Zack shifted uncomfortably in his seat as the car rolled to a stop outside the towering venue.
Bright lights flickered outside the windows, reflecting the frenzy of camera flashes and the hum of excitement from the crowd.
The movie premiere was in full swing, and the sea of fans and reporters lining the red carpet was far larger than Zack had ever imagined.
He swallowed hard, wiping his palms on his pants as the car door opened.
Kieran stepped out first, immediately greeted by a wave of cheers and the click of cameras. He turned back toward Zack, holding out a hand with a reassuring smile.
"You ready for this?" Kieran asked, his voice smooth and confident, as if they were just about to take a casual stroll.
Zack stared at the outstretched hand, feeling his heartbeat speed up. Ready? How could anyone be ready for this kind of chaos? The crowd outside was roaring, and all Zack could think about was how this was his first real test. He was about to fake-date a movie star in front of the whole world.
But there was no turning back now.
With a deep breath, Zack took Kieran's hand and stepped out of the car.
Oh god. There are so many people. This is insane. I didn't think it would be like this.
Everyone's staring at us. At me. I'm going to trip, or say something stupid, or—
Okay, breathe. Just smile. Smile and walk.
Kieran seems calm. I need to be like Kieran. Cool and composed. Like I do this every day.
The second Zack stepped onto the red carpet, he was hit with a wall of sound—people calling Kieran's name, the blinding flashes of cameras, and reporters shouting questions from every direction.
The chaos swirled around him, but all Zack could focus on was keeping his face as neutral as possible.
Kieran, on the other hand, was in his element. He waved to the crowd, flashing that same charming smile that had made him a Hollywood heartthrob. With one arm still loosely around Zack's shoulders, Kieran leaned in slightly and whispered, "Just follow my lead. You're doing fine."
Zack nodded stiffly, but the smile he managed was more of a grimace.
He was pretty sure he looked like a deer caught in the headlights, but there wasn't much he could do about it now.
Kieran had a schedule to stick to, and Zack had to be his convincingly affectionate "boyfriend" for the next couple of hours.
As they moved down the carpet, stopping for photos along the way, Zack tried his best to mirror Kieran's confidence.
He kept reminding himself of what Kieran had said earlier: all he had to do was smile and let Kieran handle the rest.
But that was easier said than done when every reporter seemed to be eyeing him like a predator ready to pounce.
"Kieran!" one of the reporters called out, waving a microphone. "Over here! Can we get a quick interview with you and your new boyfriend?"
Zack's stomach dropped. He wasn't sure how he felt about being referred to as Kieran's boyfriend, even if it was just for show. But he didn't have much time to dwell on it, because before he knew it, Kieran had steered him toward the reporter, smiling like this was the most natural thing in the world.
Oh no. Interview? I didn't sign up for an interview. I thought this was just a photo op!
Keep calm, Zack. Don't panic. You can do this. Just follow Kieran's lead.
Kieran greeted the reporter with an easy smile, one hand resting lightly on Zack's back in a gesture that, to anyone watching, seemed perfectly natural. "Of course," Kieran said smoothly. "What would you like to ask?"
The reporter, a young woman with a beaming smile, leaned in eagerly.
"Everyone's talking about your new relationship! This is the first time we've seen you two out together. How's everything going? Are you excited about this new chapter in your life?"
Zack's heart pounded in his chest, and for a split second, he froze, unsure of what to say. But before the silence could stretch too long, Kieran stepped in, his voice warm and playful.
"Things are great," Kieran said, glancing at Zack with a smile that seemed so genuine it nearly threw Zack off. "We're really happy. It's been an amazing time for us."
The reporter's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "Zack, how does it feel to be dating one of the biggest stars in Hollywood? You must be over the moon!"
Zack blinked, his mind scrambling for something, anything to say that wouldn't make him look like a complete idiot.
But as he opened his mouth, the only thing that came out was a half-nervous laugh.
"I, uh… It's… definitely surreal," Zack managed, praying that he sounded more confident than he felt. "I never imagined I'd be in this kind of situation."
Kieran chuckled softly, giving Zack's shoulder a small squeeze, as if to say, Relax, you're doing fine. "He's a little shy about all this," Kieran said, winking at the reporter. "But that's one of the things I like about him."
Is he for real? He's acting like this is nothing, like we're some cute, normal couple. I can't believe he's able to keep this up so easily.
I guess this is why he's the actor and I'm… well, not.
The reporter laughed, clearly charmed by Kieran's casual demeanor. "Well, you two certainly make a lovely couple," she said, glancing between them with a grin. "Best of luck! We'll be keeping an eye on you."
As they moved away from the cameras, Zack let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding.
The whole thing felt like an out-of-body experience—like he'd just been acting in a movie without a script.
"That wasn't so bad, was it?" Kieran asked, his hand still resting comfortably on Zack's back.
Zack shot him a sideways look. "Speak for yourself. I thought I was going to pass out back there."
Kieran chuckled, giving Zack's back a gentle pat. "You did great. Trust me, it'll get easier the more we do it."
Zack wasn't so sure about that, but he nodded anyway, not wanting to seem ungrateful.
After all, Kieran had been right so far. Zack hadn't completely embarrassed himself in front of the world—yet.
They made their way toward the entrance of the theater, where the crowd was starting to thin. Zack could feel his muscles finally relaxing, the tension slowly ebbing away.
He wasn't sure if he was cut out for this kind of thing, but at least he'd survived the first event without making a total fool of himself.
As they stepped inside, Zack caught a glimpse of Kieran out of the corner of his eye. Despite the chaos outside, Kieran looked completely at ease, like he had everything under control.
He makes it look so easy. Maybe if I stick with him long enough, I'll figure out how to fake it as well as he does.
But can I really keep this up for six weeks? I feel like I'm in way over my head.
As they headed toward the VIP section of the theater, Kieran glanced at Zack, his expression softening for a moment. "Hey," he said quietly, his voice just loud enough for Zack to hear. "You're doing great. Seriously."
Zack looked up, surprised by the sincerity in Kieran's tone. For a second, it didn't feel like an act. It felt like Kieran was genuinely trying to make sure he was okay.
"Thanks," Zack said, his voice just as quiet. "I'm just trying not to mess it all up."
Kieran smiled, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "Don't worry. I've got your back."
Zack felt a small surge of relief at Kieran's words. Maybe, just maybe, he could get through this. With Kieran by his side, things didn't seem quite as impossible as they had before.
But even as they took their seats and the lights dimmed, Zack couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning. The real challenge was still ahead.