Zack woke up the next morning to find his phone buzzing incessantly on the nightstand.
He groaned, pulling the covers over his head, but the persistent vibration didn't stop.
Resigning himself to the inevitable, he reached for the device, squinting at the screen.
The notifications were endless mentions, tags, articles, all revolving around last night's premiere.
The headlines ranged from playful to ridiculous:
> "Hollywood's Hottest Couple Steals the Spotlight!"
"Who Is Kieran Knight's Mystery Man?"
"Fans Go Wild Over Zack and Kieran's Chemistry!"
Zack dropped the phone back onto the mattress, covering his face with his hands. He'd expected some level of attention, but this was overwhelming.
The whole world seemed obsessed with the idea of him and Kieran as a couple.
He sighed, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. The day was just beginning, and he already felt exhausted.
This is my life now, isn't it? Being reduced to "Kieran Knight's mystery man."
It's weird. I mean, I knew this was going to happen, but seeing it plastered everywhere like this? It's… a lot.
And the comments—God, the comments. People are actually debating if we're "soulmates" or if I'm just some "gold digger."
I don't know how Kieran deals with this every day.
By mid-afternoon, Zack was starting to feel a little more human. He'd spent the morning cleaning his apartment in an attempt to distract himself from the growing anxiety gnawing at his chest. It had worked, at least temporarily.
He was just about to sit down with a cup of tea and the latest episode of his favorite show when there was a knock at the door.
Frowning, Zack set the mug down and crossed the room, peeking through the peephole.
Kieran.
Zack blinked in surprise before quickly unlocking the door. "What are you doing here?" he asked, stepping aside to let Kieran in.
Kieran was dressed casually in a hoodie and jeans, sunglasses perched on his head. He looked less polished than usual, but there was something about the relaxed look that made him even more striking.
"Hey," Kieran said, offering a small smile as he stepped inside. "I needed a break."
"A break?" Zack repeated, closing the door behind him. "From what?"
"Everything," Kieran said, shrugging. "The press, the fans, Alicia's endless emails. It's been a day, and I figured… why not come hang out with my favorite fake boyfriend?"
Zack rolled his eyes, though he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips. "Right. Because I'm the epitome of peace and quiet."
Kieran chuckled, flopping onto Zack's couch like he owned the place. "Exactly."
I didn't think he'd ever actually come here. I mean, he's a celebrity—shouldn't he have a million other places to go?
It's… kind of weird seeing him here, in my tiny apartment. He doesn't look out of place, though. If anything, he looks more comfortable than I am.
Zack stood awkwardly for a moment, unsure of what to do. "Uh, do you want something to drink? I've got tea. Or water. Or, like… orange juice."
Kieran raised an eyebrow, amusement flickering in his eyes. "Orange juice? Fancy."
"Hey, don't knock it," Zack said, heading to the kitchen. "It's quality stuff."
When he returned with a glass of orange juice, Kieran accepted it with a grin.
"Thanks. So, what were you up to before I barged in?"
"Just… existing," Zack said, sitting down in the armchair across from Kieran. "Trying to pretend my life is normal for five minutes."
"How's that going for you?" Kieran asked, taking a sip of the juice.
"Not great," Zack admitted, leaning back in the chair. "The internet is… a lot."
Kieran nodded, his expression softening. "Yeah. It can be. But it'll die down eventually. The media always moves on to the next big thing."
"Easy for you to say," Zack muttered. "You've been doing this for years. I'm just some guy who accidentally ended up in the spotlight."
"You're not just some guy," Kieran said, his tone suddenly serious. "You're… you."
Zack frowned, confused by the shift in Kieran's demeanor. "What does that mean?"
Kieran hesitated for a moment, then shrugged, his easy smile returning. "I mean you're handling it better than most people would. You're tougher than you think."
Why does he keep saying that? That I'm tougher than I think?
I don't feel tough. I feel like I'm barely keeping my head above water.
But when he says it… I almost believe him.
They fell into a companionable silence, the sounds of the city outside filtering in through the window.
For a moment, Zack almost forgot who Kieran was—forgot about the cameras and the reporters and the fake relationship. It felt… normal.
Too normal.
"So," Kieran said suddenly, breaking the quiet. "What do you do for fun? Like, when you're not fake-dating celebrities."
Zack snorted. "I watch TV. Read. Try to survive my day job. Nothing exciting."
Kieran grinned. "Come on, there's gotta be something. Hobbies? Hidden talents?"
Zack thought for a moment, then shrugged. "I used to play guitar. Haven't touched it in years, though."
"Why not?"
"I don't know. Life got in the way, I guess." Zack glanced at Kieran, curious. "What about you? Any hidden talents?"
Kieran smirked. "I'm pretty good at keeping secrets. Does that count?"
Zack laughed, shaking his head. "Not really."
"Well, I guess I'll have to find something else to impress you with," Kieran said, his voice light but his eyes lingering on Zack a moment too long.
Zack felt his cheeks flush and quickly looked away. "Good luck with that."
What was that? Why is he looking at me like that?
This is fake. It's all fake. He's just being charming because it's his job.
Right?
They spent the rest of the evening talking, laughing, and sharing stories about their vastly different lives.
For the first time since the fake relationship began, Zack felt like he was seeing the real Kieran—the one who existed outside of the glitz and glamour.
And that realization scared him more than anything.
By the time Kieran left, Zack was more confused than ever. The line between their act and reality was starting to blur, and Zack wasn't sure he could keep pretending if things kept going this way.
As he closed the door behind Kieran, Zack leaned against it, exhaling slowly.
"Get it together, Zack," he muttered to himself. "This is just a job. Nothing more."
But deep down, he wasn't so sure anymore.