Begin the love

"Alright, the judges have finally decided, and your 7 finalists are..." an announcer was speaking out as the lights dimmed and spotlights, 7 of them were roaming around to finally land on 7 people,who will reach the top. (Y/N) and Sky were one of them.

"Yes!" (Y/N) said enthusiastically, and she saw, looking around, that Lyla was beaming at her.

"Alright, folks, next week will be the finals. Who will win? Tune out..." The announcer said, and finally, they were able to leave. People were swarming (Y/N) who knocked them off their socks with that enthralling performance. In fact, some people remembered her deal in the X factor and being a pop star albeit not worldwide famous.

"Fanstar, did you auditioned at X-factor?" a male asked.

A female exclaimed "You were scouted out and made a few rock songs!"

"Even recorded with that singer, Taylor Swift, right?"

"I heard if your song 'Guilty' at YouTube! It was great!"

"It's a wonder that you aren't famous yet!"

"So, is that why you are here: make yourself famous?"

"You are surely going to win!"

"I-I...?" (Y/N) said in front a mass of people. She wasn't the only one hounded but she was the worst of the lot.

"Oh, you people, give her some space, will ya?" someone said, as he approached her: Sky.

"Hey, the finalist Sky Berg! The great ventriloquist: I've heard that Simon Cowell called and wanted his dignity back!"

Sky performed a few ventriloquism of famous people and a bit...

"Yeah, who said that David Williams and Simon Cowell will marry? That will be so..." Someone said, and laughed which multiply along.

A bit ludicrous.

"What's your relationship with Fanstar?"

"Are you a couple?"

"Don't be-" (Y/N) started, but Sky interrupted her.

"Of course we are! So, please get out of the way and leave us in peace. We have... stuff... to do."

With that, everyone suddenly backed off as Sky purposely led (Y/N) away to the entrance. Out of view, (Y/N) immediately shoved Sky back and looked at him in pure indignation.

"Couple?! No way in... and the rumors... WHAT WERE YOU THINKING?!" (Y/N) shouted instead.

Sky let out a slow grin, "I thought if I said that we were a couple, maybe they would leave you alone. Look how right I was."

"Yes, but please don't go spouting anymore nonsense! In fact, think of how I feel!" (Y/N) shouted.

Sky looked slightly blank for a while, before raising up his hands and saying, "Fine, fine, I understand."

(Y/N) controlled her anger and said in a more calm voice, "It's just that I hate when men take advantage of women like that, saying they are in love when they are not. Give me some freedom, cha?"

"Take advantage of you?" Sky asked slowly.

"Uh... that slipped from my tongue. Bad experience, sorry," (Y/N) said hastily. She didn't mean what she said, but after her last ex-boyfriend, she became more cynical to men, but she had the sense to be open minded. They are not all that bad, she chided to herself.

"Hmm... where's Lyla? Where are the others?"

Sky scratched his head, "No idea."

(Y/N) checked her phone and dialed Lyla, she immediately picked up.

"Hey, what's up, girlfriend? Have fun with your hang out?" Lyla chirped.

"Hang out?" (Y/N) asked.

"Oh... you see, the guy who drove us... August? He said that he and his friends treated you to his cafe for lunch and you accepted. In return, I get to ride with Jaspar back home. You got into the final, you might as well have some fun."

"Wait, what? Since when did August and the others wanted to hang out with me?" (Y/N) asked in astonishment.

"Wait, they didn't? Umm..." Lyla didn't know what to do in this situation. "Well, I assume they were going to tell you later," she said in a playful voice, "So, how 'bout it? It's not like I can bring you around anyway."

(Y/N) felt blank. She didn't know what to do either.

"I'll find the other guys, especially August. If they wanted to hang out with me, the least they can do is give me a good time!"

"Ahh... have fun, OK? After this, you will be training non stop for the final. Your superstar image must shine, you know, and a pack more fans as well..." Lyla said.

(Y/N) groaned and killed the call. She looked at Sky with muddled eyes.

"What?" he asked.

"Let's find the others," she said and walked back inside.

Sky tried not to be annoyed, it might take some time for her to like him back. But he really hoped that she wasn't seeing any of the others...

