Crescendo | WILBUR SOOT

ix. keeping it professional

(irl!)

"ENAMOURED BY YOU?" Zendaya's voice radiated across the digital void. "You're sure he said, 'I'm so enamoured by you?'" 

"Positive," Gianna groaned. "Oh, and he told me I'm sweet, earnest, and kind." 

The singer stood alone in a mess of discarded outfits and half-drunk cups of coffee, modelling her tenth outfit change for the propped-up phone. A half-burnt cigarette hung from her bottom lip as she dug through a pile of borrowed clothes. 

"And now," she said, pulling a brown sundress over her frizzy curls, "I'm supposed to meet all of his friends and pretend like everything is normal when, in reality, I'm losing my fucking mind." 

"I don't get what the problem is. Thousands of people would give up their left arm to go on a date with you. Will just so happens to be one of them. So what?" 

"The problem, Zen, is that I am incapable of sustaining a healthy relationship with anyone - nonetheless attempting to work with them while I'm a mess of gooey feelings. Remember how well that went with Maxen?" 

Zendaya's visible cringe was answer enough. 

"Exactly," Gianna retorted. She stamped out the end of her cigarette and lit another. Her lips tightened around the filter as she attempted to suppress the memories of her latest failed relationship. "The last thing I need is a repeat of that spectacularly horrid time."

"Sure, but Will would never dream of hurting you the way You-Know-Who did." The actress rolled her eyes and added, "no sane human would."

The singer shot her a pointed look. "It's not about the other person. It's me. I'm the one who flips out the second big emotions get involved."

"Maybe this time will be different." 

"Maybe," she conceded, exhaling deeply through her nose. "I just can't let myself get too involved. Will and I are writing a song together. Nothing to it." 

"Totally," Zendaya echoed. "It's a work thing. Keep it super professional." 

Gianna collapsed onto her bed, ignoring the thick layer of discarded clothes beneath her. In truth, she had never been any good at balancing her personal life and the world of Gia. Performing came naturally. She could stand in front of three or three thousand people and entertain, never failing to entice an audience with her soft smile and keen eyes. 

But the notoriety that followed; no one could guide her through that. There was no rulebook for fame, no classes to navigate the tumulous waters of celebrity. The line became murky between friend and coworker, near impossible to discern intention. 

Case in point, Maxen.

Gianna winced and grabbed her stomach. "Thinking about this is giving me an ulcer. I'm just going to stay home."

"Uh, no!" the actress exclaimed. "I did not stay on the phone for two hours for you to flake out on your plans." 

"But-" 

"No buts! Get your ass into a pair of jeans, find a black shirt, grab that button-up I got you for Christmas, and get out of here. Professionals aren't late, G." She paused before adding, "Text me if things start to cross the line. If you can't keep yourself in check, I will."

With a begrudging grumble, Gianna followed her friend's directions and pulled herself together. She pulled her hair back, not attempting to maintain her curls in the English humidity. With the seal of approval from a close friend, she was ready to face the day.

Mostly.

A leather-bound notebook stared at her from the window sill. Her dark eyes thundered as she snatched it, tearing through the pages in search of one near-illegible message. Lines of scrawling music taunted her, telling the story of her love-ridden emotions through song. 

With a satisfying tear, she ripped the page out of the book and set a corner ablaze. Gianna tossed the burning page into her ashtray. A smile formed on the corners of her lips, stretching as the flame transformed her infatuation into ash. As the fading ember cooled, the singer took the last puff of her cigarette before stamping it into the pile of burnt emotion.

✧ ♪ ✧

a/n: i updated the silly minecraft story ! and i'll do it again, just you wait 😤