by Blythe Stone
“Do you want me to get my manager on him? I can,” Nat said, annoyed. The fact that Stan would show up like that and invade, it bothered Nat. It was controlling and possessive. And Iris was here thinking about his wants which was dumb.
“No, it’ll be fine,” Iris said. “He’s probably calmed down and I know Jenny will be there. You don't need to sit through that.”
“Not sure if you've noticed but I’m not a huge fan of controlling men.”
“Neither am I. Controlling people in general. Ellie was enough. He needs a reality check on whose life this is. I get that in his brain he’s looking out for me but that’s over the line. I’m sorry again about this bullshit,” Iris apologized.
“Oh, don't be sorry,” Nat soothed. “I'm just worried. You said he's your family which means stuff like this probably happens all the time.”
“You’re welcome to come with me but I wouldn’t blame you for staying far away,” Iris told her.
Iris laid her head on Nat’s shoulder and hung onto her body for comfort.
“If I came I'd be all over you like this. That would probably make everything worse,” she kissed Iris's fingers and her forehead.
“It wouldn’t make it worse. It would put the reality right out there and make things clear but I get you. It’s best I just get it over with and talk him down. I’m guessing it’s not just him being mad. Someone had to have said something,” Iris determined.
“Is it bad for your image if you're seen with me?”
That thought had been bothering Nat but asking the question actually took a little time. There weren't any pictures of Iris kissing or cuddling with Ellie on her public Instagram and Nat easily noticed that.
“No, and if he thinks that he can deal with the fact that this is the way it is. Hiding it is not fair to us. I’ve never said much about my sexuality because no one asked and I’m not exactly thrilled about press. I never hid my relationships,” Iris told her.
Nat was quiet, digesting it all.
“I don’t wanna fuck up your life babe,” Nat decided to say.
“Then don’t leave me and don’t think that by being with me you’re going to fuck up my life. I just mean I don’t like talking to the press. I’m not good with people in those situations. Being with you is the best thing that’s happened to me in a long time,” Iris explained.
She looked up at Nat.
“Seriously, never think you’re fucking up my life,” Iris insisted.
Nat's heart swelled. Despite it, she worried.
“I mean it. We’re one week into this and I’m already convinced I needed to meet you,” Iris said.
“Babe,” Nat said, about ready to cry. She pulled Iris in close to pet her and hold her tighter. This was getting very real very fast and that scared Nat for several reasons. Most important was how it mimicked the way things happened with Olivia. That was all fierce from day one. But it wasn't devout. At least, that's where Nat had gone wrong. Olivia needed it that way. She needed an instant commitment, something she could reach for a grasp.
“Is this good emotion? I know it’s a lot. I’m a lot,” Iris said, hugging her.
“No,” Nat laughed. “I mean, yes, it's a good emotion,” she happily wept.
“Nat, are you happy crying?” Iris smiled and used her fingers to wipe away some of the tears.
Nat breathed in and nodded. “Yeah, you're breaking me,” she teased.
“I was trying to avoid breakage,” Iris said.
“Were you though?” Nat teased.
“I'd rather keep you together,” Iris pointed out.
“Hmmm,” Nat hummed. The verdict was still out on that one. She let her hand slide further in beneath Iris's skirt so she could fully grip her inner thigh and play with it. “Well, whatever's going on, I like it,” Nat said all lovesick and beautiful. She found Iris’s mouth and started to steal it, making out with her all possessive-like. “I can't wait until this movie is done so I can steal you away.”
When they got to the lot they had to go their separate ways. Today was the awkward sex scene for Nat but that really couldn't bother her since it wasn't real sex and her scene partner was respectful and sweet. There had been scenes where she full on scratched her partners to get them to stop touching her in certain ways. Nat was used to sticking up and defending herself and this production was surprisingly cliche so she knew it would all be heavy breathing and rolling about. Big dramatic words and naked body shots.
