Disasterology

15

"It's such an honour to sit here with the hottest couple on the scene right now." the interviewer says to us with a giant smiled plastered on her face. "We're all dying to know how you two met."

I plaster on a smile to match hers and grab Vic's hand. "I was cast as the lead in a series of music videos for Vic's band, Pierce the Veil. The music videos are for songs from their newest album that dropped a month ago."

Vic takes over talking about the songs and the inspiration he found for them before the interviewer moves on to more questions, this time focusing on Vic and I together as a couple rather than just the videos we're in the middle of producing.

"A lot of people have remarked that you've been happier than ever, Finn." the interviewer says to me. "Do you believe that's true?"

"Of course, how could I not be? I'm with the greatest guy ever. I get to see him at home and at work on the set. It's hard not to be happy with him by my side." I gush, smiling at Vic in a way that I know viewers will eat up. I give his hand a little squeeze and he gives me one right back while returning a smile.

"Vic, it seems like you're bringing out a new side to Finn that the media hasn't seen much before" the interviewer says to him.

"I don't think Finn has been showing any new sides." Vic answers. It makes me smile an actual genuine smile. He answers questions like such a champ. "She's always been the same sweet and loveable girl that I know."

"We've heard from a lot of viewers that they think you're fixing Finn, Vic." the interviewer says. My face must have faltered because she quickly adds, "By fixing I think the viewers mean bringing out the loving side of her. Would you agree?"

Vic shoots me a worried glance for only half a second, but his award-winning smile doesn't budge from his face. "I've only known Finn to be loving. I believe, and I don't like speaking for her, but I believe that she's just feeling more comfortable with someone by her side." he squeezes my hand and looks at me. I see his fake smile transform into a real one. "Did I get that right?"

My smile mimics his. "You did." I turn back to the interviewer. "Its kind of hard to be loving all alone, right? I can't kiss myself on a red carpet."

The interview goes on for another painful 10 minutes during which we discuss Vic's band in detail and my role in his music videos. We all watch as a small teaser of one of the videos appears on the screen and then we discuss it for another two minutes before we say pleasantries and call it a wrap.

We make small talk while getting un-mic'd, all of us happy to be done the interview portion of our day. Vic says our final goodbyes for us, I'm in a shit mood now because of that one comment and everyone knows it.

"That was something." Vic remarks as we leave the building. Thankfully our car is waiting right out front, so we climb in the back right away. Vic holds the door open for me which I think is sweet.

"It definitely was." I agree, my voice tense.

"That was a fucked-up comment." Vic says as he buckles into the car.

"I could've ripped her hair out."

Vic laughs. "I could tell. I think she noticed it too and tried to recover, but damage was done by then."

I stare out the window at the passing buildings and people. The streets are filled with people walking by on their way to wherever it is their life has taken them. I see couples holding hands walking down the street looking completely carefree with their partner by their side. There are families walking together who look like they really love each other, moms and dads smiling at their children as if they would do anything for them. All these people with all these lives, none of them looking like they way I feel right now.

"Am I really that bad of a person?" I ask Vic, my voice coming out as barely a whisper.

I know I'm a cold person. I made myself that way, but I only did it to protect myself from everyone around me. All they want is to use me for something, whether it be fame or money or sex. No one wants me for me and I had to learn that the hard way, so of course when I realized it I built up walls to avoid letting people get to me again.

'No, you're not." he assures me. "They don't know what they're talking about."

"But everyone says it." I tell him. "It's not just interviewers or random people, its my fans or my agents. Even my parents."

"They're all wrong. Your parents are hard on you for no good reason. They're just miserable." he says which earns an exasperated look from me. "I'm sorry but it's true. No good parents would talk to their kids the way yours talk to you."

"They just want me to succeed."

'You have succeeded! You're one of the most famous actresses ever, does that not mean successful?" 

He does have a point. I'm a household name at this point. I can't go out to eat without having a crowd form around me. I don't remember the last time I even drove my own car, I have someone to drive me to and from places. I'm at every red carpet and the first name at any party. I have one of the highest follower counts on multiple social media platforms. 

"Fuck what the press, the fans, your team and your parents have to say about you. You're a good person, Finn. Its time you start believing it. And, okay, maybe you could be a little nicer, but over the past couple of weeks you've gotten a lot better.

Vic's words almost make me tear up, they're so sweet. But what kind of a loser would I be if I cried because some guy said a couple of nice sentences to me? So instead of showing Vic that what he said meant a lot to me, I do the classic Finn approach and make a joke instead.

"Vic..." I say softly. He looks at me intently, waiting for me to continue. "You fixed me."

He rolls his eyes at me and gives me a light shove. "Whatever, you're fucking cancelled."

I grin back at him. For once in my life I don't feel so alone.