[Edward POV]
Some people reached out to me for collaboration, but I rejected them and told them what they were planning was a bad idea.
However, they ignored me and went through with it.
Taylor muttered with disbelief as she watched the video on her phone while we were all in the living room.
"Oh my fucking god. Why did they think singing 'Imagine' during the pandemic was a good idea?"
Onscreen, Will Ferrell, Natalie Portman, Mark Ruffalo, James Marsden, Amy Adams, Kristen Wiig, Sarah Silverman, Jimmy Fallon, Jamie Dornan, Pedro Pascal, Leslie Odom Jr., Maya Rudolph, Chris O'Dowd, Cara Delevingne, Kai Gerber, and half a dozen more faces appeared in sequence, each belting out a verse from their multimillion-dollar mansions.
Ashley Benson had asked me to join in, but I talked her out of it instead. Watching the fallout, I was glad I did.
The backlash was… instant.
The video came off painfully tone-deaf at a time when people were losing jobs, businesses, and loved ones.
The contrast between cramped apartments and celebrity mansions was impossible to ignore.
The pandemic had already exposed how unequal the system was. The Imagine video just poured gasoline on it.
Within hours, the video was a meme. Mockery spread faster than the virus. Years of carefully crafted "relatability" collapsed in a single clip.
For decades, stars tried to sell the illusion they were just like their fans. This showed the truth– they weren't. They were insulated elites.
I chuckled slightly and said, "The end of celebrity culture is here."
Taylor and Ness widened their eyes. Ness leaned forward. "What do you mean?"
Taylor added, "Is it really that bad?"
"It's the worst kind of bad," I told them. Barbara, Selena, and Willa glanced over, listening closely.
"Not only is the celebrity era over—it's going to shift. The next era will belong to online personalities."
"You mean influencers?" Haley cut in, curious.
I shook my head. "Not really. Influencers were already hated. They were really annoying."
"Hey!" Haley was offended.
"I'm not talking about you." I said cheekily. Haley puffed her cheek in annoyance.
"I'm talking about people who still live like the audience—streamers who struggle with rent, creators making skits with no budget, folks who stay real even after getting popular. People trust that more than a millionaire celebrity pretending to care."
Taylor scoffed. "You're exaggerating."
I shrugged. "Maybe. But don't be surprised if some online girl selling risqué photos to her fans makes more money than an Oscar-winning actress."
I turned to Taylor and said, "Don't worry, you'll still be richer than all of them."
Taylor tilted her head but accepted the backhanded compliment.
"Good," she said with a smirk.
Barbara frowned. "So what about us? I haven't even had my chance to shine yet!"
"It'll be fine," I reassured her. "Just don't do something really out-of-touch and cringy. And more importantly—don't lose reliability."
Willa raised a brow. "Don't you mean relatability?"
"No, reliability," I corrected. "Relatability fades, but reliability means not betraying the trust people put in you. Think about it—two thousand years ago, people admired Hercules for his feats. They wanted to be like him."
"Bring Hercules to today's era. Suddenly killing lions is a bad thing. He will get targeted by PETA. He made a small mistake, it would poison that admiration built over the years. That's how resentment grows."
I leaned forward, lowering my voice. "And without aspirational figures, people feel directionless. When that happens, they'll put their hope in the first conman who pretends to care about them. And that never ends well."
The room fell quiet.
Haley suddenly asked, "If like, Monkey D Luffy suddenly said in a chapter he never loves eating meat–"
"Hey!" I got annoyed. "I will feel betrayed, that's for sure." Haley, Ness and Taylor snickered.
"Who's Monkey D Luffy?" Willa asked in confusion.
Taylor, Ness and Haley widened their eyes and screamed, "NOOO–"
"Too late! Wil, it's time for me to introduce you to the greatest fiction in the world!"
"What– What did I do?" Willa was extremely flabbergasted by everyone's reaction.
"You've dug your own grave." Taylor tried to leave, but I grabbed her hand and pulled her into my lap.
"Nah, we're all going to watch it together. Starting from episode 1."
"Don't you have a lot of work to do?" Taylor asked, slightly bashful as I held her like a princess.
"I'll take a day off! Selena, I saw you! Come back here!"
I too needed a hero to aspire to. That's why the work of fiction was important.
