Reality Show Ruin: Breaking the A-Lister's Heart

My phone screen flared to life, an Instagram DM popping up. Sender: The internet's reigning A-list superstar. True identity: The ex-boyfriend I blocked five years ago.

My iCloud account is locked. Help me get the two-factor authentication code.

I let out a dry scoff. My thumbs flew across the glass screen without an ounce of hesitation. "Switched to Android."

The untouchable superstar replied instantly. "?"

I stared at the blinking chat bubble and typed. "Sure. Venmo me fifty bucks for emotional damages first."

The chat went dead for two seconds. I tightened my grip around the phone and jabbed the send button again. "Forty-nine bucks! Not a single cent less!"

Chapter 1

The scammer was broke. He didn't even Venmo me a single cent in the end. He even tried to bluff that he was on a livestream. I blocked the account without a second thought.

The next day, however, I woke up to find a hashtag trending at the very top of X: DeclanFirstLove.

Unfortunately, that first love was me. Was I about to get doxxed?

I had been in the entertainment industry for five years and still possessed the star power of a literal nobody. No matter how you looked at it, it seemed like a D-list has-been trying to leech off the A-list superstar, Declan.

Seriously, it had been five years since we broke up. Why not dig into his ex, or his ex before that why dig up his first love? It wasn't until I clicked the trending hashtag that I realized I brought this entirely on myself.

Turns out, the guy DMing me on Instagram yesterday was actually Declan. And he was, in fact, on a livestream.

He lost a game and pulled a penalty dareDM his first love and say: "My iCloud account is locked. Help me get the two-factor authentication code." I figured I blocked him five years ago, wouldn't he know that? It had to be a scammer.

Who would have thought

Thank god he blurred out my username and profile picture. No one recognized me.

I tapped the comment section under the hashtag, my thumb hovering slightly before I forced myself to scroll. Surprisingly, the vibe was peaceful. No digital bloodbath like I imagined.

[Massive bounty. Whoever can dig up this woman's Instagram in three minutes gets my money!]

[I want to date this woman. My mom will never have to worry about me getting scammed again.]

[Declan: Is no one going to speak up for me?]

[Am I the only one who cares about who the superstar's first love actually is?]

I'd advise you to dial back that curiosity. Right as I was bracing for the worst, the internet narrative suddenly shifted.

Declan and the current IT girl, Ruby, were dominating multiple trending spots. They operated in different circles, but both were the hottest A-listers in the industry right now.

[DeclanFirstLoveIsRuby]

[DeclanAndRubyBackTogether]

[DeclanIsObsessedWithRuby]

[Declan has only ever had rumors with Ruby since his debut. Plus, people dug up so many matching items! Have they been together this whole time, or is this a second-chance romance?]

[I bet they never broke up, just kept it lowkey! During Valentine's Day weekend this February, both their location tags showed the same private Caribbean island! I don't believe in coincidences!]

[Exactly! And they always post their IG updates right after each other. The backgrounds look like the exact same place too.]

[The power-couple first loves trope is too sweet to handle.]

[Go watch the replay! After Ruby blocked him to avoid suspicion, Declan's media training totally went out the window!]

[Our boy knows how to switch up. One second: icy and untouchable. Next second: straight-up depressed.]

I stared at the comments, my vision blurring slightly. Even though the internet got Declan's first love completely wrong, his rumors with Ruby felt incredibly real.

To be fair, I hadn't exactly been keeping tabs on Declan's news over the years. But I knew he always flew solo. Zero scandals. Famously obsessed with the stage.

He wouldn't have reached the apex of the industry otherwise. Whatever. Who he dates is none of my business.

Chapter 2

I had swallowed the reality of losing him a long time ago.

My agency shoved me into a viral, high-drama reality show called Midsummer Night's Fire, and it was a 24/7 unedited livestream. I just wanted to fade into obscurity in peace, not flop on a national stage. Besides, I explicitly told them I only do acting, no reality TV.

My agent, Naomi, played good cop and bad cop all by herself. "Blair, the agency signed you for five years. We burned a ton of cash covering up your mess back then. We asked you to network, you refused and pissed off the investors."

"You completely wasted that face and your acting chops, stuck playing background characters not even your own mother would recognize. We took the hit and never pushed you, right? But if you reject this gig, you're crossing a line."

I took a deep breath. "We're in the same boat. My skeletons coming out of the closet doesn't help the agency either."

"Besides, the roster is packed with people way more famous than me. Why does it have to be me?"

"Who knows what kind of crack the director is smoking, but he zeroed in on your face. Plus, it's a live broadcast. A lot of people are terrified of getting canceled."

"The biggest name on the roster is Ruby. Just treat it like an acting gig. If push comes to shove, just be a background extra."