When she got to her trailer to wait for her scene after hair and makeup Nat realized it was the first time she had alone time in days. She pulled her phone out and dialed Olivia.
It rang a few times but then her friend finally answered her phone.
“Hello?”
“Hey,” Nat said, sitting alone on the bed in the semi-dark.
“Hey,” Olivia sighed. “Gimme a second.”
“Kay.”
Nat knew Olivia had classes and she'd probably been in a lecture but she answered her anyway.
There was silence, the sounds of movement and a squeaking door.
“Hey. You okay?” Olivia always worried about her.
“Yeah,” Nat said. “I just really wanted to talk to you. I know I've been distant.”
“Oh,” Olivia said. Miles down the coast, Olivia was hiding behind a large pillar in a wide open corridor.
“Anyway. I miss you.”
“Miss you too. Always,” Olivia said.
Nat sighed, “I really hate when you're mad at me.”
“I'm not-” Olivia bit her tongue. It wasn't fair that she couldn't get mad. Nat had scared the shit out of her and then she stopped answering her texts for days.
“It's okay,” Nat breathed. “I know I deserve it.”
“Don't do that,” Olivia asked.
“Why didn't you tell me Avery got sick?”
“What?”
“Yesterday. Avery told me she got really sick while I was in Europe. Why didn't you tell me?”
This was the last thing Olivia was expecting them to be talking about now.
“I dunno,” Olivia lied. “Sometimes you're really far away and I know I shouldn't bother you.” Olivia didn't want Nat to ruin her career for some sickness that had already come in and taken hold.
“Baby…”
“What?” Olivia asked.
“I know I'm like your lifeline.”
“It's fine,” Olivia squeaked, a little sad that they were even talking about this. Nat didn't have to know. “I called my mom. We worked it out.”
Nat thought about what Avery said, how she'd never seen Olivia that mad.
“I already wish I was up there again,” Olivia said, changing the subject.
“Come up,” Nat suggested. “You know I always wanna see you.”
“No,” Olivia sighed. “I've got a deadline and Avery's got that tournament this weekend, I want to go.”
“Okay,” Nat said.
“I just wish I could be in two places at once.”
Nat laughed at that. “I know that feeling.”
“You looked really cute with your girl. But you always look cute so.”
“Baby,” Nat smiled.
“What. It's true. You're adorable when you're all love-sick. It's hot.”
“Kay,” Nat said, not really in the mood to be flirty with her. “Were you in class?”
“Unfortunately,” Olivia said. “It's fun but it's also a waste of time. I know more than this professor and she's a condescending cunt so I can't even participate. A few of us are petitioning to get her out of her tenure.”
“Olivia,” Nat smiled.
“Yeah, so what. I'm cruel. Do you even know how hard people work in order to get into this school. Just to have some terrible ill-informed person like that talk them down and give them shit grades on a whim.”
“Sounds terrible,” Nat smiled, rolling her eyes. In secret, she felt a rush whenever Olivia ranted like this, if she was there she'd just smile calmly and stare until Olivia ra
n out of wind and deflated herself. “What does Avery say?”
Olivia laughed. “Uh, well. Avery says, at least she isn't Ben.”
“Oooo, ouch.”
“Yeah,” Olivia laughed. “I mean, I know she’s joking but still.”
“She's always joking,” Nat remembered fondly.
“Yeah so. That'll shut me up for the better half of two weeks and I'll have no one to talk to about it except for my class friends who are already too pissed.”
“Are you okay?” Nat asked, genuinely concerned. Olivia wasn't this angry, when she came out to visit she was so sweet and in heaven with her. This was sad.
Olivia sighed. “I. I think so,” she said. “Everything's just aggravating me lately.”
“You were great when you came up here.”
“I know, that was like a vacation, you make me feel better. Which sucks because you're really far away.”
“Baby…”
“Yeah…” Olivia whispered. She knew she probably shouldn't have said anything. “So, tell me the truth. Is this the first time you've been alone since I left?”