…
Inside the recording studio, I set up some cameras, my laptop, and two seats with a microphone in front of them for the livestream.
Oracle would help me control the camera angles for the show later on, just like how a live tv would work. That meant close up, full shot, half shot, guest shot and so on.
I planned to release the third song live first before dropping it online.
As I started the livestream, fans poured into the chat.
The video had a caption: "Every donation will go to the victims of AlienPox."
"Hello everyone. How's your lockdown going?" I said casually, sitting on the chair with a guitar slung over my shoulder.
Many fans complained in the chat, venting about their days. Lily, my fanclub president, used the donation feature to make her text stand out.
Lily ($20): Edward! How's your lockdown going? Are you still working?
I replied, "Well Lily, I'm working on the Netflix series for about 19 hours a day. At the same time, I'm also working on the album."
I added coyly, "I have a house full of pretty girls, but I can't even be with them. That's sad, I think."
The chat erupted in laughter, with some fans saying they were relieved.
"I have one of the girls joining me today. But before that, I'm going to sing for you guys to ease your stress a bit."
Lily ($20): Don't push yourself too hard!
Conan ($20): You're not going to sing "Imagine," are you?
"Pfft—no. I'm not." I replied to the talk show host.
Conan ($100,000): We should get on a podcast together.
"You know what? Maybe I will," I said.
The chat went wild over Conan's huge donation, and within minutes, news articles were already reporting on it—even while the livestream was still happening.
AshleyBenson ($100,000): You look hawt.
"Oh, thanks," I replied, slightly taken aback by the number. I was wearing a black tank top that showcased my muscular biceps and jeans.
I had told her to donate something to help the victims and her own image—especially since she almost took part in the "Imagine" song. I hadn't expected her to send nearly half her current savings.
Still, the gamble might pay off. Donating just to flirt with me could make her seem interesting to the public, which might land her more roles. She had plenty of money from movies and TV shows, but Ashley was also a shopaholic and not great at handling her finances.
People in the chat began asking who she was. That was perfect—especially with 20 million people watching the stream. It was a massive number for a livestream, thanks to the lockdown effect.
Hundreds of donations came in every second, ranging from $1 to $100.
The total had already passed $2 million. Many celebrities were joining in on the donations.
Bieber ($10,000): Who's your guest?
"I'll invite the guest midway into the show," I replied to him before speaking to the fans.
"By the way, I'm also going to collab with JB for the pandemic album, so you can look forward to that."
Bieber ($10,000): 😁🎉
Fans went crazy over the announcement. The tweens were ecstatic—the older fans, not so much.
"Is there a song you'd like to request?" I asked. "I'm only going to sing three, so pick carefully."
I sent out a list of songs in the chat for fans to vote on.
After three minutes, the results were in: '7 Years,' 'Thinking Out Loud,' and 'Before You Go.'
"Feeling nostalgic today, are we?" I teased.
For the next ten minutes, I entertained my fans with the songs they requested.
Then, I took a little break, drinking water and reading what they were saying in the chat. Most of them were talking about how much they missed hearing me sing live.
"We need a concert after the lockdown? Damn right we do."
TaylorS ($10,000,000): I'll be sure to buy a ticket.
"Holy—Taylor!" I turned to the girl who was sitting behind the glass, watching the livestream with everyone else.
The chat froze for a bit before exploding in bewilderment.
Lily: HOLY SHIETT!
Cam: Is there no limit to the donation?
Harvey: Eddy, you need to make sure not to get flagged by the IRS.
"It's fine, Harvey. I'm going to donate all of it anyway. Still, we need to thank Taylor for her incredible donation." I angled the camera slightly, revealing Taylor and the other girls.
Taylor was caught off guard and quickly ducked behind Selena, laughing at the unexpected camera reveal. After recollecting herself, she peeked out and gave the camera a small wave.
Lily: It's not fair! She gets to enjoy the concert face-to-face!
"Well, blame the one who made the AlienPox virus," I said jokingly.
"Without further ado, I'm going to invite my guest for today—Miss Selena Gomez."
Selena walked into frame, and the camera followed her with perfect timing. She had cut her hair short into soft, wavy layers that framed her face, giving her a bold, grown-up look.
Large gold hoop earrings swayed as she moved, catching the light. She wore a black leather mini-skirt with sheer leggings, paired with a shoulderless crop top that showed just a hint of her toned abdomen.
