The lights were far too bright, hotter than anything you’d faced onstage. Cameras were pointed at you from three directions, fans cheering behind the barrier, and your new single with Shawn had already broken half a dozen streaming records.

The interviewer stepped forward, mic raised, a mischievous smile already forming.

“So…” she said, stretching the word with dramatic flair. “The internet is obsessed with the two of you. Your song is blowing up, your chemistry is insane, and the fans want to know…” She paused for effect. “Is it true you two are dating?”

Beside you, Shawn let out a short laugh — the kind that said here we go again. He adjusted his mic and leaned casually against the backdrop, perfectly relaxed.

“No,” he said with a grin, “it’s just rumours. A lot of bullshit, if I say so myself.” Then he turned his head toward you, eyebrow raised. “How about you?”

The crowd behind the cameras erupted with playful screams, phones held even higher.

You felt your stomach flip — not because of Shawn, but because the situation was ridiculous. You nudged him lightly with your shoulder before answering.

“Yeah, I’m with Shawn on this one,” you said, smiling at the reporter. “It’s just people having fun online. We’re not dating. We’re just… annoyingly close best friends.”

Shawn snickered. “Annoyingly? Wow. Okay.”

“Well,” you shot back, “you leave half-eaten granola bars everywhere. It’s a problem.”

The interviewer laughed. “So no romance? Nothing at all?”

You and Shawn exchanged a knowing look — the kind only friends who’d spent way too many hours together in studios could share.

“Nothing,” you both said in unison.

The reporter clutched her chest theatrically. “You’re breaking so many hearts right now.”

Shawn leaned into the mic. “We break records, too. So it evens out.”

You rolled your eyes, trying not to smile too hard.

The interviewer stepped back. “Well, dating or not, the song is incredible. You two have amazing energy together.”

You glanced at Shawn — and this time, he didn’t look at the reporter. He looked at you.

And his smile was soft, real.

“Yeah,” he said quietly. “We do.”