What Happens in L.A.

Chapter 8: Innocent

L

Today, training started. Three chairs sat idly in the living room, two were together and one was across. Addilyn went and occupied one of the paired chairs.

"For the last time, you are not apart of this!" Jayce aimed at her.

"I'm apart of anything I want to be apart of." Addilyn replied. Before Jayce could argue back, she hushed him. "Just come sit. She's here, let's have a little fun." Addilyn shot Lilly a text that the door was open. Lilly peeked around the corner of the room shortly after. Jayce and Addilyn sat side by side, both abstractly staring at her, hands in their laps. Their motionless silence galvanized Lilly, and sent her straight down the opposite hall as if she didn't just see them there, but instead saw someone else.

"Lilly, get back over here." Addilyn called out.

"I can't. You guys keep staring at me. It's freaking kindergarten all over again. I profusely refuse." Lilly stated mechanically standing in the hall. Jayce got up from his chair.

"Stop. No. You can't do that in the interview." Addilyn protested.

"You also won't be at the interview." Jayce kept walking towards Lilly and hugged her. She let him hug her, but didn't make an effort to hug back.

"Why are you so damn touchy all the time? Obviously, she doesn't want to hug you." Addilyn said in disgust.

"Shut the hell up. If we're going to pull this off, we have to be affectionate." Jayce moved his mouth to Lilly's ear. He whispered, "hug me back." Lilly was hesitant at first, but after five seconds of not hearing Addilyn's protests, she figured she should hug him back. They did need to act the part, after all. Jayce let her go and led her over to the single chair. Lilly sat in it, shell-shocked by how serious they were making the ordeal.

"Why am I over here?" Lilly asked.

"Because, we are training you. Shockingly, Jayce does extremely well in interviews. You on the other hand. . . couldn't get a job at McDonald's." Addilyn answered.

"They weren't hiring at the moment." Lilly said defensively.

"Right. Now how did you and Jayce meet?"

"You should know, you were there."

"No! I'm the interviewer now."

"Okay." Lilly said then sat up and took a breath. There was an long pause.

"Well?" Addilyn coached.

"How does you being the interviewer change my answer?" Lilly responded.

"Why are you acting like this is a joke?" Jayce asked Lilly.

"Because it's just hard to take it seriously, I mean, my friends are interviewing me." Lilly answered smiling.

"Why is it so damn hard for people to take my career seriously?" Jayce said standing up, huffing.

"Chill, Jayce." Addilyn told him. He ignored her.

"And I'm not you're not my friend today, Lilly. Or for the next month. You are my girlfriend. So I'm going to need you to start acting like it."

"I'm trying!" Lilly exclaimed.

"Then tell me Lilly. How. Did. We. Meet?"

"We met at a frozen yogurt shop."

"I need more from you than that."

"What?" Addilyn interjected. "You want her to exaggerate, basically lie- to make you look better?"