Layers of Love|Book 1: The Stunt:Faking the Spotlight

Chapter 2: Awkward Beginnings

Chloe

A week later

After my breakup with Ariana I started caring more for myself, I mean that's is what everyone else does, right? get a glow up? So that's what I did. I started eating healthy and caring for my skin more, I even started using a different skincare brand. Life was good now.

I was on my way to this bookstore that apparently opened a year ago, people can't stop talking about it, it's only 15 minutes away from my house. The cozy rose. The name of the bookstore. As I walked in the first thing I noticed were the floor-to-ceiling long bookshelves and huge spacious-ness, the store had a warm autumn aesthetic to it, another thing I noticed was the mini coffee shop at the back of the store as I walked around. This place had literally every single book,  and it was so neatly set out. They had genres going from fantasy, to young adult romance, to college fiction. This store had everything. I made my way to the self development section and started picking out books and looking for which book to take. I settled on taking The Confidence Code For Girls   ( I do personally recommend this book, I've read it myself a few years back). As I made my way to the counter someone stopped me.

"hi, are you Chloe Barlow?" she looked around 13 or 14 years old, also she was gorgeous

"yeah I am! and you are?" I asked generally curious 

"My name's Brittany, I just wanted you to know that I'm Ariana's side and what you did was wrong" She said it with so much confidence and with such an attitude. I walked away, I didnt have time for this nonsense. I got to the checkout and was supprised to see....

"Riley!"  I said 

"hi Chloe!"

"i didnt know you worked here"

"oh, I'm just filling in for an employee, I don't work here, I actually own this place"

"oh..ohhh." wow this place was owned by Riley!?! "you've done such a great job, this place is beautiful."

"Thank you!" I pain for the book and I my way out the words just came out

"Can I have you number!?" shock filled both me and Riley's face

"um sure!" I took her number and told her I'd call her later.

Did I call her?

no

did I think of calling her?

yes

Why didn't I call her?

I'm a scary cat 

I just got so nervous around Riley, and I have no idea why. I opened my phone just to be bombarded with messages and calls from my agent, Grace.

"hey, what's up?" I said as Grace picked up

"what going on!" she sounded panicked 

"what do you mean what going on?"

"have you checked you social media?!" I havent actually, I got out and went on to Instagram

Young popstar Chloe Barlow caught a asking for famous bookstore owner, Riley Addison.  Is she her new girlfriend? click the link to my new podcast glamour and gossip. See you there!

"O...M..G"

"I know, but i've been thinking, and i'm not going to kill you actually, instead I came up with the best idea ever"

"which is...?"

"you date her"

"I'm sorry... WHAT"

"I'm saying you should date her. Your little stunt with Ariana got you some bad feedback, so we are going to undo all of those by you dating Riley."

"why?"

"I just said why...." she continued on and on about me dating Riley for fake for my public appearance and for damage control, but I wasn't quite sure. I wasn't a player.

After about an hour of arguing I finally said yes.

The next morning, I called Riley and invited her to a restaurant at 6:30 and that i'd come pick her up. I really hoped this worked.