Behind The Camera

Chapter Seventeen

After the movie I was looking for an opportunity to talk to Harry but we never got a chance to be alone together. As soon as the lights came up in the movie theatre Lexi was all over Harry again, really selling the fake relationship.

I had to remind myself that I had also signed a contract and it wasn't with Harry, so I held Simon's hand and didn't pull away when he leaned down for the occasional kiss. It would have been fine if Harry wasn't there to witness it but it all felt wrong to me after holding Harry's hand throughout the movie.

I couldn't figure out what was going on in Harry's head. He could hold my hand in secret but then he could also let Lexi pack on the PDA with him. I understood that he had a contract to fulfill but to do it in front of me felt like a stab in the guts.

It wasn't my idea to come on a double date in the first place, choosing to see him and Lexi together wasn't exactly fun for me and I was starting to get mad at him again.

"Hey, feel free to say no, but did you want to spend the night at mine? It's closer and I thought we could just hang out and get to know each other better since we're going to be dating for the next few months." Simon quietly asked me as we walked outside into the cool night air.

Harry had given Lexi his jacket and maybe it was that gesture that made me say yes to Simon. Or maybe it was the way that deep down a part of me wanted to go with Simon... the part of me that remembered how good our kiss felt.

"Yeah sure." I replied and we said our goodbyes to Harry and Lexi.

Simon got us an Uber and we climbed in together, waving at the others as the car pulled away. I couldn't help but look Harry right in the eye as I waved and I felt a lump in my throat as he looked right back at me.

I knew we were supposed to talk but there was no way we were going to get a minute alone together so it would have to wait. Still, I felt guilty to be leaving with Simon, even if he was my fake boyfriend.

Once we got to Simon's place he made us some hot chocolates and we sat on the couch getting to know each other better.

"So your ex? You must have really been in love with her to suddenly start acting out?" I asked him and he immediately sighed and looked up at the ceiling.

Judging by his reaction I wondered if I should have kept my mouth shut but he answered my question after a little bit of hesitation.

"Talia. She was my first proper love. I've never really felt love like that before and I've definitely never felt as heartbroken as I've felt these last few months."

I nodded along, not really being able to relate but interested all the same to hear about a love that strong.

"Why did you break up?" I asked him.

"She wasn't sure she was ready for all of it. Living together, marriage, kids, everything. So she ended it. Four years together, down the drain, just like that."

I could see he was still very upset by it all so I pulled him in for a hug. He rested his head on my shoulder and I could feel a few tears sinking into the fabric of my shirt which just made me hold him that much tighter.

"I'm sorry Simon, I shouldn't have asked about her." I whispered as he continued to cry and he shushed me.

"Don't be. We're going to be spending a lot of time together over the next few months and this is exactly why I invited you over." He said pulling away and looking at me.

"I mean, not to see me cry though." He added with a laugh as he wiped his eyes.

I gave him a sympathetic smile and tried to take his mind off Talia.

"So have you ever fake dated anyone before then?" I asked him and he shook his head.

"Honestly I didn't realise it was an actual thing until Harry started doing it. And I've seen what it's done for his image. He now looks like a squeaky clean guy with a steady girlfriend and nobody is even looking into the drugs anymore."

I nodded and thought hard on it. I thought that I knew Harry pretty well but it seems that I was just scratching the surface.

"The sponsors don't really like to take risks with their investments, so it can be quite hard in a group of seven guys. If even one of us is acting up it can damage the rest of us, so we all need to help somebody when they're down. I've just been a bit stubborn lately." He admitted.

"Honestly Simon, I don't blame you. I've never even been in love before, so to go through heartbreak like that, I don't think I'd care about my image either." I told him with a shrug.

"You've never been in love?" He asked me in shock.

"No, never. I dated a few guys in high school but I haven't really ever been in a serious relationship. It just hasn't worked out for me yet." I admitted.

"Oh god and I'm robbing you of that type of experience by fake dating you?" He asked with a look of horror on his face.

"Calm down, I'm pretty sure I'm not going to have fallen in love in a few months, so I think you're safe there Simon." I said with a laugh.

We moved from the couch and decided to get ready for bed, Simon loaning me one of his big T-Shirts and letting me get changed in the bathroom.

I was ready to make my way to the spare bedroom but he surprised me by lifting me up as soon as I walked out of the bathroom and carrying me to his bed, tackling me onto it and leaving us both in fits of laughter.

We stayed on his bed, talking and laughing for hours before sleep started to creep up on both of us.

I rested my head on one of his pillows, intending to move it after a few minutes but I could feel myself drifting off to sleep and decided it couldn't hurt to just stay here.

I felt one of Simon's arms wrap around me and lazily pull me closer to his body until he was spooning me. I was suddenly very aware of just how close we were and how good it felt to be wrapped up in his arms.

I could feel his breath on the back of my neck and in any other situation it would have been enough to keep me awake for hours, but we were both exhausted from talking. It must have been close to 3am and even though I would have liked to have stayed awake, my body had other ideas.

We drifted off to sleep together, our breath rising and falling, and it crossed my mind for a second that this is probably how a real couple would fall asleep.