“Well, why did you then?”
“Legend, your mother’s worried sick about you. We saw your speech about abused women, and your mother started crying. She thought that you did forgive her, and for that, she felt that you and her had a bond again.”
“I know, but I feel that I have to leave that life behind, I don’t like that life. I’m accepted here, and for that, I don’t want to see her – I’ll remember the way she treated me, and those evil names she called me.” Legend’s voice quivered and tears were filling her mind.
“She’s the only mother you have. . . . Legend, I accepted you, and you want to forget about me?” asked Jenny. It was as if tears were building inside of her throat and causing her tone to lower itself.
“No, it’s just–”
“Legend, you are wearing a mask of something, because you have changed. I tried to contact you so many times, but I never found you. I always expected a call or a letter, but nothing, nothing came from you. That hurt me, and is still hurting me!”
“I am not wearing a mask, you don’t know me,” Legend shouted. Jenny got up from the couch and walked up to her.
“You are too, and I’m the only one who knows it. Something has changed you, ever since you became beautiful overnight, and left for London, you have changed. I mean, look around you, you have it all, but you still never contact the ones who love you the most,” Jenny yelled. Legend poured herself another glass of champagne in a fast manner, and drank it heavily. “Sure, you’re famous, you have it all, and you’re a goddess, for crying out loud, but you still have people who love and loved you before all of this happened!”
“You listen to me, I do remember the people who cared for me in the past, very few, but I remember. I have all of this because of my inner beauty,” Legend said in drunkenness. She drank her liquor more.
“Inner beauty? No, you have all of this because of your beauty, period. Your fame, riches, and luxuries are all because of this beauty you possessed overnight!” Legend walked away from her and headed for the staircase. “Don’t you walk away from me.”
Legend started running up the staircase. “I worked for all of this. This mansion, my fame, and riches, all of this is because of me, not my beauty, but me. You’re just jealous,” Legend cried.
Jenny ran after her up the stairs. “Jealous? Jealous? Hey, I’m not jealous of something that’s fake!”
Legend turned around with a scared look on her drunken, tear-drenched face. She stood in the middle of her staircase. “What do you mean, fake?”
“You heard me, I said fake. You don’t belong in this life, Legend. You were ugly before, but suddenly you became beautiful, and for that, you feel that you suddenly belong in this lifestyle. All those speeches you gave, you never once admitted about your ugly past. You never once said you had massive acne, all you said was your mother and father used to abuse you and call you ugly names. All those magazine articles about you, you always stretched the truth, and got past telling them about the real Legend Conaway,” Jenny shouted. Legend walked back down the staircase and grabbed her champagne glass. As soon as Legend walked back up the stairs, Jenny shouted, “That’s why you’re a fake!”
“I am not a fake, I am truthful in my speeches to young women, and any other speech I gave, or give. I’m a model, for Christ’s sake, but I still show my inner self by giving speeches that are truthful and honest. I don’t have to do that, but I do. You’re just jealous,” shouted Legend, walking back up the staircase with her glass. “And I didn’t forget about you either, I was just too busy to call you.” Legend’s tears fell with her words, rushing out of her mind and through the mouth.
“Legend, as soon as you left for London, it was like you wanted to forget about all of us, and especially me. Face it, you wanted to forget about me and your mother, and your ugly past.” Jenny was calmer and tears started to shield her eyes, while Legend wiped hers away with her champagne glass.
“Why don’t you get a life, fat ass!” Legend was drunk and the echoes of those evil words caused Jenny’s shield of tears to break. It was like a bullet rushing into Jenny’s mind, she couldn’t believe Legend spoke those words to her. “You’re jealous of me – I’m skinny, and I’m beautiful, but you’re still fat!” Jenny’s tears showed more, and Legend’s mind absorbed sadness from them. Legend blinked her eyes twice, and looked up at the ceiling in confusion, not believing those words of evil came from her own mouth.
