The Unkindness of the Paparazzi

  “Here is a plan; we switch the TV off, we order a pizza or sushi and then we forget about the world.

  I am sorry that idiot did what he did but like you say what is done is done. I will have my agent draw up a statement and we can see if we can fix this in a civilised manner?”

  His solution was better than the mess going on in my head at that moment.

  “Alright did you get hold of you agent?”

  I asked remembering he had made the phone call.

  “Yes and this might be bad timing but he asked me if we were a couple and if he should make comments when the reporters phoned him. I kind off gave him the okay on it.”

  I smiled up at him tears still running down my face.

  I gave him a gentle kiss on the chin.

  “It’s fine I don’t care who knows, we have nothing to hide.”

  He nodded and kissed me on my forehead again. He wiped the tears off my cheeks and took a strand of hear off my face and tucked it behind my ear.

  “I am here I won’t leave you. Even if you drink too much,” he said playfully.

  I punched his arm.

  “Too soon,” I said laughing it was funny coming from him.

  “She’s strong,” he said rubbing his arm.

  “Yes I am afraid you still have a lot to learn about me and it’s not pretty.”

  He just laughed at me, he picked up the coffee I made him and gulped it down pulling his face.

  “I will make you a nice cup next time,” I said laughing at the face he pulled.

  “No I actually like it,” he said trying to make me feel better.

  Chapter 13

  We decided to sit on the sofa and watch movies that I had in my DVD collection. It wasn’t entirely his taste in movies but he didn’t complain.

  As we finished the second movie he kissed me gently on my forehead and asked,

  “must I phone James and tell him to go home, take the rest of the night off?”

  I looked up at him. I wanted him to stay but I wasn’t sure if that would give the wrong impression, seen as there were still paparazzi sitting outside my apartment just waiting for him to leave. If he spent the night it would definitely be in the tabloids the next morning.

  We had a break from filming for two days so we didn’t have to leave the apartment, but still we had to show our faces some or other time.

  “You don’t have anything here,” I said softly and unsure of how he would answer.

  “That can be arranged, but if you want me to go then I will. I don’t want to pressure you.”

  I looked up at him wishing that I was the type of person who could just bite the bullet and take chances in life. I was always a person who planned everything down to the last letter. I hated surprises and the unexpected.

  I bit my lower lip while reasoning in my head what I should do. I wanted him to stay and that part of me was dominating my fear of what was waiting if he should spend the night.

  “I think you should phone James and tell him to bring your stuff; enough for two nights, we don’t need to leave the apartment.”

  As he looked at me, it felt like he could see my soul and what I was thinking.

  He had this way about himself he could handle my doubts and insecurities and that was the type of person I needed.

  Until I met him, I saw myself as a strong person but then when I got to know him better I realised the sadness in me was my downfall.

  No wonder I was looking for love in the wrong places. It wasn’t about Jake; it was about me looking for the girl I used to be. When I was younger and before I lived all the disappointments of the grown up life I was wild, sassy and up for anything. But the more I grew up the more I started destroying that girl I used to be.

  My psychologist once explained to me that I was at war with myself. At first I thought she was just trying to fill our hour with fancy words. But then I realised she was reading into the things I never said out loud.

  I was waiting for him on the sofa while he made the call; when the doorbell rung.

  I wasn’t sure if I should answered it; what if it was one of the vultures outside trying their luck to get their scoop? It was sad, before Joshua I saw the paparazzi also differently, I always felt that they needed to get the story or the photo because that was their job. They get beaten and their equipment gets broken and all they were trying to do was their jobs.

  I always compared it to the worst job I ever had, ‘customer services’.

  You get trained to know a product and then people phone you and ask your advice or complain about the product. You are there to help but no one understands that they are talking and dealing with an individual not a machine.

  You need to put food on the table like everyone else. But somehow everyone thinks that you are the person that must be shouted at, the person that is specially employed for verbal abuse. Just like customer service agents so I thought it was the same with the paparazzi.

  Now I felt differently, an actor or actress can’t go to a restaurant; they can’t go to the movies or even spend time with their families.

  Yes if it wasn’t for the paparazzi the actors and actresses would have been no one, a regular Joe. But then there is such a fine line between capturing a moment on camera and invading someone’s privacy.

  I walked up to the door, I looked back at Joshua standing in the kitchen he was still talking on the phone but at the same time he was watching me.

  When I opened my door I was relieved to see Dean standing there holding the pizza’s we ordered earlier.

  “There was a delivery car outside he couldn’t get in, so when he saw me and realised I was not part of the other people he asked me to help him get these pizza’s delivered.

  I paid him and gave him a generous tip don’t worry I wasn’t stingy.

  Why would you order two pizza’s for yourself? Clearly you were going to invite me,” he said rolling his eyes as if what he said was obvious.

  “Actually…” I started but it was too late, Dean invited himself in as he always did; he walked straight for the kitchen.

  “Oh I didn’t realise I was crashing an existing party,” Dean said looking at me motioning his eyes to Joshua.

