Hollywood Hearts

Thirteen

I groaned as I held my aching head and went down the stairs. Even after a shower and brushing my teeth, I felt like shit.

"Morning!" I glared at Danny then he stopped, sensing my mood.

"Sorry in advance." He said as I went towards the lounge, which confused me. As I went out, I saw Jorel looking guilty as he eyed me and knew.

"He told you?" I asked and the guys nodded.

"You-you don't need to keep pretending anymore, right?" Matt asked as I grabbed a water and some ibuprofen, hoping that helped my headache.

"No, we don't." I spit and took the pills, drinking them down with water.

"Perse, can we talk-"

"Don't you have a show?" I asked Jorel and glared at him.

"Ye-yeah, but I-"

"Then focus on your damn show. I'll find a way to cover my bruises." I said and turned, going back upstairs and to the bedroom.

Jorel's POV
"She's fucking pissed at you!" Charlie said and I nodded.

"I told her last night." I said and Johnny sat forward.

"What'd she say?!"

"She was asleep, because I'm a fucking coward who can't tell the girl I like that I feel for her." I said and shook my head, running my hand over my face.

"J, you have to tell her-"

"She's not going to believe me, Dylan!" I cut him off and he sighed.

"Maybe not, but you have to-"

"I can't." I whispered and shook my head, going to the room to get some clothes for the show. As I walked in, I saw her sitting on the floor at the mirror on the wall doing her makeup with her hair pulled back.

"Perse?" I called, but got nothing more than a glance through the mirror.

"Please, talk to me-"

"We're not faking a relationship, you're not carrying me from the club, we're not working. We have no reason to speak anymore." She said and grabbed some eyeshadow, working on her eyes as I sighed and sat on the foot of the bed.

"Oh, and move your things to a bunk." She said and opened her eye, turning her head to look at me with her eye half done.

"No need to share if they know, right?" She asked, watching as I silently nodded.

"Good, glad we've reached an agreement." She said and turned back to the mirror, continuing to cover her bruises.

"I really do need to talk to you." I said and stood, holding my clothes as I went to change in the bunks hall.

~*-*~

I faked a grin as I danced to the music, doing the practiced routine and wearing something similar to my first dance outfit. When the show was over, we got off stage and the girls gathered together to cheer about a "great performance".

"Persephone?" I huffed and turned, smiling at him.

"Yes, Jorel? Was I too much during the show? Or was I in the way? Please, feedback on my routine would be appreciated." I said and he frowned.

"You know that's not what-"

"Then excuse me, I have to go get cleaned up." I said and turned, leaving the stage with the other girls.

"Hey, Perse?" I looked at the girl and she frowned.

"What's happened to you and J-Dog?"

"Yeah, you two were so close and now you're avoiding him like the plague." Another girl chimed in and I huffed.

"Nothing, don't worry about it." I said and unclipped my top, taking it off and changing into my regular shirt.

"Do you want to switch guys?" I looked at Cherrie then shook my head.

"We can be professional, Cherrie, it's fine." I said and she nodded.

"You know, he looks like he did after Vanessa left him. Like a kicked puppy looking for someone to love him." She said and slid her jeans on.

"Cherrie-"

"We know you two were kissing behind closed doors, you're not as slick as you think." She said and I huffed as I put my shorts on, crossing my arms over my chest.

"If you two are acting like this, you either broke up or are fighting. Quite honestly, I'd prefer you two talk again because you two were so much happier together than you were before you got together and now that you're not together." She said and left the room, taking the girls with her. I shook my head then turned, leaving the dressing room with my bag and going to the bus. As I got on, I saw a note from Johnny that he wanted me to meet him on the stage after the shows were over and all the fans had left.

"What the hell, Johnny?" I whispered, but shrugged and went to waste time until I had to go.

~*-*~

"Johnny?!" I called as I walked on the stage, looking around.

"If I could turn back time!" I heard a voice sing then I looked at the stage as Jorel stood there, a few lights on to shine on him.

"Jorel-" I stopped as he kept singing the song by Cher, my favorite song probably ever, then he slowly came towards me and reached out, holding his hand towards me. He wants me to take his hand? I glared at his hand as he finished the song then I huffed, crossing my arms over my chest as his hand fell to his side.

"Persephone, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, but I can't take back what I said to you. All I can do now is hope you forgive me-"

"Oh, is this the part where you admit your new found feelings for me and tell me you fell for me?!" I laughed and saw he looked hurt.

"So I was right." I grinned and shook my head.

"I don't like you, Jorel, not that way! You may have fallen for me, but I didn't fall for you! So leave! Me! Alone!" I spit and turned, prepared to leave.

"Were you really faking the entire time?!" He asked and I stopped, half turning to look at him.

"Was it all pretend to you?! Huh?!" He asked and I shook my head.

"You were an escape, Jorel. To get away from my father and my caged life, that's all. It was all fake, I never felt anything for you. So, please, just stop before you embarrass yourself more." I said and saw how upset he looked as I turned back and left the stage.