✫✫✫

The past few days, in my most honest opinion, had been very uneventful.

Contrary to most rising singers, I didn't post another cover of a song or whatever most rising singers do on YouTube. I ignored the text and calls of the talent agencies who gave me offers and I refused to get interviewed by shows.

Hey, don't blame me for hating the popular life. It isn't as fun as you think.

Sadly though, Paul didn't have the same perspective as I did. And so he decided to confront me on one fine Saturday afternoon.

"What are you doing here?" He barged through my room without a single thought and glared daggers at me.

I glanced at him before continuing to read Allegiant. I popped a popcorn in my mouth. "I'm reading. Can't you see?"

"No, I mean what are you doing with your life?! People have been asking me when on earth you'll show yourself to the public and I can only reply them with the words 'I don't know'! I can't believe you're letting this opportunity pass! It's been two weeks, Gigi! Two freaking weeks!"

I rolled my eyes. "I'm perfectly aware of what's happening, bro. They'll all get over me soon, don't worry."

Before I could pop another popcorn in my mouth, Paul snatched my bucket away from me. "Do you even know what you're saying, Gigi? Stop taking this lightly! If I were you, I would get my butt out of my pajamas and start trying to get famous!"

I took the bucket back and gobbled as much popcorn as I could while I spoke. "Is that really all you think of me? A money maker-slash-breadwinner? As far as I know, you're the one who posted a video of me singing, not me. I never asked you to. So if you want me to be famous, do it yourself. I'm not gonna do something I don't wanna do."

He was about to reply when we heard the doorbell ringing. He gave me an 'I'll get back at you' kind of look before leaving the room to open the door.

Tss, brothers. They just don't get it.

I tied my hair in a bun before reading again. By the time I was in the part where Tris was telling Caleb that she never wanted to leave Tobias (wherein my eyes began to swell), abrupt knocking interrupted me.

"What is the matter now?" I grumbled as I walked towards the door. "First he barges into my room without a bit of shame, then he suddenly wants to knock like a decent person. Did he suddenly have a change of heart?"

Paul's head filled the tiny space between the door and it's frame, blocking the view from outside. Full anxiety etched his face. "We have a problem."

"Yeah. Your face is in front of me."

He narrowed his eyes before taking a deep breath. "Just shut up, alright? This is a major problem, Gigi! You won't want to come out of this room once I tell you, trust me."

I scoffed. "As if I would listen to you. I've had enough pranks in my life to know if you're lying or not."

"This is serious! If you get out you-"

"Oh shut your big mouth, Pauly-wolly. It's not like paparazzi is inside my house to take pictures of me." I stretched the door wide open to prove my point.

And flashes of light blinded my vision.

✫✫✫

I squirmed nervously in the corner of the living room while Paul tried to calmly convince the twenty or more photographers and reporters to come another day for my 'interview'. Apparently, when Paul answered the door minutes ago, they all shoved their way inside and started taking in my abode like it was a museum. Taking photos of furniture and picture frames included.

"Can you please just set an appointment another time? We're sort of unprepared right now." I heard Paul plead with the crowd.

Unprepared is an understatement. Those photographers snapped shots of me wearing Barney pajamas and my fluffy Baby Bop slippers!

"But Mrs. Vloski told us to meet the rising star here because she wanted to properly introduce herself today!" One reporter argued, clutching tightly on her company microphone. The others gave similar protests.

Hold on, Tracy did this? Tracy 'Mother Gothel' Miriam Vloski? The Tracy?

I saw Paul's eyes widen before he replied. "I'm sorry but she really isn't available today. She's-erm-sick. Yep. Very sick."

All of them looked at me, making me squirm all the more, and they made protests again.

"She looks perfectly fine!"

"Stop making up excuses will you?"

"Just give us an interview!"

"She's not coughing or sneezing, so I don't see the problem!"

Geez. These people are so persuasive. I guess their bosses probably promised to pay them big if they get to snag some info from me.