Jenny wiped her tears away. Legend became speechless: it was like she didn’t want to say another word, it might have sinister in it. Jenny gave out a small smile of sadness. “You know, Legend . . . my whole life I have been . . . been called fat names, and you were the only one who never said them to me.” Jenny’s tears showed themselves to Legend more. “For that, you were special, because you treated me with respect!” Jenny then paused and turned away from Legend, it was like the pain was too unbearable. For that, she had to turn away from where the pain was caused. “I guess you have it all now. . . . You have fame, fortune, luxury, beauty . . . and the heart of a bitch,” Jenny quivered, her tears running out, and Legend’s eyes caught their sight even more. “All of your dreams came true, I guess. . . . Goodbye, Legend Conaway, and have a nice life.” Jenny walked her obese body down the stairs and came up to the foyer. Before she opened the door, she lingered her face toward Legend’s image, as it stood in the middle of the staircase still. She wiped her last tear away, and said, “You say that your mother is a drunk? Well, take a good look in the mirror. Oh, I forgot, you don’t look at your reflection.”
Jenny faced back toward the doorway and exited it. Legend sat down on her staircase, and broke her new shield away, causing her new tears to fall at a greater speed. She then looked at the doorway and said, “No.” She got up from the stair and ran for her friend that she called ‘best.’ Her drunken legs guided her to Jenny and ran directly in front of her hurtful image. She gave Jenny a tight hug and cried, “Jenny, I’m so sorry for that. Please, don’t go, please forgive me.” She then released her from the hug. “Please, I don’t know who I am anymore. I mean, I didn’t forget about you, I swear. . . . You’re my best friend, and you’ll always be my best friend. Please, just pretend that I didn’t call you that!”
Jenny turned to face the gate where a crowd of fans stood behind. She looked back at Legend and cried, “Why did you forget about me? And why did you call me that name?”
Jenny felt alone; she always had Legend by her side, but now, since she called her that name, she felt that Legend wasn’t like her anymore. “I’m so sorry, Jenny.”
Legend was overwhelmed with confusion, she didn’t know why those sinister words came from her mouth, and didn’t know why she even allowed them to be heard to Jenny’s innocent mind. Legend realized her bond with Jenny, she realized it after forgetting that she had one. But she still had to answer Jenny’s question. Jenny stared at Legend. “Why, Legend? Why are you looking up to Dina as a friend, after she made fun of me and you so much in the past?”
“I don’t know why, Jenny. But all I know is I’m sorry. Please, please forget that I ever called you that, and forgive me. Please?”
Jenny wiped her tears, and then looked at the crowd of fans again. She looked over at Legend’s mansion, and then stared at Legend’s mask of beauty. “Legend, I can’t forget . . . but I forgive you.”
They gave a tight embrace, a hug that Legend hadn’t felt in a long time. They went back inside of her house and Legend said, “I’m the bad person here, it’s all my fault for us arguing like this.”
“No, Legend, it’s my fault.” Jenny sat down on the sofa and added, “I am jealous of you. I shouldn’t have come over here only to bitch at you for not calling me. I was wrong, and I’m sorry also for causing you to cry!” Jenny then picked up an empty champagne glass from the coffee table, and poured herself some liquor with a half-empty champagne bottle. “Just promise me that you’ll never change for anyone. Promise me that you’ll always be the same Legend th
at I knew before.” Jenny held up her champagne glass high in the air and Legend did the same. “Also, promise me that you’ll never wear a mask to anyone, and that you’ll be truthful with this new life, or else, with the ones you love.”
Legend hit her glass with hers and took a swig of her glass, looking at her face in the reflection of the glass itself. She looked down at Jenny. “I, um, I promise. . . .” Legend walked slowly over to her window and looked outside at her fans. She then glanced over to Stephen’s mansion and saw him on his front lawn. While Jenny drank her champagne, Legend stared at Stephen and whispered, “Yeah, I promise I’ll be truthful with the ones I love.”
Chapter Twenty-Six
Legend and Jenny spent a lot of time together before Jenny left to go back to Chicago. Jenny reminded Legend of her past, and for that, it brought a type of sadness to Legend’s face, but sadness that also brought a sort of satisfaction to her bemused mind. Legend knew who she was, but Jenny strengthened her memory, and made Legend want to look at herself more in the mirror.
