Author: Sarafu
Rating: PG-13
Disclaimer: Power Rangers do not belong to me.
Summary: After ten years of hard work, the Dino Thunder team has found success, but for two of them, happiness remains elusive. Can they find it in each other?
Dedication: To Casey who has listened to me rant about this long overdue chapter for months and who gave me the chance to really experience Boston for myself, to Boston for being the city it is, and to "its buttery" who reminded me of this project and even managed to prod me a bit with the poky stick of guilt.
Chapter 8: Tabloid Fodder
March 2014
Kira stared at the huge pile of papers on her publicist's desk with dismay. "How does anyone know anything? Conner and I have been very careful about keeping our relationship between us."
"Apparently, you weren't careful enough," the brunette snapped. "And as soon as we get this worked out, you will be explaining why you kept this a secret from me, Kira. What's the number one rule?"
Kira swallowed and muttered, "You're my first line of defense."
"How can I prepare against an onslaught like this when I don't know anything?"
"We didn't know someone would – "
"That was a rhetorical question," Penelope answered, stopping her in mid-sentence. "First, you need to walk me through your relationship with Mr. McKnight. I've been through the newspapers and compiled some questions for you to answer. I need to call his publicist and start working on a joint statement which you two will need to present at a joint press conference."
"We're just dating," she protested. "It's not a new album or anything. Can't we just release the statement?"
"If you don't show to answer their questions, they will hassle you constantly. Both of you. They'll follow you to the grocery store, the soccer field, the studio. Peace and privacy will just be gone, Kira."
"It's not like I have either of those anyway."
"It's going to be worse, Kira. They'll be like vultures with a carcass." Her blue eyes studied her client carefully. "This is the biggest celebrity romance in years."
Kira started to deny the charge, but her phone jangled in her purse. "I should get that. It's Conner." The woman gestured freely, and Kira fumbled for the yellow phone. "Conner?" she asked, her shoulder relaxing at the affirmative reply. "Yeah, all hell is breaking loose here, too. My publicist has been reaming me out for not telling her. Yours, too? That makes me feel better. Plan of action? Penelope already has one all prepared."
Penelope shoved a paper and pen in Kira's direction. "Get the name and number of his PR person so I can get on this," she ordered.
As Kira dutifully jotted down the information, she kept up the conversation. "She thinks we need to have a press conference. Can you survive until Thursday? My plane should land in early evening." She paused to listen, a smile crossing her face for the first time in hours. "I am calm, Conner. I know we'll get through this. You don't have to keep repeating it in my ear. Okay, I'll talk to you later. Bye." Kira ended the call and met Penelope's eyes calmly. "What's next?"
The next few days proved three things to Kira: that Penelope was absolutely right about their status as the next big thing, that journalists had no lives to speak of, and that if she ever found out who had spilled the beans about their relationship, they wouldn't live through her next encounter with them. By the time Thursday rolled around, she was ready for the press conference if only to gain back the hours she had spent avoiding the press and their intrusive personal questions. Conner was not faring any better, his frustration exacerbated by the fact that the reporters kept finding a way to sneak into team practices and distract the whole team from practice with their interviews. He had to suffer through several lectures from his coach about distractions in the form of relationships particularly high-profile romances that created so much publicity. Even Ethan had been waylaid about their relationship, but he dealt with the problem by good-naturedly issuing outrageous rumors that countered the press's information.
Kira took a much larger entourage than she had anticipated to Boston. Her label had increased her security two-fold because they worried about her safety. She was more concerned with the press, but there was little that any of them could do about it until the press conference in Boston. It was easier for Conner to do it in Boston plus it had th added benefit of protecting their hometown and friends from the media circus. Besides, Hayley's wasn't exactly suitable for the journalists who were used to finer surroundings.
In Boston, Kira dispatched David to the Ritz-Carlton across the city and made her way from the airport to the hotel Penelope had selected for the press conference. Despite knowing that this ordeal would be over soon, Kira's spirits did not lift until she was in the same room as Conner, finding his tall frame amidst the throng of people backstage. "Conner," she called, pushing through the small crowd.
