I can't believe it been three weeks since I updated this story. It doesn't feel that long at all. I have been really really busy lately. Everything is just going by too fast. I'll try to get another update in within the next week or so, but no promises.
A week after the sleepover, I'm still not over what almost happened. I know Ben's a player, but I can't seem to get him off my head. I walk into the supermarket to grab a couple if things when I notice the magazines. Most of them mention Ben, and most of them have the shot of me leaving his house early in the morning. My face is still covered by a hat, though. Up until now everything has been pretty calm, but I know things are going to get intense pretty soon.
I feel my phone ring for the 5th time in an hour as I run into Lonnies office, "I'm here, I'm here".
"You're late" Lonnie raises an eyebrow as she hangs up the call.
"Only by a few minutes" I defend myself, but she's over the matter. I put my purse down and I finally take a look around. There are people running around everywhere. Make up artists, stylist, hair dressers everyone's here and with a good reason. I remember today is the day I'm doing a red carpet event with him. Today everyone will see my face. Today everything is going to change.
"Hurry up" Lonnie pushes me towards the back of the long hallway, "go get ready!"
I make my way into the dressing room where everyone's waiting for me when I run into a tall figure. Ben. I look up to apologize, but no words come out. His hair is neatly fixed, and he smells strongly of that expensive cologne that always lingers in the air after he leaves. For a few seconds we just stare at each other before I walk past him and into the dressing room. I close the door and lean against it taking a deep breath. Those eyes. Those beautiful green eyes. What's wrong with me?
"Oh dear" Marcia, my stylist, yanks me out of my thoughts, "what are you wearing?" I know she isn't looking for an answer, so I just look down and contemplate my appearance. It's not that bad. I'm just wearing jeans, flats and a simple shirt. "Don't worry honey, Marcia will fix this!"
I sit on that chair for what feels like hours as I get my make up and hair done. The right lights blind my eyes and the strong smell of hairspray makes my nose itch. Even though my makeup is very simple, it's clearly more evident than the almost insignificant amount of makeup I wear everyday. My hair is pulled up into a low braided bun and two strands hang lose on the front. Last , but not least, Marcia hands me the dress I'm wearing tonight. It's a simple flowy kind of indie dress covered in floral designs, it's something I would never wear, but it is truly beautiful.
"You look amazing" Ben points out as we get into the limo. I don't look like myself at all.
"Oh please!" I grunts as I slump down on my seat like the mess I actually am.
"You really do" he nods staring at the floor. I hesitate before I thank him.
Through the limo ride I keep trying to avoid him, but I find myself glancing at him to find him glancing at me as well. Every time I look away, I can fell his eyes right on me.
Ben seems clammy and fidgety, but as soon as we get there his appearance changes. He puffs his chest up, stretches his neck and walks with confidence. I have to admit the red carpet is extremely overwhelming. Lights flash everywhere and all eyes are on you. Tonight, all eyes are specifically on me. Both, Lonnie and Ben had warned me about this, but nothing could ever prepare me.
"Ready" he asks before wrapping his arm around my waist and starting to make our way down the carpet.
"I'm not sure". He seems so calm and collected, can't even imaging him feeling how I'm feeling right now.
We start walking and I completely zone out. Everyone yells Ben's name while blurting out questions, hoping to get an answer. From now on, you're not just any girl anymore. Ben's arm is wrapped tightly around my waist as we pose for picture in front of the cameras. We try avoiding most of the questions.
He keeps me close at all times with one arm around me. Every now and then he pulls me closer a little and leans down so our faces are barely inches away. I fidget and pull away slightly the first couple of times he does it, but as the night progresses I get used to it. I try to keep myself calm as I see all the celebrities I've always wanted to be right there next to me. All I want to do is scream and ask for their autograph, but I know I have to keep calm and fit in as much as I can.
This is all so much, the lights, the shouting, the celebrities. I'm nowhere near used to this, but at least I'm not as nervous and terrified as before. I smile a little more confidently as I feel Ben tense up by my side. I look up at him worried when I noticed he's staring at someone who's walking in our direction. A girl. Her skin is tan and she has luscious wavy brown hair.
