ARTIFICIAL // B.E

15

aspen

"i don't think you understand just how much i hate the media." i ranted.

i looked up at xavier from where i was laying my head in his lap. he nodded to let me know that he was listening intently.

"i just want a little bit of privacy, but even that is too much to ask for, apparently," i rolled my eyes. "last night was supposed to be a night where it was just me and bil; nobody else. we just wanted one night where we weren't in the spotlight."

"i know," he sighed as he ran his hand through my hair comfortingly. "people don't realize that celebrities are human too and deserve to be treated normally; that they deserve privacy."

"it sucks so much," i mumbled. "i love my job, but sometimes i wonder if it's worth having basically no private life."

he didn't say anything, pursing his lips as he continued to run his hand through my hair. "what did billie say about the article?"

"she tried to apologize for it, as if it was her fault," i shook my head. "i assured her that it wasn't, because it's not. she then went on a rant about how annoying paps are. she also tried to get her management and all to get the article taken down, but the pictures were already everywhere."

"i hate that so much. i mean, yeah, everybody thought we were dating, but they didn't know. i liked that basically only me and billie actually knew that we were. those photos ruined that though; those pictures confirmed it, and everybody knows now."

"don't get wrong, it's not like i'm embarrassed that me and billie are dating; definitely not. it's not like that at all. it's just the fact that our relationship was supposed to be one of the only things i got to keep private."

"yeah, i get what you're saying. they don't know shit about your relationship though, alright? it's still private. yeah, they know that you two are dating, but that's it." he reminded me.

"i guess," i sighed. "i kinda wanna thank that stupid ass pap though because me and bil look cute as hell in those pictures; i set one of them as my lock-screen." i smiled.

"i hate that the pictures are everywhere right now though. i can't open any social media app without seeing them." i rolled my eyes.

"it'll blow over soon, i'm sure. some other celebrity will fuck up and everybody's attention will be on them instead." he gave a grin.

"you've got a point," i laughed. "they need to soon though."

§§§

it's now almost one in the afternoon. xavier went off to one of his friends house to catch up with them, while i stayed home.

my brows furrowed as i heard someone ring my doorbell. i wasn't expecting anybody to come over.

i got up and walked over to the door. i opened it.

"raelyn?" i looked at her furrowed brows. "what are you doing here?"

"can we talk?" she asked softly, her eyes searching mine. "please?"

"there's nothing to talk about." i shook my head slightly.

"aspen... please."

i clenched my jaw before letting out a small sigh. "fine. come inside. you better make this quick though."

"thank you." she exhaled before stepping inside.

i shut the door before leading raelyn to the living room. she sat down in one of the chairs, while i sat on the couch.