He heard her lyrical voice through the din, turning away from Penelope and an unfamiliar young man. As he finally caught sight of her, a sweet, pleased smile appeared and he rushed in her direction. When they reached each other, he lifted her off the ground, his mouth descending onto hers to give her a passionate kiss that shut out the restof the room.
As they separated a couple of minutes later, a wry voice said, "It's surprising that no one exposed you sooner if you always act like this when you see each other."
Conner slung his arm around Kira, who had turned pink at the remark. "Dude, we're in love," he told the young man.
"Right," he replied. "Ms. Ford, it's a pleasure to meet you. My name is Rodney Phelps."
Kira offered him a shy smile as she shook his hand. "Kira, please, Mr. Phelps. You've done a great job with Conner's career."
"Please call me Rod," he answered jovially. "Lucky for me, Conner sells himself. I just sit back and let him make money for me."
Kira smiled in spite of herself; there was something so honest and straightforward about his words that she couldn't help liking him immediately.
"If you're done trying to charm my client, we ought to return to the business at hand," Penelope interjected smoothly, the only sign of disapproval in the way the corners of her mouth curled slightly. "The press conference is supposed to start in ten minutes."
"Let 'em wait," Rod said.
Kira intervened quickly, sensing the battle brewing. "First of all, I'd rather they didn't riot and try to destroy the room. And secondly, I'd like to get on with our lives. I've read over the statement you two prepared for us, and it looks fine to me."
She glanced at Conner who shrugged. "I don't have any problems with it. Should we take questions?"
The publicists exchanged long telling looks before Penelope nodded. "You should if only to satisfy their curiosity and take back some of your privacy."
"I'm not sure I want to answer questions," Kira said, looking extremely uncomfortable at the idea. "It's none of their business."
"If you don't talk to them, not at them, to them, they'll make your life hell, Kira. It's their specialty," Rod argued.
Conner looked down at his girlfriend with a small smile. "He's right. If we let them ask us questions, they'll back off a lot. Besides, we don't have to answer all their questions."
Biting her lip, Kira asked, "And what if they don't back off?"
Penelope said, "We'll increase your security and keep a tighter lid on your schedule at the same time Rod said, "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."
Amused by their conflicting reports and the death glare Penelope gave Rod, Kira nodded slowly. "All right, but we won't answer everything."
"Good," Rod replied, cocking his ear toward the entrance to the other room. "I think the natives are getting restless. If you want my advice, Kira, follow Conner's lead. He's an old pro at the whole charming the press and dealing with romances in the spotlight."
Kira glanced up at Conner and elbowed him in the side. "Quit smirking. You're not the only one who has dealt with the press."
"But I'm the pro," he protested.
She rolled her eyes and turned to tell Rod, "You shouldn't encourage him. His ego is already too big."
A young woman approached timidly. "Everyone is here, Penelope."
"Excellent. You two can manage to get along through the press conference, right?" Her gaze was hard and intent as she stared at them.
They seemed surprised at her question and answered, "Yes." Conner even went so far as to ask, "Why wouldn't we?"
"I've seen lots of couples that fall apart after their first press conference. I'd hate to waste this opportunity if this fighting is going to undo what's happening today," she said crisply.
Kira smiled while Conner laughed outright. Her thinning mouth told them both that Penelope was not pleased at their amusement. "Is there a reason you think that's funny?"
"Sorry, Penelope, we're just used to dealing with each other. What seems like fighting to other people is really just one of the ways we communicate. It's always been that way. You know, banter. But I guess we've forgotten that people might not get that unless they've actually been around both of us. We'll try to keep that to minimum during the press conference."
"Good call," said Rod, pushing them toward the doorway. "You need to get out there. Have fun and stay cool."
"Be careful what you say to them." Penelope's words were the last thing they heard before they were out on a stage with a podium. At their sudden appearance, the reporters leapt to their feet and started to shout questions at the pair. Underneath the harsh glares of flashing bulbs, the couple joined hands and exchanged glances of silent reassurance. This wasn't the first test, but it was the first public test.
