AN: Finally starting to get things moving in this story. I was a little worried about the last section and whether it would be confusing with the phone call and the interview going on at the same time but I hopefully it's not too confusing. Let me know what you think! xx
"Spence?" Emily had barely made it to her phone as she pulled herself out of bed, her eyes still closed and voice still heavy with sleep.
"Did you see they news?!" The over-caffeinated brunette chirped on the other end. "Ali's doing her first interview this Friday night!" She announced without waiting for an answer. Emily wouldn't have been surprised if her rapidly beating heart could be heard trying to escape her chest could be heard through the phone.
"Seriously?" She asked, trying to seem unaffected, though she was definitely wide awake now.
"Yes! I have no idea why she's decided to start doing it now, but it's everywhere."
"..well thats great for her, I guess but it doesn't have anything to do with me" The former swimmer replied carefully, not wanting to come off like she was some kind of pathetic loser still in love with their blonde starlet.
"Yeah, sure, you don't care. " Spencer replied sarcastically, clearly not fooled by the others cool tone. "She's on at 10."
"What show?" Em relented after a moment and she could feel the victorious grin spreading across the brunette's face.
"The Bradshaw Late Show. "
. . .xxxx
"Isn't that what makes me unique? That I don't do this kinda thing?" Alison asks as her manager, Michelle, tells her about the plans she'd made for her to do her first sit down interview.
It wasn't that she was totally against the idea. She was just.. nervous. Before the closest thing she'd gotten to an interview had been a few minutes talking to E! on the red carpet. What if she screwed up? What if they brought up her past? What if they didn't love her as much once the mystery was gone?
"Sweetie, unique isn't interesting forever. If we don't get you out there a little this whole mystery card we've been holding onto? People are gonna lose interest." Michelle replied bluntly, her words leaving a lasting sting in the blonde's heart. "It's been three years. A lot of your audience are eventually gonna get bored if you're always behind a closed door." She added with a fraction more sympathy, tearing the girl down before she started building her back up in the shape that most suited her, as had become a habit. "But the build up is great! We're gonna promote the shit out it until it's the most watched interview of all time. You're getting 2 million for the interview, but with all the press you'll get after you're gonna be so rich babe, it's sickening."
"Look around, it's already sickening." Ali laughed weakly, gesturing around her grand home filled with the kind of luxuries only royalty could afford.
"You complaining?" She smirked in return, to which the blonde merely offered a slight shrug, too tired for much else. "What's wrong princess, your mansion too big?" Michelle teased again, hoping to get a smile out of her young client.
"Sometimes." The blonde replied, leaving the manager stunned. "I.. —-never mind, I'm just kinda lonely that's all." She deduced after a moment, knowing the older woman wouldn't get it. Michelle had been good to her over the last couple years. Taken care of her. Made her feel important. But she wasn't like a real friend, all she ever wanted to talk about was brand and image and work. Alison missed having someone to talk to about.. nothing.
"So I'll get you a date" Michelle shrugged, as though it was an easy fix, and for half a second Ali actually let herself get excited, but when the other spoke again it was quickly extinguished. "Someone big, someone we can use — Oo! A Hemsworth maybe?"
"They're both married." She reminded dryly.
"Well I'm sure when they hear you're interested it won't take much convincing to get them to go grab a quickie divorce."
When all she received in return was an unamused glare, Michelle changed her tune.
"Yeah, you're right. We don't need people thinking you're a home wrecker. What about—"
"No, never mind. Just forget I said anything, okay?
"Well if you won't even try then get another dog and cheer up. It's not like you have time for a guy anyway, we have projects lined up for the next 8 months straight."
"So what am I meant to say in this interview." She replied, resting her head on her hands, not even wanting to think about how crazy her schedule was about to be.
"Anything you want, just be your charming little self." Michelle answered with a kiss to Ali's forehead acting the part of the supportive big sister the blonde had really been looking for when she hired her manager. Though it didn't last long.
"But remember not to give away too much — and if they ask about your creepy little town just try and change the subject, especially if they bring up your sister we don't need to talk about crazy, we want you to stay perfect —- and sexy, remember sexy." She instructed with the sensitivity of a hammer.
