Chapter 28

"Charlotte should be finished after this last question" Bella informs me as I continue to watch my girlfriend from backstage She's been out there for an hour and if I'm being honest, I miss her hugs.

I turn to face the woman and give her an appreciative smile before resuming my previous position of watching my girlfriend.

"Yes, you in the red shirt," the host says as they point to someone in the crowd Charlotte takes this time to sneak a smile my way which I chuckle at before I mouth the word 'focus'. She playfully rolls her eyes at me but obeys as she turns her attention towards the crowd.

I suddenly jump from the loud screams of the crowd just as the person in the red shirt finishes asking their question.

Jesus Christ.

Charlotte has a confused look on her face as the host smirks at this question.

Oh god.

This can't be good.

"That's a very interesting question," the host says with a mischievous tone of voice Charlotte glances at me with a questioning look but I just shrug my shoulders and pay attention to the host.

"They asked if you were seeing someone romantically, and if so, who?" He says with a clearly curious tone of voice I sigh at this.

Is this really all that everyone cares about?

Charlotte has answered this question multiple times.

I look at Bella who is glance between Charlotte and I with a worried look in her eyes.

"Should I?" I ask Bella I don't need to elaborate judging by the look on her face, one of sadness.

She places a hand on my shoulder, one that a mother would do before they tell you something that you don't want to hear.

"It's up to the both of you, you do what feels right" is all she replies as she steps away from me to watch all of this unfold I take a deep breath before turning towards my levelheaded girlfriend, she's smiling politely at the host but also giving me a questioning look.

Do not ask me how I can read her eyes.

This is it, Aspen.

After this moment your life is going to change, possibly forever.

I give my beautiful girlfriend a small smile before silently nodding my head.

She's obviously shocked by this judging by the way her smile almost falls and her eyes widen the slightest bit.

"Are you sure?" She asks me through the microphone, so that I can hear her I laugh a little at this as I nod my head again.

She smiles at this as she slowly turns towards the confused host, giving me time to still back out.

"Actually, I have been seeing someone for a while now," she replies which no doubt peaks everyone's interest in the venue Including some of the stage crew backstage.

The host makes a motion with his hand telling her to continue.

"A couple weeks ago I passed her off as my best friend, which she is, it's just that, that is not the full truth," Charlotte continues effectively putting everyone on the edge of their seats The host makes another motion telling her to continue.

I glare at him for this.

There is no need to rush her.

"Her name is Aspen and I've basically been dating her since we were thirteen" Charlotte says with a little laugh My heart softens at this.

Apparently, everyone else's does to judge by the way the crowd coos at her declaration.

"How is Aspen doing? Will we ever get to see her, again?" The host asks, clearly too invested in this to let her take a break Charlotte, not wanting to expose our business, just smiles politely at him.

"She's doing great, as for the 'will you ever get to see her, again', maybe" Charlotte replies just as I hear a stage director tell the host to end the interview The host is visibly upset that he cannot get a solid answer out of her but nonetheless professionally ends the interview.

"Well, it has been a pleasure to sit up here and get to know you better, Bellisa, I hope to do it again soon" he says.

-

"Hey, are you okay?" I ask a distant Charlotte She got off stage a few minutes ago and immediately enveloped me in a hug which I gave back.

After our short-lived private moment together, we made our way towards the lounge, which was surprisingly empty.

Possibly since everyone was running around trying to get people to their correct locations.

Charlotte's head is laying in my head while I stare at a random movie on the television.

"Yeah, just hungry" she says with an unconvincing tone I nod my head not wanting to stress her out. She's already been put under a lot of pressure today and I don't want to make it worse by forcing her to spill her feelings to me.

I like to personally think of it as abuse of power.

"What would you like to eat?" I ask her gently She has a distant look in her eyes as she sits up and begins to play with my fingers, a thing she used to do all the time when she was worried.

"A slice of pizza" she whispers lowly I nod my head at her and go to get up, so that I can grab a slice of the pepperoni pizza for her, only to be stopped by her swinging her leg over me and plopping her butt on my lap.

She doesn't meet my eyes as she presses our bodies together, non-sexually, and wraps her arms around my neck. In response I place my chin on her shoulder as I wrap my arms around her waist.

