Hoax

Chapter nine

Estelle Adler 

"Wait, he seriously said that to you?"

"Yep. And, he told me to fuck off, amongst other things"

"Jeez...and now, you have to act like he's your boyfriend?"

I hum, as I flop back onto Jenna's bed.

I drove straight to Jenna's house after the meeting; I guess she counts as one of my 'two people' I'm allowed to tell about this whole fake relationship mess.

She was still in bed, nursing her hangover, as I pulled up.

Apparently, she hadn't seen the news until I turned up and she promptly pulled out her phone to check twitter.

She proceeded to tease me about the kiss for a good ten minutes before taking this matter more seriously.

"I am sorry. This must suck, having to be in a fake, contracted relationship" She says, squeezing my hand. "And, you said he had a girlfriend?"

I groan, whilst running my hand over my face – "Apparently. Which only makes me feel worse about it"

"Why should you feel bad?" Jenna asks, clearly trying to console me. "He's the asshole for not telling you"

"Yeah, but I kissed him" I respond.

"Hey, we don't know that. He was probably just pinning the blame on you, because that's what misogynistic pieces of shit do!" Jenna says exactly what I was thinking – that's what I love about her. "Having watched that video, no one can tell me that he didn't participate in that kiss equally as much as you"

I sit up from my lying position and move cross-legged, facing Jenna – "What do I do, Jen? I signed that contract thinking Harry was a nice guy who I could actually get on with, like last night. But now he's shown his true colours, I have no idea how we're meant to amicably spend time together, let alone pretend we're in love"

"I know" Jenna agrees with me but reaches for my hand before she continues talking. "But you're an actress – Harry's not. If anything, you have the upper hand here. You'll just have to do what you do best and ACT like you love him. I also assume there's some sort of monetary benefit for you too?"

"Hm, yeah there is" I answer, "Harry and I get split royalties from any article or interview published about us"

"Well, that's another motive then!" Jenna tries to reassure me. "You can use the money to treat yourself...or your best friend!"

I let out a little laugh at Jenna's comment, before groaning – "God, I'm just so embarrassed..."

"You don't need to be-"

"But I do! I made out with a randomer, who happens to have a girlfriend, in a back alley, and someone caught it on camera. Now, everyone in my life is going to watch me make out with a guy, including my family, and just...oh Jesus, I'm so embarrassed"

"Have you talked to your family since you won the Golden Globe?" Jenna asks, as her thumb strokes my hand consolingly.

"No, and that's the thing" I say, "They want to talk to me today and no doubt, this whole mess will come up and what's worse is that I can't even tell them the truth. I'm going to have to lie and pretend I'm dating Harry"

Silence settles in the room, which is duly broken by the sound of my phone ringing.

"It's Max" I state, as I climb off Jenna's bed.

"Probably going to take the piss out of you" Jenna states with a little smile.

"You can bet on it" I respond, as I exit Jenna's bedroom. "Hello"

"You dirty dog!" Max's loud voice echoes through my phone.

"Oh god, Max. I'm not in the mood for all your teasing-"

"I don't care if you're in the mood or not!" He responds with a great laugh. "Who is this Harry Styles fella, anyway?! Your boyfriend or just a one-night thing?"

I have a few seconds to formulate an answer.

Truth or lie, truth or lie...

My mind goes back and forth.

Max has been one of my closest friends since we were eleven years old.

When my family moved to London for my acting, our neighbours were Max and his family. Being of the same age, we immediately hit it off and have remained friends ever since.

I know I could trust him with this information, but I have the overwhelming urge, partly to save face, to tell him the lie.

"No, we're um-" I pinch the bridge of my nose and close my eyes, as I follow through with the lie. "We're together...dating, actually"

"WHAT?!" Max exclaims to the point where I have to move the phone away from my ear to prevent myself from going deaf. "I can't believe you didn't tell me! I'm pretty offended-"

"No! It's not super serious, not at all" I try and argue, but I feel like I'm just digging myself into an even deeper hole. "We've been seeing each other for a few weeks. Not long"

There's a pause on the other end of the phone and I'm just stood, hoping and praying that Max has swallowed my lie.

"Okay, well, all teasing aside, I am very happy for you, Stell" Max states, much to my relief. "It's about time you moved on from that arse hole, James. I can already tell this Harry person is a better kisser-"

"Ew, Max!" I exclaim.

"What! He's your boyfriend, apparently. You should be rejoicing and filling me in on all the wonderful sex you're having!" Max adds. "So, tell me, how good in bed?"

"Max you cannot-"

"He's your boyfriend!" Max reuses the same argument as before. "Oh, are you saying you haven't slept with him yet? Either way, let me know when you have. Or, if you don't sleep with him, I will! He looks like a right hunk"

"Oh my god" I actually plant my face into my palm. "You're disgusting"

"I know I am, darling, but that's why you love me" He retorts.

"It really is not" I jab back, though a small smile graces my face.

Although Max can be annoying sometimes, his heart is always in the right place. He never fails to put a begrudging smile on my face. He's had that talent since we were little.

"Anyway, I'd love to stay and chat but it's getting late here, and I have work in the morning" He states.

"How is the job?" I ask.

"It's boring, but it's law. So, kind of comes with the job title, don't you think?" Max jokes, causing me to laugh. "Also, congrats on your win last night! I'm so fucking proud of you"

"Thank you" I respond with a genuine smile curling up my lips.

God, winning that award feels like a lifetime ago.

"I love you lots" Max mutters over the phone.

"Love you too and we'll talk soon, yeah?" I ask, to which he agrees.

After I put the phone down, I find my back resting against the wall of the corridor. My head gently flops back, and I shut my eyes, as an attempt to process everything.

As I think about today, the contract, how Harry acted towards me, the fact he had a girlfriend and that I'm going to be lying to everyone for the foreseeable future, I feel tears threaten the waterline of my eyelashes.

Yep, this is officially one of the worst days of my life.