Pink

7

Pink's POV:

"Pink?" Mom called me. I trotted downstairs, still in my pajamas. "We're leaving in an hour. But, honey? I have some news."

I gulped. Last time she said that, she told me that dad had cancer.

"Simon Cowell - you remember Simon, right?" I nodded. "He has decided that what's best for the band - and you - is that you date one of the boys in the band."

"Please say Niall." I whispered to myself.

"No, not Niall." Lou looked at me and smiled slightly. "You and Harry are going to be fake-dating for a short time. I know you and Harry have had some disagreements, but he is a very nice boy, alright? You guys are going to fake-date for a span of two months. Okay?"

"He's a dick." I mumbled and crossed my arms over my chest.

"Language." She warned me. "You'll be getting paid to do this - think of it as a job. And even though I think you're a bit too young to be dating, this is a job. And you can raise some more funds for college."

Our family has been having some money issues lately, with dad gone, and the medical bills we still have to pay back.

"Can I quit?"

"No. Now go change. We're leaving in an hour."

"Ugh, I have to see his ugly face this early in the morning?" I mumbled.

Walking upstairs to my room, I went straight to my closet. I picked out dark blue high waisted shorts, a crop top that said 'Smile', and a pair of lacy black tights. With that, I pulled out my favorite pair of combat boots (I wear these almost everyday), and did my makeup. Nothing too crazy: foundation, neutral eyeshadow, and some fuschia lipstick.

I dyed my hair lavender last night, Niall on my mind.

I trotted downstairs, seeing that Lou was already making breakfast for Lux.

"Hey Pink, could you go change Lux? She's still in her pajamas."

I nodded and grabbed Lux and hoisted her on my hip. "Hey Luxie, whaddya want to wear today?"

"Purple." She squealed. She looked at my head, confused. "Hair no pink?"

I giggled and shook my head. "No pink."

"Why?" She pouted, her lower lip sticking out.

"I don't know. So ya wanna wear purple?" I asked.

She nodded vigorously. I sat her down on her bed and rustled through her drawers. I grabbed a pair of yellow pants and a purple shirt with a yellow bee saying, 'Bee Happy'.

I undressed her, sliding the clothes over her small head.

She pointed to her head. "Pinktails?" She asked me and I chuckled.

I always used to wear pigtails when I had pink hair, and she always thought they were call pinktails, not pigtails.

I shuffled over to the desk and plucked two hair ties out of the bin, tying her hair up in two little pigtails. I slid her purple UGGs on her feet and went into the kitchen.

"We're ready." I told her.

"Can you go early? Simon wanted you to sign something." I groaned but nodded.

I grabbed my keys. "See you guys soon," I said and blew them a kiss. Lux pretended to catch it and pinned it to her chest.

I hopped in my mini cooper, driving to Starbucks.

☎☎☎

I entered the familiar building, sipping my iced green tea.

"Pinkus!" Simon called.

I shuttered. I hate my full name.

I walked into the building to be greeted by Simon. He grinned and guided me to his office. I sat down in the big red chair and Simon pushed a packet of papers across the table to me.

He flipped to the last page. "Sign, please."

"I'm going to read it first." I explained to him when his face turned puzzled, once I flipped back to the first page. I scanned the paragraphs.

Go out on publicity dates, yada, yada, yada...

Look lovey-dovey in public... mhmm.

Wait a minute - move in together?

"There is no way in hell that I am moving in with him." I spat.

"I'm sorry, that's part of the contract." Simon looked at me.

I sighed and kept reading. "How much money will I be paid?" I asked him.

"$6,500 a week."

I took in a deep breath. This would really help support Mom and Lux, plus I could save towards my college fund.

I picked up the pen much to Simon's delight, and signed on the dotted line.

"There you go."

"You start tomorrow."