[Max/Libby/Charlie] What About Love?

[Noah Rylan Renner]

Noah turned his head to the side as they finished adjusting his microphone. “ Is he premiering a video, a song, what the hell is this guy doing?” he asked in annoyance as he looked at his producer, giving an expectant look. “ The mate has one twinkly eyed expression and all of the sudden women everywhere are going bloody bonkers.” he said, casting a look in Charlie’s direction. “ Or just making sex tapes”he said before shaking his head. Noah finished getting ready and looked over at Charlie and Libby talking before he made his way over to his spot on stage, brushing his shoulder roughly against Max as he made his way. ” Sorry…” he said sarcastically before taking his mark. Noah ignored the other two girls, feeling tension in his neck before he turned it to the side to pop it and took in a deep breath. Three…two…. “ Welcome back to Taboo.. We’ve got an exciting line-up for you today. Max --- is with us today to perform his new single, so hot to the scene that we don’t even know the name of it yet.”

[Charlie Pierce]

“ More importantly,” Charlie interjected as quickly as she could, pushing the subject away from Max. “ Dani Cooper isn’t able to be with us today. Her tour is going pretty damn well if you ask me.. we have some footage of Libby able to visit her friend and sword sister.. But, we’ve got a music video to release for you guys for one the hit singles off her touring album, Slow Down. All of that being said.. if anyone was watching the Ellen show yesterday… 12 am this morning is when Logan Renner dropped Here With You and Hush Hush. If you haven’t bought them yet, buy them. If you did, buy them again. Hush Hush is the hottest thing to hit my iphone since Tyler Kingsley decided to drop his sexual prowess in musical form. Ladies… you will not be disappointed.And Hush Hush is coming just in time to add it to your sexy Valentine’s Day playlists. Also.. Tyson Ritter gives an impromptu performance at The Icebox launch.. and we’ve got some home video to get a sneek peak” Charlie said before clearing her throat and pushing her hair from her face to look over at Libby.

Outfit

[Liberty J Madison]

Oh Noah. When Libby found out she wasn't going to be out doing her interview she pretty much forced her way onto set, saying she'd just improvise. The tension was palpable,you could cut it with a knife. Libby knew Charlie and Max hadn't talked much as of late. Things must still be weird. They were both trying to put that sex tape in the past. In the mean time they were kind of putting each other in the past which neither of them wanted Libby was pretty sure. And Noah just highly disliked Max. As Noah came onto set, shoving past Max, Libby sighed, moving some hair back over her shoulder, placing a hand on his shoulder briefly before taking it away again before they started filming. Noah introduced the show, Charlie following up with some news of the past 24 hours, looking expectantly at Libby. Libby smiled, "Without further waiting, here to talk with us and perform his brand new song, Max ---." The in studio audience applauded as Max came out, giving a quick wave and came over to where they were. Libby gave him a friendly half hug before starting with some questions, "Max, it's great to see you gain and have you on the show. Last time we talked to you, you were just starting out, and you were nominated for Best New Artist. Now you stand here with having been awarded Best New Artist, what else has changed for you these past months?"

www.polyvore.com/cgi/set?id=111219465

[Max Ronan Reid]

Max decided to just pretend that little brush with Noah hadn't just happened as he waited for the segment to start. It was awkward enough right Charlie right now, Noah was just making it worse. But also, Max knew something they didn't, he knew the song he was premiering and what it meant to him. Yeah, he'd written it about Charlie. The media was ruthless lately, it was keeping them apart. Max had liked to pretend that it wouldn't and they'd work through it but things were weird. Max went out on set, waving around and smiled, greeting the three hosts. Well, he tried. Max looked at Libby and smiled. Okay, a normal question. "Yeah, a lot has changed I guess. I've released more songs, done more videos. I think the thing that has changed the most though for me is the shows. I was really shaky at first. I didn't really perform growing up, so that was really new. I think now I'm a lot more comfortable on stage and the shows run smoother." Max looked at Libby, confused as she seemed to glance at the teleprompter. Charlie wasn't talking, Noah's face was growing red. Max didn't want to look. Libby recovered, clearing her throat. "And what about meeting other people. Is it starting to slow down, being introduced to so many celebrities?" Max nodded, "Um. Yeah i'd say it's slowing down a little. I've met a lot of celebrities over these months, I still had that label of being the new kid, i guess." Libby straightened her back, defiantly smiling at Max and continued their conversation, "Who's the coolest celeb you've met so far?" "Wow, I mean, the Renners in general? Blake was really great though. I was writing, and I had a lot of questions. Blake was really open to giving advice and was really helpful to me, she was cool." Out of the corner of his eye he could see the producers, waving around, motioning to the teleprompter. But Libby never looked back. "That's great, it has always seemed to me that so many industry people are very welcoming. You were on tour with Joel Foster for a few months where was you favorite place to perform?" "I would have to say... London. London was cool, the culture is basically the same as here. It's cool to travel to places where people are so similar to yourself and connect with those fans. We had some really great crowds the few days we were there." Libby smiled, "Well I think all of us here would agree that London is one of the best places be." She looked over at the producers who were sighing in frustration and motioning to their watches, and she smiled brightly, "We have got some pretty pressing questions for this guy about some certain drama in his life, here with Max ---, we'll get to that when we get back. Here is your number 8 video on today's top 10 countdown, this is Bastille with 'Pompeii'."

