Page 64 of Becoming Cinderella

Where do I even start?

“I never hid in a garbage can to try to meet you!” I blurt out. “I never tried to sell your used water bottle. I don’t even have one of your used water bottles, because frankly that’s gross. I’m not trying to create a gossip blog, or already run one. I’m not trying to sell your personal information or have taken secret pictures I’ve been sharing online, or whatever else those articles are claiming. Just like the photo that made it look like we were kissing, it’s not true. You know me Liam. You have to know I wouldn’t do those things.” Maybe I’m blabbering, that I’m just spewing out words now, but I’m desperate for him to see. For him to believe I’m telling the truth.

“You’re telling me they’re made up? Every single thing they’re saying?” Liam raises a single eyebrow.

“Well…” I trail off. I guess not everything they’re saying is a lie. They do have screenshots of my Twitter account after all.

Liam shakes his head and takes a step back like he’s going to close the door on me.

“Liam! Wait. Please.” Faster Carter. Talk faster.

“I was,” I shake my head and correct myself, “am a fan, okay? Of course I am, you’re Liam Taylor!” I gesture towards him. “You’re in my favorite rom-coms and the most popular movies in the world right now. How is one not a fan?”

Liam gives me a small eye roll but I keep going before he can say anything. Or leave.

“But that has nothing to do with spending time with you. You started out as Liam Taylor, sure. But over time, you just became Liam. You were never a way for me to get my fifteen minutes of fame. Think about it, what have I done that would prove that?”

“You lied to me.” He answers without hesitation, his tone flat.

“I didn’t lie!” My voice rises with my panic and frustration because he’s not hearing me, not really.

“You didn’t lie? You never led me to believe you weren’t a fan?” He runs a hand through his hair. “I was so stupid. This is why I don’t trust people.” Liam won’t look at me, and I just want him to meet my eyes, to know that I’m telling the truth. Except when his eyes finally find mine, he scans my face like he’s looking for the girl he thought he knew.

One who wouldn’t hurt him.

I don’t think I can hate myself more than I do right now. Why didn’t I just come clean? I could have been like, ‘by the way Liam, I know you think I’m not a fan but actually, you’re my favorite actor. I sometimes tweet about how your face could be the key to world peace.’

Oh, that’s right. I never said anything to Liam because I was desperate to date a guy who was never even interested in me, and who I’m no longer interested in either.

“The tweets were real. I’m embarrassed by them, okay? It’s not like I ever thought you’d see them.”

How would I know tweeting silly fangirl things would end up hurting him or that reposting his latest photoshoot pictures would make me out to be a creep?

“Everything else in those articles are a lie.” My voice is shaky, sounding as unstable as my body feels. I want to step back and lean against the wall for some support, but I don’t want to put more distance between us.

“You know what was real? I liked you Carter.” He lets out a humorless laugh. “Like, you were the first thing I thought about when I woke up and the last thing I thought about when I went to bed. How’s that for cheesy? But it’s true. I found myself counting down to our dance lessons because it meant I got to see you. I was even trying to think up the perfect ways for you to swoon Jared so that you’d be happy, even though it started to kill me.”

My stomach twists at this confession. Not with butterflies though, but like his words have pierced a knife straight into my gut. It hurts to hear his words because they’re no longer how he feels. He liked me, not likes me.

“And I really like you.” Unlike him, I don’t use the past tense, because that would be just another lie. Although I think I’m past just liking him.

Liam takes a single stride out into the hallway so his face is inches away from mine. “Stop lying. Please.” His words aren’t harsh, but broken, as he steps back and begins to pace a few steps down the hall. “I told you things I’ve never told anyone. I trusted you, and you couldn’t even be bothered telling me anything that was true. I opened up to you, something you know is hard for me to do, but you’ve been just like everyone else. You don’t like me for me, you like me for my fame.”

Ha. If only he knew I’m not even supposed to be in the same room as him due to his fame.

“I’m not lying, Liam. Last night after rehearsal? I went and told Penn how much I like you. After that I went to talk to Jared and-”

Liam raises a hand to stop me. “I’m sorry, Carter, but I just can’t hear anymore. I hope you and Jared live happily ever after.” Liam steps back to his door and I know I have to say the thing that scares me the most.

“The only happily ever after I want is with you.” My voice cracks as tears begin to slide down my cheeks. I want Liam to reach over and wipe them away, to tell me everything is going to be okay. But one look at his face and I know it isn’t going to be.

Liam looks hurt and conflicted as he glances up at the ceiling and then, in a blink, there’s nothing. His hurt expression is wiped before an expression of cool and distant takes its place. “I’m not your Prince Charming, Carter, and you’re not my Cinderella.”

My heart shreds in my chest as his name falls from my trembling lips. “Liam,”

“Just go. I don’t want to have to bring security back out here.”

“I’m sorry. I really never meant to hurt you.” I’m barely able to get the words out with the emotions that seem to be blocking my throat.

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