each other. But Skylar didn't pick up what she was suppoeed to do and just stared back and forth Ace and the driver holding the door open. 

"In!" Ace said with an irritated voice which startled Skylar but she hurried on getting inside. She scooted to the other side of the backseat and kept her eyes outside the window. Not long after, the car was on the way to wherever they were going to be dropped. "Why are you doing this?" Ace had finally spoke but still sounded frustrated, "If you think this will get you fame from me, you got it wrong." he was also looking out the window but you could tell that there was a smug look plastered on his face. 

"If I wanted some kind of fame, I would have posted my nudes! You're so arrogant, so shallow-minded! I don't need any of your superficial shit." Skylar scowled, turning towards Ace with an angry frown and crossed arms. Her nails were digging on the side of her arms and her face was falling to a shade of red out of anger.

Ace scoffed at her and with a sour face retorted, "Even if you post your body willingly, nobody in their right state of mind would be attracted to your sad excuse of a body!"

Skylar's breath hitched and her shoulders fell, no longer tense. She wanted to speak but no words came out of her agape mouth. Ace also noticed the sudden change on her mood when she looked out the window of the moving car without talking back but his pride got the best of him.

'Must be a touchy subject.' Ace thought to himself before looking out the window of the car door too. His face remained in a sour expression as his eyes trailed over the buildings they passed by. Skylar looked deep in thought though she tried to distract her mind from thinking too deeply by looking at all the people the car was passing.

~

The driver, who had listened to the entire argument between the two but was instructed not to interfere or say a word, parked beside the sidewalk where it wasn't all-too-busy. He turned towards the two from the driver's seat and said the things he was instructed to say. "Make sure you two leave the tension inside this car and try your best to act like an actual couple in love. Mr. Williams, your manager already said that you'd know what to do with this situation but it's not bad to remembe-" Ace had already gotten out of the car and towards the edge of the sidewalk before the driver could finish his words. Skylar was left to get out of the car by herself.

"Miss Jones," the driver called out as she stepped one of her feet out the car. She turned her head back to him. "I'm not sure about when this feud had started between you two but can you do me a favor and be the bigger person here?" the driver's voice laced with sincerity.

Skylar gave him a reassuring though forced smile and nodded in agreement. "I'll try." she responded before exiting the car and walking towards Ace.

'There's no turning back now, Sky. This can either make or break the deal. Do it for your mom.' the voice in her head tried to convince her.