"Ben" she nods as she struts by us. "Oh" she pouts staring at me now, "don't waste your time honey". Just in seconds she was gone.
"Who's that?" I ask confused.
"Audrey Bellini" he grinds his teeth together, "my ex" . I look at the girl again with her fake smile and big time bitch attitude. She's wearing a very tight hot pink dress that accents her curvy body perfectly.
"That's Audrey Bellini?" I gasp quietly, "she's not the pretty kind princess I remember"
"She never was" Ben shakes his head, "that was just her character. She's always been a bitch".
"How exactly did you two break up" I ask as we keep smiling and posing for cameras.
"She cheated on me" he says looking at her again, "with that guy. Charles Price". I look over my shoulder for a second and notice who Ben's referring to. Chad, the tall handsome man a few feet away. His teeth as straight and as white as they can get, his sparkly blue eyes are noticeable even from far away, and his blonde hair is tussled perfectly.
"Well I can see why" I joke, but he doesn't find it funny, "just kidding".
"They're perfect together" we walk a little farther down the carpet, "she's a bitch, and he's a bitch too".
"hey" I grin when I notice Audey looking at us, "do you want to make her jealous?". He doesn't answer, but I can see that he wants to in his eyes.
I shift my body forwards and rise on my toes. I would never be able to do this on a normal basis, but since I'm wearing tall heels I easily slam my lips in his. He's hesitant at first, surprised at me, but he slowly gets into the flow of the kiss. His lips are soft and sweet, and his movement are slow and gentle. His hand, already on my waist, pulls me closer so our bodies are pressed tightly together, and my hands go instantly around his neck. I could have stayed there for hours, but we both realize we're still on the carpet surrounded by paparazzi and separate.
For a couple of seconds there's complete and utter silence. His green eyes stare at me with a smile, and I look up at him smiling as well. As much as I wanted the silence to last, the paparazzi burst out yelling questions at us and snapping photos.
"Come on" he grabs my hand and pulls me towards the building.
I look back right before entering the building. Audrey stands there with her arms crossed staring at us frowning. She didn't like that. She didn't like that one bit.
The movie wasn't half bad. It was about a man who was stuck in a house with a family that wasn't actually his family, and it was actually pretty funny, well at least the parts that I actually paid attention to. Throughout the entire duration of the movie I found myself distracted looking at Ben, and apparently he was in the same situation. Every time I turned around to look at him, he was looking at me, and believe me when I say it couldn't get more awkward.
When the movie was over, instead of leaving everyone stayed in the theaters lobby for cocktails. It took everything within me to act casual when Ben introduced me to celebrities like it was an everyday thing. Well, I guess for him it actually is an everyday thing.
"Benjamin" a skinny guy with large glasses called him from the other side of the room.
"This'll just take a second" he smiles before stepping away to join the man in the glasses.
I stare at him for a few seconds unable to look away until I force myself to look down at my drink. This night has been unbelievable. Meeting celebrities, an actual movie premiere, kissing Ben. Kissing Ben.
"So youre Benny's new girl" I hear Audrey say and snap out of my thoughts, "don't waste your time honey, he'll just use you and throw you away like he always does". She isn't lying, but I have to believe there's more to Ben than being a fuckboy. "Mal is it?" I nod, "I wouldn't recommend making a habit out of going for dirty seconds, especially after me. I guess in this case it's more like dirty who knows what number". I want to shut her up, tell her she's wrong, but it's not my place to interfere in their private life even if I'm pretending to be his girlfriend.
"Is there a problem here?" Ben appears next to me with his arms crossed. Thank god. A few more seconds and I would have been completely humiliated.
"No" Audrey shakes her head, "not at all. Just introducing myself"
"Are you okay?" He wraps his arm around my waist.
"Fine" I nod grinning.
"Come on" he grabs my hand, "let's get out of here".
I leave my drink at a table and look at our surroundings. I expected everyone to be staring at us because of the Audrey/Ben encounter, but no one was watching. Everyone was deeply occupied with their own business to even notice, except for one person. The man in glasses stood there just looking at us, and his eyes didn't leave us until we walked out of the building