"Fine, I'll take it. Can we terminate my contract early?"

"I'm leaving the industry after this. Cut me loose and stop dragging up the past. Deal?"

Naomi hesitated for a few seconds. "Fine. You've been dead weight for years anyway. Squeezing you dry won't exactly strike oil."

"Let's part ways cleanly. But the agency takes the lion's share of this paycheck."

"Whatever." I flipped through the dossier. Declan wasn't on the cast list, so I signed the dotted line without a second thought.

But the moment the cameras started rolling on day one, Declan dropped in out of nowhere. The producers called it a "surprise."

My boots automatically took a step back. I kept my eyes glued to the floor. The massive monitor scrolling with real-time comments behind him caught my attention. The live chat was exploding.

[The A-lister is actually slumming it on a reality dating show to win back his first love! What kind of Wattpad fanfic is coming to life right now!]

[The hopeless romantics are losing their minds.]

[AHHHHH! I'm shipping them so hard! Team Ruby/Declan is winning today!]

[My own life might be a lie, but this ship is absolute truth!]

[His eyes are literally melting for her, who gets it! Absolute loverboy golden retriever energy!]

Melting? I'm not being bitter. Declan has those deep-set bedroom eyes. He could stare at a fire hydrant and look like he's deeply in love.

He went down the line, shaking hands. When he reached me, I kept my chin tucked and stuck my hand out. He ignored my half-assed greeting.

His large, sculpted hand clamped down on my wrist, yanking me hard against his broad, solid chest. Our bodies pressed together seamlessly. The aggressive, icy cedarwood scent of his cologne instantly hijacked my lungs.

That foreign yet painfully familiar scent swallowed me whole. Every muscle in my body locked up.

He lowered his head, his lips brushing the shell of my ear. "Long time no see, Blair."

Holy shit! Are you kidding me right now!

All this because I tried to finesse fifty bucks out of him? The burn of the other cast members staring at us hit my skin. My stomach dropped. I wanted to strangle him on live television.

[Wait, doesn't he hate physical contact?]

[Did he grab the wrong girl?]

Chapter 3

[Speaking of which, who is this D-lister? Is she really not a civilian? She's gorgeous though, I wouldn't mind shipping this a little.]

[Shipping everything will ruin your life.]

[Her beauty is way too aggressive. Not my vibe. I still prefer a funny, sweet girl-next-door like Ruby!]

[The blatant ones are always fake. I bet my life savings this girl is an industry plant, shoved in by production for hype. The ones dodging each other are the real couple!]

[When are dating shows going to stop with these contrived love triangles! I thought a live broadcast meant no script. Guess we're still watching manufactured drama. Boring.]

[The producers are absolutely shameless. Doing anything for clout.]

[Protect Ruby at all costs. Producers need to touch grass.]

The production team suddenly caught all the strays. The director was probably tearing his hair out behind the monitors right now.

I shoved hard against Declan's chest. He didn't budge an inch. I refused to get tangled up with him again, and I definitely couldn't afford to have my cover blown.

"Back off," I warned through gritted teeth. His arm muscles tightened, resisting the push, before he dropped his hold with stiff reluctance.

I whipped my head toward the closest camera lens, plastering on a bright, professional smile. "I'm a massive fan of Declan's. I've been to a bunch of his album signings in the past. I didn't expect him to actually remember me."

Corporate and perfectly polite. Given our history, playing dumb was the only survival strategy.

"Is that so?" He arched a perfect brow. There was zero chance he missed the underlying threat in my tone.

Since he refused to play along, I forcibly pivoted. "It's an absolute honor to see you on the show today."

Declan narrowed his eyes, a low scoff vibrating in his throat. Thankfully, he didn't rip off my mask right then and there.

"The feeling is mutual. It's an honor to see you too." He leaned hard into the word, his jaw practically wired shut with irritation.

Could someone come leash this passive-aggressive dog?

[Tragic! Feel so bad for our boy being forced to do PR. He's practically grinding his molars to dust!]

[For real! Declan looks straight-up disgusted! He's definitely pissed about this forced script!]

[The Declan x Ruby first love agenda is way better. This studio-mandated ship is so fake, it's like chewing on glass.]

[I get the outrage, but this girl is insanely gorgeous. Is she a rookie?]

[Holy shit! I just looked her up. She's been in the industry for five years! I actually saw her in that indie zombie flick?]

[Did she play the lead?]

[No, she played a zombie.]

The scrolling text on the monitor froze for a solid second.

[Cursed. Absolutely cursed.]

[What's her actual deal? How do you manage to be a total flop but still get planted in a huge show like this?]

The live chat was rapidly derailing.