[Charlie Pierce]

Charlie had been holding her arms so tightly together, that when she finally dropped them, white finger marks were left in place. Maybe she was a little stressed. It was just, she didn’t see the point in needing all three hosts today. And she was slightly annoyed with her producers for forcing her to be here. They knew what they were doing. Everyone knew what the elephant in the room was. But she couldn’t even look at him. Had he not realized how painful the last month had been? She’d wake up in the middle of the night wanting to text him or call him, and then remind herself that if she said hello she would have to risk another goodbye. There was too much scandal surrounding them, it would never work. Not when the paparazzi couldn’t leave them alone and just let them be. But there he was just standing perfectly. And she could smell his cologne from here. Charlie looked up at the teleprompter, a deer in headlights. This is what the producers wanted, for him to be on next to her and for them to talk about the scandal. But not with ol’ faithful at her side. No, no. Libby was being the amazing friend that she is and stalling. But as soon as they went to commercial break, Charlie stood up straight. “ I have to pee,” she yelled out, almost too loudly, before hurrying off the set completely.

[Noah Rylan Renner]

Noah did his best to inwardly roll his eyes and not do it physically. Blah blah blah another pretty boy at the Taboo label who liked to dance around. Great. He rocked back on his heels, looking up at the teleprompter. He could feel the lump in his throat before he realized that the anger had taken over him, rising so that the blood was flowing to his cheeks. No, he couldn’t ask that. Because if he asked Maxx about the drama going on in his life, and basically how he had slept with his ex-girlfriend that he was still in love with, he would probably lose it and deck the guy. It was hard enough watching Charlie become a recluse. But now this guy was just walking around like everything was peachy. Thankfully Libby was there, because he knew himself and Charlie wouldn’t be asking questions. After they went to commercial break, Noah visibly rolled his eyes. “ Crowds were there for Joel. Not you,” he said pointedly before going to grab a quick drink of water. It was strange for Noah, even to himself, to be behaving this way. Usually he was so calm and put together, like doing his best to pull off the ‘Renner bad boy yet oh still charming’ vibe. But seriously this guy just pissed him off. He had a face that was begging for a punch, and the more Noah was around him, the less he felt like he could control himself. He sat to himself for the next minute before returning to the set, noticing that Charlie was gone. Noah narrowed his eyebrows as he looked at Libby, knowing that she was up to something, Charlie was gone. Great, she was going to ask Max about the scandal. Before he even saw his producers hand in the air to alert them that they were about to be on, he felt the heat rising to his face.

[Liberty J Madison]

As soon as they went off the air, Libby let out a breath. If there was a good reason she was going into this profession it was because she was a brilliant bullshitter and could pull any interview out of her ass. But that didn't mean she should be forced to do so, not when it affected everyone else in the room. Libby looked at the producers, touching Charlie's arm gently before she headed off to the bathroom, and Libby approached the crew, talking directly with the guy in charge, "Are you kidding? I mean, I get it, ratings, blah, whatever, but this is unnecessary. We don't need three of us to do an interview for one person and I think it's clear Charlie and Noah would rather not participate." "Libby, you need to stick to the topics on the prompter-" "That's fine, I will, but I'll do it on my terms.I will not however, do something knowingly while my friends sit beside me uncomfortably. Don't ask Charlie to come back out. I'm serious. I'll ask your questions." She turned on her heel, heading back to where Max was,letting the hair girl touch up her flyaways, "Max, I apologize in advance for the next ten minutes. Just doing my job," she frowned, sitting down beside him. Noah had returned, Libby looking at him uneasily. He didn't look like he could handle it the first time, he wasn't going to do any good this segment. "Hey," she said leaned over quietly, "I won't be mad if you skip out on these segment too, I can get this part over with." She looked at him, raising her eyebrows, hoping he would decide it was a good idea if he left. It seemed Miss Sensible got to him, because he too, left set just as they were getting ready to go live. Libby took a breath, offering an encouraging smile to Max. "We are back, and I'm here with Max---. Later on he's going to be performing his new single, but first, Max; everyone is dying to hear from you and your side of things." Libby looked at the prompter, reading what they had offered, but seriously? Libby gave them one last look as if to say, I did it once, i can do it again. She was fine winging it. "Max. You have been involved in a recent scandal concerning a sex tape that has surfaced. How has that affected you personally?" Part of Libby in her head was screaming, you don't have to do this! but knew that Max would be a trooper. "It's been rough, on all parties. I think for me, the lies are just so out of hand. I know the truth, as does the other party involved, but the media will talk, tabloids will print whatever sells. If painting me in a negative light will sell, or painting her in a negative light, then that's what goes out." "So you've had to deal with a lot of negativity?" "Yeah, mostly. I wouldn't obviously wish this upon anyone, or give the impression that this is good publicity. I'll be honest, it's been... humiliating to say the least. Because its personal and it got put out to the public, it's not supposed to be like that, ever." Libby nodded, allowing a pause so they could both collect their thoughts.