  “Don’t talk nonsense you are welcome to stay,” I tried.

  “If it’s not an inconvenience?”

  Dean knew how to make everyone else around him want him there.

  “Don’t be silly sit. I will open a bottle of red wine,” I said pushing him into the lounge.

  “Are you sure you want to do that, according to sources unknown you have a drinking problem,” he said smiling back at me.

  “So I have heard, screw Jake what does he know? Anyways he treats woman like toys and I am wrong.”

  I tried to get a good come back line, yet it fell flat as soon as I had said it.

  “Friend we don’t have a problem, the problem has us,” he joked kissing me on the cheek.

  “So what’s new in ‘Joshatie’ as they call you now days?” He asked giggling at the ridiculous name.

  “They already combined our names! Ah I don’t know.”

  I sighed it was a roller coaster, there was always something.

  “Here is something no one has said to you today. Live a little! You are just getting sadder by the day. I wanted to hook you up on an internet date site a couple of weeks ago because I couldn’t stand you sleeping till noon. Not to mention that insomnia problem you had. Black bags under the eyes and pale skin is not you.”

  Dean always used the shock factor to get attention. It worked with me and the fact that he was always completely honest helped allot.

  “You are right screw everything I am going to let him in, I am going to let this nice thing happen to me.”

  And just there and then I stopped being so pathetic.

  Chapter 14

  Dean grabbed a piece of pizza and started eating i
t like he hadn’t been fed in years.

  “I see the pizza got here safely,” Joshua said smiling as he looked at Dean gulping down the food.

  “Listen here pretty boy I have been out having sex all day I am hungry. Oh I am sorry should I still act around the actor?”

  Dean joked as he saw the shock on my face. Dean was honest and direct and at times I loved it, other times he could be pretty embarrassing and high maintenance.

  “No its fine no acting is required, I am glad you are getting more comfortable around me,” Joshua said winking at me probably showing me that I need not worry.

  “Talking about comfortable, why are you still here its pretty late?” Dean asked in-between chewing.

  “I am staying here for a night or two,” Joshua said frowning, he expected Dean to snap with another question or inappropriate comment.

  “Alright then, I see we aren’t wasting time on the ‘lets get to know each other’ part of this relationship, clearly you bringing back the fun reckless Katie. You know what, I kind of like it.”

  He took another pizza slice and grabbed the remote.

  “What are we watching?” He asked flipping through the channels.

  “We are actually watching Katie’s DVD collection,” Joshua answered

  “Oh that’s very sad.”

  Joshua just started laughing softly he didn’t even defend me, I didn’t blame him.

  “Why don’t I phone Alex he can bring some good movies on his way home from the club? We can make it a double date,” Dean suggested.

  “I don’t know the last time the two of you were here you broke the spare bed and I had to replace the bedding.”

  I tried saying it in a non judgemental way.

  “At least someone had sex in this place.”

  And there it was, that directness.

  “By the way Katie how long has it been two years maybe three?”

  Dean knew I would not show my claws in front of Joshua.

  “That is not important, Dean thank you for that. Anyways if you must phone Alex, but the first funny business you two are out on your ear.”

  Dean smiled at me as he grabbed his phone.

  I was lying in Joshua’s arms with my head against his chest. I moved up to whisper in his ear.

  “If he has a friend over he gets tired and then he goes to bed earlier.”

  I could feel his stomach move as he laughed.

  “Does he live here?” he asked in a whisper in my ear.

  “No his name is not on the lease but I don’t even bother anymore, hope you don’t mind.”

  He shook his head.

  “Two or three years hey?” Joshua asked a couple of second later in my ear.

  “Lets not go there, it’s not out of lack of trying believe me. I just can’t give something up just like that. I hope you didn’t expect too much too soon?” I asked looking up at him.

  “No I am actually relieved in a way, I knew you were special it’s just the more time I spend with you the more special you get,” he said giving me a gentle hug.

  “We are in luck Alex is on his way with a bottle of tequila. Oh and the movies.”

  “Tequila makes me crazy Dean I don’t think it’s a good idea,” I said in a pleading voice.

  “Don’t get you panties in a twist we will take it easy,” Dean said trying to calm my panic.

  Usually Dean, Alex, a bottle of tequila and I equal trouble.

  I get so happy and careless. Dean usually comes out the closet all over again and Alex makes jokes that no one think are funny but we laugh anyway.

  “I can’t see that happening,” I said under my breath.

  “What happens if you have tequila?” Joshua asked even sitting up right.

  “She realises that two or three years has been to long, she laughs and loosens up. We can’t have that now can we?” Dean asked winking at me.

  “What ever you do, you stop me at the third shot okay?” I made Joshua promise.

  “I will try.”

  He winked at Dean.

  Joshua was clearly interested in seeing the other side of me. Ten minutes later the door bell rang, Dean jumped up and ran to the door.

  “He must really be exited to see Alex or he is excited to get started on the tequila,”

  Joshua said.

  “Actually they smooch in front of the door first,” I said pointing at the door.