"I thought you wanted pizza" I whisper softly against her hair "I want you more" She whispers back as she relaxes further into me She sounds like she's trying to tell me something important.

I want to ask her what she means but someone knocks on the door, effectively cutting off my words.

"Bellisa, I've been instructed to escort you to the meet and greet" the stage director says "Do you want to come?" Charlotte asks me as she leans back enough to see my face "Yes" I reply without a second thought My main reason for saying yes is because my girlfriend seems very sad and worried, as if she's waiting for something.

I really hope that she tells me what's wrong soon.

I'm worried for her.

-

"Have a nice day" Charlotte says to the tenth person in the last five minutes "She doesn't look good" Bella comments from beside me as I continue to carefully watch Charlotte She's gotten worse.

Her hands are shaking, they have been since we left the lounge except it wasn't this bad earlier.

Charlotte suddenly grabs her head, as if it hurts.

"This isn't good" Bella says with a panicked tone of voice as she walks away to go get someone In the short time period, I notice that Charlotte's face is completely covered in sweat.

Oh, my goodness.

What is happening?!

That doesn't matter right now, I need to go get her before she gets worse.

I quickly walk out from behind a curtain that Bella and I were hid behind so that I'm revealed to the ginormous group of supporters.

Jesus Christ, this is scarier than I thought.

Everyone begins to scream and cheer for me but I try my best to ignore them as I make my way towards my suffering girlfriend.

When her eyes meet mine, she gives me a confused facial expression.

"Aspen, what are you doing?" She gasps out Great, she has shortness of breath too.

Why do I feel like I've seen these symptoms somewhere before?

"I'm taking you backstage, come on" I say as I gently help her out of her seat She doesn't refuse my help as I throw one of her arms over my shoulder and help her walk backstage.

"We'll be taking a brief intermission, please stay calm" Bella says loudly to the crowd behind me "Aspen" Charlotte calls my name weakly "Shh, save your breath" I say as her body becomes significantly hotter against mine She's overheating.

"Bella, can you get me a bowl of cold water along with a small rag, she's overheating" I say to Bella who immediately nods her heads "Aspen, what's happening to me?" Charlotte gasps out as I place her on the couch in the lounge "I'm not sure, but I think that you're having a panic attack" I reply calmly, hoping that it rubs off on her "Why am I having a panic attack?!" She freaks out breathlessly "Babe, I need you to calm down, try to slow your breathing" I say as I grab her overheated palm She's quiet for a moment, getting lost in her thoughts.

"Aspen, I'm scared" she says finally calming down "You don't need to be scared; panic attack is normal" I say only for her to shake her head She grabs my hand and interlocks our fingers all the while adorning a sad look on her face.

"I'm not talking about the panic attack" she gasps out I give her a confused look.

"Then what are you talking about?" I ask her "Us" she says "You're scared about us?" I ask her Why would she be scared about us?

"Yes," She says before slowly trying to regulate her breathing "Some celebrity relationships end up falling apart when they're brought to the spotlight, that's why I tried to hide you from the media until you were ready" she says quietly, struggling to get the words out because of her breathing I give her a gentle look at her confession.

This is why she was so sad earlier.

She thinks that Hollywood will tear our relationship apart like they did with multiple other couples.

"Charlotte, we are not them, we are Charlotte and Aspen," I say as I try to gain her full attention "Like you said earlier, we might take a break because of some stupid misunderstanding, but that doesn't mean that I'll love you any less," I continue "You're mine and I'm yours, I gave my heart to you for a reason" I finish, staring into her bright green eyes "Why?" She asks with genuine interest "Because I love you" I say which causes a smile to overtake her facial features "I love you too" she replies Her breathing seems to be getting better which is great.

"Now that we've solved that, how do you feel?" I ask her as I motion towards her head "It still hurts a little but it's nothing that I cannot handle" she says, determined to finish this meet and greet "If you go back out there then I need you to promise me two things," I say She makes a motion with her hand telling me to continue.

"One, you'll eat a doughnut so that you can get your energy up, and two, I get to sit beside you so that I can monitor you and help you if you begin to freak out again" I finish She gives me a wide smile as she nods her head at me. I release a breath of relief; I didn't even know I was holding.

"Great, pick a doughnut" I say as I grab the box of doughnuts off the snack table and hold it open for Charlotte.