Paparazzi

Ch.17 [Betrayal]

Three days later I heard a knock on the door and assumed it was Tom and went downstairs to clarify that it was. I skipped down the stairs zipping my way to the front of the house making sure I was the first on to make it to the door. I opened it and to my surprise I saw dan staring back at me instead of Tom. "Dan? Sorry did we have plans today and I just totally forgot?" I asked looking around for my phone so I could check my calendar.

"Uh... no we didn't I just wanted to talk to you about something that happened back in L.A., is now an okay time?" He asked rubbing the back of his neck.

"Uh yeah, let's step outside I guess so we can have some privacy..." I said grabbing a cardigan off of the coat rack next to the door and wrapping it around me before closing the door behind me. "So, what did you want to talk about?"

"Well, I was at this diner in L.A. before we had to be back at the hotel and well I saw Tom there..." he said trailing off.

"Okay so, you saw Tom there that's no biggie. I mean, people have to eat." I said kind of laughing.

"Well that's not all, he was there with Jade. They were holding hands it seemed pretty serious."

In that moment everything around me had faded away, was I a joke to him. Was him saying he really liked me just a way for him to keep his name in the headlines. I can't believe I was such a fool, this is the worst moment of my life. I broke down crying not exactly sure how to feel, I've never had my heart broken but I am pretty sure that this is what it feels like. Dan came towards me and put his arms around me in hopes of comforting me. I sank into the hug needing the warmth.

We stayed like that for awhile until I stopped crying.

"What the hell!" A familiar voice said angrily from the sidewalk.

I pulled away from the hug and looked to where the voice was coming from to see a face I am all too familiar with. "Tom?"

"What are you doing hugging him like that?" He said equally as angry as before.

"What are you doing holding hands with Jade?" I said now matching his anger.

"How did you find out about th-"

"So it's true? You were with her!" I cried.

"Who told you about that y/n" Tom said calmer in attempt to keep the conversation quiet.

"I did, because I know how to act like a man," Dan yelled back to him stepping in front of me.

"Dan it's okay, I can handle this." I said pushing him to the side.

"Yeah Dan, leave my girlfriend alone!" Tom yelled back at him.

"Tom I don't want to be second best to anyone, especially not your fucking perfect ex. Stop acting all sanctimonious when you did what you did." I said letting him see the hurt in my eyes.

"Y/n just let me explain!" Tom begged.

" Just give it up Tom! You hurt her." Dan said stepping in front of me yet again.

Out of nowhere Tom stepped toward Dan and punched him knocking him into me, making me have to catch him. "Tom what the hell! Go home."

"Whatever..." he scoffed and walked away. "YOU WERE NEVER SECOND BEST Y/N!" He yelled from his car.

For a second I just stared at him in disbelief of what happened. Then I turned to dan to access the damage that had been done, with filming underway it can't bruise unless we want word of what just went down getting around. "Alright turn to me let me see your face," he turned to me and I saw that his cheek was starting to swell. " alright I'll be right back sit down on one of the porch chairs." I quickly grabbed a bag of peas from the freezer and went back outside to Dan. "Here, put this on your face it will keep it from bruising mr. tough guy." I said slightly smiling.

He held it up to his cheek and said "how sweet of you to take care of me and my battle wounds. He's got a hell of a punch.'

"Yeah knocked you out cold for a sec there." I said with minimum enthusiasm but still smiling.

Dan scoffed and checked out the bag of peas I gave him. "Really peas?"

This gave me a genuine smile "It's all I had!" Laughing.

We sat in silence for a few minutes just processing what had just happened. Neither of us really knew what to say now. "So why'd you tell me anyways? I mean, like we weren't really at our closest when that happened, with the fight and everything." I asked needing an answer.

"Well I mean the fight was about him," he said pointing out a good fact. "And I mean it kind of bothered me that you two were together."

"Wait what? What do you mean it bothered you?" I questioned.

"Well, after you guys started dating i realized that I had feelings for you." He said scooting towards me more and grabbing my hand.

I quickly snatched my hand away after processing what he said. "Me dating Tom made you have feelings for me?" I questioned, "You have to be kidding me." I muttered under my breathe.

"What? What's wrong with that y/n/n? I like you!"

"Dan, Tom and I were fake dating until the last day of the L.A. trip. We were fake dating to make you like me and get back at Jade for cheating on Tom." I explained. "We made our relationship real a few days ago, we actually fell for each other." I continued.

"Oh, well I guess it worked for both of you." Dan said, not seeming like he gets it.

"Dan, erm... I think you should go. This situation got way out of hand and I never meant to hurt anyone along the way but I need to be myself for a while. I'm really sorry." I told him.

"I get it, I'll see you around Y/n." He said giving me a gentle smile before turning and walking away leaving me all alone in shock of how everything had changed in less than an hour.