-; finally falling

-; three

They were given instructions.

Actually, more like a script. A rundown of staged scenes to make everyone around them believe that they were together and in love.

The stunt wasn't immediately done as they walked out of the office, though. The two were given some time to adjust with this brand new information before things get public. And by public, that means Jade attending a basketball game, seated courtside, for the first time in her life.

"Are you ready?" Tom asks as he leaned against the blonde's doorframe, watching her as she scrolled through her phone, "Hm?"

"I asked if you're ready." He repeats and she doesn't bother looking up, her device too interesting to ignore apparently, "What time is it?"

"It's three."

"Game doesn't start until 8."

Okay, that's odd. And that alarms the young man. He frowns, removing himself from the frame and sitting on the edge of her bed instead. His eyebrow was raised and his lips were forming a thin line, "You're always the first one there... Are you okay?"

"Just reading my script, mate." She sighs through gritted teeth and that's when it clicks. She wasn't ignoring him or reading through social media she was — she was reading the instructions they sent her and Jade.

"It's not a script." He whispers softly, but Perrie's reaction was the entire opposite. "It's literally a manual telling me how to act later." She replies, growling, her voice was harsh and loud. But her eyes were soft, and apologetic in some sense.

"You know it's not like that..."

"Then what is it, then?"

"We're doing this to make it easier, Perrie. We're trying, we really are, but we need you to cooperate as well." He says gently and she just slams her phone down, glaring at him in exasperation, "I am. That's why I'm reading this stupid thing."

"Forget about it." He tries, she rolls her eyes.

"That's the thing, Tom, I can't."

"Why not?"

"Because what if I fuck up? What if I slip up and suddenly everyone knows it's fake?" She asks, running a hand through her hair, nearly yanking it off as Tom took a deep breath before approaching her, "You wouldn't. Listen to me, you wouldn't fuck up, alright? You already got this. You're overthinking it."

"I'm not." She mumbles, too proud to admit it, "The last time you over-thought like this was during the finals." He smiles, hoping to cheer her up, "Did you mess up?"

"No." Perrie replies, feeling a bit lighter that everything was off her chest now. Her manager smiles, "Then you're not messing up this time."

"Alright." She nods, although it took her a few seconds before agreeing with him. He smiles, pulling her on her feet and shoving her right outside her door, "Now shoo. Your girlfriend's meeting you soon."

"She's not my girlfriend." She replies with an evident smile on her face, Tom rolls his eyes, "Don't say that out loud."

She lets out a laugh, walking away before turning on her heel, "Hey."

Raising his head to meet her eyes, he hums, "Hm?"

"Thanks, by the way. I really needed that." Perrie grins and Tom feels his heart swell. Giving Perrie pep-talks and it working never gets old.

"It's what friends do. I'll see you later."

From across the town, Jade stood in front of her mirror, trying on the twentieth outfit she had pulled out from her closet. Leigh-Anne raises an eyebrow as she walks through the door with her phone in her hand, "Someone wants to look pretty."