The black shirt was tight, and she didn't wear anything underneath. Although the camera couldn't see it, I could.
It was clear she was leaning hard into a more mature, sultry style—less Disney princess, more hot Latina pop star.
"Hello everyone." She greeted the fans.
A lot of people greeted her back and some were asking her about the kiss with me.
Selena saw it, widened her eyes and laughed in bafflement.
"I mean, he is a good kisser." Selena replied to the question.
"Really? That's your second sentence after 'Hello Everyone'?" I looked at her with disbelief.
Selena cracked up. "Wait — this might look weird online without context. The fans keep asking me about the kiss on the show."
"Too late. They're going to clip the first one," I said, disappointed; Selena laughed, embarrassed.
"We really need a talk-show host, huh?" she said after catching her breath.
I nodded and said to the chat, "You hear that, Conan?"
Conan: I can be there in twenty minutes.
"It's all right — we're almost at the end. I have to get to work in twenty minutes," I told him.
The fans complained that the live was too short. It had been barely half an hour.
Someone asked Selena if she needed to be on set too, but she stumbled. "Um… I don't know how to say this. Maybe… let's go with maybe."
She didn't want to spoil whether our characters would meet again.
"By the way, Selena is releasing an album on the 15th next month," I told the chat.
"What's the album about?" I asked her.
She burst into laughter and exposed me. "You worked with me on the songs. Why are you acting like you don't know?"
I laughed, embarrassed. "I'm trying to hype you."
"Oh right," Selena said calmly, and the abruptness made me laugh again.
We talked about her album for a bit, then about our collaboration on the song.
"Should we play a game before the song reveal? Like every talk show has a game these days," Selena asked.
"What kind of game?"
"We'll ask each other questions. The person asked has to answer honestly, no matter what," she said with a sly smirk.
I hesitated. "This might be dangerous for me. Let me check what people are saying."
The chat was unanimous. "The people have spoken — let's do it. Just to be clear: I have to be honest, and you do too, right?"
"Yup," Selena agreed. "Wait how many times we should ask each other questions?"
"One maybe. We don't have a lot of time." I told her.
"Okay. I'll go first. So, Fu— I guess I can't do that here. Um… Kiss, Marry, Kill—"
"Oh god," I groaned, lowering my head.
Selena grinned. "Don't worry. I'll go easy on you."
"Alright. Shoot."
The chat exploded with suggestions. Selena read three names: "Scarlett Johansson, Emma Watson, and Alexandra Daddario."
The crowd went wild.
I wasn't fazed, instead I answered decisively for the first one. "First of all– kill Emma Watson."
Luke Dunphy: You always have beef with Hermoine.
"Tough call between the other two, but marry Scarlett — she's my long-time crush — and kiss Alexandra." I winked at the camera.
Selena laughed. "Oh, so you like 'em big."
"This is a public livestream. Be careful — there are a lot of young ones here," I warned her, acting nervously.
"Okay, my turn," I said. "Kiss, marry, kill—"
"No, wait!" she blurted, eyes widening. "I didn't expect this."
She read the options: "Shrek, Hiccup from How to Train Your Dragon, and me."
Selena blushed. "Well… I already kissed you on air, so I'm going to kill you. And then… Kiss Hiccup, marry Shrek."
I nodded, looking straight to the camera. "That's the only right answer."
I changed my seat to face the piano at my back and asked Selena, "Are you ready?"
She picked up a microphone and inhaled deeply.
"Alright. I'm ready."
I spoke directly to the camera, "Selena and I are going to sing the song, 'We Don't Talk Anymore.' Enjoy."
[Charlie Puth, Selena Gomez: We don't talk anymore.]
My fingers tapped the piano keys smoothly, a soft yet exciting melody filled the room.
I sang alone at first, "♫♪ We don't talk anymore, we don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore like we used to do♫♪"
"♫♪We don't love anymore ♫♪"
"♫♪What was all of it for?"
"♫♪Oh, we don't talk anymore like we used to do♫♪"
Lily: Is this about his breakup?
"♫♪ I just heard you found the one you've been looking
You've been looking for ♫♪"
"♫♪ I wish I would have known that wasn't me♫♪"
"♫♪ 'Cause even after all this time, I still wonder
Why I can't move on♫♪"
"♫♪Just the way you did so easily♫♪"
Oracle did a close up shot to my face, and the fans melted as they saw the sight.
