Zack leaned against the kitchen counter, staring blankly at his half-finished cup of tea.
The house was quiet—too quiet—and the weight of the previous night's events was still pressing down on him.
Alicia's words replayed in his mind like a broken record.
"You're not just playing a part anymore."
She was right, of course. Zack could feel it every time Kieran looked at him, every time they shared a moment that felt too real to be part of the act.
But what scared him most wasn't Kieran's feelings—it was his own.
The sound of muffled voices pulled Zack from his thoughts.
He glanced toward the living room, where Kieran was sitting in front of his laptop, headphones on.
"Right, so we'll keep it casual," Kieran was saying, his tone warm and professional. "Just a quick check-in for the fans. Nothing too serious."
Zack frowned, curiosity piqued.
He knew Kieran had interviews scheduled this week, but he hadn't realized one of them was happening tonight.
Kieran caught Zack's eye and waved him over, pulling off his headphones.
"Hey," Kieran said, motioning for Zack to join him. "You don't have to hide out in the kitchen, you know."
"I wasn't hiding," Zack said, though the defensive tone in his voice betrayed him.
Kieran smirked, clearly not buying it. "Uh-huh. Well, come sit with me. This'll only take a few minutes."
I should say no. I should go back to my room and let him handle his interview without me getting in the way.
But then why am I already walking toward him?
Zack hesitated for a moment before sitting on the edge of the couch, just out of frame.
Kieran adjusted his laptop, giving Zack a reassuring smile before clicking to join the video call.
The screen lit up with the cheerful face of a reporter, her background decorated with promotional posters of Kieran's latest movie.
"Kieran! It's so good to see you," the reporter said brightly.
"Good to see you too, Mia," Kieran replied, his charm dialed up to its usual dazzling level.
The interview started off as Zack expected—questions about Kieran's career, his upcoming projects, and the challenges of balancing work with his personal life.
Zack tried to tune it out, focusing instead on the warm mug in his hands.
But then Mia's tone shifted, her smile turning playful.
"Okay, Kieran, we have to talk about the elephant in the room," she said. "Your new relationship! Fans are obsessed with you and Zack. What's it like sharing your life with someone outside of the industry?"
Zack froze, his heart skipping a beat.
Oh no. No, no, no. Please don't drag me into this.
Kieran glanced at Zack, his expression softening. "It's been great," he said smoothly. "Zack keeps me grounded. He's the perfect balance to all the craziness in my life."
Mia's eyes lit up. "That's so sweet! Is Zack there with you now?"
Zack's blood ran cold. He looked at Kieran, silently pleading for him to say no, but Kieran's grin only widened.
"Actually, he is," Kieran said, turning the laptop slightly to include Zack in the frame.
Zack's mind went blank as he found himself staring into the camera.
"Hi," he said awkwardly, giving a small wave.
Mia laughed, clearly delighted.
"Zack! It's so nice to meet you. Fans have been dying to know more about you. How are you adjusting to all the attention?"
Zack's throat went dry, and he shot Kieran a look that said help me.
Kieran chuckled, stepping in before Zack could panic. "He's handling it like a pro," Kieran said, his tone warm and reassuring. "But I think he'd agree it's been a big change."
Zack nodded mutely, grateful for Kieran's intervention.
Why does he always know exactly what to say?
And why does it make me feel like I can breathe again?
The interview wrapped up quickly, with Mia thanking them both for their time.
As soon as the call ended, Zack let out a long breath, sinking back into the couch.
"Warn me next time," Zack said, glaring half-heartedly at Kieran.
Kieran laughed, setting the laptop aside. "You did great. They loved you."
"Yeah, well, I think my soul left my body halfway through," Zack muttered, though his lips twitched into a small smile.
Kieran's expression softened, his usual teasing replaced by something more genuine.
"I wasn't kidding, you know," he said quietly. "You really do keep me grounded."
Zack looked at him, caught off guard by the sincerity in his voice.
"I don't know about that," Zack said, his voice just as soft. "I feel like I'm barely keeping myself together most days."
Kieran shook his head, his gaze steady. "You don't give yourself enough credit.
You've handled all of this way better than I ever expected."
Zack swallowed hard, his chest tightening. "Why does that matter to you?"
Kieran hesitated, then smiled faintly. "Because you matter to me."
There it is again. That feeling, like the ground is shifting beneath me.
I want to believe him. I really do.
But what if I'm wrong?
The air between them grew heavy, the unspoken tension crackling like electricity.
Zack opened his mouth to say something, but the words caught in his throat.
"Get some rest," Kieran said finally, breaking the moment. "You've earned it."
Zack nodded, standing up on shaky legs.
As he headed to his room, his mind raced with questions he didn't know how to answer.
The line between fake and real was gone, and Zack wasn't sure if he was ready to face what came next.