Chapter 6: Putting down the walls

I don't know, I just can feel it in the atmosphere

If I'm wandering, I've wandered into just the right spot

- Mayday Parade

"Here, sip this," Jayna ordered as she handed me a glass of water.

"Thanks, Jays," I said, taking the glass. "I swear I'm fine though."

Jayna turned to Tom, who had followed us both to the back room of the event venue. "Thanks for being there for Ali," she told him. Then a scowl washed over her face. "I would have so kicked that guy's ass if I'd been there! He wouldn't even know what hit him."

"No, yeah, I'm absolutely sure of that," Tom responded with an amused nod. I didn't blame him – Jayna could be really animated when something makes her angry.

"Hey Ali, maybe it's time you sign up for a self-defense class? I attended this sort of thing once, and it was really helpful. I could show you the moves I learned –"

"Umm sure Jays, we can schedule it in one day." I interrupted my best friend only because I knew she could go on and on. And Tom looked like he was too polite to step away from the conversation.

"For now though, I think it's time we get back to work." I glanced at Tom. "Thanks so much again, and I'm sorry that you had to get involved. You should probably get back too..?"

Tom's phone rang at that moment. He slid his thumb across the phone screen to answer the call. "Hello? No, I'm in the back room. You just keep walking past all the doors.. Yep. Yep."

"Who's that?" Jayna asked after Tom hung up. She was always the first to be suspicious about everything, and never ashamed to show it.

"Oh, it's Harrison. He's a good friend of mine and he was wondering where I was. You don't mind that he comes over to look for me, yeah?"

Jayna pursed her lips in thought. "Hmm, if he's someone famous, can I interview him for my YouTube channel?"

Tom shrugged. "Sure."

"Trevor, you just pimped your friend out. I hope you know that," I said. Oh crap, why was I still calling him 'Trevor'? I didn't know why but it felt weird to suddenly start using 'Tom'.

"And it goes without saying that you'll get an interview slot too," Jayna quickly added with a wide smile at Tom.

Tom's eyebrows shot up. "I didn't –"

"Hey everyone," a jovial British-accented voice rang out from behind us. "What did I miss?"

We all turned and were greeted by the sight of a guy in light brown hair and a cheeky grin. He stood slightly taller than Tom, casually slinging one arm over Tom's shoulder.

Tom did the introductions. "Ali and Jayna, meet Harrison Osterfield. Haz, meet Ali and Jayna."

"Hi!" Jayna chirped. "Tom rescued Ali from some pervy asshole at the media tables just now."

Harrison's jaw dropped.

"It's no big deal, really," I insisted. "And hi, Harrison. Good meeting you."

"Hello, girls. Wow, I didn't know my boy here was a superhero in real life too," Harrison said. "Well done, lad."

Tom rolled his eyes.

"So what do you do, Harrison?" Jayna asked. "Tom says you're famous. And that you'll be happy to join him in being interviewed – I have this YouTube channel…"

"Whoa, hold on." Harrison studied Jayna, still grinning. "I think I'll need to get to know you better before I commit to anything."

"Well, what would you like to know?"

Oh great. Jayna and Harrison were openly flirting, while I was standing there awkwardly, still holding onto my glass of water.

It was apparent that Tom noticed what I noticed. I wrinkled my nose and he chuckled.

As Jayna and Harrison continued talking, Tom took a few steps away, so he was further from them and closer to me.

"Hey," he said in a hushed tone.

"What's up?" I replied in an equally low tone.

"I just wanted to tell you.. that I'm sorry."

"What! Whatever for?"

"This catering gig. It was my doing. Ryan Reynolds was asking if I knew of any good caterers, so…"

"So it was you. But I don't get why you're apologizing…?"

"Well, the whole thing with the media guy who harassed you… It wouldn't have happened if I hadn't –"

"Are you serious? Oh my God, assholes are going to be assholes, and they're everywhere. It's totally not your fault!" I shook my head in disbelief. To think that Tom actually felt responsible for what had happened earlier… It's insane.

