FAKE

twenty-two.

(the one with the duchess and the prince)

I

"I said oh my, what a marvellous tune

It was the best night never would forget how he moved"

I sighed for the longest time ever as I stared myself at the mirror. I wasn't ready for this. I didn't want to go to prom, I thought. Ever since I had a memory of it, I had always thought that if I were ever to go to prom, I'd do it with Harry (and even more now, that we were "dating").

"Tu es très belle, Gabi", I suddenly heard a voice, to which I turned around.

"Merci, maman", I spoke, a shy smile on my face. "But I hardly believe that I am beautiful, I just look like it."

"No, honey, you do not". She got closer to me and caressed my cheek. "You are a very beautiful girl, inside and out, Gabi".

"That's what people tell ugly people: 'you are beautiful inside and out'. It's as if you're trying to demerit the outside beauty, because it just isn't that great".

Mom laughed, to which I just sighed.

"Listen, honey, I know that you're hurting".

"Am not" I responded stubbornly.

"I know that you're hurting because you're in love with Zayn, and, suddenly, your whole relationship with Harry is to be questioned. Are you doing it to make Zayn jealous?"

I sighed.

"It's not like that" I replied. "It's harder than that".

"Are you happy with whatever it is?" She asked and I stopped to think for a second.

"No, I am not." I blurted out.

"Then, what are you doing?" She called out on me. "Listen, honey, I will support any decision you make, but you deserve much more than that. You deserve real love, not one that will use you. Actually, right now I'm questioning Harry's loyalty, allowing you to use him when he clearly knows that you're in love with Zayn."

I was about to stop her, to tell her that I wasn't the one using him, but the other way around. I wanted to tell her everything, but I couldn't bring myself to it, so I just nodded.

"End things with Harry, honey" She smiled softly. "That's the best for both of you."

Suddenly, a voice shook both of us.

"Oh là là, Gabi, mon petite fille! Tu te vois magnifique!" Dad spoke as he entered the room. "I can't believe that you're going to prom. Oh, how fast the night changes!"

"Funny" I rolled eyes. "Y'all going out as well?"

"Regarde-la, Christine, speaking like a true American!" Dad joked.

"And a southern one as well", Mom completed, to which I couldn't roll my eyes more. "But, on a serious note, we are leaving, honey, sorry."

"Oh, that's just alright. Don't worry." But it wasn't. I understood my parents not being there most of the time it was different. It was my prom and it was a important day for me, because shocking news: I'm actually going. But of course that I wouldn't be telling them that. I had to act as if everything was alright.

"Paris?" I asked.

"No, Los Angeles" Dad replied. "On our way to the city to go to the airport, do you need us to drop you anywhere?"