[Max Ronan Reid]

This was tough. Max wanted to be honest, and sincere. It was time people understood where he was coming from, how it felt. How Charlie felt. But he also knew that they already had enough of their privacy taking away, he didn't want to give people anything else as it was. Libby nodded, asking her next question, "What would you say is the worst part to come of this ordeal for you?" Max thought carefully before he answered, "For me, the worst part is that one of my personal relationships has been affected. We had our relationship basically stolen from us. And also our privacy. As I said before, that's something personal between two people that should stay between two people, i'm a firm believer of that. And that was taken away from us. That's something a person is supposed to be able to share with just the other person, but we don't have that luxury any more." Libby nodded and took one last breath before asking, "And lastly, what is one last thing you would you like our viewers, and you fans to know?" "I think people should know that this was never supposed to have happened. We do, both of us, have careers that put us in the public eye, but there are aspects of our lives that should still be only ours. I can't obviously go back and undo a video leaking, it's out there and that isn't going to change. But this has really been a nightmare. I can only hope that people will sympathize with us and realize who the victims are here. Just respect our personal lives, and, you know, any amount of privacy to be gained back at this point would be very welcome." Libby nodded, "Max, thanks for answering some questions, I know it's not the easiest to talk about. Don't go too far, when we come back Max is going to be performing live for us, his brand new, never heard before song. Here's your number 6 video, Eminem and Rhianna with 'Monsters', we'll be right back." As soon as the little red light was off to indicate they weren't live any more Max relaxed, wiping his brow with the back of his hand. He hadn't realized how nervous he had been. "You did great, I'm sorry we had to talk about that," Libby said standing up and handed him a water bottle. "Well, thanks for asking nice questions," he laughed slightly, getting ready for his performance.

[Noah Rylan Renner]

Noah moved away from the set. Producers could be mad as they wanted, but the look on Libby’s face pretty much said her way or no way on this. “ Women..”he said sarcastically at the producer to his left who looked fit to be tied. And if he was looking at it from an outside perspective, Libby handled the following few questions like a pro. However, he hated the piece of shit sitting beside her,so in all reality, all he could think of was not jumping in the camera and strangling him . He thinks he lost an opportunity with Charlie? He didn’t even fucking know her. Noah had spent two years of his life with her. He was the one that had lost something. Max just lost the damn idea of something. He placed his hands in his front pockets, doing anything to keep them from forming the fists that were trying to creep up on him. When Max got up to go do his performance, Noah took his chance to speak to Libby. “ Do you think she’s actually going to fall for this shit?” he questioned, gesturing his hand towards Max performance and then looked over his shoulder at Charlie who looked slightly like she had been hit by a truck.

[Charlie Pierce]

Charlie had her fingernails basically digging into her hips. Little pink marks showing how angry she was at her producers. Way to throw her under the bus. And she had a sneaking suspicion they were doing this without Logan’s authorization. Sure, talk about it. It can’t be ignored. But she genuinely didn’t believe Logan would have pushed for her to be in the studio that day. As much as she wanted to turn around and choke the people working on the show around her,she couldn’t help but feel appreciative for Libby.And that fact that Max was being so calm and professional, only made it worse. He was saying everything that she knew he already felt from the last time they had spoken ; that they had been both been robbed in more than one way. When she cut to a music video and the cameras went off, Charlie took a step forward, though it was hesitant. She looked over her shoulders before she made her way over to Max, arms still crossed and looking down at the ground slightly. “ Look I’m… sorry about the questions,” she said without looking up. Charlie cleared her throat before finally looking up and pushing her hair away from her face. “ But uh.. yeah. You need to get people focused off your…relations, and back on the music. So…” she said before taking in a deep breath. “Good luck.. I hope it goes really well and gets everything back to what is important,” she said before giving him a slight smile and moving to get out of his way.