Conner stepped up to the microphones with Kira at his side and gestured for everyone to sit down. "Look, you guys, we know you want to know everything that's up, but if you just hang on for a few minutes and let us get our statement out of the way, we'll be totally willing to answer any questions you have."
Over the silence, Kira interjected, "Most questions."
The group laughed, settling into their seats with their notepads, tape recorders, and vid cells. The athlete gave them a brief, lazy grin as he picked up the single sheet of paper. "As most of you are aware, we have been friends for more than ten years. Recently, we decided to take our relationship in a different direction."
Kira spoke next, "And contrary to the allegations published by a reputable paper, we have only been dating since January. We've kept it private for several reasons, and we know that you will respect our privacy and leave us to our lives."
"Thanks. We'll now take a few questions," Conner concluded, pointing to a reporter in the front row.
"What was your primary reason for moving in a new direction? How did it happen, and did it have anything to do with the concert in Boston?"
"I didn't mean for you to use up everybody's questions," Conner joked before he looked at Kira with a thoughtful expression. "Want to field this, Kira?"
With a quick deep breath, she faced the expectant crowd. "Conner and I did meet for lunch before my concert and we reconnected on several levels. We had a couple of conversations about our lack of relationships, and after the concert, Conner told me that he was attracted to me and asked me to consider dating him. I said no at first, but he persuaded me to change my mind," she answered, omitting several key events.
"Why did you say no at first?" the Teen People reporter asked.
"I know, right?" he interrupted, smiling at the woman appreciatively, but Conner was absolutely serious when he finally spoke. "She was worried about my track record with women."
"And I was concerned about our friendship. We've been friends with each other for a long time," she explained. "I didn't want to mess anything up. That's one of the reasons we kept it a secret from the public. We wanted to make it work without affecting our friendship."
"Can you tell us any of the other reasons?"
"Absolutely not," Conner said firmly. "Those reasons are private."
A young reporter for The New York Times jumped to his feet. "Conner, how long have you been attracted to Kira?"
"A long time," he said simply.
"Why didn't you act sooner?" Kira gave him a pointed nudge at the newest question.
With a brief gesture of mock surrender, Conner said, "For the same reason Kira wasn't too sure about my intentions - I didn't want to risk our friendship on something that might not work out. In the end though, what I felt for her was too strong not to try."
"Do you have any idea who might have leaked the information about your romance?"
They both frowned at the inquiry; it was a subject they had already talked to death. Conner had argued in favor of Trent, but Kira refused to accept the idea on the grounds that he didn't feel anything for her anymore. With a decisive shake of her head, Kira responded, "No, we don't have any idea who it was. The only people who knew are people we trust implicitly. None of them would release anything like that to the press. Besides, isn't it your job to investigate that sort of thing?"
"Not even Trent Fernandez?" asked a young woman from her seat in the back.
Conner remained silent, his seething irritation palpable only to Kira. The blonde denied flatly, "Trent is one of our closest friends. He would never do that."
Sensing the topic was closed for further discussion, another reporter inquired, "What was Ethan James' reaction to the news?"
"He was thrilled, of course," Conner said, relaxing as the topic of Trent passed. "He thought it should have happened long ago."
"And what do you have to say about Ethan's comment that you two are already married with a baby on the way?"
Kira had missed that particular declaration and groaned inaudibly, cursing Ethan's name. However, her voice was steady, betraying none of her frustration. "Ethan was just messing with you, giving a story that could easily be checked out and dismissed. We aren't married and I'm not pregnant."
That announcement energized the crowd into asking all sorts of questions yet one loud question overrode the din. "Are you going to get married?"
Conner glanced at the reporter. "Dude, we just started dating. I'm not ruling it out, but give it some time, okay?"
"Both of you are very busy people. How are you managing to have any sort of relationship particularly since you live on opposite sides of the country?"
The singer relaxed and smiled ruefully. "It hasn't been easy, but we've made it work by finding ways to see each other at least once a week for a meal, making a concentrated effort to spend at least one weekend together every few weeks, and phone calls and e-mails. Plus, we have very organized assistants. It will be a lot easier now that my tour is over."
"Does that mean your new album is going to be put on hold for a while?"
