Ruthless

Chapter 18

Shailene Point of View

"Ow!" I cry out. That was too hot. "Jeez AJ, you burned my scalp!"

"Oh, don't be so dramatic!" he answers. He doesn't stop though, he keeps drying my hair. It's up too high, the heat, it's burning me.

"Oh stop it Shai, I'm almost done anyways."

It takes him another few minutes and then my entire head is dry. He starts running his hands through my hair and for a moment I forget where I am.

I'm transported back in my memories to the night of my party, and after everything happened, me sprawled out on Theo's chest with him running his hands through my hair...

"Well, I don't know what to do..It's obviously going through a weird phase, too long for some, way too short for others...." AJ ponders to himself about my hair.

"Oh I know!" he exclaims suddenly making me jump. "I just hope I have the feathers...."

That gets my attention. "Wha..feathers? AJ I'm trying to win someone back here. I don't wanna look like a bird!"

AJ grins at me. "Englishmen like birds, it's what they call women."

"Uh, I never said the person I was trying to impress was british!"

AJ chuckles. "Alright, whatever Shailene."

He rummages through his things and comes back to me. "Let's get you all dolled up!"

—

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Theo Point of View

My phone rings again. AGAIN. I sigh and pick up.

"Yes, Ruth?"

"Why are you ignoring me? You're fucking her aren't you?" she snaps at me.

I sigh louder this time. She's obviously not happy. "Why are you sighing?" she yells. "Is it that hard to talk to your girlfriend? Am I interrupting your precious time?!"

"No. Ruth." Isn't she supposed to be working? She's supposed to be on set, how the hell does she have all this time? "Aren't you working?"

"Yes I'm working! I have time cause they cut my scenes from this episode. Dipshits. I'm checking in on you."

Ah yes, the constant checking in. Ever since Comic Con last year she's been on to me. I brought my brother Ben, in 2013, but Ruth got pissed, so the year after that I brought her instead. I wanted to bring my niece Holly instead to give her a little experience, but Ruth wasn't having any of it. So I gave in and I brought her. And then she got mad at me because she wasn't allowed in everywhere, and I couldn't wait for her because I had to do interviews, and pose for pictures with Shai.

We were signing at the main desk and I looked back to see Ruth giving me the death stare. Fair to say I kept my distance from Shai from that point on. 

At least I tried.

And failed.

Don't do that anymore. I forbid you, you hear me? I forbid you! You're with me, NOT HER, and lets make that clear! Stop being so close to her because I'll be watching you like a hawk. Fuck up once, ONCE, just once and we're through!

That's what she said to me.

"Ruth I have to go." I say into the phone.

"I'm recording the livestream, don't forget that." she says.

"I wont. I love you." I say. And then I lie. "I miss you."

—

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—

"Where is she?" Natasha asks. We're standing down in the hotel lobby. By we I mean me, Natasha and my mom. I'm only allowed to bring one guest, and I was bringing Natasha, but then Shailene said she had an empty spot and no one to bring so my mom is her guest.

"I don't know, but she needs to hurry up or we're gonna be late. Veronica's already there." I turn around and look out through the glass doors. The chauffeurs stand by the car doors waiting. We need to be going soon. Me and Shai are travelling in one car, with Natasha and my mom in the other.

I'm about to start complaining when I hear my mom gasp.

"Oh my God..." Natasha breathes out.

"So stunning..." my mom whispers.

I turn around to see what they're on about.

My mouth pops wide open and all I do is stare.

Shailene walks down the stairs with one hand on the rail to keep herself from falling. Words can't describe how I feel at that exact moment.

I stand frozen in place just gaping at her. I feel a hand on my back and my mother pushes me forward. I hold out a hand for Shai and when she reaches the last step she takes it willingly. I stare into her eyes and she blushes. "You look beautiful" I say.

She smiles. "Be quiet, she can probably hear as well. She's probably got eyes on us now."

I shake my head. "I don't care who hears it."

We face my mom and Natasha and my sister snaps a picture. "New screen saver" she mutters.

My mom starts crying. "Mum.." I complain. "Stop, not again."

"I can't help it. It's like when you took Emily Downes to the school dance all those years ago." She blows her nose embarrasing me even more. I roll my eyes. "Mum.."

"Oh shush Theodore! Lets just go." My mum says. I see Natasha and Shailene grinning and talking.

And then we leave for the premiere.

—

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Shailene Point of view

The night is fun but only when I'm alone with him. Otherwise I feel dead.

And then it gets awkward. We start conversations and the next second they end when the other person doesn't know how to respond. Before we know it the night has come to an end and all hope lost.

When we arrive back to the hotel he walks me to my room without anything. Not a hug or goodnight kiss.

Just a goodbye and the sound of footsteps as he walks away.

Because again, he walked away.