Love the one you hate

Prologue

January 2023

Dean knew Charlie was going to be trouble the moment he walked through the door, but of course it wasn't due to his perfectly tailored suit that screams privilege, nor the cameras, not even because everyone in the auditorium rather worshiped the floor he walked or wanted him dead, well Dean supposed he fit into the latter category anyway but no,

It was the look.

Charlie walked into the private reception like he was at home. Shaking hands and laughing with those greedy fucking politicians, completely at ease in a room Dean had been trying to escape for the past hour.

He had that smile on too.

The one Dean had seen a million times on a screen. Polished. Practiced. Charming enough to make people forget that he bathes in privilege. Perfect, fucking perfect. That's what the smile was. It made him look balanced. Like he was this relatable dude.

Dean hated that smile, he hated that he knew the differences between his real one and his fake one.
He hated that he knew there was a difference at all.

"Jesus Christ."

The words slipped out under his breath. Against his will.

"Something wrong?"

Dean glanced sideways, catching Parker in his peripheral vision.
His friend was now watching him with the kind of expression that told him Parker knew exactly who he was watching.

"No."

Dean said a little too quickly.

"Well you've been staring at him for the last five minutes"

"Ive been glaring at every, self centred prick in here."

"Not like that, you haven't"

Dean turned back to the room.

Charlie was still surrounded by people, because of course he was.

A senator had one hand clapped on Charlie's shoulder now, laughing far too loudly at something Kirk had said. Someone was patiently waiting for his time. Not someone, a lot of someone's.

A camera flashed

Charlie didn't flinch, he just gave that god awful smile.
The fake one of course.

Dean's fingers tightened around his glass

"See?" Parker murmured.

"See what."

"You're doing it again."

"Doing what?"

"Watching him."

Dean finally broke the staring contest with Charlie's side and looked at Parker.

"I am not watching him"

Parker's expression remained painfully unimpressed.

"Are you aware that lying to your friends is generally frowned upon?"

"Im aware I have one annoying as shit 'friend'"

Parker merely repeated his works in a mocking tone, earning him a glare.

Dean just ignored him, taking another drink.

Another reporter praised Charlie Kirk.

"I hate this place"

"You've said that about 10 times since we got here"

"Still fucking stands, how can anyone support these dickheads? They are literally fighting to feed the rich."

"They'll listen to anyone who claims to better this tarnished country, since we're in a very vulnerable position. "

Across the room Charlie had finally escaped the senator, for perhaps thirty seconds he was alone.