"And if they ask about dating anyone — guys, girls, whatever, be really casual and evasive about it, we don't wanna confirm or deny what you're into. Playing on the whole girl on girl thing has always been pretty popular. You know what, I'll just write you up a script it'll be easier." She eventually decided before leaving Ali alone for a few hours while she set about making sure everything was ready for tomorrow night.
. . .xxxx
As they finished her makeup, Alison had her assistant bring her another drink while she tried to pretend she wasn't nervous. From the looks of those around her she was doing pretty well so far but she still had a half hour to kill before she went on and the waiting was driving her insane. She'd been watching interviews of her favourite Hollywood starlet's all day trying to pick up a few tips about how to act and wondering what had happened to the confidence she had as a teenager. When she was young she never worried about if people would like her, she walked into every room thinking they'd either love her or be jealous they weren't her.
Now her emotions were a little more complicated. Murky even.
"Well I hate to admit it, but you look even better in person." Her head whipping around at the familiar and somewhat flirtatious voice, her nerves washed away, replaced by utter shock at the sight in front of her.
"Mona? What're you doing here?" The blonde asked, shooing her people from the room.
"What, an old friend can't visit?" She smirked, sauntering further into the room as Ali's makeup and hair team scurried past her out the door.
"We were never friends." The star reminds with narrowed eyes as she studies the girl in front of her.
"And yet, I'm the only one that's come to see you." She shot back immediately, mild regret seeping into her when the blonde's face drops slightly and she realises she hit a nerve. For a moment she almost feels guilty, knowing that they would have if she hadn't have lied to Hanna years ago about not being able to contact her.
"Look I just wanna make sure you don't say anything about Rosewood." She adds quickly, dropping the mean girl attitude she picked up in high school.
"And if I do?" She bites back, folding her arms across her chest.
Taking a deep breath, Mona tries to calm herself to avoid getting pulled back into old habits, doing her best to explain her situation in hopes the former Queen Bee would see reason. "Look Alison, I'm rising up in the ranks at the moment but if things work out for me I'm about to be a public figure, I don't need the details of what happened getting out —- and if you can't respect that, I'll have a lot of time to get even."
"Is that little threat supposed to scare me?" The blonde's eyes seemed to grow a shade darker, the challenge in her tone almost enough to make Mona physically step back, but she held her ground. It'd been many years now since she'd been Loser Mona and she wasn't about to go back to being that same little nobody that livid in fear of Alison's wrath.
"All I'm asking is for you to keep a secret, it should come naturally to you." She sighed, her voice wavering just slightly.
Ali stared at her for a long moment, analysing her as she thought over what to say next, knowing her manager had already forbid the host to mention Rosewood at all. She could put her out of her misery right now and agree, that'd be the kind thing to do. But what would be the fun in that? And after all Mona had put her through, put her friend's through, it wasn't as if she owed it to her to be particularly merciful.
"..so will you?"
"I haven't decided yet." She smiled, moving to sit back in her chair and touch up her lipstick, looking at the brunette through the mirror as she spoke again. "I guess you'll just have to watch and find out."
. . .xxxx
Spencer had told all the girl's about Alison's interview, not that she'd needed to with the press it was getting, but they'd all agreed to watch together at least in spirit. So, with the four-way Skype chat all set up they waited impatiently as the show began.
"I wonder what she's gonna wear." Hanna mused, to which Emily rolled her eyes — though her friend's chatter did help a little to take her mind off the way her stomach was doing backflips. She wasn't even sure if it was nerves or excitement or why she even cared so much, it was just an interview after all, it's not like she was actually gonna get to talk to her.
"Look, look, she's about to come out." Spencer announced, hushing them all as Bradshaw started to speak.
"And it's my pleasure to introduce, the lovely, the sexy, the amazingly talented, Ms Alison Dilaurentis." The dark haired TV host announced, standing up to greet her. Alison could barely think as she stood at the side of the stage getting lectured by Michelle about what to say and what not to say, she was so distracted she almost didn't hear him introduce her. But ever the consummate professional, she smiled as her manager pushed her toward the stage, looking as happy and carefree as ever.
"Laying it on pretty thick there don't you think, buddy?" Hanna mused aloud, scoffing at the obviously sleazy presenter.
Emily thought the description was pretty accurate, but there was a jealousy coiling in her gut that the man on the screen was about to be sitting next to her in all her lovely, sexy, amazingly talented glory.
