Hollywood Heaven
As the room begins to filter out, the regret of my public quarrel with Auden Andrews begins to sink in; I wince as Adelyn shakes her head in her usual disapproving way.
"I'm sorry okay? But Addy, I couldn't let him get away with it," I begin, pleading for my best friend's sympathy. "I just don't know what got over me, you know I hate any sort of public speaking."
A sigh of relief hits me as a small smile creeps upon Adelyn's face and I know that I'm not in trouble.
"He was being an arsehole, Navy. Damn right you showed him up in front of the crowd," she says with a sense of pride, and I can't help but grin at Adelyn's words despite my embarrassment.
"Sorry for showing up your celebrity crush," I say.
Replaying the events in my head, I quickly realise that Auden Andrews came off worse in that scenario than me. Adelyn can't help but laugh in response and gives me a quick hug.
"Don't worry about it, you're practically famous now! And besides, I saw him giving you some serious eyes."
"Yes, some serious evil glare, if looks could kill," I joke, laughing slightly at the thought.
"Can we get out of here now? I can't bear to be in this room any longer," I ask, noticing the sudden lack of people in the room and how we are some of the only people left in the seats. I am, however, made aware suddenly that several girls have migrated near the stage, and are waiting eagerly with their phones in hand.
"I was kinda hoping we could stay for a few more minutes, I heard that actors sometimes come back out to take photos with fans," Adelyn pleads as she flutters her eyelashes and frowns slightly in an attempt to sway me.
"Yes, okay do what you want. But I can't see Auden Andrews again, I'm embarrassed enough," I say, "I'm going to find a restroom to use, and then I'll meet you outside in 10?"
"Sure," Adelyn agrees willingly and gives me a wave before heading towards the stage, and I can't help but pause to laugh at the height difference between Adelyn and the other girls before walking out of the event room.
Immediately, I find myself wondering why the event doesn't have any obvious restroom signs and instead take it upon myself to wander down the first corridor I see. The corridor is long but thin, with a glossy wooden floor and plain white walls - my first impressions are that the corridor is too boring and simple, but I soon stop when I come to the first piece of artwork on one of the walls. Taking in the large canvas, I smile once I realise that it's a painting of the Hollywood sign in all its glory; each stroke creates a different texture on the painting, giving the image a glorious 3D effect.
"Beautiful, isn't it?"
I am snapped out of my thoughts as I jump, not knowing that anyone else is around. I turn towards the voice and struggle to keep my mouth from gasping once I realise that the deep, husky voice belongs to Auden Andrews.
"What?" I say, not being able to help my rude tone as I struggle to comprehend who is talking to me. I pray that he doesn't recognise me from our previous encounter.
"The painting, it's beautiful," he says.
I can't help but study his beautiful features up close, his jaw appears to be perfectly chiselled and his bronzed skin looks soft, almost airbrushed.
"Yes, it is," I manage to say, breaking his strong eye contact and looking back to the painting. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice that Auden extends his hand slightly for me to shake.
"I'm Auden Andrews."
"I know," I say, and shake his hand delicately. I'm suddenly all too aware that my appearance isn't up to a high enough standard to be having a conversation with a beautiful millionaire, and I wince to myself as I think back to deciding against straightening my dark brown hair this morning and instead just shoving it up into a ponytail.
"You had quite an opinion back there," he says, his voice as soft as velvet. Without even trying, his words sound alluring, seductive. Perhaps it's all part of his charm, I think. I mentally lecture myself in my head for letting my anger get the best of me and curse the idea of karma as I know that, at this moment, it has come back to bite me back with full force.
"Yes, I... I couldn't help myself. I had to say what I was thinking," I manage to stutter, trying not to hold any kind of eye contact but failing to do so within seconds.
He watches me intently as I talk, his eyes never losing focus; I notice that he is oddly calm, despite his rude tone moments ago.
"You were angry."
I hesitate as I remind myself of our last conversation, and nod my head before replying.
"Yes, I was. I guess I didn't have to take it out on you. Sorry for embarrassing you," I say, and as his laughter echoes throughout the hallway, I am suddenly made aware of the small distance between us; I take a step back.
"Embarrassed? I don't get embarrassed," he says coolly, he seems relaxed, and certainly unbothered about anything I said earlier. "However, I am curious."
I can't help but watch his every move, wondering what could possibly have sparked Auden Andrew's curiosity.
"What made you angry? You don't approve of the casting of this movie?" he asks breezily, adjusting his crisp white collar of his shirt as he does so.
"I do approve... it's just, I don't think you seem dedicated to the role. You haven't even read the book," I say, a sudden spell of annoyance washing over me out of nowhere.
The reason that I'm so bothered by Auden Andrews playing the beautiful Flynn Turner is not that I have anything against Auden, but because I'm emotionally attached to the character; as silly as it sounds, the book Heaven helped me through the darkest of times when my father was reported missing, and then assumed dead, and I wanted the motion picture to be perfect. I was living in a dream world when I thought that my favourite book would be brought to life in a perfect on-screen work of art, however, my dreams of this were crushed when I found out that the immature celebrity heartthrob would be portraying the leading hero. Despite my devastation of the casting of Heaven, I will never care to admit that to Auden Andrews' face.
"I don't need to read a silly book, as I said, reading isn't really my thing," Auden says with a smirk. I notice he is watching me with curious eyes, perhaps eager to see how I'll react to his funny little game. I decide to play along.
"You're right, you don't need to read the book. If reading isn't your thing, then why should you have to?" I say, confidence washing over me as I take a step towards him. Although his height ensures that he looks down at me, I spy a mixture of confusion and fear wash over his face for a second or two before his facial expression turns back to a wide smirk. I continue, "However, if you want to learn how to act, I suggest you do the reading." I can't help but smile triumphantly as anger washes over him, it is quite obvious that he is offended. I'm fairly surprised as he laughs mockingly before talking.
"You're quite feisty," he remarks in a husky voice, and I am suddenly all too aware that I may have stepped a little too close as the smell of an outrageously expensive aftershave fills my nostrils.
"I'm just opinionated," I retort back, smiling sarcastically at him despite being angered by his teasing smirk.
I'm taken aback as he steps even closer, filling the tiny gap that was left between us. Taking a thin strand of my hair that had managed to slip out of my ponytail between his fingers, he twirls it around, and I can't help but marvel at his confidence. He stops after a few seconds as his eyes lock in with mine and he leans in close, so close that I can feel his hot breath on my face and I think he may just...
"Keep those opinions to yourself sweetheart, and don't ever try to show me up again, because I will ruin you."
Before I can even comprehend the threat that Auden Andrews just gave me, he's disappeared down the long corridor and I'm left feeling all kinds of anger, annoyance, but most of all, shock.