Legend looked at her image in the reflection of every mirror she passed by in her house, or else, every mirror she could find. It was like she craved to put the puzzle together that consisted of her outer beauty. It wasn’t real, and for that, it made Legend more tangled. She was confused about her own true image, and Jenny made her see that. Nevertheless, Legend desired this new life, and directly after Jenny left for Chicago, Legend stopped looking at her reflection all together. She gave up, after trying desperately to put this puzzle together, and discontinued looking at her reflection.
It was like, when Jenny came into her life again, she was forced to remember her true self. But once she left, Legend strayed away from her reflection, and tried to figure out her own true image, without the mirrors facing her. She tried to know who she was, without having her reflection seen to her.
Before, she didn’t want to look at her reflection, for the reflection of ugliness came with too many harsh memories entangled to its shape. But now, since Jenny came and went, Legend didn’t want to look at her reflection, instead she wanted to know herself without it.
“I am beautiful,” Legend said on November twentieth, standing in her room and getting ready for some event that was a surprise for her. She ogled her reflection in the mirror and said, “I don’t need to stare at my reflection anymore – I am beautiful. . . . I have Mark, who cares for my inner beauty, which is beautiful. I have fame, which was made by my inner self, and riches, which was made by the same thing.” She gave out a smile, she thought she discovered her confusion and made it melt away. “I mean, the reason why I’m not with Stephen is only because he doesn’t look for inner beauty. And for that, I’m never going to be with him, we’ll just be friends for good. . . . With my fans, they’ll never see my true image, only because they like my inner beauty more. And with my fortune, well, this mask did help it, but my inner self built it to a greater extent,” she added to her reflection. She smiled, turned away from it and headed down the staircase of her mansion. “I don’t need to look at my reflection anymore, I know who I am now.” She departed her mansion and found herself in the California night.
Stephen’s limo came up her driveway and stopped by her stairs, which reached the number ‘15’. She walked down, revealed herself to Stephen’s sight, and he exited the limo and looked at her. He stared at her long, pink satin dress, and her hair, which stood in a bun. “You look beautiful tonight,” he said, staring at her blue eyes, and kissing her soft hand.
“Why thank you, my friend Stephen.” Legend walked with him to the limo and when she got in, Dina was in her view.
“Legend, you look stunning,” Dina said.
Legend smiled back. “Really, well, I wish I could say the same for you.” Dina stared with bafflement. Stephen got in the limo and Legend added, “So, Stephen, what is this surprise?”
“No, no, no, it’s going to be in about an hour.” The limo started moving.” All I’m going to say is my people worked hard at keeping this a secret from everyone, including the nation, and it’s a big surprise,” he added. The limousine drove past Legend’s front gates, and Dina still looked at her with confusion as to why she was sarcastic a few moments ago.
Dina looked at her and tried to figure out Legend’s sarcasm by giving her another compliment. “Well, if this event is a big surprise, then Legend is definitely dressed for it. You look fabulous,” Dina said with another smile.
Legend turned to her and returned a straight face. “Listen, Dina, don’t say another word. Jenny told me what you said to her, and how rude you were.”
“What’s going on, girls?” Stephen asked, noticing them both beginning to argue.
“Nothing, Stephen, this is just between me and her,” Legend replied. She rolled down the window and felt the November breeze blow against her angered face.
“Yeah, Stephen, I guess Legend’s mad at me,” Dina said. Legend began laughing. Dina knew the reason why she was angered toward her, but of course she had to put on the mental mask, in order for Stephen to believe that she was the innocent one. Very smart, and very tricky indeed.
“Listen to me, Dina, don’t try putting on this little act that you’re a sweet person, because we both know that’s not true.” Legend finally admitted to Dina that she’s wearing this mental mask, and she admitted it in front of Stephen.
“Alright, what’s wrong?” Stephen asked.
