Wonderful Tonight

I walk into the restaurant wearing my darkest shades and pour myself a strong coffee. I grab a private table and sit down. Before I can rest my thumping head in my hands, AJ and Kevin join me.
“You look like shit,” states AJ.
“Gee, way to make me feel better,” I mutter.
“How much did you and Nick drink last night?” he chuckles.
“Too much.”
“You’re tellin’ me. I’d be shocked if there’s any alcohol left in Nevada!”
“Ha ha. We weren’t that bad,” I defend.
“You were!” says Kevin angrily. “I mean, you got MARRIED. That’s pretty bad…”
“Uh, we didn’t actually.”
“We saw you two running past with some guy in an AWFUL shirt yelling you’d got married,” says Kevin.
“Hey, I liked that shirt,” says AJ.
“That was a joke,” I say. “Nick paid that guy $50.”
“He did?” Kevin looks relieved. “That was a crappy joke but I’m glad it was one!”
“Yeah,” I laugh half-heartedly with them as Nick joins us with a mug of coffee.
“Nick, you did a crappy thing to us last night,” says Kevin seriously as Nick winces. “But I’m real happy now that Starr told us!” Kevin laughs and claps Nick on the back.
Nick’s eyes widen and he looks at me in shock. I can tell he thinks I’ve told Kevin we got married and I start shaking my head as passionately as my hangover will allow behind Kevin’s back. I notice AJ giving me a weird look and I stop.
“I heard it’s the best way to clear a hangover,” I explain quickly.
AJ raises and eyebrow. “And is it?”
“No,” I groan and drink some coffee.
“Uh, you are?” Nick asks Kevin cautiously.
“Of course! It’s great news!” exclaims Kevin. “I mean don’t get me wrong, I think you and Starr make a cute couple but gettin’ married?” He laughs and Nick joins in relievedly. “It’s way too soon for that stuff! It took me eight years.”
“Ha! Yeah…” Nick agrees throwing me a pained look.
“And you’re both too young,” continues Kevin. “And the FANS… Jeez, I remember all the problems ya last girlfriend had and that wasn’t even a serious relationship.”
“Yeah… Exactly,” says Nick faintly.
“So, does your head hurt too?” AJ changes the topic much to our relief.
“Kinda… A lot,” Nick admits.

I’ve just finishing packing my case when there’s a knock on the door. I open it and grin at Nick.
“Hey, come in. I’m just packing my stuff cos we’re on the road right after the show right?”
“Uh, yeah. We are,” he follows me inside. “Uh, Starr… I think maybe we should give each other a little space ya know.”
“Oh,” I sit down on the bed and look at him. He’s examining his shoes. “Ok.”
“Yeah, cos this is just kinda crazy. I mean we hated each other and then we pretend to date and we end up sleepin’ together….a LOT… And now we’re married… It’s crazy.”
“We’re not gonna stay married though,” I say.
“I found this website and if we stay married for six months we can get a no-contest quick divorce.”
“Ok,” I say for lack of a better word.
“So… We tell the guys we split up?”
“Yeah, sure,” I stand up and grab my bag. “We were never together.”
“Exactly!” he grins and follows me into the hallway. “I knew you’d agree with me Starr.”
“Yeah,” I press the elevator call button.
“So, we stay away from each other for a while and get our heads straight and stuff and then…”
“Nick,” I interrupt as I step into the elevator. “This space thing? I’d really like it if we could start now.”
“Oh. Ok. Sure,” he backs away as the elevator doors close and I sigh.
I feel really weird. I’m not sure why. We only ever PRETENDED to date. I mean, sure we kissed and stuff but that started as show and then carried on due to lust. Kissing Nick and having sex with him was fantastic, but that’s all it ever was. There was nothing deeper. We never talked about our hopes, our fears, our dreams or ourselves. I know him intimately and yet I hardly know who he is at all. So why do I feel like my heart has just been ripped out?

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