Lights ⇝ Finn Wolfhard

chapter four

      

   I woke up with a jolt, the dulled sound of something hitting my bedside table waking me.

     I looked around the pristine hotel room groggily. Diane stood above me with a frown carved into her face as she began to pace around the room. "Look! This is a disaster. A scandal like this so early on in your career can ruin you, (y/n)"

     Lifting my hand up to my face I rubbed my eyes, letting out a little yawn. The curtains covering my balcony let small rays of yellow light dance along the carpeted floors, the sun hadn't even fully risen yet. "What are you talking about?"

     Diane picked a magazine off the bedside table. So that's what woke me up I thought to myself as she threw it into my lap. My eyes trailed over the cover multiple times before it hit me. I was on the cover, I was on the cover with Finn. I was in Finn's arms. I looked back up at Diana's aggravated posture before letting out a groan and flopping back on the soft pillows.

    I stared up at the blank ceiling as she pulled back the bed covers, cold air assaulting my body as the morning chill hit me and the warm covers evaded me.

    "Was that really necessary?" I asked with a glare.

   Diane let out a small huff as she eyed me, a look of puzzlement crossing her face before covering it with contained anger.

   "Have you been dating him this entire time?"

  Appalled I let out a gasp. "Are you Crazy?! I'd never date him."

    This time she looked even more stumped as she sat next to me on the bed, "Then why were you photographed in his arms?"

     A small blush tinted my face as I began to explain, "Well you see, it was all an accident." I paused, looking up to gauge her reaction as I continued sheepishly, "I used to be old friends with him and the rest of the band and when I saw them he...came to speak with me separately."

   She nodded slowly at me before holding up her hand.

   "Wait, how did you end up in that position."

   I let out a nervous laugh. The whole situation sounding more and more fabricated as I went on, only it was all the truth - even if parts were missing.

    "Me being the clumsy mess I am, fell. Finn just so happened to be there to catch me." I stopped for a moment, "I'm not really sure how the photographer ended up there with us though, never heard him come in."

     Sighing, Diane stood up. "Either way there's nothing we can do now except crowd control, you have fifteen minutes to be ready to leave. We have a meeting to attend."

  With a nod Diane stood up from the bed and straightened out her skirt before leaving me alone in the hotel room.

   Fifteen minutes I thought with a groan, fifteen minutes to get my life together and keep the facade going again.

    The majority of the car ride had been silent. Diane tapped away at her phone and made different appointments and reservations as they drove along, eventually stopping in front of a familiar building.

  It didn't matter how many times I had to go into it, it still remained the same ominous building as before. The people inside had the ability to make or break my career, I couldn't forget that.

    The receptionist at the front desk was statuesque. always a different person, all keeping the same mannerisms and creepy smile as they clacked away at their keyboards.

   After being directed to the elevator Diane gave me a soft smile and a comforting pat on the back.

   "It won't be that bad, (y/n)." She said, giving me another grin as the elevator doors opened. "Like you said, you were old friends"

   "Wait, what-"

   Diane's loud greeting cut me off as she b lined for her boss, her voice raising in pitch as she extended her words and praise towards the disgruntled man.

    At first I noticed three things. One, I was not the only one in the room - besides Diane and her boss - and second, no one looked happy. And lastly, the other person in the room was Finn of all people.

   Despite my original plan to go into this scenario with an open mind I was quickly struck with the realization that nothing about this was good. I had messed up, been caught with Finn of all people.

   I was foolish to think there wouldn't be repercussions.

  Finn glanced over at me momentarily before looking away and back at his phone, finding whatever showed on the screen far more interesting than me and the impending doom we must both be facing.

     I stood around awkwardly as I waited for the meeting to start, Diane was too busy to make small talk with me and I'd rather stab myself with a fork then talk to him. I watched the clock in the corner countdown with a dulled sense of interest, the time ticking down slowly.

    Relief struck me as the assistant summoned us all into the meeting room, the time finally coming to get this over with so I could leave and continue on with my day.

     "Thank you everyone for coming here on such short notice, although I wish it could be on better terms." Diane began with a small smile. "Now obviously Finn and (y/n) have been all over the tabloids and social media this morning after a picture from last night began to circulate."

    Everyone at the large table nodded in agreement as she continued.

    "I've ran the test groups and its become apparent that the best way to handle the situation is to temporarily stage a relationship between Finn and (y/n). Not only will this be good for mending their current images in the eyes of the public but it will also benefit the sales of both of their eps."

     My body went rigid as I thought over her words. My own manager had betrayed me. I closed my eyes slowly, feeling an outburst coming on. This wasn't the time. I had to think logically and calmly, there was no need to freak-

   "There's no way in hell I'm going to spend anymore time with her." Finn sneered.

  And that's when everything broke loose.