Sky went in after her, keeping close.

It wasn't long that they found the others. She took one look at August and asked bluntly, "So you wanted to hang out?"

August smiled and the rest seemed surprise. Could she...

The rest gave a brief look of hatred towards August but (Y/N) was to set for August's answer to even notice.

"So Lyla told you?" August asked.

"Well yes. What's your plan?" (Y/N) asked. When life gives you lemons, make some lemonade.

"Wait, since when did you have a date with (Y/N)?" Eli asked, shocked.

"D-date?" (Y/N) spluttered, "What are you talking about? Lyla told me that we were all hanging out together, or was that-" she said, narrowing her eyes at August but was cut off by Dan.

"OF course we are hanging out together! It's almost lunchtime, so how 'bout we go to the cafe and get to know each other?"

(Y/N) was looking shrewdly at Dan as he hastily said, "As a way of congratulations to you and Sky! Otherwise I wouldn't bother."

"'K," (Y/N) said but was still looking suspiciously at Dan, "But first I'll go to the loo and freshen up."

"And I'll come with you," Henry said, but (Y/N) saw by the light of his eyes that it wasn't anything good.

"No," (Y/N) said testily and left, for all 6 boys to be glaring at each other.

"What were you planning to do?" Archie asked coldly.

"Why? I wanted to hang out with her, is that wrong?" August asked with a smirk.

"Don't think it will work, she is mine. I met her first," Eli said.

"We will see, won't we? But the number of fans at her side..." Archie said.

"Worried she will be stolen?" Sky asked.

"Won't happen. That girl's too skeptical," Dan said.

"But imagine Angel being sullied by others..." Henry sighed.

The others' look darkened.

"Temporary truce until she completely depends on us and all the nuisances go away?" Archie asked.

The rest all nodded slowly, but Sky said, "If she wants to be with this awesome self along the way, don't get mopey."

"Not if I get her first," the others said.

"Hey, did I miss something?" (Y/N) asked as she came back to an intense discussion. The others demeanor instantly changed and smiled at her.

"Absolutely nothing. Let's go to my place and you can try my new masterpiece!" Eli said.

"Your new masterpiece? Please tell me it's dessert!"

Eli laughed, "You never change, of course it's dessert. I know you love sweet things, but it's gonna be a little bit salty."

"Ah well... as they say, there's no such thing as inedible food," (Y/N) said.

"Exactly," Eli said, and looped her arm as they walked to the exit.

The others trailed behind with jealous looks aimed at Eli...

***

"Mmm... it's delish! But one word, tone down the salt, give it a slight salty aftertaste, not a mixture of sweet and salty, you know? Less is more, you see?" (Y/N) said after eating caramel ice cream with BBQ sauce.

"Got it," Eli said, who was sitting across her.

The 7 of them had arrived at the cafe and was sitting at the circular table. Eli gave her his creation while waiting for their food to arrive.

"I still don't understand how you can take this type of food. You are pretty weird," Dan sighed.

"And who isn't weird, Hitler?" (Y/N) teased.

"You!" Dan said.

"You have something on your chin, Angel," Henry said, who sat next to her.

"What?" (Y/N) made to move her hand there, but Henry got their first and licked her chin. He slowly brought his lips closer to her mouth but she pulled away.

"Nice try," (Y/N) said, with a scowl.

Henry sighed, "It's not like I didn't try..."

The others were enraged of Henry's bold move but glad that (Y/N) rebuffed him. Then, this made them think it was hard to conquer her after all.

"So... (Y/N), you want to hang out at some other time?" Sky asked.

(Y/N) laughed, "What? I'll be so busy that I probably won't have time..."

"Busy?" Sky's smile slipped. Busy of what?

"It's not easy being a pop star," (Y/N) said with a smile.

'Yes, but all your time... all your time was supposed to be filled with moments of me,' Sky thought.

"Hey, the food's arrived," (Y/N) said as she ate happily at her sandwich.

Everyone chattered happily about mundane things, then (Y/N) feeling full, said she was going to call up Lyla and go home.

"I had a good time. See you later?"

She will definitely see them later.