Chapter 6: The Apprentice’s Promise

“CJ is so mean—”

“CJ, why aren’t you talking?”

“CJ~CJ~”

“Hahaha—”

Tessa cracked up, then suddenly gestured at me. I turned around and saw Carter behind me with a dark face. Before, Carter always smiled, giving off warm vibes. But now, his cold look made me realize he really did have that ice prince reputation. Carter walked past me without a word and went upstairs. Tessa had already slipped away. Sensing trouble, I hurried after Carter.

He walked ahead in silence, I followed quietly. Suddenly, he turned and stopped. I didn’t notice and bumped right into his chest. I could feel his heartbeat, solid and steady.

“C... CJ, I was wrong.”

I braced myself, trying to imitate Bella’s sweet tone.

“Call me CJ.”

“CJ...”

“What? Weren’t you happy calling me earlier?”

“CJ—” That almost made me bite my tongue. After calling, I didn’t dare look up, but heard a faint laugh above me. Carter was laughing?

I looked up and saw pure amusement in his eyes, not a hint of that coldness from before.

“Carter, you tricked me!” I said, a little annoyed.

“If I didn’t trick you, how could I hear Marissa call me CJ?”

I mean, he had a point. And he looked so good when he demanded I call him CJ, it was almost criminal.

“Stupid couple, put away your love tricks, OK? Are you abusing me here?” Ryan stood across from us, arms folded, looking disgusted.

Carter ignored him and pulled me into the bedroom. Closed the door, pushed me onto the bed.

“Be good, call me CJ.”

“Carter, it’s daytime!”

Carter paused, then covered the camera with a shirt.

“Now, it’s night.”

The chat went wild:

“We’re all adults—let us watch!”

“You’re so noble, so great, won’t even let us watch you fall in love!”

“CJ, your love tricks are endless.”

Since they couldn’t watch Carter, viewers went to Tessa for fun.

At that moment, Ryan was trying to copy Carter. He walked over to Tessa, put on his best cold face, and tried to act aloof.

“Hey, can I talk to you?”

Tessa slapped his hand away. Ryan refused to give up and said:

“I’m angry.”

The subtext was for her to comfort him. LOL, Tessa didn’t even look up. Ryan tried again, accidentally knocking over her makeup.

“Are you sick?”

Finally, Tessa responded. The chat was loving it:

“CJ: Copy me and you’ll live, imitate me and you’ll die.”

“Ryan: Learned, learned, but it’s useless!”

“Tessa, look at him—if you don’t, he’ll turn into a three-legged baboon crawling everywhere.”

Ryan then slapped a black card on the table, trying to look cool. Then, remembering he was supposed to be mad, he yelled:

“Tessa, did you hear me? I’m angry!”

His voice was loud enough to shake the walls. I nudged Carter away and pressed my ear to the wall.

“You’re angry, so what?”

“Call me CJ, just once, and I’ll be fine.”

No wonder Ryan used the toughest tone for the weakest words. I was dying of laughter. What kind of elementary school copycat move is this?

Tessa ignored him, but Ryan wouldn’t let go. He pushed his luck, grabbing her and not letting go.

“Call me CJ, come on, call me CJ.”

The comments spammed:

“Satisfy him! Satisfy him!”

“It’s just CJ, give me your address, I’ll send you a hen to call in your ear!”

“Let Tessa call CJ? That’s like if Daisy Buchanan tried to join the Avengers!”

On camera, Tessa never disappoints. She patted Ryan’s shoulder and said:

“Get lost—”

Ryan gritted his teeth:

“Fine, I’ll get lost—”

Then he leaned against the door, arms crossed, sulking.

“Why don’t you help him?” I nudged Carter.

“What’s in it for me?” Carter grinned, twirling my hair. After a quick “mwah,” he looked at me, teasing in his eyes:

“Just wanted Marissa to call me CJ—didn’t expect you to be so eager.”

Oh, you troublemaker. Get out of my head.

Outside, Carter quickly left, and less than a minute later, came back. After a knock, Ryan’s voice sounded next door.

“Tessa, will you call me CJ?”

“Take your luggage and get lost!”

“If she won’t come to me, I’ll go to her.”

Ryan strolled up to Tessa, took off his shirt in front of the live audience, revealing his abs.

“Sis, my abs say they’re sorry.”

“Come back.”

“Sis...”

Now viewers couldn’t watch Ryan either—it was “night” there too.

With Carter and Ryan as contrast, Liam and Bella’s interactions were just plain boring. After another incident where Bella spilled Coke on Carter’s jacket, the director finally booted them from the show. Ratings are important, but you don’t mess with Carter.

After that, the director brought in Savannah Lane. Tessa roasted the director for the move, but as expected, Savannah as a guest brought the highest ratings since the show started.

After Carter clarified his relationship with Savannah, some still believed everything he did was to make Savannah jealous and regret leaving him for Hollywood. Not an uncommon take.

Once, while eating Nashville hot chicken, Carter and I overheard two girls at the next table gossiping.

“Tell me, what does Marissa have that can compare to Savannah Lane? Why did Carter choose her? Did she put a spell on him?”

“Can’t understand. Who knows why Carter’s taste is so weird?”

They were gossiping so hard, they barely touched their food. At that time, “Let’s Fall in Love” had just started, with few viewers. Even fewer supported me and Carter being together.