The couple smiled at each other before turning back to the press. "No, Stephanie, I'm still working on new songs. In fact, I wrote quite a bit while I was in Paris at the beginning of the month."
"Will you be moving to Boston while Conner is here?"
"No, Reefside is my home, and it's near enough to L.A. that I can still fulfill my publicity obligations and work with my record company."
"Which isn't a bad thing," Conner added. "I tend to get distracted when she's nearby. I'm sure my coach appreciates her staying away as often as she does." They laughed as they jotted down his answer in addition to Kira's.
"Have your feelings changed all that much since you've been dating?"
"That's a weird question," he said bluntly. "But yeah, I'm in love with her more every day." He smiled at his girlfriend as if she were the one he was speaking to instead of a room full of reporters. Camera bulbs started flashing again at the tender moment, and in the midst of the blinding lights, another voice yelled out a question.
"How about you, Kira? What do you think of Conner now?"
This was the question that Kira had been dreading even moreso once she heard Conner's confident answer. He squeezed her hand for encouragement, and she carefully weighed her options. She knew that she didn't have to answer the question; Conner wouldn't have minded because he understood her reticence better than she expected. On the other hand, to ignore the question would bring even more questions and speculation down on their relationship. Still, she didn't feel as boxed in as she had expected to feel. With a serious, thoughtful expression, she said, "Truthfully, I thought Conner was insane when he suggested we try a relationship. Neither of us are big on trusting our hearts to other people, and long-distance relationships between people in the public eye rarely work. But in spite of my concerns, this has been a really great thing for both of us. I've cared deeply for Conner for a very long time, and all this has done is sharpen the focus a bit and strengthen those feelings even more. Conner's one of the few people in my heart who has always been there for me, and I know that it will always be the case."
"What's your sex life like?"
The question flabbergasted Kira who hadn't been expecting anything quite that open, but Conner accepted it with ease. "I think that means it's time to end the press conference, guys. I wouldn't want to say something that might accidentally offend my girlfriend. Trust me, I really don't want to offend her."
As he started to lead her off the stage, she quietly snapped, "Why didn't you refuse to comment?"
He didn't respond until the door to the stage was shut behind them. "Look, Kira, there was no way that they would have believed that I'm not having sex with you. Look at you . . . and I'm Conner McKnight and known for my sexual conquests. To pretend that we didn't have a healthy sex life would never fly and it would have caused even more people to speculate," he answered, staring into her hazel eyes with sincerity.
"That was a brilliant move, Conner," Penelope said as the publicists approached. "Your'e more intelligent and perceptive than people give you credit for." Her eyes reflected more respect now.
He shrugged carelessly and ran a hand through his hair. "That's what I keep telling people, but they don't listen to me."
"Look, kids, we just wanted to tell you that we thought you two did a fantastic -"
"An adequate job," Penelope interrupted. "But you two can work on improving your technique for the next one. It's not a circus no matter how much the media would like to turn it into one and you need to make an effort to avoid that kind of encouragement."
Undeterred, Rod continued, "So have fun this weekend and remember you don't have to hide anymore. You can actually eat in public."
Conner wrapped his arm around Kira's shoulders. "That's a shame. I enjoyed the perks of hiding quite a bit."
"Conner!" she reprimanded, but she accepted the soft kiss he placed on her forehead.
The pair of publicists slipped away undetected as Conner whispered, "You were really great out there, Kira."
She tilted her head and gave him a puzzled look. "And for someone so notoriously tactless with the press, you really weren't."
"Do you really think I'd risk losing you over something stupid I said that could have been avoided?"
With a bright smile at his answer, Kira moved into his arms. "I sent David to check into my hotel, but I was wondering if you'd be more interested in something different, something a little more homey?"
"Like what?"
"Well, you still haven't showed me your place yet," she pointed out.
He paused, considering her words. "All right, but there's something you should know first."
"What's that?"
"My apartment is totally trashed. I didn't plan on company there."
"Is the bed clean?"
Dubiously, he nodded. "I think so."
"We'll be fine then," she said, dragging him through the room. "We can explore the perks of hiding more."