Leave it to Fate (Fate Series - Book #1)

Chapter Two - Aftermath

But in the light of a new day, the dream had become my nightmare.

'Mystery fan and Machine Gun Kelly share a passionate kiss during Meet and Greet,' every headline read in some variation following the concert.

"Which VIP package included a make out session?" Chelsea Handler tweeted. It had over a million retweets already.

Scrolling through each of my social media apps, I was horrified to find I would eventually come across a photo of myself lip-locked and my chest would twist.

Twitter had a trending hashtag #LipGate2020

Instagram was booming with MGK fan accounts posting theories of who it could be, along with possible celebrities that would make a good coupling with the artist. Poorly photoshopped photos pasted Selena Gomez, Ariana Grande, and Megan Fox against Machine Gun Kelly with polls asking for which was the most plausible. Megan was winning by a land slide.

The internet was in a frenzy to discover who the woman was, that in popular opinion, was lucky enough to kiss the artist.

"This is insane!" I complained to Lorelei, showing her my phone with yet another article with my picture in it.

I was blown away that it had reached AltPress, an alternative music magazine. Media had really gone to hell in a hand-basket. I wouldn't expect such gossip to warrant all this attention.

I asked Lorelei and Kira to lunch after my interview, not wanting to be alone with my thoughts, at a local hipster cafe. Their signage all featured a Boston terrier and they described themselves as a bohemian outpost offering artisanal sandwiches and craft beer. I collapsed onto the seat by the window as Lorelei slid in beside me, taking my phone to scan the article.

"I can't believe you out here just kissing my man!" she joked.

I knew she was trying to lighten my terrible mood, but I wasn't having it.

"Who is Luna kissing?" Kira asked, joining us.

She sat at the chair across from our table, setting her Louis Vuitton tote onto the seat beside her. Designer bags needed their own seat.

"This guy!" Lorelei turned my phone that still held the article and showed her the picture.

"Oh my god!" Kira laughed, taking the phone. "Who is this?" she asked.

Lorelei snatched the phone back, rolling her eyes. "I need more rap friends," she complained.

Kira's taste in music was entirely different from ours. Despite growing up in the states, her family was third-generation from Japan and she loved her K-Pop. She wouldn't admit it willingly, but she rocked out to BTS with the best of them.

But I had to admit, even I rarely knew the artists' Lorelei referenced. I was a pop-punk girl, and while she'd dabble, she loved her rap. 'Sad boys singing' is how Lorelei described my taste.

"It's Colson Baker, aka Machine Gun Kelly . Only the sexiest rapper in the game right now. He's been doing collabs with everyone!" She began listing off famous musicians in both rap and rock. "He's literally breaking boundaries in the industry!" Lorelei proclaimed.

Kira and I looked at each other, resisting to laugh. She was clearly very passionate about this but I needed her to wait until my crisis was over.

"Okay, but what am I going to do?" I whined, bringing the attention back on my current predicament.

The waitress came to take our drink orders. I was tempted to order tequila, but it was barely past noon. I settled on diet coke. Maybe a caffeine buzz would warrant the same chemical response.