fake it // lrh

prologue

I sat on the kitchen counter, a mug of coffee in my hand as I went through my social medias. The smell of sausage cooking, along with pancakes and coffee filled the air throughout the whole house.

I kept up with things going on in celebrities lives, specifically the celebrities a close friend of mine, Amy, manages. She manages Sierra Deaton and a few huge Internet stars as well, and from what I've gathered it can be a quite stressful job. Reading through all the rumors and headlines with her clients names in them makes me stress for her and wonder how she does it.

She refers to her clients as her business children, because, using her own words, they're practically children. They need guidance and help, and she likes to mother and nurture both them and their careers. But, like a mother, she has to protect them too, usually from the media and other celebrities. She does a good job, she even has a team of people to help her shut down rumors and drama, without keeping too much out, because after all, drama and rumors help keep you relevant in the celebrity scene.

After seeing nothing but post after post of rumors about who Luke Hemmings is dating, and if it's Sierra, I decided to set my phone down. All my news feed is at the moment are the same three topics, two of which are celebrities. Maybe I'm following the wrong people, or maybe people can't seem to voice a creative thought of their own. Either way, I choose to simply not waste my time on things that don't concern me or the health of the public.

Although I could name quite a few celebrities that are concerning for the health of the public.

"Were you looking at everything Amy is going to have to deal with this week?" Samantha asked me as she flipped a pancake, her eyes not leaving the stove as she spoke.

"Yeah, she's probably on damage control right now." I said with a light chuckle, and she hummed in response.

"I don't see how she does it." Johnny said as he entered the kitchen, going straight for the fridge to pull out a carton of juice. He always drinks straight from the carton, which is kind of disgusting.

However, I don't complain about it. He still pays his part of the rent on time and isn't too terribly messy, at least his bad habits are tolerable.

"I thought Lio had work today." Johnny said, speaking to Sam as if I wasn't there.

"It's Friday." Sam stated flatly. Johnny's brows furrowed together as he looked from the inside of the fridge to Sam, who turned around to face him, her arms crossed over her chest as she stared at him quizzically.

"Is it?" He asked, surprised.

"No, Johnny, you're on Pranked. There's the camera." I said, refrencing an old vine. His face fell to a less amused and less confused one as he stuck his middle finger in the air, flipping me off.

"I could deal without your smart-ass-edness." He said as he hoped up on the kitchen island, sitting facing the window over the sink.

"We figured you were in class already." Sam admitted. He laughed and shrugged.

"I guess I'll explain to my professor Monday." He said before taking another large sip out of the carton in his hands.

My phone began to ring, and I groaned. I hated phone calls. Why can't people just text me like a normal person? That'd be great. I looked to see who was calling before I answered, and inhaled deeply when I saw it was Amy. She calls for a different reason every time, so expecting the unexpected is the only way I can prepare for a phone conversation with her.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hi, Baby, how are you today?" She greeted, her tone was almost bored as she spoke. I could picture her sitting at her desk, her phone wedged between her head and her palm as she propped her head.

"I'm fine, thanks. How are you?" I replied. She sighed deeply as she responded.

"Hun, I'm about ready jump off a cliff." She responded, sounding tired. "But I'm fine, this is fine." She then added. I giggled at her sarcasm and she went on to speak again before I responded to her.

"Listen, the reason I called is because I need a favor from you. It's a big favor, too, so keep an open mind but promise me you'll think on it before shutting it down, okay?" She asked. I bit my lower lip nervously as I anticipated what on earth this task could be.

"Okay, I'm listening." I said, allowing her to continue.

"Listen, Sierra is getting some negative attention because of a certain band. Mostly just a certain band member, and I'll just cut straight to the chase, I'd like to hire you to be his fake girlfriend." She said.

The whole idea sounded absolutely ridiculous. I mean, I know that Hollywood is full of fake relationships, but they're usually with other celebrities and to help closeted celebrities stay closeted.

"Why?" I asked, the question sounded harsher than I had meant for it to. "I mean, why in general and why me?" I asked again.

"I want someone no one's ever heard of, just to help sell this, and you're perfect for it. You're beautiful, but not famous, and you have a really cool name already. Clio Emerson Warner, it's literally a fanfiction name." She explained, but that didn't help me understand why he needed a fake girlfriend.

"I'm flattered, but why does he need a fake girlfriend?" I asked. Johnny and Sam stared at me with confused looks on their faces, and I just shrugged in response. I'm just as lost as them.

"If he's 'dating' you, he isn't dating her and therefore she isn't using him. I'd also like for you and her to be friends, to kind of prove that she isn't a leech." Amy explained.

"So, basically you just want to prove to them that she isn't riding their coattails?" I asked. Amy let out a relieved sigh as she answered.

"Exactly. My client is very talented and doing well on her own. The promotions and advertisements the boys post, they post on their own free will. No one is asking them too, they're just supportive." Amy explained.

That's exactly how I read the situation before the drama started to brew, but I guess the majority thought differently. I was silent for a moment, contemplating my answer as I chewed my bottom lip.

"I don't know, Amy, I need more details before I can consider this." I said, almost unsure of myself as I spoke.

"Don't sweat it, Baby." Amy began, her voice that signature soothing tone of hers. She could convince someone to jump off a cliff, I swear. "I'll schedule a meeting, you, me, the boys and their management will meet up, make a contract, and we'll discuss it." She said.

"I'll show up to the meeting, but I can't promise I'll agree to anything." I informed.

"Didn't expect you to, Love." She said, and I could practically hear the smile in her voice. "Just be here Sunday at eight." She said.

"Wait, this Sunday?" I asked, shocked. "As in two days from now Sunday?"

"Yes, don't worry I'll book your flight and hotel." She said with an exasperated sigh. "Do you want to bring someone? Preferably a girl so no one gets the wrong message?" She asked. I bit my lip as I turned to look at Sam who was now devouring her pancakes as fast as Johnny was.

"Uh, yeah. I'll bring Sam." I said, causing Sams head to shoot up and look at me. She mouthed a 'what' and I just shrugged, not fully knowing myself either.

"Great, I'll text you and let you know all the details about your flight, and I'll send someone to pick you girls up at the airport. See you Sunday, Love." She said, hanging up the phone before I could even mumble a goodbye.

I pulled the phone away from my ear and set it down on the counter beside me.

"Um, what was that?" Sam asked, and I just inhaled deeply.

"I'll explain while we're packing." I said to her with a smile, and she shot me a confused and worried look.

Flying from Georgia to LA is a rather long flight that I'm quite frankly no where near ready for.