Ruben Dias - One Shots (Second edition)

The Award Part 2

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!

"Why does your face look like that?"

"Like what?"

"Like a clown."

Kids and their brutal honesty. Kiera did not sign up for a day surrounded by them and yet it was revealed that she would partake in a charity event full of them. It was hosted by Manchester City ahead of their fixture against Everton. Odell and Kiera's manager Irene, made Kiera arrive two hours before kick off just so she could spend time with the kids, play her music and inspire them to dream big just like she had. But after two hours of performing and chasing the gremlins around the bouncy house that was set up next to the stadium, Kiera did indeed end up looking like a clown.

"I can't go in there looking like this." She complained to her manager, who did everything for Kiera not to bail out of the event at the last minute.

"We'll take you inside." Irene nodded. She was a spiky haired woman, with an even spikier demeanor about herself. "I'll have someone take us inside of the stadium and we'll redo your makeup."

"Where is Odell? Tell him that I'm going back to the hotel."

"I'm sorry honey, but Odell is already inside the stadium, holding a place for us in the VIP booths." Irene tugged Kiera along, anxious to get her into the stadium before more people caught a whiff of her runny makeup.

"I can't." Kiera fought back. "The charity arrangers told me that the kids are getting a chance to walk around the pitch before the game starts. I'm supposed to go with them."

"Right. You have to be there for the photos."

Kiera rolled her eyes in annoyance. It was ridiculous the way she was being shuffled around all the time, and for what, so she could appear like a good samaritan instead of actually being a good samaritan?

"Okay, this is what we'll do." Irene dug through her purse in search of Keira's emergency makeup kit. "Let's wipe off the excess makeup and give you a more natural look for the photoshoot on the pitch. That will go great in the tabloids, Kiera Reed, spending her off time with the kids in Manchester, I can see the headlines before me."

Kiera could care less about the headlines, or the children for that matter. All she wanted was to go back to the hotel and spend more time with her cousin Angie, perhaps finally meet with her university friends.

"There, all done."

The majority of Kiera's face was wiped free of makeup. She paused as she caught her own reflection in the glass windows surrounding the stadium. Somewhere down the road to fame someone had convinced Kiera that makeup was not only a necessity, but the elixir for eternal beauty. Turns out that beneath it all a beautiful young woman had always been hiding.

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"Come on Ruben, time to get off the field. Don't think lingering on the pitch will convince Coach to let you play."

Ruben laughed at his teammate's taunting remark, passing him the match ball. It was tempting though, with the feel of the grass under his boots, damped and soft. It was safe to say that he was jealous of his teammates' who ran around the field, warming up ahead of the game. If not for his recent thigh injury Ruben would be warming up with them, instead of withdrawing to watch the game from the stands. Two months had passed since he last played and Ruben was definitely getting restless.