Beyond The White Charade

ngement. "A little media attention here and there, but nothing overwhelming," he said. And here I was, Ry

trance, when boom, the paparazzi actually had awaited us. But i thought i was just seeing several flashes for the same time. Nothing would be strange here in a co

ns might provide: "Are you two really dating, or is this just another PR stunt?" shouted another. Que

meone so much older, Emily

oke into a run. But I knew he was tense. As we moved past the crowd

but with a tone that held no trace of uncert

pared for all this. The thirst of the media for scandal, for drama, became suffocating. But even with all the focus on

of the security guards stepped forward, ushering us ins

g in my chest. Outside noise faded into a muffled h

past me into a private booth in the back of the restaurant. Inside, though, I fou

th while we got settled into th

rief, amused smile. "Intense? That was just a taste.

ening in surprise. "Wh

plained. "They'll follow us. They'll want more pictures, more questions. It's al

ere a couple not... like this," I said under my breath,

leaned back in his chair, maki

we are to make people believe we are a couple, the media is going to be all over us. Scrutini

d almost feel the weight of th

ublic, for the media, for the entire world watching us and waiting for fissures to develop.

wever, we shall see. Have to be careful what we say, how we

r control, but something in his eyes told me he wasn't as calm as he put out to be. M

ed edge of my napkin. "It feels like... like everything is being watched. It's not

ingers brushing mine. For just a moment, perhaps, I could read in his eyes the softness of a man, th

l they will see: a woman who dates someone like

hand, and again, I o

feeling more vulnerable than I ever

But I'm here, Emily. I've been doing this for a l

al, but I couldn't seem to shake off the feeling that every word I spoke was being ana

untouched food before me. The conversation between Ryan and me

urant and stepped outside. The

snapping at us the second we stepped out, but this time I was ready for it.

ver questions, trying hard with the same en

asking, "Is this relationship goin

w. Things

olled off his tongue in such a casual fashion. He wasn't lying, n

his voice was steady. "We have been togeth

omplicated little arrangement - one that po

nother voice, and I turned

be with someone so mu

uth dry, but Ryan was quick with an answer, his tone nearly

wasn't sure I was ready for this - being seen, dismemb

and allowed his hands to hover on the

ice came, more to himself than m

t shake off the feeling that we were both on the cusp of becoming something we were

longer I could keep up the facade b