Ruby suddenly cut through the tension. "Declan, didn't you turn down the producers' offer earlier? What made you change your mind?"

Every head in the room swiveled, eyes gleaming with unfiltered gossip.

"Because a certain someone decided to join."

Ruby flashed a flawless smile, ducking her head with a practiced hint of shyness. "I see. Well, having you here makes me feel a lot safer. Please take good care of me."

Declan offered a flat, dismissive hum. "Let's all just get along."

The cast murmured their polite agreements. I stood there, silent as a graveyard.

Why the hell was I stuck on a live dating show with my ex? Was it too late to breach my contract? The exhaustion was already settling into my bones.

[SCREAMING! Declan just confessed live on air that he came for Ruby!]

[He's so unhinged for this! I love him!]

[Direct eye contact and straight facts! King behavior!]

[Declan x Ruby endgame!]

[A-listers really don't care. Even this garbage production team can't control him!]

Chapter 4

The director was probably begging everyone for mercy behind the scenes.

The cast consisted of four guys and four girls. The others practically swarmed Declan, desperately trying to drag him into the conversation with every topic under the sun. They even badgered him to describe his ideal type. They were absolutely fishing for drama.

Ruby stared at him, her eyes practically sparkling with anticipation.

But his gaze slid right past her, landing dead on me. "You'll all just have to watch the show and find out."

The cast erupted into teasing oohs, and the live chat completely lost its mind.

[Declan, where are you looking? Did you forget who your wife is?]

[I've been a stan since his trainee days. Trust me, I've loved him for nine yearshe just has a wandering eye.]

[Do you even hear yourself right now?]

[Why do I have a bad feeling about this? Declan hasn't even glanced at Ruby since he walked in.]

[Only real couples actively avoid each other to dodge rumors! I refuse to eat this manufactured studio garbage! Team Declan x Ruby forever!]

[Agreed + my entire bank account.]

[It's definitely the producers stirring the pot. It's disgusting. Who wants to ship him with a nobody? Is she even worthy?]

In mere seconds, the comment section descended into a digital war zone.

[Team Declan x Ruby, calm down. It's only episode one. Listen to Declan and keep watching. Just wait for the industry plant to get exposed.]

I studied the ceiling. I studied the floorboards. I picked at my cuticles, doing everything in my physical power to avoid looking at Declan. I was practically trying to merge with the wallpaper.

But some people just wouldn't let me off the hook.

Ruby pivoted toward me. "Since you're such a massive fan of Declan's, I'm guessing he's exactly your ideal type, right?"

I met her gaze dead-on and let out a dry scoff. "I like out-of-shape softies with zero abs. Six-foot-tall alpha males like him aren't my type at all."

Ruby's smile froze. ""

A suffocating silence dropped over the room. Declan leveled a glare at me that could have sliced steel.

[Why am I just trying to watch a dating show and suddenly taking stray bullets to the knees?]

[If she keeps talking like that, I might have to start stanning her.]

[Me jumping through the screen to tell her: Hey gorgeous, your ideal type is right here.]

[What is this drama queen doing?]

[She's totally doing this on purpose. Even if she didn't know Declan is six-foot-two, anyone with eyes can see he's huge!]

[Declan: Woman, you have successfully caught my attention.]

[This girl knows exactly what she's doing!]

[Lol, pathetic. She literally has 'manipulative' written all over her face. Trying so hard to be 'not like other girls', it's shameless.]

[No need for personal attacks, guys. It's not like she threw herself at him.]

[Blair's expression literally screams: Don't touch me.]

[Yes! Ever since Declan walked in, she's looked like she's in physical pain!]

[This script is wild. Not sure if she's actually rejecting the A-lister, but I'm seated.]

[What if they don't just 'know' each other?! What if the whole fan/idol thing is just a cover story to fool us?]

Honestly, someone was dangerously close to the truth. And that was my absolute worst nightmare.

But the Declan x Ruby shippers were so outraged that they spam-flooded the chat, instantly burying those spot-on theories under a mountain of furious comments.

I practically prayed to the heavens for the shippers to keep it up. Flood the chat! Bury the truth!

At the same time, my brain spun into overdrive, plotting exactly when to corner my agency and negotiate my immediate exit from the show. I had a sickening premonition that Naomi was going to literally rip my head off.

Regardless, I just had to survive this first episode.

I figured nothing too catastrophic could happen. There was no way a single episode would make the entire internet dig up a nobody like me. I knew I didn't hold that kind of magnetic appeal.

But I completely forgot one crucial fact. Even the most rabid shippers in the world can't hold a ship together when the actual celebrity is hell-bent on sinking it.

