Page 28 of Becoming Cinderella

“What do you mean you didn’t kiss? The proof is right here. How could you keep this from me? Did you sign an NDA or something?”

“No Penn, I didn’t sign an NDA.” I look at her pointedly, like she should know better. “He gave me a peck on the cheek. Come on, of course I would tell you if I kissed Liam.”

“Well from where I’m standing, you also didn’t tell me he gave you a kiss on the cheek so I’m not sure what to believe.”

I don’t answer her as I do a quick Google search of Liam and see all the major gossip sites have the picture posted, all with a similar headline of asking who Liam’s leading lady is. I know they’re going for the alliteration, and it is catchy, but how long until someone discovers the girl in the photo is me? Will I have paparazzi waiting outside my house for a photo?

People want to be famous. They want the spotlight and the perks that can come with it. But currently with my face online for all to see, I’m not so sure that’s a life I can deal with.

I’ve been exploited. My face posted everywhere without my consent like I’m not an actual human being with feelings. Is this feeling of hopelessness and loss of control one Liam and other celebrities get used to? Or just one they learn to live with?

“My parents!” I turn to Penn, wide eyed. “Do you think they’ve seen this? They’re going to freak out, right?” I hope she’ll tell me it’ll be fine, but instead she gives me a firm head nod.

I hurry downstairs to find my parents sitting next to each other at the kitchen table, my mom’s clasped hands resting on top of the table.

I let out a deep breath, trying to release the dread that’s building up inside of me as I brace for the conversation I’m not going to be able to avoid.

“I’m going to go.” Penn says, escaping the wrath of whatever fate I’m about to be delivered.

I turn at watch her go with slight betrayal, then I look back to my parents.

“Come sit down.” My dad gestures to the seat across from them.

I drag my feet to the table and dump my body into the chair. Based on Mom’s stiff posture and Dad’s tight facial expressions, I’m going to take a wild shot here, and assume they’ve seen the photo.

“Carter, the other week I told you that you shouldn’t be spending time with Liam.”

Okay, yep. They’ve definitely seen the photo.

My dad slides his phone across the table towards me, the photo pulled up on his screen.

“This is you, right?”

I don’t say anything. I can’t even look at them. I just stare at the photo.

It really does look like we were a camera shutter away from a full fledge kiss. It makes my stomach dip a little just thinking about it.

“Carter,” my mom says and I finally look up at them.

“Yes, it’s me.”

My dad pulls his phone back towards him.

“I told you that Hollywood isn’t a scene we want you involved in.”

This isn’t fair. If Liam was the neighbor across the street they would absolutely adore him. But because he came from Hollywood, he’s automatically a bad guy.

“We don’t want you seeing him anymore,” my mom says, her eyes unwavering.

My jaw drops. Not in an overly dramatic way, but legitimately in shock.

“Are you serious? He invited me to his movie set, not to get matching tattoos!”

I turn to face my dad, hoping I can get through him instead. “Dad, come on.”

He shakes his head, not wanting to hear what I have to say.

“So what, you’re forbidding me?” I let out a humorless laugh. “You can’t be serious.”

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