Page 15 of Snapdragon

How dare he? I thought his smile was kind earlier, but now he just looks creepy. I place my hand over Sebastian’s on the table.

“Yes, we’re together. Not that it’s any of your business. And for your information, he’s a way better lay than any Human guy I’ve ever been with.

“Let’s go,” I stand, holding out my hand for Sebastian’s. We walk away before the man can respond.

Sebastian doesn’t address the incident as we wade through the crowd to leave. I’m getting kind of used to his silence at this point, anyway.

I’m relieved when we finally make it back to our car, my feet throbbing. Sebastian holds open the door for me, so I slide inside.

Disappointment rolls over me as Sebastian sits as far away from me as he can again. It feels like we’re back to square one. And you know what? I’m pissed. Matilda completely disappeared earlier as well.

I’m fuming, actually. I’m so mad at everyone right now. I definitely let myself feel the fantasy as if it was real tonight. It’s no one’s fault but mine.

Well, I’m done. If this is how Sebastian wants this to go, then fine. That’s exactly how it will go.

Chapter 8

Two Weeks Later

“The label has had some interesting feedback from the press.” Frank states.

“Go on then,” I encourage. I have been interrupted from my morning routine yet again. My vinyl certainly not playing, and my coffee going cold. My fuse with Frank has been getting shorter and shorter.

“Well, all of your dates so far have been to award shows and other red carpet events. There has been suspicion that your relationship is not even real.”

The fact that he says it like it’s a shock is absolutely hilarious.

“Well, it’s not real. So what do they need us to do next?” Obviously there's a great big plan incoming.

“It’s nothing crazy, Flora, relax. It’s a change of scenery that they’re looking for, that’s all.”

I run my hands through my hair, tugging on it.

“You’re going to meet with him this afternoon. Go for a walk in the park together. Trust me, it will be much easier than the dates you’ve been doing so far.”

“Fine.” I hang up. I don’t know how they expect me to be writing an album at the moment when I have to drop everything at their behest.

The easiest thing to do these days is just agree. I switch my phone to ‘Do Not Disturb’ and go back out on the balcony to finish my coffee in the sun.

Sebastian Orville and I have been on four dates now. Four. Each and every one of them has gone the same. He picks me up in the limo, we don’t talk until we’re at the event, and then he goes right back to ignoring me in the car again. I haven’t lost my mind again the way I did the first time. I’ve been matching his energy, it’s easier that way.

That’s such a lie, it’s getting harder each time. I’ve lost sight of why we’re even doing this now too. No one seems to be getting the message we set out for. I don’t get to see the media on the Monster side, but the Human side is pretty bad. I haven’t had any in-person confrontations yet, surprisingly. But the media online is portraying me as a traitor to my kind. Or at least, that’s what the big news channels are saying.

The smaller channels, the more art and music focused groups, have been so supportive. That has been lovely. People are coming out more and more to question why we are taught to hate like this.

I think of that side when I don’t feel like doing this anymore.

There’s also been talk from Fortune Records about setting up a studio that both Humans and Monsters will work from, right in the center of town, where both sides meet. I don’t know how much of that is true, but it does make me hopeful.

Who knows, maybe I’ll meet a Dragon Shifter there that isn’t a gloomy asshole.

Doubtful.

We follow our usual routine when the car comes to pick me up.

Silence.

I sigh, watching out the window to see where we are going. It looks like we’re heading to Center Park, a place where no one really even goes. Half of it is in the Monster side of the city, the other in the Human side.