Only a Lie If You Mean It

Chapter 2: Rules of Pretending

Wyndon City - Galar League Media Offices, Next Morning

Ash hadn't even finished his coffee when the doors to the League's media wing opened. He'd barely slept. The suite had felt too quiet, too close. Serena had stayed in the guest room, but her presence lingered like a scent in the air-too familiar, too fragile.

Now he was sitting across from the League's PR director, a clipboard between them and a digital contract glowing on the holo-screen.

Serena arrived three minutes late. On purpose, he suspected.

She wore a blazer over a mock-neck top, all clean lines and glossy calm. The perfect media version of herself. She didn't look at him when she sat down. He noticed anyway.

"Morning," she said simply.

"Yeah," Ash muttered. "Morning."

The PR rep clapped her hands. "Right. Now that our power couple is assembled-let's discuss expectations."

Ash flinched. "Power couple?"

"Just branding, Ash." Serena said it like she'd had this conversation before. She probably had.

The PR rep continued. "The finals are four days away. Until then, we need joint media appearances, synchronized posts, coordinated wardrobe-your agents have already approved most of it."

"Of course they have," Ash muttered.

Serena didn't react.

"There's a gala tomorrow night," the rep continued. "You'll arrive together. Smile. Dance. We've scheduled a joint interview for the day after. After that, two days of promo shoots. Fans eat this stuff up. We're already trending across six regions."

Ash leaned back. "And what happens if we say no?"

The PR rep gave a tight smile. "Then the narrative gets written without your input. This way, you control the story."

Control. That word again.

He looked at Serena. She finally looked back.

Their eyes held.

"We'll do it," Serena said.

Ash's jaw tightened, but he nodded. "Yeah. Fine."

---

Scene 2: The Rules

Later, back in the suite, Ash dropped onto the couch and exhaled hard. Serena stood by the window, arms crossed.

"We need ground rules," he said.

She nodded. "Agreed."

"No kissing. Not unless it's for cameras."

She raised an eyebrow. "Obviously."

"No personal questions. From the press. If they ask about Kalos-"

"We deflect. Talk about the championship."

"No talking about the past."

She paused. "That one's harder."

Ash looked at her. "Because there's a lot we never said."

"Because some things don't stay buried."

Silence.

"Fine," Serena said eventually. "New rule: no mixed signals."

Ash blinked. "What does that mean?"

"It means if we're faking this, we don't get to blur the line."

He hesitated. "You think I'm gonna cross it?"

She gave him a look. "I think we both might."

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