“It is,” Nat said, feeling sorry. Her time with Iris was so precious but it was fucked up to push Olivia off and change their relationship for a newer person, she knew it was wrong.
“Yeah…” Olivia nodded. “Ya know, you can call me when you have people around.”
“I know,” Nat said. “I'd rather get the real you.”
“I'm always the real me.”
“You know what I mean.”
They were both a little different when it was just them all alone. That was life.
“Well?”
“Hm?” Nat asked, confused as to what she wanted from her.
“How is she? She seemed really sweet.”
“She's… A lot like you actually. I like her a lot.”
“Like me?” Olivia asked, skeptical.
“Yeah. Like you said. She's really sweet.”
“Uck,” Olivia said, completely bothered by that. “I'm not sweet at all. I'm an asshole.”
“No. You're very sweet,” Nat remembered and complimented her. “Especially when you're with someone and you care about them.”
“Maybe so,” Olivia said, not sure if she could even see herself in that light. Either way, it wasn't for Olivia to see. These were Nat’s words and she meant them.
“Well, hey, listen. I only had a little time and I gotta go. Big sex scene today.”
“Oh god,” Olivia groaned. “I'm so sorry.”
“It's fine,” Nat laughed. “This film is not an R.”
“Even still,” Olivia said.
“Oh, like you wouldn't have fun pretending to be in love with a nice smelling fit actor. Don't even front Olivia. I've seen the way you stare at these people when you come onto set.”
“Why is the lens on me?!” Olivia complained angrily.
“Because it's more fun if it’s on you.”
“Well, whatever. Go ahead. Ditch me for days again.”
“I won't do that, I promise.”
“Not so sure your promise will hold up,” Olivia poked.
“How ‘bout this. I will call you tonight.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” Nat said. “And I promise the call will last more than a couple of minutes. I wanna know all about this jerk professor and your new campaign to throw her overboard. So look forward to it, okay?”
“Okay,” Olivia said, feeling the anger and the stress finally ebbing.
“In the meantime, read a book for me. It'll make you feel better.”
“Yes Doctor,” Olivia teased.
“Kay. I gotta run. I love you sweetie.”
“Love you too,” Olivia said. “Bye.”
It wasn't the best apology but it was enough for Olivia. Nat knew they'd both feel better now for the rest of their day. When they weren’t in sync it was terrible. For once, it was actually her own fault so she fixed it.
Chapter 15
Targets
Going into her trailer proved to be the hardest part of the morning so far. She thought it would be seeing Nat walk away. Facing whatever Stan had to say was just going to upset her.
He had never reacted this way before. He hated Ellie but there was good reason for that. Iris jiggled her leg, staring at the door and wishing that she didn’t have to do this. He’d never yelled at her like that. Jared was the one that got the wrath. She got sweet Stan.
She was about to get the courage to open the door when it flew open and an impatient looking Stan appeared.
“You’re here, good,” he said, stepping out of the way so she could enter.
She walked up the little stairway and went past him into the trailer. Jenny sat on the couch with her laptop open and her attention diverted as usual. She looked up after a moment and waved.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said.
“Hey,” Iris greeted.
“So, we don’t have a lot of time but we need to discuss how to handle this situation,” he said.
“What do you mean? Why do we need to handle anything? I’m dating Nat, people found out, so what?” Iris argued.
“So what?” Stan blinked slowly, staring down at her. “You’re sleeping with your co-star. We need to come up with a plan in case the studio or the producers get nervous,” Stan said.
“Why should we have to do that?” Iris was aware of the reality of the situation but that didn’t matter. Fuck anyone who didn’t approve of who she was and who she wanted. “Isn’t any publicity good publicity,” she threw at him.
“Don’t think I’m letting you off the hook,” Stan said, pointing at Jenny.
“I’m sorry. I already apologized,” Jenny said.
“What?! Don’t blame her for anything, what the hell did she do?” Iris raged.
