All of my 5sos work

Planned

MICHAEL SERIES:

They told us it was publicity, that the media were suspicious as he had remained out of the radar for a while, and when someone remains out of the radar they create lies. Initially it was only meant to be a month or so, just to clear up any of the rumours the media came up with, but almost a year later I'm still here.

Initially the problem was that Michael wasn't being seen nor heard of in any form, he wasn't seen out and about or even updating the fans and media on what he was doing or why he had gone awol. That was when the management had an idea, why not fake a relationship to get the media's attention? What could possibly go wrong? And that was when my manager spoke to me about the situation, at first I laughed in his face, taking the whole thing as a joke. Me, a small time singer who does gigs every now and then but is focused on writing as her true passion. He encouraged me to go to meeting and possibly be within the chance of becoming the new 'it girl' and the thought made me want to be sick.

You can predict what happened, I turned up and was surrounded by peroxide blondes with big boobs and model like bodies, who had the perfect classy look, then there was me. I had woken up about half an hour before so I managed to do the smallest amount of makeup and throw on whatever I could find, let's just say I got enough dirty looks and evil glares that my entire outfit could've been burnt to a crisp. I did the interview, which was the weirdest interview I had ever had and couldn't be more unprepared. They had my Instagram page, Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr, even my YouTube channel up and went through it all with me, about what I liked or disliked and how I like to be, all these personal questions and they finished on, 'why would you want to be Michael's girlfriend?'' In a very serious tone and I wanted to laugh in their faces. My answer was short and brief, "Seems kinda cool. Plus I could use this for a story. You get your media attention back, I get a book. It's a win win."

That brings us to now. At first I didn't get it, and I was okay with that knowing how low of a chance I stood with all those girls, I'm no Kendall Jenner or Gigi Hadid. I'm not even a Daphne from Scooby Doo, I'm more of a '7K followers on Instagram' kinda girl, but they said they liked that, how I had a different attitude, apparently that's why I was brought back in on a limb.

When I went that time they filmed me, my mannerisms and how I spoke about my interests, and the idea was to see if we would be compatible as a couple. Kinda like a dating website where you find your soulmate, except everything is a lie and none of the relationship and interests mean anything once you go back to your cars and drive away. For the duration of that meeting they told me to imagine that Michael was the camera, which was a weird concept but I tried to focus on him being there. Although I had never met Michael, nor listening to much of his music, nor pay attention to him on social media it made that idea so successful; note the sarcasm.

A couple of weeks down the line of silence I received a phone call about being flown out to LA, of course I accepted - who wouldn't? Whilst in LA I would meet Michael, chat to him and try and make it work, have some photos taken of us out on a 'date' and just get comfortable around each other. Just got to focus on my end goal, my book.

I remember the excitement, the pure joy of being in LA for the first time and seeing the sights, but then a sense of dread that formed in my stomach as we approached the office building. "Just be yourself." My manager, Gary spoke up and I raised an eyebrow to him, "Yeah, on second thought be your more cheerful sociable self." He patted my shoulder and I returned to resting my head in my hand, seeing all of the beauty go by and be replaced by lifeless endless rows of offices.

I'll tell you this now, it wasn't some cliche perfect moment where two strangers have that instant connection, it was a job. A job I had little negotiation in, plus it meant chilling and exploring cool places for a month, what could go so horrifically?

Well I'll tell you this, we didn't like each other. I tried so hard to like him, to make some sort of connection whilst we had our photo taken but it was like talking to that distant family friend who you haven't seen in years and make awkward small talk, except on top of all that I have to be clingy with him. I knew he wasn't keen on the idea either, he was distant and unsociable and spent most of the meeting playing on his DS, I wished Gary would've let me bring mine.

On our first outing as a 'couple' they suggested we go for coffee, and that we were seen out and about holding hands and being all cuddly. We did exactly as they asked and before you know it I see my mentions on social media go through the roof and my face is on most articles about the band. It was like an overnight success followed my immediate confusion from everyone about who I was, since I wasn't known people were in an uproar over me.

That was when the management told us it's gotten a lot bigger than they initially thought, that we would have to stay together for more than a month. If only they said then how long it would actually be extended for.