Disclaimer: I do not own Shugo Chara or any of its characters.
I hope you enjoy.
Their Paid Girl
Chapter 1
"Yes, I understand, but are you sure you want to do this?"
I shrugged carelessly. "It's my job."
Nikaidou-san then grasped my hand tightly and shook it. "It's a deal, then."
I sighed, dropping onto a blue velvet coloured couch. "Hey, Rima."
Rima handed me a cup of hot chocolate without a word. I smirked at her knowingly. "And that's why you're my best friend."
She simply nodded at me, managing a small smile. "How's the new job, Amu?"
"Well," I sighed, taking a small sip of the warm, chocolaty goodness. It slid down my throat like heaven. "It's another rich, stuck-up jerk." I frowned. "They do pay the most money for this, though."
"Who's it this time?" She asked, genuinely concerned for me. I smiled. I didn't have many friends because of my job, but I had Rima, and that was enough for me.
"I can honestly say I've never heard of this guy." I confessed, placing my mug onto the table. "It's some big-shot violinist, I think. I forgot his name." I bit my lip sheepishly. "But he's in for it because he's being harassed by fan girls. They just need someone to direct all the hate and attention onto." I nibbled my bottom lip harder.
Rima hit my mouth painfully with the back of her hand. "Stop that."
I obeyed. For a small girl like Rima, she sure packs a punch when she got into it. But ouch, I almost bit my tongue. I stared resentfully at her.
She heaved a huge sigh, rubbing her temples slowly. "If you really hate this job, go find another one."
"You realize I have absolutely no qualifications to work anywhere else with a salary of higher than two hundred dollars." I muttered. We have had this conversation a dozen times, but I'd always won. I couldn't rely on Rima forever.
"Yeah, I do realize. But really, Amu. The last time, you got fired because of that Tadase singer's jealous girlfriend who tried to scratch your eyes out, and there was once you almost got mugged in an alleyway by crazy, overly obsessed fans. Mugged, Amu!" She all but cried at me.
Yeah, that's true too. Well, that was my job. To put it simply, I worked as a fake girlfriend. For celebrities willing to pay big cash for people to stop harassing them, or to act as a cover-up for their real girlfriends, or once, even to dissipate a rumour that the said celebrity was gay. All the hate and attention would be diverted to unimportant little me, and the celebs would have a happy ever after.
Who would love my job? It was one thing to get close to celebrities; that was fun, if they were nice, which was not often. It was another to get thrown insults and degrading terms at; if I was unfortunate, maybe even objects. It hurt. Whore, slut, bitch, were mainly the terms used. Girls hated me for who I was. I didn't like it. Not one bit.
"Can't help it, Rima." I sighed. "I got over it a long time ago. It's my job." I lied through clenched teeth. My job for the rest of my life, most likely. I wouldn't even be able to have a steady boyfriend, let alone a husband.
Her eyes were filled with sympathy. "Come on, Amu. It's late. Let's go to bed instead." She knew I hated talking about it. I hated to be pitied.
"Alright," I agreed. I had to meet my fake boyfriend the next day, anyway. "Goodnight, Rima."
She clambered onto the bed beside mine. We had been sharing a dorm in Seiyo High boarding school for two years. While she worked part-time as a gag magazine writer, which surprisingly earned her a lot of cash, I was busy holding hands with celebrities who had girlfriends. Which explained why most of my jobs ended with a slap.
I fell into a deep, uneasy slumber.
"Hello, nice to meet you. I'm Amu." I beamed, my face already aching from putting up that facade from the moment I arrived at the small restaurant. "And you are?"
I had even dressed up a little for this occasion. I wore a navy dress with a lacy white bodice which hugged my body from my waist upwards, leaving the rest of the knee length fabric to flow downwards freely. I had on blue pumps instead of my usual high-tops, and had left my pink hair in a casual plait up to my mid-back. I even borrowed a small black clutch purse from Rima and hung Gucci sunglasses at the top of my dress. I went light with the makeup though, I hated to put gloop on my face, but it usually paid off to make a good impression on your bosses.
I stared expectantly at the stony faced man in the corner booth opposite me. He had his arms folded across his chest. So this was the supposedly renowned violinist. He had dark blue shaggy hair and was decked out entirely in black with blue edges. He had a cross necklace, although it was probably more for a fashion statement than religious purposes. As far as I had heard, he marched to his own beat. I wasn't able to see his eyes as he had shades on, and had not once looked up to face me whatsoever since he arrived.
He stayed silent. I was growing irritated. So he was going to be one of those silent, stuck up types, huh? Well, I could play that game just as well as he did.
"I'll introduce myself, then." I continued, as if he'd answered me, tapping a manicured finger on my lip. "Let's see, I'm part of a team of intergalactic creatures from the planet Screw You, who are here to help terminate all beings who are deemed too conceited for the good of human civilization." I ended my speech with a pointed look at him.
That did it. The corners of his lips slowly curled upwards, and he finally looked up at me. Wow. His eyes were practically azure blue. I could understand the meaning of breathtaking now. They sparkled with slight mischief as he let out a throaty chuckle.
"Wow, you're a feisty one, huh." His voice was slightly husky, as his deep coloured eyes bored into mine.
"I guess I am." I traced my upper lip with my index finger. "And you're an obnoxious one, huh." I replied with equal tone.
"Touché," He grinned slightly. "You're not so bad. Ikuto Tsukiyomi." He stretched his hand towards me.
"Amu Hinamori." I replied just as coolly, shaking his hand with equal vigour.
"I'm sorry for my behaviour earlier on," His honesty surprised me. He was being a gentleman now. "I just, you know, thought this was another fan girl in disguise, or someone whoring herself for cash." His nose wrinkled slightly. "I don't even know why you would do this, though, get out of here while you can." His last words were so fast and soft-spoken I could hardly decipher them. I frowned; his behavior was confusing me.
I then realized what he said and a pang of hurt shot through me. "Why'd you even go through with this then? Why'd you even bother to meet me?" I retorted a little too angrily. No, I was getting too sensitive. My job only allowed me to accept what others were tossing at me; not throw it back at their face, however much I wished I had the guts to. I didn't even know why I got so worked up over an often heard comment.
He sighed heavily. "It was my manager's idea. Believe it or not, I almost got violated after my last concert." He ran a hand between his blue locks. "I really mean no offense to this... career choice, Amu. Besides, I wasn't going to let any girl be stood up, crazy chick or not."
"Thanks, I do appreciate how you portrayed me there." I smiled sweetly. I had to put up my facade now, get on with business.
"Look, may I have your phone, please?" I held out my hand as he stared blankly at me and obediently put his sleek blackberry into my grasp.
"Thanks," I said, programming my number into his and sending myself a text. "Alright, here you go."
"What?" He still looked confused.
"I need your number for future fake dates, smart one." I stated without looking up, still punching his numbers under the same contact I use for my, um, business partners: FBF. For fake boyfriend, if you didn't realize. I snapped my phone shut abruptly, "Okay, so now that we're done here, and it seems you're okay with having me, send me a text whenever, and I'll see you, darling."
I slid out of my seat, nodding to acknowledge him of my leave, and swept out of the room, leaving him stunned. Not even a minute later, my phone buzzed in my clutch. I'll be seeing you tomorrow. The screen read.
Please review to tell me what you think of it. I would really appreciate that. Thanks for reading!
- J