When Love Hurts | Dramione - COMPLETED

EXCERPT: 01 || I Nearly Killed Cupid

oops sorry I know I finished the book and everything but I couldn't resist having more self promo and having this one teeny sneak peek (i'll do this for Saving Riddle when I start writing it too!) 

Chapter 1 

Natalie's POV

"I'm gorgeous."

"No," the cameraperson sighs. "No. There has to be more conviction. You've got to actually believe it! Who would buy the cream if you didn't look like you actually thought you were pretty?"

"I'm gorgeous," I emphasize, striking a pose. I toss my hair. "And it's all because of this cream. I believe that with all my heart! Please buy it, or I won't get money!"

The representative from the cream brand that I was supposed to be endorsing scowled. "Can we try this again tomorrow?"

The cameraperson glares at me. They had taken two hours to perfect my makeup and hair - never even using the cream, might I add.

"Go," he grumbles. "Back tomorrow. More conviction."

I make a face when he's not looking, and allow the helpers to take off the makeup. Workers start removing the screen and lights, revealing the classroom behind it.

The students yawned and started to talk, finally being allowed to talk after an hour of staying dead silent so that the audience wouldn't know they were right behind the sheet.

My teacher glared at me. "About time! I cannot believe you were called to do a photoshoot in the middle of class. I can't have workers infiltrating my classroom and conducting an entire professional ad in the middle of my lesson!"

"Actually, Ms. Clark," a student spoke up. "I think it was more of Natalie's fault. She was the one who didn't know how to advertise."

"Let me remind you, James," I say delicately. "You're still number 13, and I'm number 1."

He makes a face at me as I sit back down, taking out my Calculus homework.

Honestly, sometimes I think that I'm still trying to do what most teens do in high-school - figure out a purpose, what kind of job you want, what college you want to go to - but in reality, I'm not that lucky.

Thousands of people DM me about how lucky I am, actually - a huge job in the TV industry at the age of sixteen, a big paycheck, and enough fame to carry me to Hollywood. And yeah, of course I'm grateful.

But about 80% of the people at Grandview High have never had aspirations of fame. Thing is, once you've got it, you never want to let go.

"Natalie Woods!" Someone in professional-looking black clothing opens the door. "Report to AJ's Best, please!"

Ms. Clark's eyes widen in fury. "I'm in the middle of class - "

"And I'm," I reply calmly, "in the middle of a reality show. Will you excuse me?" I make my way out of the class, leaving my fuming teacher behind me.

Ten minutes later, I'm situated in a booth at the cafe with a half-empty cup that tried to illustrate I had been there for a while - and had totally not been just called to do another scene.

"Ms. Woods! Our top contestant!" Grant Smith, the host of our TV show, is sidling up to me, wearing a grin. "How are you doing?"

"Hey, Grant," I sigh, putting on a smile at last. It's no use trying to hide in the back once the cameras and Grant get here.

The TV show I'm 'acting' in right now is called Cupidity. Dumb name for a dumb show, but the name's stuck.

Cupidity started out as a game in my high school that deals with couples. The person who gets the most couples together by the end of senior year is the winner. Each new couple is one point. And each couple you break apart by your meddling is one point taken away.