“No, Legend’s right, let’s just drop it.” Dina was scared, she knew what Legend was talking about through her evil glare of her blue eyes. Dina’s plan, on wearing this mask in front of Stephen, and showing kindness through it, was revealed by Legend’s words, her discovery into Dina’s mask. This discovery or finding caused Dina to be nervous, but, moreover, even more jealous toward her, because she looked like the bad one now. If Legend told Stephen the real reason as to why she’s angry at her, then Dina’s mask would be revealed, and her true pathetic ambition, which is being with Stephen, would be cast away.
“Well, then, let’s just sit back and enjoy tonight, shall we?” Stephen said. Legend and Dina still stared at each other with straight stares, as if they were about to go into battle with one another to the death.
Legend turned from Dina and placed her beauty in Stephen’s sight. She said, “You bet.” Even though it was healthy and revitalizing for Jenny to help and remind Legend of who she really was, it also did something to Legend’s mentality, as if she suddenly forgot the game she was playing with Dina. Keeping enemies closer. But Dina didn’t forget. The game was still on.
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Legend stepped out of the limo, tons of fans pushing at her beauty, trying to get a glimpse of it. She looked over at the LA street and saw the ‘HOLLYWOOD’ sign in her view, staring at a big hill. She then faced to the front of her, passing fans, and saw a huge structure that was covered by a white sheet. The fans, cameramen, media, and others came pouring at Legend, and she walked down a red carpet that led to an outside stage. “Alright, everyone, she’s here,” a man announced in a microphone on the stage. Everyone started clapping hard. “This is the surprise that everyone has been waiting for, for about two weeks, and now it has finally come,” the man announced. Legend, Dina and Stephen walked to the front row of chairs that were in front of the stage. They sat down as Stephen’s father ran up to Legend and gave her a kiss.
“Legend, my beauty, how have you been?” William asked.
“My God, William, where have you been?”
“I’ve been around, mostly in New York and Chicago, trying to run all my other clients’ careers.”
“Hey, Father, when is this thing going to begin?” asked Stephen.
“Right about now. Listen, kids, I got to run now, I have a meeting in Chicago early tomorrow morning, but I’ll be attending the Styling Awards this Sunday,” William said before he kissed Legend on the face and rubbed Stephen’s brown hair.
“Aren’t you going to stick around?” Stephen asked. The lights o
n the stage began to dim and the moon from the heavens became their means of seeing.
“No, I can’t, but I’ll be at the Styling Awards,” William replied.
A spotlight came on the man onstage. William walked down the red carpet and watched as hundreds of fans stood and sat for Legend’s surprise. He entered a taxi, and that’s when the man on the stage said, “Now, everyone please take your seats, I’m about to reveal something that’s been under construction for two weeks.” He pointed to the white sheet as the surprise stood underneath it. The white sheet stood next to the stage, and was covered by a white light that shined from another spotlight. Legend looked at it and wondered what was under it. “For this past year, or almost a year, this nation was introduced to a girl who was beyond special,” he announced and the echoes went across the crowd. “She’s beautiful, stunning, gorgeous.” Sudden sadness came over Legend’s face, she didn’t want him to say that; those things were only a mask. “She’s kind, generous, funny, devastatingly intelligent.” A smile came on Legend’s face, she was happy because he was explaining her inner beauty, which was real. “But, throughout these months, this girl has done more than just walk up and down a catwalk, or sit and pose for a magazine cover. . . . This girl, or goddess, has reached out to those in need, and shined her voice to many, causing hope to settle in minds that were full of pain.”
The audience became silent, and suddenly he paused and became silent himself. He then stared at Legend and continued. “She taught us also about inner beauty, and how it’s the most important thing you could have. For that, the percentage of eating disorder victims has dropped 30%, and more and more battered women are coming forth, and leaving their hurtful lives behind. Every speech she gives causes her words to reach out and make sense of the problem which she is speaking about.” A tear came down from Legend’s right eye. “Before we show this structure, this surprise that’s under the white sheet, I would like to introduce the most beautiful being in the world, with the inner and outer beauty of an angel. . . . Everyone, I would like to introduce tonight, Legend,” he announced. The audience clapped and the cameras came over to Legend.
Mask of A Legend Page 24