Hunter and I ignore the paparazzi outside of the management building as we are escorted to the entrance.

Woah! They have tripled from the last time I was here!

"Thank you" I thank the guard before Hunter and I make our way towards the elevator.

-

Well...that was the most awkward elevator ride I have ever been in and we did not even say a word to each other.

"You have to wait out here, Nicole will have a field day if she sees you" I sigh

Hunter nods her head before making her way over towards a couch in front of the front desk.

I make sure to take note of this before making my way over to Nicole's office.

As soon as I reach the door I bring my hand up and down onto the door, knocking a handful of times.

I wait until the sound of Nicole yelling 'enter' meets my ears to enter her office.

I do not miss the way she briefly glances up from her laptop to see who was at her office door.

"Took you long enough" she scoffs

I remain silent as I shut the office door behind me and make my way over towards the couch in front of her large desk.

The older woman waits until I am fully sat on said couch to resume her speech.

"How irresponsible can you be, Delaney?!" She quietly yells at me, not wanting to alert the staff outside of the door of our conversation

"Not only did you get four photos of you leaked, but now I have people calling me all day asking me to comment or confirm if you and McKenna are 'secretly engaged' to each other!"

I continue to sit in silence as the older woman brings one of her hands up to her forehead where she uses her thumb and middle finger to massage the temples of her head.

"Luckily for you I used all of this attention to promote your tour in three weeks as well as deny that you and McKenna are involved with each other,"

I nod my head to show her that I am listening to her.

I refuse to tell Nicole that Hunter and I are actually involved with each other in some way.

Nicole would just target Hunter and her public image in hopes of getting the raven haired girl blacklisted.

I really like Hunter...maybe I even love her.

I could not let Nicole do that to her just because Nicole thinks that I am 'distracted' or that my relevancy will 'fade' if I am seen with the actress too often.

"I need you to stop hanging out with McKenna" Nicole's words knock me out of my head

My jaw goes slack at the words that leave her mouth.

"What?! No! Are you- excuse me?!" I speak for the first time after entering this room

I cannot help the utter chaos that falls from my lips.

Nicole seems to be taken aback by my response.

"Need I remind you that the public thinks that you're dating Wesley!" She grits out with evident anger

Clearly not if they are following Hunter and I around more than Wesley and I.

"You constantly being seen sneaking around with McKenna King is not helping that narrative,"

I go silent again. This time it takes everything in me not to tell Nicole what is really on my mind.

Nicole continues speaking when she realizes that I am not going to say anything.

"With that being said I have informed Wesley of your date tonight at six" she informs me

My eyes widen at this.

Date?!

"Why tonight?!" I say a little more panicked than intended

The older woman gives me an incredulous facial expression.

"Because you were photographed getting matching rings with McKenna a few hours ago!" Nicole actually yells this time

"The public currently speculates that you and McKenna are secretly engaged to one another!" The older woman motions towards the 'H' ring on my pointer finger

I tighten my jaw at Nicole.

I need to leave before I get unpleasant.

"Fine...whatever...I will go to the date" I say as I stand up from the couch

As I make my way towards the door I hear Nicole yell something out to me.

"It's at Appletree, dress accordingly" she warns.

Seriously?! A fancy restaurant! She could not have chosen something like a diner?!

I barely register Hunter following me as I practically stride towards the metal elevator.

-

"What's up? You've been unusually silent since your meeting with your manager." Hunter asks as she walks us over towards my couch

I sigh as I lean back against said couch.

"Nicole thinks that it is best if we stop hanging out together," I say with defeat

When I do not immediately hear her say something I reluctantly turn my head to face her.

I feel my heart break in my chest when I notice that she is not even looking at me.

"I am supposed to be making the world think that I am dating Wesley but due to all of the headlines about you and I that is not really happening" I explain further

Hunter is silent for a few moments as she stares off into space.

"Please say something" I whisper when she has not spoken for over a minute

She eventually surprises me by turning to face me, a smile making its way onto her face.

"I got it, we can just hang out together in secret,"

"Or at least until the paparazzi leave us alone" she voices

A smile of my own makes its way onto my face at her suggestion.

That is actually a really good compromise.

Nicole will be happy because there will be less headlines of Hunter and I, and I will be happy because Hunter and I will still be able to hang out together.

"Okay" I agree with her.

The raven haired girl's smile falls as she gets comfortable on my couch.

"What's wrong? Is it uncomfortable?" I quickly ask

An awkward laugh bubbles its way up her throat at this question.

"Actually...on the topic of our...um- relationship...I was hoping to discuss it" she awkwardly says as she begins to scratch the back of her head

"Oh-" the word escapes before I can stop it

I notice that this discourages the raven haired girl.

"Or we could talk about it later?" She suggests

I shake my head.

"No, we should lay everything out on the table before this thing goes any further" I voice as I get comfortable on the couch, turning my body to face her

"Okay..." the raven haired girl nods her head

She tucks some of her hair behind one of her ears.

"I'm sure you've noticed that there has been some obvious tension between the two of us since we almost kissed at your recording studio,"

I nod my head, silently agreeing with her.

"Ever since that... situation... we have sort of been tiptoeing along the lines of a relationship deeper than friends" she says

I nod my head, again.

"I would not use tiptoeing considering we got matching rings with the other's initial" I joke

The two of us laugh at said joke before easing back into a serious conversation.

"You're right, we more so jumped into it head first"

I try my best not to laugh at her analogy.

"Yeah" I agree

"Since we're already this far in don't you think it would be easier if we actually began dating?"

My entire body tenses up at the words that leave her mouth.

'She wants to date you? Is she okay?'

I am so overtaken with shock that I just continue to silently stare at the actress.

Noticing that I possibly seem uncomfortable Hunter sits up straighter in her seat.

"We could keep it a secret between us if that'll make you more comfortable" the actress suggests

I shake my head.

"No, it is not that" I finally speak up

The actress relaxes at this statement albeit confusion painting itself across her facial features.

"Then what is it?" She asks

I make the haste decision to reach out and grab ahold of her hands, allowing the warmth of them to consume my cold ones.

"I like you," a smile makes its way onto my face

"I really, really like you" I confess out loud

The actress nods.

"Yeah, I know" she chuckles

I hear a twinge of nervousness in her laughter.

"...But I'm just not in the right head space to date someone at the moment" I tell her

There is a short silence between the two of us.

Hunter eventually breaks this silence.

"I understand," she gives me a genuine smile

"I'm here if you ever want to get something off your chest" she offers

I smile at said offer.

"I will keep that in mind" I smile.