“She was supposed to be keeping track of you and reporting back to me. I couldn’t be here so she was my ears and eyes,” he argued.
“The fuck? That’s so messed up. I’m not a kid that needs to be watched, Stan and that isn’t her job. She’s here to help me, not to be your little spy. Maybe it just means she has more integrity than you. She didn’t see a need to report my personal business, which you have no right to pry into unless I tell you,” Iris fumed.
“I’m your manager and I like to think I’m more than that. Your parents trusted me with you when you were seventeen and you’re like my own,” Stan said.
“You’re like family but that doesn’t mean you get to know everything or control my life. I’m not seventeen. I’m twenty-five, Stan. You don’t get to say what happens and I won’t hide who I am. I never did that before. Why would I start now?” She pointed out.
“Fine, fine,” he waved her off. “Just please tell me next time something big happens. If I don’t know what’s going on, I can’t stop things before they get out of hand,” he said.
“What’s out of hand?” Iris asked.
“People putting pictures of you on blogs and putting homophobic slurs and targets photoshopped over your face,” he said.
“What?” Iris asked.
“Yeah, there’s a right-wing blogger from back home attacking you and Nat by extension. Saying that you’ve been corrupted by Hollywood. You’ve gotten mail from this guy before. He’s a little wacky but never said anything too crazy. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t want you to worry about things like that,” he said.
“Oh…” She went and sat down on the other side of the couch from Jenny who had been silent and watching this whole time.
“I’m sorry. I really should have kept Stan informed,” Jenny said.
“No, no! This isn’t your fault. Just because some asshole is doing things like this doesn’t mean that I don’t get to live my life. Let him make blog posts,” Iris said.
She was so pissed at him for keeping it from her though. She would have done things differently if she knew.
“I’m not a kid. You can tell me things. I deserve to know. Not telling me is a vi
olation,” she told Stan.
“Okay, I’ll tell you from now on. I just thought protecting you from it was the best way,” he said.
“Yeah, well… I’d rather know from now on,” she said and looked up at him. “And lay off Jenny, she didn’t do anything wrong.”
“Jenny’s fine, she knows I trust and appreciate her,” Stan soothed.
“I’m not changing things, Stan. I’m not going to stop seeing her unless she wants to stop seeing me,” Iris said.
“I get that. Just think about what you’re doing and where you are from now on, eh?” He suggested.
She bristled at the comment and shook her head. It wasn’t fair.
“I need some air. I’ll talk to you later. I assume you’re staying?” She said.
“Yes, I’ll get a room in the same hotel as you,” he said.
“Just take mine. I’m not using it,” she said.
“What?” He asked.
“I’m staying with Nat,” she said.
“Oh, ah- Are you sure that’s wise?”
“I don’t care. As long as she’s okay with it,” Iris said.
“Fine, I’ll get with her people about security,” he said.
She shook her head and frowned. She was about to get a headache and she had scenes to shoot with Michael after his big one with Nat. She groaned and grabbed her sunglasses as she left the trailer, slipping them on and being glad that she still had a little time.
She took her phone out of her pocket and texted Nat to see where she was hanging out.
Iris: Hey, I’m done. Where are you?
Nat: In my trailer. They're still setting up the room for the bed scene.
Iris: I’m coming that way if you’re not busy.
Nat: I miss you…
Iris: Soooo, you’re saying I should come over. :P
Nat: Please?
Iris didn’t text back, she just walked the two hundred feet to Nat’s trailer and opened the door, walking up the steps and finding her in the back, on the couch. She walked straight over and bent down, giving Nat a kiss before sitting beside her.
“Hi stranger,” Iris joked.
“Mmm,” Nat smiled, biting her bottom lip and touching her hands to Iris's thigh. The hair and makeup they did magnified all her best features. Her hair was down and they’d styled it, it fell well past her collarbone. For close-ups, the makeup was specifically to showcase her lips and her eyes. And Natalie's face was already so beautiful. “How'd it go?” She asked, solemnly.