On the corner of my eye, I saw a red jellybean lying behind one of our family picture frames. Completely bored and hungry, I picked it up and swallowed it whole.

Big mistake. I could feel myself turning red while I threw a coughing fit. I wrapped my hands around my neck and tried to spit the jellybean that was stuck in my esophagus.

"Oh my gosh look at her! She's so red!" One of the reporters yelled. Immediately, the crowd did what they had to do.

They snapped shots of me.

"Stay in that angle!"

"A little to the left! There, that's it!"

"Keep doing that miserable face!"

"Stop moving around so much! It's getting blurry!"

"This is going to 9gag, I'm telling you."

Paul groaned before pulling me away from the center of attention. I was brought to the kitchen and he handed me a glass of water before calling out to the paps. "Can you please just leave now? I promise you, we'll set an appointment with you guys soon. Just not today. You can leave your numbers somewhere here and we'll contact you."

A series of mutters and shuffling was heard from the living room before we heard the front door creak. In a matter of five minutes, the door slammed loudly.

We both looked at each other and sighed.

"This is one of the reasons why I don't like becoming famous." I said.

He looked at me before bursting out laughing.

"What?" It took me a lot of staring at him before he stopped guffawing at my face.

He smirked. "Your photos will probably end up online."

✫✫✫

At dinner, everyone in the house was present. Including the evil witch and dad.

We all ate in silence, munching on dad's signature dish, carbonara pasta. Nobody seemed to want to be disturbed from eating. Well, except maybe Tracy. She looked bothered.

"So... How's work, dad?" I asked with my mouth full of pasta. Unlike other families, it was always the children asking how their parents' days went in our house.

Dad smiled at me. "It was good, Melle. The restaurant was overflowing with customers."

"I bet lots of girls got charmed by your presence again, huh?" Paul joked, in which he earned a glare from Tracy.

Dad only laughed, his eyes cheerful like Paul's. "I don't know, of course."

"Oh I bet you did." I teased.

He blushed like the total oaf he is. We all laughed, except the witch.

"Paul," Tracy said, changing the subject. "You should probably take your father's place once you graduate. You can be the new manager."

Paul laughed uneasily. "Tra-Mother, you know I can't do that. Gigi is going to take over. She's the one good at finances. I'm more of a computer geek person."

"But I can see so much potential in you! Besides, I think Gigi would be too preoccupied with her singing career in the future."

There was silence.

"Singing career? Since when did Gimelle learn how to sing?" Dad asked, eyeing me curiously.

"Who cares? Lots of talent agencies are giving her offers, you know that? I bet she'll be famous." Tracy said a little too enthusiastically.

Dad tilted his head. "Really? Why didn't you tell me?"

"I didn't think it was important." I mumbled. "I don't wanna be famous anyway."

"You should see the stacks of phone numbers awhile ago! They were-" I gave Paul a hard stare to stop him.

Tracy's eyes lightened. "Oh, they already came here? Did you have an interview, Gimelle?"

I shook my head.

She frowned at me. "Why didn't you have the interview?"

"Meh." I shrugged.

"You know that sooner or later, you'll have to pursue that, right?" She asked sweetly, but her eyes said otherwise.

Dad looked at her. "Don't be silly, Tracy. Gimelle doesn't have to do something she doesn't want to do."

"But she will do it for us, won't you Gimelle?" Her eyes were daring me to say no.

I looked at Paul.

He looked at me.

I nodded stiffly. "Of course."

✫✫✫

asdfgjfjfjkdkxxjdjjd I'm so so so so sorry this took so long. And I'm sorry if it sucks and you expected better after a long wait.

Oh btw, I'm making Emma Roberts play as Gigi Vloski. And Nicholas Hoult possibly as Paul. I'm still thinking about it.

Did you like the new front cover? Huh? Huh? Do ya? ^-^

Yeah I know, it still sucks.

xoxo

~Naf ♡