Well, it was honestly also insane how he even remembered my name all these while. The look on his face and the sound of his voice when he said Ali, are you okay? – it may be imprinted in my mind forever.

"I'm still really sorry anyway," Tom said.

"Well, don't be. It's absolutely unnecessary. Save it for a time when you actually do something wrong, okay?" I joked.

Tom appeared deep in thought for a minute. Then he seemed to have thought of something. "Hey, are you doing anything after this?"

"Umm, I'm not sure yet," I replied cautiously. "Why?"

"I was planning on catching Quentin Tarantino's latest movie.. Once Upon A Time In Hollywood? There's a really nice movie theater just two blocks from here. It's got this classic vibe, with an old school concession stand and plush red chairs and all. Anyway, if you're free, do you want to watch it? With me? I'll ask Jayna and Harrison too."

I didn't know what to say. The thing was, for a good part of my life, I'd been putting up walls to keep most people out. Because of my past…

It was just better this way. Knowing that my world consisted of only those few whom I absolutely needed in my life – this was how I maintained some level of normalcy.

The question now was, did I want to let Trevor – I mean Tom – into my life, even if it was just a temporary pass for this one evening?

It was one thing to share the night view on an open deck with him; to agree to a dance together; to see him at a work event. These all happened by chance without any prior planning. Well, mostly.

But beyond that? To deliberately make a plan to hang out? I wasn't sure. And it wasn't even because he was someone famous, no. I was just so used to being guarded…

"Ali?" Tom prompted. He was looking at me right in the eye, with an encouraging smile.

Maybe I was overthinking. After all, it was just a movie. Two hours and we'd be done.

"Okay. Jayna and I will need to clean up and pack everything first, but yeah, I'm in. But it depends on Jayna though, because I hitched a ride from her."

"Great. Let's ask those two lovebirds," Tom said. He waved at Jayna and Harrison. "Hey, you two!"

Harrison turned his attention from Jayna to Tom. "What is it?"

"Here's the plan after this premiere is over. Let's all catch Once Upon A Time In Hollywood at McFarlane Cinema. It's really close by."

"Sorry mate, I've got a date later tonight," Harrison replied.

"I can't either," Jayna said, her regret evident in her voice. She glanced at me. "I promised Ben we'd meet once I'm back home tonight."

"What? When did you get back together with Ben again?" I exclaimed, surprised.

"This afternoon," Jayna admitted with a sheepish grin.

Both Harrison and Tom looked at Jayna and I, curious.

"Ben is my on-again, off-again boyfriend," Jayna explained with full honesty.

Harrison laughed. "Well, let me know the next time it's off again."

"It depends though on how well your date goes tonight," Jayna responded with a wink, not missing a beat.

"Sooo," Tom said, apparently deciding to tune Jayna and Harrison out. "Ali, are you still up for the movie?"

"I guess not. Jayna's my ride home," I reminded Tom.

"I can arrange for our driver to get you home after the movie," Tom offered. "If that's okay with you. Hank is our regular driver, he's really good. He doesn't ever run a red light."

"But Warren is two hours away from here. I don't know. It sounds like such a hassle for the driver to make the long drive to and from there…"

"Go on ahead, Ali," Jayna urged. "It sounds fun, and it'll be good to relax after that disgusting episode you had tonight. I'm sure Tom would ensure you're in good hands with the driver."

"Yeah, it's not a problem at all," Tom stated.

I nodded. "Okay then. Sure. Let's see if Tarantino delivers the goods with his new movie."

Despite the tiny bit of hesitation that still remained somewhere inside, I decided to ignore it. I would just put down the walls, at least for tonight.

As the four of us shuffled out of the back room, I caught Jayna giving me a subtle, supportive thumbs up. I smiled at her, and thought to myself, Let's just let the night unfold in whichever way it wants.