Chapter 5

After moving into the Heartbeat House, we were hit with our first mission. Under the scorching summer sun, the production crew had lined up a row of watermelons.

I stared at the bright red flesh. A sharp ache pierced my chest, but I quickly forced my features back into a perfectly blank mask.

The brain-dead game was a watermelon-eating contest. We'd be ranked by speed. First place down to last would choose their dates. After the four girls picked, the guys would choose back.

If there was a mutual match, they'd go on a date this afternoon. The singles would be stuck at the house cooking.

"I forfeit," I cut in before the director could even yell action. "I'm allergic to watermelon."

Declan stood right behind me. He covered his mic and let out a low, mocking scoff. "The girl who always insisted on eating the absolute sweetest middle core of the watermelon is suddenly allergic?"

No one would think he was mute if he kept his mouth shut.

I honestly couldn't be bothered to entertain him. I took two deliberate steps to the side, putting physical distance between us.

Food allergies are a massive liability. Even though my allergy sounded like a blatant excuse, I bet my life the producers wouldn't dare risk a lawsuit.

Sure enough, the director didn't push it and slapped me with dead last. The netizens behind the screen weren't buying it.

[What is she faking for! Is she terrified of looking ugly in front of the guys? Her face is probably totally plastic, she can't even make dramatic expressions.]

[[Insert eye-roll meme]: Please, stop acting like some pure, innocent angel. It's literally making me sick.]

I remained completely unfazed by the malice in the live chat.

Ruby truly lived up to her image as the sweet, funny girl-next-door. She didn't put on any airs. While the other girls were still hesitating, she took a massive, unhinged bite. Two or three aggressive chomps later, she had completely demolished her slice.

[My girl is too cute!]

[Natural beauties just don't have to care!]

[LMAO! Who gets it! I seriously love celebrities who aren't high-maintenance!]

[Comedic queen confirmed!]

[The producers hit the jackpot getting Ruby! Gorgeous, sweet, and totally down-to-earth! Please treat her right! Don't bully her!]

The director was probably thinking: You guys care way too much.

Ruby effortlessly snagged first place. When it was the guys' turn, everyone gave it their allexcept for Declan.

Especially Carter, the rookie actor who took first place. He was basically a ruthless paper shredder. He devoured his slice clean in two or three bites, looking like he had been starved for an entire week.

Back to the live chat.

[Is our boy just giving up? It doesn't matter anyway. Wifey got first place, she's definitely picking him.]

[How does someone make eating a watermelon look so incredibly high-class!]

[I want to be the watermelon in his hands! Taking a bite out of summer! Midsummer Night's Fire is right! My heart is seriously on fire!]

[To the commenter above: calm down, your thirst is showing.]

Utterly shameless. I let my gaze flick to Declan's hands. I've always had a massive weakness for nice hands.

My very first impression of Declan back in the day was how gorgeous his hands were. When he first transferred to our high school and picked up a piece of chalk to write his name on the blackboard, I wanted to possess that damn piece of chalk. The teenage boy stood with a perfectly straight spine. His long, sculpted fingers moved with powerful strokes as he wrote out his name.

After I finally chased him down and made him mine, his hands remained my absolute favorite thing.

Whenever we sat in the boba shop, he would be scrolling through his phone, tossing his left hand over to me with an eye roll, muttering about how weird I was. Even when we hugged for the very first time, I bargained with him: one hug in exchange for holding hands for ten straight minutes.

That's right. Back then, forced to choose between glowing up or getting rich, I chose to be a complete freak.

Chapter 6

When he set his watermelon down, I caught sight of the bright red juice sliding down his pale, long fingers. A sharp pang hit my chest.

I quickly forced my face back into a blank mask.

But as I pulled my gaze away, I crashed straight into Declan's mocking stare. I awkwardly rubbed the bridge of my nose and looked away.

Ruby picked Declan first. None of the other girls tried to fight her for him; no one wanted to step on the IT girl's toes.

I picked Carter, the human paper shredder. I could tell there was a mutual vibe going on between him and the cool pop-star girl, Zoe, and Zoe had picked him too. As long as they matched up, I'd be successfully left single. I could just slack off at the house.

When dinner rolled around, I'd just order DoorDash and call it a day.

Things went exactly as planned. I clapped enthusiastically for Zoe and the paper shreddersorry, Zoe and Carter.

Zoe shot me a knowing smile.

None of the guys picked Ruby either. They all knew the unwritten rules. But when it was Declan's turn, right as everyone assumed he would naturally choose Ruby, those deeply intense, oppressive eyes of his locked dead onto me.

His low, raspy voice exploded into the quiet room. "I pick Blair."

A magnitude-ten earthquake practically shattered my spine. Hell no