Ruben Dias - One Shots (Second edition)

The Award (Prologue)

Kiera Reed, upcoming superstar, the new it girl, multi Grammy Award winner...or so she wants to be. Realizing that the music industry has little to do with talent and a lot to do with status, Kiera is willing to do it all to give her music the recognition it deserves. Even if that means fake dating the stubborn, inconsiderate and undeniably arrogant football player, Ruben Dias. It is through lies, schemes and hurt that the "couple" comes to know each other. But through passion, love and sacrifice Kiera and Ruben go through lengths to help each other achieve their dreams.

Enjoy!

And the award goes to.....

"Please say Kiera, please say Kiera..."

"Please, please, please, by Sabrina Carpenter!!!"

"Oh, for fuck sakes."

Kiera should have known not to resort to something as stupid and conspiratorial as crossing her fingers. It had brought her no luck thus far, the EMA's snubbing her of yet another category that she was nominated in. All that was left was the award for the best new artist and that couldn't possibly be Kiera, after she was ironically asked to present the award tonight. Handing it out to herself would simply look stupid.

"Are you ready?" A voice spoke from behind. Odell, Kiera's lover and partner in crime in this blasphemous music industry, had returned backstage to check on her.

"Yeah, I'm alright." She said, a microphone resting in her hands.

"Hey?" The bitterness in her voice had not gone unnoticed. "You'll get them next time." He assured, placing a hand on the hollowed back of Kiera's dress, his fingertips caressing her skin. "With this new record we got coming out next year, you'll be topping every fucking chart in the world. Everyone is gonna want a piece of Kiera Reed."

"You really think so?"

"Trust me baby, I'll make sure of it."

She smiled with the kiss that was pressed to her cheek. Odell then disappeared through the dark curtains, leaving Kiera to do what was asked of her.

The crowd was buzzing out there, tempting her to sneak a peek through the closed blinds. The biggest artists were of course seated up front, some of them having snubbed Kiera of her awards. They probably had no idea who she was, and tonight they would only come to know her as the pretty face that presented the award for Best New Artist.

She looked around the stage area, where several producers with black headsets were running around like hens on a farm, ensuring that the production of the show was running smoothly. They seemed so agitated, Kiera thought. Not at all helping her calm her own rising nerves. And yes, despite not having to actually perform, Kiera was still nervous about going on stage and having all of those googling eyes staring up at her. Not to mention the bright lights, pointing directly at her face, highlighting every possible flaw in her dark features.

"Hey, I'm Ruben."

She flinched as a tall figure appeared beside her.

"Sorry, did I scare you?" He chuckled. A man, broad in the shoulders yet slim at the waist. He wore a dark suit, complementary to his other dark features, like his eyes and his hair. Kiera didn't see much of it though, his hair, since their height differences had him peering down at her like a parent does a child.

"I see that they've already given you a microphone. They didn't give me one so I assume that means we're sharing?"

"I don't—"

"Ruben?" A woman with a headset appeared, shifting her head between Kiera and the stranger. "Great, you've already gotten to know each other. I suggest that the two of you walk out together. On my que, of course. Ruben, you then prepare the envelope, while....while...."

"Kiera." She frowned.

"Of course." The lady smiled, a visible drop of sweat running down her temple. "Kiera, you make sure that the microphone is in place when you approach the pedestal. Ruben is gonna prepare the envelope containing the best new artist. Got it?" The lady was rapid, taking the man, Ruben's nod, as a notion from them both.

"I—." Kiera tried to speak. To protest, since she was obviously freaking out. However, the stage lady put her hand up, giving Kiera and Ruben the cue to take to the stage. Although her feet hesitated to move as the curtains drew open, the hand putting pressure on Kiera's lower back ensured that she did. Met with courteous applause from the well dressed crowd, she and Ruben took to the stage.

By the time they reached the presenter's pedestal, the applause had died out, the crowd obscured behind the blinding lights. Kiera was undoubtedly struck by it all, the applause, the lights and the front row of artists whose polite demeanor seemed to be mocking her. She found herself frozen with terror. Unable to move a muscle. While the voice in her head did nothing to console her, another voice, a man's, appeared like a soft breeze behind her ear. "The microphone." He said, without pleading.

"I can't." Kiera's body trembled, shivers sent all over. "I can't do it—."

"Shh. It's okay, I got you."

Her shoulders fell. Not with relief, but with surprise as someone moved to stand behind her.

Ruben?

His arm, a well defined bicep, swept around her body, unhanding Kiera the microphone, attaching it to the stand on top of the pedestal. Pressure was then subdued upon her head, something firm, resting on top of it. As if awaking a lucid dream, Kiera took notice of her surroundings. A mumbling crowd, followed by a few flattering wolf howls and snapping applause. Kiera realized that Ruben was resting his chin on top of her head, his front pushing against her trembling back. However, the trembles quickly seized with the heat that was generated between them.

"Ladies and gentleman...." Ruben's rich baritone voice echoed above Kiera's head, his stubbled chin stirring her silk-pressed hair. "The award for Best New Artist goes to..." A golden envelope unfolded before her eyes, Ruben's large hands retrieving the paper within as his arms shielded around her. The crowd once again expressed their excitement for the gesture with snapping applause and taunting shouts. Although Kiera flushed with embarrassment, not to mention concern for how she and Ruben might appear to the crowd and the people watching at home, her previous trembles had gone away, completely vanishing with the bizarre nature of her situation.

"Benson Boone!!!"

Despite not winning Best New Artist, Kiera felt momentarily at ease. Her stumbles and falls in life having no matter. She would always be cooed and protected in the arms of the man whose heart beat gently against her own. The man that whispered endearments against her hair and slid his hands to rest on her hips.

"You did good, Kiera. You did good."

"I did?"

"Very good."