Race in Rhythm [Lando Norris]

That's Life [Chapter One]

[Eva's POV]

As I adjust my eyes to the excessive flashing of the cameras to my face I can't help but let out a sigh. Ryle, my 'boyfriend' of six months is standing next to me, his arm around my waist as we are both sitting in the middle of a photo shoot for People Magazine. As my own music plays in the background I can't help but feel out of touch with reality, I have just released my debut album and now here I am shooting a cover for my magazine feature to promote the album. It sends a uneasy feeling to my stomach that Victoria my manager feels the only way people are going to relate to me and see me as a serious artist is if I hard launch my 'relationship' to the world, this is how me and Ryle have ended up in the situation we are in today. All for my album. All for my image.

Ryle taps my shoulder as I realise I have zoned out completely.

'Hey Eva, are you still with us?' Ryle smiles at me.

I can't help but feel this tension between us, even though we are both fully aware what we are is nothing but friends at this point, it is tiring acting like we are more to even the staff on this photoshoot.

'Sorry' I reply, as I get back to posing alongside my 'boyfriend'.

Me and Ryle are then separated and I can't help but let out a sigh of relief as I let down my guard no longer having to cuddle into him and look so in awe. As I am guided into the most gorgeous set I have ever seen in my life my jaw physically hits the floor. My call time for the shoot had been so early I had yet to see daylight outside, so as the sun hits my face as I enter the outdoor set for my solo photoshoot it immediately brightens my mood. After the shoot I am called to review the photos before being sent away.

'Oh my god these are stunning, you guys really did a good job with that, is there anyway I can tease this before the release?' I asked.

I know the chances were slim but I then hear a wicked witches voice from the doorway. Oh no it was just Victoria...

'Yes Eva, as long as you manage to get Ryle somewhere in your photos, your fans will love it, your posts always to better when a man is involved, you fanbase need a male to drool over to notice you are there.'

The photographer glares at me with a 'did she really just say that' face as I give her a sympathetic look. Yes really did just say that. I agree with Victoria spitefully, I can't get dropped from this management, I've tried to leave but i have been promised they will go out of their way to make sure I never get an album release ever again with any other management. Fun!

I head home to my London apartment, I spent so much time procrastinating writing the album to decorate this apartment and have come to be proud of my little square of London, when they say a girls bedroom shows everything she has ever loved they are not wrong. My whole apartment is littered with everything I love most, my family, music, my dog and games. As I sit on my couch my phone begins to buzz.

iMessage

VICTORIA

Good evening Eva, just messaging to remind you to make that teaser post on Instagram from the shoot today, talk of your album is dying down and Ryle may be the boost you need on your feed.

EVA

yeah ok doing it now

I sigh as I open instagram, I scroll my feed for a while before clicking to make a post. I toss and turn on the idea of posting a photo of me and Ryle as the first part of the photo dump but no matter how Victoria wants it to look, its not authentic to me. I finally decide to post 2 slides of photos with the feature being one from the solo aspect of the photoshoot, and a behind the scene photo of Ryle. Because let's be real, if my boyfriend was real there is no way I am hard launching like that. The thought of a real relationship brings a twang to my heart, as I don't know how much longer I can keep up this fake relationship, for the past few months I can't help but think I am missing my chance of putting myself out there truly. I mean who knows maybe I can have a real connection with someone so I can stop writing depressing songs already, not sure if my fans will like that however.