c h a p t e r ~ 16

                                    

                                          
Rachael glanced at the screen and i saw her come over on the couch next to me. She could see the fear in my eyes.
                          
"Oh god." she said.
                          
"Oh god is right." I said. My eyes closed due to both embarrassment and shame.
                          
"Don't worry, nobody knew it was you." She said, but that wasn't the problem. The problem was that it was somebody.
                          
I sorted through the facts and organised all the thoughts swarming my head.
                          
If i was a fan who didn't know about the situation, i would see that there was a lipstick on Carson's face. That was a fact. I would also know that somebody had kissed him, bt wouldn't know who.
                          
It could easily be his girlfriend, his mum, a close friend, or...
                          
"Rachael!" i said with a shock of excitement. "Can i ask you a favour?"
                          
"Sure thing, what can i do?" Rachael asked.
                          
"I need you to send a tweet saying that you kissed Carson on the cheek before the show or post a picture with the lipstick! You two are like family, so it wouldn't even matter that you kissed his cheek."
                          
It would make sense if Rachael had kissed Carson on the cheek before the show because they are so close. It was the first thing that i could think of, and it might actually have a chance of working.
                          
Rachael's face lit up as she understood what i was asking. "That's a great idea!" I handed her the lipstick and she put some on and then snapped a picture. Her fingers tapped her phone screen and then she turned her screen to face me when she was done.
                          
"All set." She said. 
                          
The tweet read 'maybe i shouldn't be giving friendly kisses when i'm wearing bright lipstick'
                          
"Genius, thank you so much." I said.
                          
Carson comes off stage for a second before another intro in a minute, we should go over there and let him know what's going on so he doesn't screw up." Rachael said.
                          
Without saying anything, we both shot out of our seats and ran to the stage. Surely enough, Carson was walking off stage.
                          
"Say Rachael did it." I said when he was within earshot. Rachael showed him the tweet. I didn't have to even tell Carson what i was talking about for him to understand. He nodded.
                          
"That was close, Thank you Rachael." Carson said, while Rachael was srubbing his cheek to get the lipstick off.
                          
"I'm so sorry." I said.
                          
"We need to be more careful, okay." He said.
                          
"That's good enough." Rachael said, and then Carson bounced back on stage.
                          
I couldn't help but feeling my heart sink. I knew that he was shaken and rushed, but i felt like he was a bit mad at me, the way he said it.
                          
 i looked at the floor and Rachael put an arm around my shoulder, reading my mind
                          
"he's not mad at you, he could never be mad at you," she said, and took my hand to walk back. "Before you first told me you and Carson were together, Carson told me you were just good friends, but i did think that Carson had a crush on you. I can tell by the way he looks at you. He always has. Every time that you're with him, he's a happier person. He really loves you."
                          
I smiled and closed my eyes, holding back my rush of tears.
                          
"Don't over think," she added. I took a death breath and Rachael pulled me in for a hug. "How's the baby?"
                          
"I'm about 8 weeks," I have my first proper ultrasound when i get home."
                          
"So exciting!" She said, rubbing my arm. "You'll be showing soon."