Walking out with a winning smile, she laughed as the audience cheered her all the way over to the couch. "Wow, that's quite the introduction, thank you." Ali laughed, being her usual charming self as she took a seat, crossing one leg over the other. Though on the inside she was so nervous she was starting to feel sick and the heat of the stage lights weren't helping in the slightest.
"Well you certainly deserve it and this is your first interview so, I figure if I'm a little extra nice to you, you'll be more likely to come back." He explained, in what seemed like an attempt to be charming or maybe funny. The blonde almost worried he may strain a muscle if he tried any harder.
"Ugh, barf." Hanna rolled her eyes, though she was quickly shushed by Emily who wasn't prepared to miss a word Alison said.
"I'll think about it." Ali grinned teasingly as she leaned on the arm of the couch.
"What made you pick this show anyway?" He asked, obviously expecting her to stroke his ego. The star barely held back an eye roll at the question, looking subtly toward her manager for some sort off cue to find her mouthing what looked like 'be funny.' Taking that as permission, she turned back to the guy with a slight smirk.
"Well, Ellen was booked six weeks straight and my manager wanted to get this over with so..." She shrugged the drummer of the show's band in the corner instantly playing a 'ba dum tss' on the snare as the audience laughed.
"I like you, you're funny." He chuckled, though obviously less amused than everyone else. "So have you ever seen this show?"
With the audience seemingly on her side, Alison was tempted to say no and really put this loser through the ringer but she could see Michelle mouthing 'yes' in her peripheral vision and instead bit her tongue.
"Why, thank you." She teased with an easy smile that seemed to get him back on side. "I do watch your show, it's one of the only things I do watch when I'm not working and I think you're pretty funny yourself."
Whether it was her eyes, that smile or the fact that he'd finally got the compliment he was fishing for, Bradshaw ducked his head momentarily to hide the very obvious red that was creeping over his face. "Aw, well, thank you."
"Are you blushing?" Ali smirked, almost flirtatiously. Trying to keep up the facade she'd built up in these last few years. The audience expected her to tease and flirt, it's what they wanted, Michelle had made sure to remind her of as much a thousand times over.
"What? No, of course not." He chuckled, his voice laced with sarcasm as he realised there was no point trying to hide it.
"You are!" She pressed, her seemingly childlike amusement getting a rise out of the audience as well.
"You caught me. But you have that affect on a lot of people I've heard, men and women." He replied, changing the subject quickly in a way that made it obvious this is what he'd been waiting to ask since the minute her manager agreed to the interview.
"Why the hell would Ali choose this guy for her first interview? He's a total tool." Hanna scoffed, to which Spencer was quick to ask, "are we really sure she's the one that picked him?"
"Guys, shut up!" Emily hushed once more, trying to focus on Ali, though she didn't disagree. She didn't care how popular this loser's show was, the blonde could've done better.
She seemed taken aback at first but quickly recovered, laughing and making a face at the audience when she heard a few whistles. "I have heard that." She answered vaguely, knowing she was gonna get an earful when she got off stage for her momentary slip. It shouldn't have happened, not with how many times they'd been over this in the last few days but in the moment she just..froze. Just for a second.
"You think there'll be many people blushing for this next film we're seeing you in?" He smirked.
"I mean maybe, I don't know." Ali shrugged, playing heavily on her sultry reputation. "I'm not doing anything awfully risqué but there are a couple moments we're things get kinda sexy with Vanessa and I."
"And that'd be your co-star Vanessa Hudgens?"
"Correct." She nodded, smiling as the audience cheered. "Right? She's gorgeous isn't she?"
"Well she's grown up a lot from her high school musical days." His tone making it obvious what he meant.
"Still got a killer voice though." Ali replied, in attempt to change the tone from where this perv was trying to take it, hoping he'd catch a clue and ask about her singing debut in the film instead.
"Oh, I'm sure. She has a boyfriend though, right? What does he think about you too getting all hot and heavy on camera?" He pushed, hoping for some sort of sordid details.
The blonde shifted slightly at the question, turning her head back to the direction she'd come from for another signal, though she already knew what she'd want her to do. Sure enough, Michelle stood there adamantly encouraging her to play along, so with her smile slightly more forced as she replied. "Well I don't know for sure what he thinks, we haven't met — but I'm sure he thinks about it a lot."
