The only thing that I could hear around me were cameras flashing and people talking loudly. I'm used to all of this, but what I'm not used to is sitting through a press conference. Tonight is the first time I'll be sitting through a press conference with my best friend/music partner, Jase aka Garfield. There's really no significance to Jase being called Garfield. It's just a nickname that our peers started to call him in high school and he quickly adopted the nickname as a stage name. We're been best friends since we were young and we both decided to start producing music together when we were eighteen and out of high school. We're both currently twenty one right now and I guess you can say we're pretty much famous all across the U.S. now. Our stage name is Simon & Garfield, but we also go by SG. Even though we've been doing this whole music business for four years, I still get a bit nervous when I have to talk in front of people about myself. Jase, however, doesn't really get nervous at all. He's pretty much laid back and I admire that about him. I wish I can be as laid back as him and not worry about having my foot being stuck in my mouth. Jase tries to be a good friend by comforting me and telling me that things will be alright when we're up against the media, but I still get really nervous and have butterflies in my stomach.
Being up against the media isn't the only thing that makes me have butterflies in my stomach. Jase makes me feel that way too. I started to have feelings for Jase towards the end of our senior year of high school. At first, I wasn't sure if I should tell him since I knew that there was a possibility of us growing apart after we graduate, but when Jase came up to me and told me he wanted to make music together, I was ecstatic and knew that I could continue to try and pursue my feelings for him. The tricky part is that it's kinda difficult to tell him my feelings. Not because I'm afraid of him rejecting me, but because now that we're famous, there's always paparazzi's hanging around us, wanting some dirt. What if I confess or try to kiss him and some paparazzi sees us and takes a picture? Then everybody would think we're together or would think that I'm stealing him from some chick.
Since we became famous, we've had a lot of fans. Most of them love our music while others have crushes on us. I'm not sure how Jase feels about dating or relationships. All I know is that in high school, he said he didn't really care for them since high school relationships never last and they always hurt, but now that we're out of high school, I'm not sure what his feelings are now. Even if I told him my feelings and we both decided to go out, it'll be pretty difficult to hide it from the media.
I took a deep breath as I stood at the doorway that led out to the press conference room. I peeked out and noticed that there were a lot of cameramen preparing themselves to take pictures and reporters sitting in seats, having their pad and pen ready. I quickly licked my dry lips then I looked up to see Jase heading out to the table where we'll sit at to answer questions from reporters. I took another deep breath and nodded then I made my way into the room, feeling the heat of the lights on my skin and I blinked as I saw cameras quickly flashing.
Once me and Jase sat down at the table in front of everybody, I glanced over at everybody in the room then I looked over at Jase, seeing how calm and collected he looks. I tried to look the same so everybody wouldn't smell fear on me. Then, Jase tapped lightly on his microphone before speaking.
"Hello. My name is Garfield and this is Simon in case none of you know and we make up the group Simon & Garfield or SG if you will. We'll gladly answer any question you throw at us." He calmly said with a small smile then sat back in his seat.
I smiled softly as Jase spoke calmly to the reporters. I knew I wasn't going to be able to do it so I'm glad he did. Then suddenly, a bunch of reporters stuck up their hands and shouted, wanting to ask their question. Jase pointed to one and the reporter dropped his hand then began with his question.
"You guys have been in the music business for awhile now. Do you think you have any haters?" He asked.
I heard Jase chuckle before he answered the question.
"I'm sure we do. When it comes to being in the music business or any business, there's always going to be haters. What me and Simon do is just ignore them and continue with our music. That's what we care about the most." Jase explained.
I looked at him and smiled, liking Jase's answer and I liked how calm he was being. The reporters raised their hands again and Jase pointed to a female. She dropped her hand then asked her question.
"Garfield, there's been some rumors about you and Simon dating. Are they true?" She asked.
Suddenly, I started to feel my heart racing in my chest then I slowly looked over at Jase, wondering what his answer is going to be. Part of me hopes that he'll confess his feelings about me, but another part just hopes that he'll avoid the question altogether. I noticed that Jase was smiling softly, still looking calm. It's pretty difficult to read him and I really wished I was able to read him right now to see what he's going to say.
"I've heard those rumors too and I would like to clear something up. They're definitely NOT true. Me and Simon are just friends/partners. We're both in no relationship together. Our partnership is strictly business." He explained.
For some reason, each word that Jase said, it was like a dagger to my heart.
So, that's how he feels then?
Then again, Jase is probably only denying our relationship because he doesn't want the media to know. Though, is it really true that our partnership is strictly business only? I still felt a bit broken up as I sat back in my seat and sighed, completely forgetting that the cameras were there.
"Simon, what do you think about the rumors?" The same reporter asked me.
"Huh?" I said, blinking my eyes.
Realizing that she asked me a question, I quickly composed myself.
"Oh...um...well..."
I really didn't know how to answer her. I know it's easy for me to just repeat what Jase said and tell them that our partnership is strictly business only, but part of me doesn't want to say that. I kinda want to tell people about my feelings for Jase which might be only one sided anyways.
"Um...What J- I mean Garfield said is true. Our partnership is strictly business only. Our personal life is for us to know only. Though, there's not much..." I quietly said at the end.
I looked at the reporter, wondering if that answered her question, but her facial expression showed that she was a bit skeptical about my answer.
"Simon, you hesitated when trying to answer my question. Why? Is there really nothing going on between you and Garfield?" She asked suddenly.
I opened up my mouth to quickly explain why I hesitated, even though I don't have a clear answer, when Jase quickly jumped in to defend me.
"Simon was just nervous about the question. This is our first press conference after all. And anyways, like he said, our personal life is for us to know only so we'd appreciate it if none of you asks us about our personal life again." He firmly said.
I slowly looked over at Jase, a bit surprised to see that he defended me right in front of everybody. Then again, I shouldn't really be all surprised since we're best friends, but still. I'm just really glad he did. I finally looked back at the reporters and took a deep breath, ready to answer more questions and hoping that they aren't personal.
ns3.128.78.139da2