"♫♪Don't wanna know
What kinda dress you're wearin' tonight♫♪"
"♫♪If he's holdin' onto you so tight
The way I did before♫♪"
"♫♪I overdosed
Should've known your love was a game♫♪"
"♫♪Now I can't get you outta my brain
Ooh, it's such a shame♫♪"
Selena joined in, keeping up with the rhythm although she was quite nervous about singing together with me.
Together, we harmonized, "♫♪That we don't talk anymore, we don't talk anymore
We don't talk anymore like we used to do♫♪"
"♫♪We don't love anymore
What was all of it for?
Oh, we don't talk anymore like we used to do♫♪"
We looked at each other while singing, which made both of us smile.
Selena sang with a raspy sweet voice, "♫♪I just hope you're lyin' next to somebody
Who knows how to love you like me♫♪"
"♫♪There must be a good reason that you're gone♫♪"
"♫♪Every now and then, I think you
Might want me to come show up at your door♫♪"
"♫♪But I'm just too afraid that I'll be wrong♫♪"
Phil: This is such a catchy song. Go Selena!
She sang the pre-chorus perfectly.
"♫♪Don't wanna know
If you're lookin' into her eyes♫♪"
"♫♪If she's holdin' onto you so tight
The way I did before♫♪"
"♫♪I overdosed
Should've known your love was a game♫♪"
"♫♪Now I can't get you outta my brain
Ooh, it's such a shame♫♪"
Taylor munched on the muffin with annoyance as she saw we were looking at each other with affection in our eyes.
"I want to sing live too." She muttered.
Selena and I harmonized together, producing a gentle duet that hits the listeners ears just right.
"♫♪That we don't talk anymore, we don't talk anymore♫♪
(We don't, we don't, we don't, we don't)
♫♪We don't talk anymore like we used to do♫♪
♫♪We don't love anymore
What was all of it for?♫♪
(We don't, we don't, we don't, we don't)
♫♪Oh, we don't talk anymore like we used to do
Like we used to do♫♪"
We stared into each other's eyes, as if we're lovers lamenting the breakup.
"♫♪Don't wanna know
What kinda dress you're wearin' tonight
If he's givin' it to you just right
The way I did before♫♪"
Cam: That is slightly dirty.
"♫♪I overdosed
Should've known your love was a game
Now I can't get you outta my brain
Oh, it's such a shame♫♪"
The collaboration was a huge success. Selena's name became trending on social media after this.
We sang the chorus again, "♫♪That we don't talk anymore, we don't talk anymore
(We don't, we don't, we don't, we don't)
We don't talk anymore like we used to do
We don't love anymore♫♪
♫♪What was all of it for?♫♪
(We don't, we don't, we don't, we don't)
♫♪Oh, we don't talk anymore like we used to do♫♪"
The melody slowed down. We stared at each other and sang line by line.
Selena:We don't talk anymore, oh, oh
Me: (Don't wanna know)
Selena: The way I did before
Me:♫♪ (What kind of dress you're wearin' tonight)♫♪
Selena:♫♪ We don't talk anymore, oh, woah♫♪
Me: (♫♪If he's holdin' onto you so tight♫♪)
Together: ♫♪(I overdosed, should've known your love was a game)
(Now I can't get you outta my brain)♫♪
♫♪Oh, it's such a shame
That we don't talk anymore♫♪
The crowd applauded with emojis and showered us with love after the song finished.
"Did you like the song?" I asked them.
Lily: Very Much! ❤️
Phil: It's really good!
Cam: 9.5/10.
I checked my watch and told them, "Don't forget to check out the new episode of Evolve or Die tonight and check out the music video too."
"I have to go to film the show now, so we'll have to end this livestream here."
I turned to the girl, "Selena, anything you want to add?"
Selena said, "Don't forget to check out my album when it's dropped. And give Edward a lot of well wishes since he's been working extra hard this pandemic. He never had any rest just to take care of his fans."
Lily: Awww.
I turned to Selena and whispered, "Don't tell them that."
She chuckled and said, "He told me not to say that. Adios everyone! Goodbye! Until we meet again!"
I also waved at them and said, "Till we meet again."