One Shot Series 3

Relationship Rumours

"Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez - Hollywood's Hottest Couple!"

"Bieber and Gomez Together?"

"The Bieb's Steamy Romance..."

The magazine covers mocked Demi as she waited in line at the grocery store. Every title she read about their "relationship" made her stomach turn. She promised herself she wouldn't have another anxiety breakdown but she really needed to get out of here.

"Hi, how are you?" the checkout woman smiled at her.

Demi returned the smile but mentally told her to hurry up.

Finally she bagged the last item, she paid and left, breathing a sigh of relief.

When she got home she opened the penthouse door to find Justin sitting on the couch reading his phone. His brown hair was pushed back slightly with a headband and he was in a pair of baggy grey sweatpants and his favourite white t-shirt with the sleeves rolled up.

"Justin, will you please help me put the groceries away?" Demi called to him as she set the bags on the kitchen counters.

She got no reply so she walked into the living room where he was still looking at his phone.

He hadn't said one word to her.

"Justin," Demi said.

His hazel eyes looked up at her, his expression blank. Oh how she missed his smile.

"Will you help me?" She asked again.

He sighed and stood up from the couch, "Yeah, but I gotta go in a few minutes."

Demi tilted her head to the side. "Where are you going?"

He brushed passed her and replied with a simple but slightly harsh, "Out."

This was how most of their conversations had been lately and Demi hated it. So short. So empty. She didn't even remember how it was before. Now he made it seem like talking to her was a chore.

Demi followed him into the kitchen.

"Out? Where out?" She questioned gently.

He scoffed and rolled his eyes.

"Why do you have to know everything, Demi?"

His words stung. Her mouth went dry and she could feel tears welling up.

"I just would like to know where my boyfriend is going... People tell each other those kind of things when they're in a relationship," Demi replied softly.

He started rummaging through the bags and putting things in the refrigerator.

"Are you hanging out with Selena?" She asked quietly, looking down at her hands.

He turned to her and sighed. "If you must know, yes."

Those words stung even more and she felt furious. Her hands started shaking and her throat felt like it was closing up.

"You hang out with your fake girlfriend more than your real girlfriend," Demi said, her voice raised slightly.

He stopped putting the carrots in the vegetable drawer and turned to face her.

"You know why I hang out with her. It's for publicity. This way I stay relevant. I would rather have a fake romance than have no one talking about- you know what, no, I don't have to explain this to you every goddamn day," he yelled, slamming the drawer shut.

She winced at his outburst. She hated making Justin mad more than anything. But it was almost getting to be too much. She didn't like hanging around in the shadows. She didn't like "sharing" her boyfriend. She didn't like that the world didn't know she was his.