Nobody Knows// Ross Lynch

eighteen

The overhead lights and the cameras shooting different angles at them made the back of Lorena's neck sweat. She nervously brushed her thumb against Mateo's hand as she tried to search for any sign of doubt from Mateo's eyes. 

Were they really doing this? Were they really going to lie about this to the whole country? 

The host, and the most televised man in the country, sat down and tightened his tie upwards. "Now let's begin, shall we?" He asked the crowd around them and the viewers at home. 

Oh yeah, did I mention this was LIVE?

"Hello, and good afternoon to everyone watching us back at home. I'm Julio Suarez and I have the honor of presenting to you, Princess Lorena Castillo and Sir Mateo De'Leon for the first time, live from the castle! What do we think everyone? Don't they look beautiful together?" The host began, shining his pearly white teeth into the camera. 

Ross scoffed loudly from the kitchen, making Benji hit him over the side of his head as they ducked down, hoping that nobody witnessed them. Sofia huffed out of her nostrils angrily, softening the fist she was making with her hands. Without witnessing all of the commotion coming from around them, Lorena and Mateo faked a smile as the camera as they held hands.

Benji and Ross carefully rose back up and continued to watch silently. The host began to clap his hands together, making everyone do the same. "Come on everyone, let's give it up for the royal  couple!"

Lorena awkwardly danced her eyes around the room, thinking about how ridiculous this all was. "So, let's begin by telling all of us waiting at home about how all of this happened? How did Mateo manage to win the heart of the country's one and only princess?" 

"Well, we actually-" Mateo began before Lorena's small voice cut him off. 

"Our parents set us up. I wasn't too sure about my mother's ability to find me someone who I could develop such a strong bond with, but clearly she proved me wrong," The princess intertwined her fingers with him and held them up to the camera. 

Julio Suarez folded his hands together and nodded, grinning at just how easy he knew this interview was going to be. 

"I can truly say that I have never had a relationship like this before. Mateo is a great listener who tries to understand me in every possible way, and an even greater best friend," Lorena admitted truthfully, looking into his eyes and hoping that what she was saying was making him feel better. She quickly looked back at the camera before earning a small smile from him back. "And an amazing boyfriend, of course!" 

She tried to steady her breathing as she fought herself over and over in her head about lying to her country. 

The camera crew in the room around them began to whisper "Aw!" at this, making the pair smile in response. Julio looked down at his keycards before keeping his side of the conversation going again. "That is just amazing. Princess, I've got to say on behalf of the whole country, we are so happy to see that you have finally found your match. Especially someone with as much honor as the De'Leons. Tell us about your charity work, Mateo. How has that been going for you? Does that take away from your time with Lorena?"

In the kitchen, Ross slumped down onto a seat, resting his chin on his palm. "Tell us about all your charity work, Mateo. Woohoo look at me, I care about the environment but my family exploits from the citizens and their money, we don't actually donate from our own," Ross mocked him in between big breaths. 

Benji sat down next to him and patted him on the back, letting out a small chuckle. "Someone's a little jealous, huh?"

The blonde boy shoved his friend's arm away from him and concentrated on the interview ahead.