"What is this?!" Shouted my sister, Carly when I got home. She threw the morning paper down in front of me and placed a hand in her forehead. "I can explain..." "You better!I don't care if he's popular, famous and rich, there is no way I am letting you partake in this little charade you two have going on." "It's not a charade." "Then what is it? Since he debuted I haven't seen you take any interest in him! I took you to that damn concert and this is how you repay me?!" "It's not how it looks! There's no way I would ever want to be in a relationship with such a jerk! But he offered a proposal to me. He said he would help mom if I posed as his girlfriend or whatever. Mom... I did this for mom Carly! Mom might get better..." "Mom's not getting better! Mom is dying!" She shouted. "She's not!" "Why won't you just accept it already? She's sick. She's going to die and then it's going to be just you and me. Do you understand?" "She'll get better." "Just stop! She's not getting better! So cut it out already!" She shouted and she left the front hall and ran into her room, slamming the door behind her. I dropped to the floor. Mom would get better. With better treatment she would be fine... I was sure of it. But somehow the tears just kept flowing from my eyes. She couldn't die... not when both Carly and I are still in school. I would pray for her wellness and pray that I would not fail my end of the offer with Dante. I couldn't afford to risk the life of my mother. ~~~~~~<><><>~~~~~~~<><><>~~~~~~~ "All they're talking about in the news is you," said Jessica the next morning. "I know. It's super irritating. But what I don't understand is why celebrities need to attract south attention. I mean they're normal human beings but with a talent." "I agree." "Yet they think they're above the rest and feel the need to bribe innocent sixteen year old girls," I said in a low voice. "What do you mean?" "Nothing. I'm talking to myself." Jessica only nodded and she smiled at me. "Let's go for some coffee before school!" She said and she looked at her watch. "We still have an hour before class." "Sure," I responded. I could use a small break. When we entered the coffee shop, I noticed eyes trailing me. I merely tried to hide behind Jessica. "They're looking at me aren't they?" "Yes." "Can we leave?" I asked. I was beginning to feel uncomfortable. I frowned and looked at all the eyes on me. "Let's just order coffee, we don't need to eat in though," she said and she flipped her hair over her shoulder. "Okay..." "Why are you here?" I looked up to see a girl about my age. She looked pretty angry. "Excuse me?" "Shouldn't you be with your boyfriend?" She asked. "Well... I have school," I said quietly. "It's not like I can see him all the time." "What the hell kind of girlfriend are you?! You talk as if you don't care about him! But there are lots of girls like me who would do anything just for him to look at us!" "I'm sorry..." "Do you even care? Or are you playing him?" "Of course she loves him!" Intervened Jessica. "He is her boyfriend after all. I don't think this girl has the guys to be able to play someone." "Yes. I love him," I seconded. The girl looked at the ground and turned. She walked back to her table of friends and sobbed. Her friends consoled her. I sighed. Would people keep coming up to me like that? "What was that?" Asked Jessica. "That was weird." I only nodded. I was so far regretting taking his offer. But I had to wonder... when was I to see him again?