  Joshua put his index finger under my chin and lifted my face up to his face. He looked into my brown eyes and kissed me softly on the point of my nose.

  “Actually that’s good news I have been waiting all night to do this,” he said kissing me on my lips.

  He pulled away after the kiss and looked at my face to see if I had any objections.

  I moved up and put my hand on his chest and kissed him again.

  I felt like a teenager again kissing my boyfriend, it gave me butterflies. It was like an addiction I couldn’t stop.

  He pulled me over him so I laid across his lap.

  He put his hand on my cheek and kissed me in a way I just never wanted it to end.

  In my past relationships I got bored of kissing, I use to make any excuse to end a kiss. But that changed I wanted him to kiss me.

  “I wondered how long it would take them. Alex this is Joshua, Joshua this is Alex.” Dean tried to introduce.

  I felt Joshua’s hand leave my face he just waved at Alex not interrupting the kiss. “Come Alex lets prepare the drinks while they eat each other up. Did you bring the lemons?” Dean asked walking towards the kitchen.

  Alex followed him in to the kitchen.

  I started smiling; I could feel the smile on his face too.

  “What is it?” He asked pulling away.

  “Nothing kiss me,” I said pulling him closer to me again.

  The reason why I smiled was because he didn’t even look up to great Alex and it’s not because he was rude, the kiss was just too good to stop.

  Alex and Dean took long to get the drinks prepared, it was also completely silent in the kitchen, now and then I heard a plate or a glass fall over in the dry rack but it didn’t bother me. I was more focused on what I was doing.

  We moved on the sofa without even realising it, I was lying completely on top of him.

  I realised that Dean put the music louder. It still didn’t bother me.

  I had my one hand under Joshua’s shirt, he was rubbing his one hand up and down my back squeezing me ever so gently now and then. I could feel and hear his breathing.

  He was about to put his hand under my shirt when Dean came back into the room.

  “Alright kids break it up we are going to be social again.”

  Dean didn’t look at us; he just said it while putting the cut up lemons, salt and shot glasses on the coffee table in front of us.

  When I came up for air, I tucked the hair hanging in my face behind my ears and looked up at Dean, it must have looked like a dirty look but I didn’t mean it.

  I looked back at Joshua and pushed out my bottom lip like a little girl not getting her way.

  He laughed and gave me one last kiss on my mouth.

  I got up and sat upright next to Joshua on the sofa, Joshua straightened his clothes and put out his hand to Alex.

  “Sorry about earlier I am Joshua Scott it’s nice to meet you.”

  He smiled his sweet smile at Alex.

  “Its fine, I totally understand I am Alexander Addison, you can call me Alex all my friends do, nice to meet you too.”

  Alex looked at Joshua and I realised he had no idea who Joshua was.

  “So where are the movies?” I asked the question but I knew the answer already.

  “No movies, Dean asked for tequila and lemons that was it,” Alex explained looking confused.

  “Alright then let the games begin,” Dean interrupted pretending to not have hea
rd a single word.

  I heard Joshua laughing softly behind me.

  “This is how it’s going to work, Katie my dear there will be movies involved just not like you think. We are playing a drinking game. I will start with a movie title lets say ‘City of Angles’ then the person after me will take one word out of the title and name another movie, for example Joshua will go next and he will take the word city and change it to ‘Sex and the city.’

  All you have to do is use one word of the title in another title. Easy. We move clock wise so, its Josh then Katie then Alex then me.

  If you can’t come up with a name in ten seconds you have to take a shot. If you take a shot the next person can start with a completely new title if they want or they can continue with the old one.”

  Dean always got very exited when it came to drinking games.

  “Any objections?” He asked looking at each of us.

  “Yes I suck at this,” I said.

  Joshua started laughing.

  “Well then Joshua will get lucky tonight and that would be the end of your sex fast,” Dean snapped back, he didn’t like people hating the game.

  I looked at Joshua; he quickly wiped the smile of his face.

  I looked at Dean and shot him another dirty look.

  “Don’t worry I will look after you I won’t take advantage,” Joshua whispered in my ear.

  I turned around and faced Joshua with a smile on my face, I said in a whisper so that Dean and Alex couldn’t hear, “who says I don’t want you to take advantage? Things did heat up on that sofa earlier.”

  He raised an eyebrow and smiled.

  I leaned in and kissed him; he put his hands in my hair and kissed me more passionately.

  “Kids please Daddy needs to get drunk,” Dean interrupted.

  I couldn’t help it I just started laughing.

  Dean poured four shooters one for each of us.

  He explained that the glasses would be refilled as we go.

  “Who wants to start?” Alex asked looking around to each of us.

  “Let the actor start,” Dean said.

  “Alright, Bad Boys,” he said looking over at me.

  “You can’t say ‘Bad Boys 2’ no sequels-” Dean interrupted before I could answer.

  “I know I have done this before and failed horribly,” I said everyone started laughing. “Yes I remember that night,” Alex said smiling at me.

  “Tell me about it?” Joshua asked inquisitively.