𝐬𝐮𝐧𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐬 | pete davidson

twenty three: the distracting beauty of the moon

"The ratings would triple?! A-and that's if we tease the public that something romantic is happening between us behind the scenes?!!"

"Dahlia, I know it's really... different, but I won't do it if you're appalled by it. I don't want to force you to do anything you're uncomfortable with."

"But, you're ok with it... You wouldn't be telling me that if you weren't ok with it."

Pete stuttered, scratching the back of his neck. "I... Well, I-I--"

Dahlia leaned against the grey brick wall, looking up to look out of the window. She huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "That's just asking for more attention. I was fine with the video going viral-- ok, no I wasn't-- but now I get to choose! I-I--" Dahlia sighed, brushing the hair out of her face.

Pete approached Dahlia, putting a hand on her arm and running it up and down her bicep. "Even though it'd be pretty cool pretending to be your boyfriend," Dahlia weakly smiled, lowering her head. Putting a finger under her chin, Pete raised her head back up to meet his gaze. "I'd still turn the opportunity away if it meant you'd feel better not being directly in the spotlight. Because being in this 'relationship' is going to mean getting chased down by paparazzi 25/8, potentially being stalked, and most likely being berated by some of my fans. Not all of them, because my fans are pretty sweet, but the ones who really love me will put you through hell."

"Why are you trying to convince me not to fake date you?" Dahlia chuckled, her head still resting on Pete's hand.

Pete studied every inch of her face before he answered her, clearly taking in the gravity of Dahlia's decision. "Because," he exhaled through his nose. "I want you to know what you'll be getting into. This'll be the literal talk of the town. I just want to make sure you're ok with this. Either way, I'll support you one thousand percent."

Dahlia sighed, taking a step back. She put her hands up on the ledge of the windowsill, trying to hike herself up to sit on it, but she kept sliding back down. Dahlia watched as Pete stepped in closer, putting his two hands on either side of her hips and lifted her up onto the windowsill where she sat comfortably. "Thank you..." she tugged at the corners of her mouth to form a faint smile.

She thought about this, she really thought about where this might end up down the road. Then a pit began to form in her gut when she realized, "Jack's not going to like this."

Her gaze never once left the window once she sat up there. She was sitting at such a height that she did not have to crane her neck back in order to look Pete directly in the eye, she could just sit straight up against the wall to look at him. Pete stood there, his arms resting on the ledge that Dahlia sat on as he leaned his body towards her.

Groaning, Pete rolled his eyes back and shut them tight before gently dropping his head onto Dahlia's thigh, continuing to groan and grumble into her leg.

"I mean, I don't want to be with him anymore, and we're not really together, but this PR stunt is only going to frustrate him which means more stress for lil ol' me..."

"I mean," Pete lifted his head up from Dahlia's thigh to rest his head on his fist. "Technically, we won't be dating. Lorne just wants to tease the idea of us. Nothing confirmed, just speculation."

Dahlia turned her head, looking at Pete who was now just admiring her with dreamy eyes, resting on his now open palm as his tattooed fingers tapped along the side of his jaw. She raised an eyebrow at him. "We don't have to do anything remotely couple-y. We just have to play along?"

Pete nodded, closing eyes as he shook his head before opening them slowly to look Dahlia in the eye once more. Dahlia couldn't get an exact read on Pete and what he wanted to do moving forward. She knew what she wanted to do, or at least she had the faintest idea, but she couldn't tell no matter how much she searched his eyes for an answer.