"Who is she looking at?" Spencer snapped in frustration, promptly receiving another shh from the former swimmer, to which she couldn't help but roll her eyes after having had to listen to Emily poorly pretend not to care for over a year.
"Me and him both." Bradshaw laughed. "What about you, you seeing anyone?"
"Uh, no." She assured quickly, shaking her head. Cursing herself when she saw Michelle losing it behind the curtain and remembered she was meant to say 'maybe'.
"Why the hell not? Look at you, I'm sure everyone you meet is hitting on you."
"Oh, they are." She answered with all the confidence in the world, though if someone were really looking they'd have seen her move away from him ever so slightly. Ali visibly paused just for a second, as if she was debating whether or not she should say more before adding, "But they've got a lot to live up to."
She knew Michelle was going to be livid but she was already pissed off and after Mona showing up in her dressing room before the show she was struck with the urge to reach out and see if someone out there was still listening. Still cared.
The audience seemed to all quiet down at once, listening with wrapped interest as he pressed for more information about the most private star in Hollywood. "Ahh, still hung up on an ex then? Ex boyfriend, ex girlfriend, what?"
"An ex almost." She answered vaguely with a smile that didn't nearly reach her eyes.
Emily's breath caught in her throat, the others left speechless as well, all wondering if she was talking about who they thought she was talking about.
"Jeez, those are almost worse. Does anyone even have a shot?"
And for just a moment she actually seemed taken off guard, her eyes falling to her hands in her lap. For just a moment her mask fell and she seemed like a real person, a person in pain. But that moment was over as quickly as it came, her luminous disguise falling perfectly back in place as she smiled and shrugged. "I don't know, I guess it'd depend on who was taking a shot."
"You know, you didn't say whether we're taking girl or guy here." He reminded pointedly, trying to get as much out of the interview as possible.
Emily was on the edge of her seat listening, feeling more like an actual person rather than some drone than she had since her father had passed.
"You're right, I didn't." She teased, though making it clear she had no intention of revealing anymore.
"Well, you wanna give us a hint?" He pushed, to which she gave another mysterious smirk as she leaned toward him.
"Wouldn't you rather wonder?" She asked, her voice almost a low purr.
"No! I gotta get this a name so we can call this mystery heart breaker up right now and ask them why the hell they aren't beating down your door." He insisted, slamming a hand on his table jokingly.
"Oh God, no." Alison replied quickly, panic clear in her eyes at the mere thought of having this idiot call up Emily live on tv with over three million people watching across the nation. "No, I..they're much happier without me." She settled on after a moment. The blonde wasn't sure yet if she believed that but it seemed like the right thing to say to make sure this issue was dropped.
"That seems pretty hard to believe." He scoffed, giving her a very obvious once over.
"Not everyone's a fan." Ali shrugged nonchalantly, clearly starting to get fed up with the guys attitude.
"Well, I can tell you for sure everyone in our live audience is so, let's go ahead and play the clip you brought in for us from your new film An Affair to Remember — take a look at this." He redirected quickly, signalling the end of what had been a reasonably painful interview.
"Em? Em, hello? Did you pass out or just forget how to talk?" Hanna asked as the preview played, just as sensitive as ever.
Emily barely heard her with all the thoughts racing through her head. She had to be talking about her, she had to be. Does this mean they still had a shot? Is that what it meant? Was Ali asking her to come and find her again? That was it wasn't it? There was no way she'd have said something like that if she didn't want to see her again, right? And did she honestly think could ever be happier without her?
"EM!"
"We have to go see her." She declared, snapping out of her thoughts.
"What? Where? We don't know where she lives remember." Hanna replied instantly, skeptical that they were going to be able to do now what they hadn't been able to do in three years. She knew how desperately Emily must want to see her after that but everything Alison did was kept private. No one knew her number or where she lived or what studio she was working at at any given time.
"We also don't know how to get her on the phone so we have to go there." Emily insisted, ready to buy a plane ticket in the next five minutes, despite her current financial situation and wander around Hollywood knocking on doors until she found the right one.
"But go where? " Hanna emphasised again, decidedly less willing to wander through the streets yelling Ali's name until she magically appeared.
"Guys! we can find out who her next interview is with and buy tickets with backstage passes." Spencer announced, realising this new press tour would be able to give them the in they'd been looking for.
"Then let's do it."