Serendipitous

Part 13

Max

Tonight's our first 'big' event. The biggest since these entire 'dating' rumours began circulating. Tonight will be the night that really changes everything, publicly at least. Because tonight, Persephone and I are making our public appearance as a 'couple'. Where there'll be cameras waiting to watch us strut down the streets of Boston, just one click away from changing the trajectory of both our lives, forever.

For reference, it's only been a week since we started 'dating'. Fuck, how I wish I could remove the quotation marks from the top of that word, and leave the remaining letters in peace. 

And my feelings, the confusion, the silent angst and everything else, is only getting worse as time goes on. The more time we spend together, the more time we take in acting like we're together, every time I see her out of the corner of my eye. She's driving me insane by just existing as my fake girlfriend, let alone a real one.

For a week, I'm surprised that I haven't let our whole plan slip yet. I've come close to letting the cat out of the bag, particularly around Fitz, who seems absolutely enthralled in Persephone and I's joint love life. He's like a little pest, that keeps buzzing around with a aggravating smirk on his face. At least, Persephone doesn't seem to mind too much. Ever since she joined the club, Fitz made her feel welcomed, mostly due to his love of her baked goods. But regardless, I'm just happy that she isn't completely creeped out by his nudging and completely over-the-top eyebrow raises, because that's just normal for Fitz.

I walk the short distance from my bathroom back to my bedroom, spying the time on a wall clock as I grab a pair of shoes out of my cupboard. I cross to my bed while pulling my phone from my suit jacket pocket, thumbing my screen open with one hand. I open up my most recent text, firing another off to tell Persephone I'll be at her place in 20 minutes, just as soon as I get this fucking shoe onto my fucking foot.

I stand from my bed, doing a final, highly sophisticated push of my heel, until my stubborn shoe slides onto my foot. I deposit my phone back into an inner pocket of my jacket, before racing into the kitchen to grab my keys. I dangle them from my index finger, swinging them nervously as I cross to the front door, pulling it open, slipping into the cool corridor, and locking the heavy door in a mere matter of seconds. I walk with my head down along the quiet breezeway in the direction of the industrial elevator, with air hitting my face as the doors slide open. I step inside, pushing my back to the wall as my bare index finger slides onto the ground floor button. The doors whoosh closed in front of my, and I take the few moments of peace to breathe as I descend the few stories below me, in search of the car park.

What am I doing? Seriously? How fucked up is this plan? Pretend to date a girl who makes my heart practically stop every time I lay eyes on her, while knowing I'm only doing it to try and keep the media, the people I hate the most, happy? Given my history, I know this can't end well. But I knew this before. And all while knowing this, I still consciously pulled Persephone into this mess, when I know she couldn't think of any worse way to spend the next few months of her life. Pretending to date some random guy who she will have to keep working with even once things turn to shit.

It's selfish. There's no other way to describe it.

But, I'm in too deep now, a consequence of my own actions. And I can't let go. I can't ever imagine letting go.

Fuck.

The elevator bell screams at the same time I do, both of us acknowledging out mistakes. Briskly, I step out from the open doors, continuing to keep my head low as I cross to my car park. Once I'm close enough, I lift my head, just enough for my eyes to meet the door's handle, my hands clicking it open. I slide into the comfortable leather seat, the security allowing me to finally lift my eyes.