Chapter 51

A week later and Mel found herself sprawled across the bed, Christian holding her close to his side, his lips placed gently on her shoulder.

“Big smiles!” a voice called from in front of them.

Focusing her eyes at the lens, Mel smiled a cheesy grin and the camera flashed.

“OK next!” the photographer called and yet again they were bundled into the “changing area” to get dressed into yet another outfit.

This time they were out in the small garden, Mel dressed in a pink strappy dress and Christian in a white suit.

“You guys look amazing together,” the photographer called out as they posed, him standing behind her, his arms wrapped tight around her waist.

She had to smile when he said that, it was true, they did look amazing, like the perfect couple.

“OK, now let’s see that baby bump.”

Mel’s heart stopped, she had almost forgotten that the photo shoot was all about the bloody baby.

“There isnt much of a bump to see,” she said quietly as the photographer got Christian to place his hands around her stomach.

“mmmmmmmmm, there isn’t is there?” he said, coming closer to her and examining her. She felt like some kind of animal at the zoo, waiting to be gawped at, turning towards Christian instinctively she buried her head in his chest and felt his hand lay on her head protectively.

“I’m sure we can do a different shot,” Christian said firmly.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” the photographer said and repositioned them so that they were face on.

Forcing herself to get back into the swing of things, Mel forced another big grin and managed to finish the photo shoot without any drama.

Now she just had to get through the interview. It was lead by a female journalist, who, unlike the man in the bushes was lovely and friendly, Mel warmed to her immediately. They answered questions about how they had met, their relationship and then moved on to the baby, if anything Mel was quite enjoying it, what person didn’t love talking about themselves.

“This is so beautiful,” the journalist enthused as she read back through her notes, “It’s like a fairytale, Popstar falls in love with fan.”

Mel smiled at her – that’s exactly what it was, an amazing fairytale.

“Did you always fancy him Mel? Was he your favourite in the band?”

Mel blushed, “yes,” she admitted.

The journalist clapped her hands together enthusiastically.

“Do you think you’ll ever end up getting married?”

“May be one day,” Mel answered, noticing that Christian had begun to struggle with the questions slightly.

“And how much do you mean to each other?”

Mel took one look at Christian and answered immediately, “I love him so much.”

“Christian?” the journalist prompted.

“She means a lot to me,” he said simply and getting up he moved away, making it clear to everyone that the interview was over.

It took a good half an hour for Hello to clear up their equipment and then Christian and Mel were left on their own.

“You OK?” she asked him in concern, moving towards him and putting her arms tight around his waist.

“Yep,” he said a little too quickly.

“That means no.”

“Just hate interviews,” he said simply.

Then making his excuses he left and went up to bed.

Mel was left down in the living room, pacing the floor racking her brain for answers, the whole situation was not right. Her and Christian were still sleeping in separate beds, and while they did they would never be a proper couple. Christian still hadn’t said that he loved her, even though she found it hard not to blurt it out to him every single time she saw him. He never really told her exactly how he felt about her or what was going on with their relationship – all she wanted was a closeness and it wasn’t happening.

“What’s wrong with me?” she said out loud as she paced the floor faster.

She looked down at her body as she walked, “may be I’m not pretty enough?” she asked the walls around her.

“I must be thinner,” she told herself firmly, walking faster and faster.

“Fun,” she continued.

“And sexier”

“I must be everything he’s ever dreamed of.”

Running out of energy she collapsed to the floor and lying face down on the floor sobbed into the carpet.